and long before reaching the
city, had passed through villages filled with soldiers--cavalry,
infantry, dragoons in their short jackets--some digging holes in the
ice to get water for their horses, others dragging bundles of forage to
the doors of the stables; powder-wagons, carts full of cannon-balls,
all white with frost, stood on every side; couriers, detachments of
artillery, pontoon-trains, were coming and going over the white ground;
and no more attention was paid to us than if we were not in existence.

Captain Vidal, to warm himself, had dismounted and marched with us on
foot. The officers and sergeants hastened us on. Five or six Italians
had fallen behind and remained in the villages, no longer able to
advance. My feet wore sore and burning, and at the last halt I could
scarcely rise to resume the march. The others from Phalsbourg,
however, kept bravely on.

Night had fallen; the sky sparkled with stars. Every one gazed
forward, and said to his comrade, "We are nearing it! we are nearing
it!" for along the horizon a dark line of seeming cloud, glittering
here and there with flashing points, told that a great city lay before
us.

At last we entered the advanced works, and passed through the zigzag
earthen bastions. Then we dressed our ranks and marked the step, as we
usually did when approaching a town. At the corner of a sort of
demilune we saw the frozen fosse of the city, and the brick ramparts
towering above, and opposite us an old, dark gate, with the drawbridge
raised. Above stood a sentinel, who, with his musket raised, cried out:

"Who goes there?"

The captain, going forward alone, replied:

"France!"

"What regiment?"

"Recruits for the Sixth of the Line."

A silence ensued. Then the drawbridge was lowered, and the guard
turned out and examined us, one of them carrying a great torch.
Captain Vidal, a few paces in advance of us, spoke to the commandant of
the post, who called out at length:

"Pass when you please."

Our drums began to beat, but the captain ordered them to cease, and we
crossed a long bridge and passed through a second gate like the first.
Then we were in the streets of the city, which were paved with smooth
round stones. Every one tried his best to march steadily; for,
although it was night, all the inns and shops along the way were opened
and their large windows were shining, and hundreds of people were
passing to and fro as if it were broad day.

We turned