e to those upon the
sides of the bridge! they were forced into the water and no one
stretched a hand to save them. In the middle, men and even horses were
carried along with the crowd; they had no need of making any exertion
of their own. But how were we to get there? The enemy were advancing
nearer and nearer every moment. It is true we had stationed a few
cannon so as to sweep the principal approaches, and some troops yet
remained in line to repulse their attacks, but they had guns to sweep
the bridge, and those who remained behind must receive their whole
fire. This accounted for the press on the bridge.

At two or three hundred paces from the bridge, the idea of rushing
forward and throwing myself into the midst of the crowd, entered my
mind; but Captain Vidal, Lieutenant Bretonville, and other old officers
said:

"Shoot down the first man that leaves the ranks!"

It was horrible to be so near safety, and yet unable to escape.

This was between eleven and twelve o'clock. The fusillade grew nearer
on the right and left, and a few bullets began to whistle over our
heads. From the side of Halle we saw the Prussians rush pellmell out
with our own soldiers. Terrible cries now arose from the bridge.
Cavalry, to make way for themselves, sabred the infantry, who replied
with the bayonet. It was a general _sauve qui peut_. At every
movement of the crowd, some one fell from the bridge, and, trying to
regain his place, dragged five or six with him into the water.

In the midst of this horrible confusion, this pandemonium of shouts,
cries, groans, musket-shots, and sabre-strokes, a crash like a peal of
thunder was heard, and the first arch of the bridge rose upward into
the air with all upon it.

Hundreds of wretches were torn to pieces, and hundreds of others were
crushed beneath the falling ruins.

A sapper had blown up the arch!

At this sight, the cry of treason rang from mouth to mouth. "We are
lost--betrayed!" was now the cry on all sides. The tumult was fearful.
Some, in the rage of despair, turned upon the enemy like wild beasts at
bay, thinking only of vengeance; others broke their arms, cursing
heaven and earth for their misfortunes. Mounted officers and generals
dashed into the river to cross it by swimming, and many soldiers
followed them without taking time to throw off their knapsacks. The
thought that the last hope of safety was gone, and nothing now remained
but to be massacred, made men