use could be dimly discerned
through the mist; thither every eye was bent and every musket pointed.
Thus we knelt with beating hearts, when suddenly several shots rang out
from the valley and the opposite side of the road; as quickly replied to
by the enemy, and a smart but irregular clattering of musketry followed.

"Now," cried the corporal, aloud, "now, and all together!"

And then with one long, stunning report, every gun was discharged, and a
wild cry of the wounded blended with the sounds as we cleared the fence
and dashed at the guns.

"Down, men, down!" called our leader, as we jumped into the road. The
word was scarce uttered when a bright flash gleamed forth, a loud bang
succeeded, and we heard the grapeshot crushing down the valley and
tearing its way through the leaves and branches of the brushwood.

"_En avant_, lads! now's your time!" cried the corporal, as he sprang to
his feet and led towards the gun.

With one vigorous dash we pushed up the height, just as the cannoneers
were preparing to load. The gunners fell back, and a party of infantry
as quickly presented themselves.

The mist happily concealed the smallness of our force, otherwise the
Prussians might have crushed us at once. For a second there was a pause;
then both sides fired, an irregular volley was discharged, and the
muskets were lowered to the charge. What must have been the fate of our
little party now there could be no doubt; when suddenly, through the
blue smoke which yet lingered near the guns, the bright gleaming of
bayonets was seen to flash, while the loud _vivas_ of our own soldiers
rent the air.

So rapid was the rush, and so thronging did they come, it seemed as if
the very ground had given them up. With a cry of "Forward!" on we went;
the enemy retired and fell back behind the cover of the road, where they
kept up a tremendous fire upon the gun, to which now all our efforts
were directed, to turn against the walls of the farmhouse.

The mist by this was cleared away, and we were exposed to the shattering
fire which was maintained not only along the road, but from every window
and crevice in the walls of the farmhouse. Our men fell fast,--several
badly wounded; for the distance was less than half musket-range, even to
the farthest.

"The bayonet, men! the bayonet! Leave the gun, and sweep the road of
those fellows yonder!" said the major, as, vaulting over the fence, he
led the way himself.

We were now reinforced, and