y in front, a village
lay. Towards this, three columns of infantry were converging, and around
the sounds of battle were raging. This was La Giberie: the hamlet formed
the key of the French position, and had been twice carried by, and twice
regained from, the Allies. As I looked, the supporting columns halted,
wheeled, and retired; while a tremendous shower of grape was poured
upon them from the village, which now seemed to have been retaken by the
Allies.

"Cavalry to the front!" was now the order; and a force of six thousand
sabres advanced from between the battalions, and formed for attack. It
was Nansouty who led them, and his heavy cuirassiers were in the van;
and then came the grenadiers a cheval; ours was the third, in column.
As each regiment debouched, the word "Charge!" rang out, and forward we
went. The snow drifting straight against us, we could see nothing; nor
was I conscious of any check to our course till the shaking of the
vast column in front and then the opening of the squadrons denoted
resistance, when suddenly a flash flared out, and a hurricane of
cannon-shot tore through our dense files. Then I knew that we were
attacking a battery of guns,--and not till then. Mad cheers and cries
of wounded men burst forth upon the air, with the clashing din of sabres
and small-arms; the mass of cavalry appeared to heave and throb like
some great monster in its agony. The trumpet to retreat sounded, and we
galloped back to our lines, leaving above five hundred dead behind us,
on a field where I had not yet seen the enemy.

Meanwhile the Russians were assembling a mighty force around the
village; for now the cannonade opened with tenfold vigor in front,
and fresh guns were called up to reply to the fire. Hitherto all was
shrouded in the blue smoke of the artillery and the dense flakes of the
snowdrift, when suddenly a storm of wind swept past, carrying with it
both sleet and smoke; and now, within less than five hundred yards,
we beheld the Allied armies in front of us. Two of the three villages,
which formed our advanced position, already had been carried; and
towards the third, La Bothiere, they were advancing quickly.

Ney's corps, ordered up to its defence, rushed boldly on, and the
clattering musketry announced that they were engaged; while twelve guns
were moved up in full gallop to their support, and opened their fire at
once. Scarce had they done so, when a wild hurrah was heard; and like
a whirlwind, a