o fire.

It seemed as if we were wasting time in allowing the enemy to come so
near before giving them a taste of our quality; but because of the
rating which Colonel Prescott had given those who offended, I no longer
had any desire save to await the word of command.

Steadily but surely the red-coated lines advanced until it was as if
they would literally over-run us while we remained inactive. I had again
leveled my musket at the man who wore such a plentiful supply of gold
lace, and it seemed to me as if he was no more than two yards away,
although as a matter of course the distance was much greater, when
Colonel Prescott shouted:

"Fire! my men, take aim and fire!"

Never before nor since have I seen such effective results. It seemed to
me as if whole squads went down. There were great gaps in the line
through which I could see as far as Morton's point, and the grass was
strewn with blotches of red until it was like as if a carpet of crimson
had suddenly been thrown over it.

Immediately our muskets were discharged we reloaded, firing whensoever
we could, and by this time such of the Britishers as were yet on their
feet answered us with a volley that did little or no execution, because
of being aimed over our heads.

There was the rattle of musketry close about us; the heavy booming of
cannon from the king's ships, and from the guns General Howe had brought
with him. It was as if all the shore of Boston town had suddenly been
lined with great guns belching forth fire and shot, while the smoke
settled down over us and over those scattered ranks in front of the
intrenchments, parching our throats and burning our eyes until we could
no longer see anything before us.

Then it was that the fever of battle took possession of us; I was
conscious only of loading and discharging my musket as rapidly as
possible. Now and then shrieks of agony came to my ears, mingled with
the volleys of great guns and the rattle of small arms, which seemed
only a natural accompaniment to the din, and to the blood-thirstiness
which assails one at such times.

Once I understood, as if looking down upon two figures with whom I had
no connection, that Archie was speaking; but I neither heard the words
nor made any answer, and could not tell whether he turned away, or
remained there talking, when suddenly a great shout went up, and
everywhere around me men were crying:

"The lobster backs have turned tail! They have got all of Yankee Do