em. We did
not lose a single inch of ground the whole day, though after these
successive charges our numbers were fearfully thinned; and even during
the short interval between each charge the enemy's cannon had been
doing some mischief among our ranks besides.

The men in their tired state were beginning to despair, but the
officers cheered them on continually throughout the day with the cry
of "Keep your ground, my men!" It is a mystery to me how it was
accomplished, for at last so few were left that there were scarcely
enough to form square.

About four o'clock I was ordered to the colours. This, although I was
used to warfare as much as any, was a job I did not at all like; but
still I went as boldly to work as I could. There had been before me
that day fourteen sergeants already killed and wounded while in charge
of those colours, with officers in proportion, and the staff and
colours were almost cut to pieces. This job will never be blotted from
my memory: although I am now an old man, I remember it as if it had
been yesterday. I had not been there more than a quarter of an hour
when a cannon-shot came and took the captain's head clean off. This
was again close to me, for my left side was touching the poor
captain's right, and I was spattered all over with his blood. One of
his company who was close by at the time, cried out, "Hullo, there
goes my best friend," which caused a lieutenant, who quickly stepped
forward to take his place, to say to the man, "Never mind, I will be
as good a friend to you as the captain." The man replied, "I hope not,
sir;" the officer not having rightly understood his meaning, the late
captain having been particularly hard on him for his dirtiness, giving
him extra duty and suchlike as punishment. This man, whose name was
Marten, was a notorious character in the regiment, and I was myself
tolerably well acquainted with him, for he had once been in my
company; but on account of the same thing, dirtiness in his person, he
had been transferred to this the fifth company, where neither this
poor captain had been able to reform him, try however hard he might.
Still he was for all this an excellent soldier in the field.

But now I must get on to the last charge of cavalry, which took place
not very long after this. Few as we were, when we saw it coming we
formed squares and awaited it. Then we poured volley after volley
into them, doing fearful execution, and they had to retire at last
befo