rd behind
us, calm, tranquil, giving orders as coolly as on parade:

"Attention for the command of fire! Aim! Fire!"

The four squares fired together; it seemed as if the skies were falling
in the crash. When the smoke lifted, we saw the Russians broken and
flying; but our artillery opened, and the cannon-balls sped faster than
they.

"Charge!" shouted the general.

Never in my life did such a wild joy possess me. On every side the cry
of _Vive l'Empereur!_ shook the air, and in my excitement I shouted
like the others. But we could not pursue them far, and soon we were
again moving calmly on. We thought the fight was ended; but when
within two or three hundred paces of the ravine, we heard the rush of
horses, and again the general cried:

"Halt! Kneel! Fix bayonets!"

On came the Russians from the valley like a whirlwind; the earth shook
beneath their weight; we heard no more orders, but each man knew that
he must fire into the mass, and the file-firing began, rattling like
the drums in a grand review. Those who have not seen a battle can form
but little idea of the excitement, the confusion, and yet the order of
such a moment. A few of the Russians neared us; we saw their forms
appear a moment through the smoke, and then saw them no more. In a few
moments more the ringing voice of General Chemineau arose, sounding
above the crash and rattle:

"Cease firing!"

We scarcely dared obey. Each one hastened to deliver a final shot;
then the smoke slowly lifted, and we saw a mass of cavalry ascending
the farther side of the ravine.

The squares deployed at once into columns; the drums beat the charge;
our artillery still continued its fire; we rushed on, shouting:

"Forward! forward! _Vive l'Empereur!_"

We descended the ravine, over heaps of horses and Russians; some dead,
some writhing upon the earth, and we ascended the slope toward
Weissenfels at a quick step. The Cossacks and chasseurs bent forward
in their saddles, their cartridge-boxes dangling behind them, galloping
before us in full flight. The battle was won.

But as we reached the gardens of the city, they posted their cannon,
which they had brought off with them, behind a sort of orchard, and
reopened upon us, a ball carrying away both the axe and head of the
sapper, Merlin. The corporal of sappers, Thome, had his arm fractured
by a piece of the axe, and they were compelled to amputate his arm at
Weissenfels. Then we started toward