ldiers undertook their unexpected new task. All we had to say to
our men was: "Boys, your brothers are needing you. They are cut
off from all possible relief unless you bring it. Their lives are at
stake, and as they are defending one of the most strategically
important points--the right wing of our army--you can turn the tide of
the whole battle in our favor; so go on." And on they went,
staggering and stumbling, and at the end of a few hours almost
crawling, but ever forward.

Suddenly we came up with another regiment which had been called
to the same task, and the colonel of the new regiment, being older
in rank than our colonel, took command of the newly formed brigade
of two regiments. My company happened to march at the head of
the regiment and the new brigadier rode for some time alongside of
me. I was deeply impressed by his firm military and yet unassuming
bearing and his deep glowing enthusiasm for his army and his men.
He told me with pride that two of his sons were serving in the army,
too, one as an artillery officer and the other one as an officer with
the sappers. We were then approaching the point where we could
hear distinctly the fire of our own batteries and the answer from the
Russians, and here and there a volley of rifle fire. Our colonel urged
us on to renewed energy, and knowledge that we were nearing our
goal, seemed to give new strength to our men. Already we were
witnessing evidences of the first fight that had passed here, for
wounded men constantly passed us on stretchers. Suddenly I saw
the face of the colonel riding next to me, light up with excitement as
a wounded man was borne past. He addressed a few words to the
stretcher-bearers and then turned to me, saying: "The regiment of
my son is fighting on the hill. It is one of their men they have
brought by." He urged us on again, and it seemed to me as if I
noticed--or was it my imagination--a new note of appeal in his face.
Suddenly another stretcher was brought past. The colonel at my
side jumped from his horse, crying out, "My boy," and a feeble voice
answered, "Father." We all stopped as if a command had been
given, to look at the young officer who lay on the stretcher, his eyes
all aglow with enthusiasm and joy, unmindful of his own wound as
he cried out, "Father, how splendid that the relief should just come
from you! Goon. We held out splendidly. All we need is ammunition
and a little moral support. Go on, don't stop