who appeared in their batteries.

Our batteries had different names. One near us was the 21 Gun Battery.
Red-hot shot were fired from it, and before long they blew up a Russian
magazine. The men in the battery, mostly Jack Tars, seeing this, got up
and cheered lustily; and even we who were in the pits so close to the
enemy couldn't help doing the same. We had better have been silent, for
the enemy sent a shower of rockets and grape shot among us as also at
the battery. One of the rockets blew up an ammunition wagon, bringing
powder into the battery. This made the Russians jump up and cheer, and
as we picked off some of their men as they did so, they sent out a
company of their sharpshooters to attack us. Our captain, seeing this,
thought it prudent to retire. We therefore each of us took steady aim
at a particular man, and in most cases knocking him over, jumped out of
the pit and retired towards our camp.

The next day we returned to the same place by a different road. It was
not well chosen, and several of our men were wounded in going towards
the pits. We held them for some hours, when the Russians, not liking
the way we treated them, came against us in strong force. We of course
had to jump out of our holes and retire, but they almost surrounded us
as it was. Fortunately the force of riflemen on outpost duty saw our
position, and advanced to our assistance. We then retired towards them,
disputing every inch of the ground.

The Russians had now got into the pits we had left. Once more,
therefore, we advanced to drive them out. They stood their ground, and
we had a fierce hand-to-hand fight with them.

I found myself engaged with a fellow who fought more desperately than
any of his comrades. Having discharged his musket, he rushed at me with
his bayonet, a dig from which I had much difficulty in avoiding. Just
then his helmet was knocked off, and I saw clearly the features of Shane
McDermot. I cried out "Traitor, deserter, scoundrel, I know you!
Yield!"

On hearing this he seemed as eager to escape as he was before to fight.
Calling to his comrades in Russian, several of them sprang back with
him. Others, however, stood their ground, and gave us shot for shot. I
loaded, and fired at Shane. I thought that I had hit him, for he fell;
but he was up again and retreating with his companions.

Meantime the rest of our party were actively engaged. Joseph Hartley, a
corporal of my party, showed a g