d
convulsed to its very foundation. Its ramparts seemed like some great
volcano vomiting tremendous volumes of fiery matter; the roaring of the
great guns shook the earth beneath our feet; their small arms seemed
like the rolling of ten thousand drums; and their war trumpets rent the
air asunder. Men were seen skipping along the lighted ramparts, as busy
as emmets collecting stores for the dreary days of winter. The scene was
awfully grand, and must have been sublimely beautiful to the distant
spectator.

We pushed on at speed, but were soon obliged to halt. A ditch, about
twenty yards wide, and four or five deep, branched off from the main
trench. This ditch formed a small island, on which were posted a strong
party of the enemy, with two guns. Their fire was well directed, and the
front of our column suffered severely. The fascines and gabions were
thrown in; but they were as a drop of water in the mighty deep: the fire
became hotter, and my little band of heroes plunged into the water,
followed by our two companies, and part of the 75th regiment. The middle
of the column broke off, and got too far down to the left; but we soon
cleared the little island. At this time Colonel Maitland and Major
Campbell joined me, with our brave officers of the two companies, and
many of the other corps. I proposed following the fugitives; but our
duty was to gain the breach, our orders being confined to that object.
We did gain it; but, imagine our surprise and consternation, when we
found a perpendicular curtain going down to the water's edge, and no
footing, except on pieces of trees and stones that had fallen from
above. This could not bear more than three men a-breast, and if they
slipped--which many did--a watery grave awaited them, for the water was
extremely deep here. Close on our right was a large bastion, which the
enemy had judiciously hung with dead underwood. This was fired, and it
threw such a light upon the breach, that it was as clear as noonday.
They soon got guns to bear on us, and the first shot (which was grape)
shot Colonel Maitland dead, wounded Major Campbell in the hip or leg, me
in the right shoulder, and completely cleared the remaining few of my
little party. We had at that moment reached the top of the breach, not
more, as I before stated, than three a-breast, when we found that the
enemy had completely repaired that, by driving in large pieces of wood,
stakes, stones, bushes, and pointed bamboos, through t