my forlorn
hope: "Sergeant, it is with sincere regret I again see you wounded, and
again at the head of your little band of heroes. I will not check your
praiseworthy spirit; go into glory, my lads, and may Heaven prosper your
zeal, and crown you with triumph!" His lordship addressed every corps
that passed him; but when the remnant of the two companies of the 22nd
regiment marched by, he was seen to turn from them, and the tear fell
down his cheek; but, fearful it might be observed, he took off his hat
and cheered them. This was not the tear of Judas, for his lordship often
shed tears of sorrow for our great loss at this place. He was a true
soldier's friend, and valued their lives as much as he did his own.

The storming party marched out in the usual steady order; yet, from our
recent calamitous defeats, there was not that spirit amongst the men
which I had witnessed on former occasions. We had already experienced
three disastrous repulses from this fort, and there now seemed a cloud
on every brow, which proceeded, I have no hesitation, in asserting, from
a well-grounded apprehension that this, our fourth assault, would be
concluded by another retreat. If any sight could be exhibited to the
human eye that was calculated to work upon the feelings of men already
disappointed and dispirited, it was the scene that was exposed to our
view on approaching to this breach; for there lay our poor comrades who
had fallen in previous attempts, many of them in a state of nudity,
some without heads, some without arms or legs, and others whose bodies
exhibited the most barbarous cruelties, for they were literally cut to
pieces. The sight was truly awful and appalling, and the eye of pity
closed instinctively on such a spectacle of woe. Those who attempted to
extend the hand of relief were added to the number of the slain, as the
spot was much exposed to a cross-fire from the fort. Could any sight be
more distressing for affectionate comrades to look on? I say
affectionate, for, among men living together in one barrack, and,
perhaps under one tent, in familiar intercourse, there must be a greater
regard for each other than is found to subsist among those who meet
casually, once a day or once a week. In a soldier's barrack, the
peculiarities, good or bad, of every individual are known; added to
which, arduous services will always link men together in the bond of
union and affection. Many of these mutilated objects still breathed, and