lamations, smote upon the ear wherever I turned. Some lay at
length upon straw, with eyes half closed and limbs motionless;
some endeavoured to start up, shrieking with pain, while the
wandering eye and incoherent speech of others indicated the loss
of reason, and usually foretold the approach of death. But
there was one among the rest whose appearance was too horrible
ever to be forgotten. He had been shot through the windpipe,
and the breath making its way between the skin and the flesh had
dilated him to a size absolutely terrific. His head and face were
particularly shocking. Every feature was enlarged beyond what can
well be imagined; whilst his eyes were so completely hidden by
the cheeks and forehead as to destroy all resemblance to a human
countenance.

Passing through the apartments where the private soldiers lay,
I next came to those occupied by officers. Of these there
were five or six in one small room, to whom little better
accommodation could be provided than to their inferiors. It was
a sight peculiarly distressing, because all of them chanced to be
personal acquaintances of my own. One had been shot in the head,
and lay gasping and insensible; another had received a musket-
ball in the belly, which had pierced through and lodged in the
backbone. The former appeared to suffer but little, giving no
signs of life, except what a heavy breathing produced; the latter
was in the most dreadful agony, screaming out, and gnawing the
covering under which he lay. There were many besides these, some
severely and others slightly hurt; but as I have already dwelt at
sufficient length upon a painful subject, I shall only observe,
that to all was afforded every assistance which circumstances
would allow, and that the exertions of their medical attendants
were such as deserved and obtained the grateful thanks of even
the most afflicted among the sufferers themselves.

CHAPTER XXI.

ADVANCE.

IN the mean time the rest of the troops were landing as fast as
possible, and hastening to join their comrades. Though the
advance had set out from Pine Island by themselves, they did not
occupy all the boats in the fleet. Part of the second brigade,
therefore, had embarked about twelve hours after their departure;
and rowing leisurely on, were considerably more than half way
across the lakes when the action began. In the stillness of
night, however, it is astonishing at what distance a noise is
heard. Though