The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 282: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

276 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. eg a a eee little show against the well-drilled forces which the French could oppose to them, “ Therefore, having felt the want of it in several encounters in the open plains, the Mexicans held a council of war, and resolved to retreat back to Puebla, and there resist the enemy’s progress as long as they could, in order to gain time to raise both men and money in the interim. . ‘The disasters to the Mexican army, however, s . far from shaking the resolution of Juarez, the Pre- sident of the Republic, or his brave Mexican followers, appeared only to stimulate them all to still. greater. exertions in the service of their country. ‘Although proclamations were issued command- ing allold men, women and children to quit Puebla, none of them did so; they preferred to remain and participate in the dangers: and glory of a stout resistance to taking flight. “ Kvery able-bodied inhabitant was called upon to contribute all he could:in money and labour to the common cause, and nearly all the population turned out to assist in strengthening the defences of the city. ‘‘The rapid approach of the French, however, did not give the inhabitants time to complete their fortifications as well as they wished to do, although they had been labouring at them: both night and day for weeks, iC ‘‘ The utmost efforts were made by one and all to strengthen their feeble fortifications, and young and old laboured at them without distinction of rank or station. ‘‘A continued line of outer defensive earth-works had been erected as far as time and circumstances allowed. ‘The old walls, which had not been built to'resist anything stronger or fiercer than the inroads of Indians, were now bristling with cannon. ‘Large stores of provisions had been formed ; arms and ammunition were in abundance, and the town contained something near twenty thousand Mexican troops; regular-and irregular, besides a numerous body of armed rustics and townspeople. “‘ But not only did the Mexicans donbly strengthen their walls to keep the enemy out, but they also made provision for a stout defence if the French should succeed in getting into the town, for every house of any importance or strength was barricaded and stored with arms and provisions, ready for a slege, 80 that if the French really got into the town, they would have been obliged to fight from street to street, ‘‘ For a week the grand citizens of Puebla were working like bees, preparing for the enemy. ‘All strangers were told to leave the city*within twenty-four hours under pain of punishment and enrolment among their troops. ‘4 ‘‘ At last, however, the French came, and swarmod on two sides of the town like bees. They consisted of about forty thousand men of all arms, with an immense park of artillery, and everything necessary to destroy whatever opposed them. ‘During the first night, the French engineers erected a number of heavy batteries opposite the eastern gate, and in the morning gave warning that if the city did not surrender in twenty-four hours the bombardment would commence. An indignant refusal was sent to this unjust demand by Juarez ; and, true to his word, at the expiration of the time, General Bazaine opened his guns upon the devoted city, A large shell,’one of the first that had been fired, accidentally exploded in a half-finished Mex- ican battery near the east gate, and unfortunately a large amount of ammunition was blown up, te ee which, for a short time, caused much confusion among the gallant garrison. “The French took advantage ‘of the temporary disorder, ‘4 column crossed the canal by an old aqueduct which the French had possessed themselves of the night previous, and entering the east gate battery, managed to sustain themselves against the efforts of the garrison. “This advantage, however, was only for a time, for the Mexicans, led on by skilful leaders, dashed headlong at the French, and drove them out of the battery with great loss, ‘‘When they were in possession of the east gate battery, the French were so confident that the game was all over with the Mexicans, that they sent a flag of truce to President Juarez again demanding the surrender of the city. * “Talk of surrender when I am dead,’ was the bold answer. ‘Soldiers and citizens were alike worthy of so bold a leader. ‘A distinguished’ countess,had formed a sister- hood among the ladies of the town, which numbered over three hundred members, whose business it was to carry provisions, ammunitions, ‘and other things to the brave men who manned the batteries, and to succour the wounded. “ Nuns, wives, widows, all alike were engaged in this noble work, and all throughout the terrible bombardment never flinched from their duty day or night. ‘‘Even boys were inspired with the feelings of heroes. | * One lad, twelve years of age, offered himself as a volunteer ; but was not allowed to enroll himself, on account of his age. ‘‘ Nevertheless, he mixed with the soldiery, and performed prodigies of valour, for when the French had entered into the east gate battery, he himself led on a valiant company against them, and, with his own hand, bore off in triumph a stand of French colours, amidst the almost frantic enthusiasm of his countrymen. ‘This gallant youth, throughout all the siege, was the most ‘fearless of any one engaged in either army. “He exposed himself continually to danger, but escaped death in an almost miraculous manner a dozen times. “The name of this young hero is Don Fernandez Rivero, and I know you will feel delighted to learn that he is now one of the officers in our Boy Band of English Volunteers, and much beloved by all. **On the other side of the river, seven regiments of French infantry, with a large body of horse, at- tempted, in the night, to win the suburb of the east gate. ‘‘The command on this side had been entrusted to General Mendez, who, after an action of five hours, repulsed the French, “They renewed the attack with their reserve, and their fire was so hot, and the attack so fierce, that the patriots were somewhat disordered, ‘“Mendez, followed by Juarez, hastened to the spot, put himself, sword in hand, at the head of: his countrymen, rallied them, encouraged them by his voice and example, and the French were at length defeated and driven back, leaving thousands of killed and wounded upon the field. “On the next day Marshal Bazaine advanced against the suburbs on the left of the river. ‘‘He was encountered by about four thousand of the garrison posted in the woods and gardens, from —— eee! 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