The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 375 a, “Not that the name of Mexicans should be placed on such a record. “Yet there ‘are ambitious leaders among them, who riot in rack and ruin, and care not who perish, so they may rule. “Think you that kings and others dare show themselves as military leaders of those they gather from all quarters, and pay to cut our throats? "Not they ! “Such men stay at home, talk much, realize im- mense fortunes by peculation and politics, but do not practise what they preach or some might excuse them. “The Republicans put bullets in their rifles, and they know it too well to approach within a less distance than thousands of miles, “Here, in this unhappy country, a German empire is dreamed of among the enemy, and already their generals are assuming all the trumpery and airs of foreign courts, without any of their talents or worth to sustain him, “Maximilian already travels in state, has @ Ger- man body-guard, and tricked out in what appears to be the cast-off finery of a third-class theatrical wardrobe, with paste diamonas and glass bugles thrown in to add to the ferocity and ugliness of his precious corps of Dutch butchers and sausage makers. ‘“‘ When he travels on the river an entire steam- boat is sufficient to accommodate his majesty. “Guards pace before his door night and day. “Servants in gay livery hand around wine on silver waiters, ‘“Grooms and orderlies are shadows, and poor imitations of the same class of servants in German cities, while the ruling language of the court is very low Dutch. ‘When will allthis farce end? Not while money lasts. “And, even if Maximilian had not unlimited powers conferred by those at Paris, his audacity is sufficient to keep up the spirits of his obese, greasy- looking and tipsy revellers to a considerable length of time. ** Such is an outline of things as learned from two of our friends just arrived from the city of Mexico, who add that ‘riff raff’ from all Europe are en- listing under Maximilian, and daily parading through the streets to the music of German bands. “But to return to the pursuit of Maximilian, and of other battles in which we were engaged, not forgetting the last and greatest of all which ter- minated our stay in Mexico and Maximilian’s empire, namely the battle of Queretero. ‘About midnight, and after we had had a good rest, all of Escobedo’s preparations being com- pleted, we began to move on, and felt certain that Maximilian would dispute every mile of ground on our way to his great and last stronghold at Quere- tero. ‘‘ The old count’s command in advance hugged the river, and his troops halted in a wooded slope near the stream, and within five hundred yards of the position the enemy had retreated to. ‘ The movement was silently effected, and in the dim light I could plainly see the work before us. ‘‘ A farm house was situated about half a mile from the river, on high ground, which sloped to- wards the bank. “A creek ran in front of the dwellings, and at right angles to the river. «. ‘© No bridges were discovered on which to cross and get in the rear, where rose majestic woods filled with froops, “ The ‘rise’ was crowned with strong breast- works, commanding all approaches, and rifle pits on the flanks covering the creek | “Caspar and his command occupied higher grounds to the left of this position, screened by woods, while the entire front was open fields, “The count commanding, had been to consult with superior officers, and returning, found the enemy had discovered his covert, and were vigorously shelling it, ‘‘ His men jumped to their arms, and advanced in the twilight. “The mound to the left in front, the banks of the ereek on the flank, and elevated rifle pits to the rear, were soon crowned with rapid flashes of artillery and musketry. ‘‘ The disparity of numbers and position would have appalled any troops but those selected to storm the place, ‘- Skirmishers advanced to the front, and, occu- pying bushes on the edge of the creek, maintained a brisk and deadly fire, and cleared the opposite bank in little time, while the main body advanced with lond shouts to attack, “ Volunteers constructed temporary bridges on which to cross, but the passage was obstinately dis- puted, and resulted in loss. “Once across, the infantry fight became ani- mated, *‘ While three companies of artillery poured showers of shell into their works, and silenced several guns. ** Caspar, on the left, was slow in his advance ; but the old count, riding over, soon had them in rapid motion. “ And as our right had pushed some distance _a-head, they assailed the right with terrific yells, and finding a passage across the creek, were soon on a line with our right. ‘* The enemy’s infantry, though numerous, seemed disinclined to venture on open ground. While our wings held theirs in check, an assault in front was determined upon ; but Caspar, estimating our force insufficient, sent for reinforce- ments unknown to the count, so that when I came on the scene with my gallant boys, the chief com- mand devolved on me. ‘‘ Waiving it, however, our artillery opened at shorter range with terrific noise. *’ But, suddenly ceasing, up rose the centre, rushed across the creek, up the ‘rise,’ over the dry ditch, and were swarming over the parapet, shooting and bayoneting tle troops defending it ! “The sight was grand. ‘‘ Men standing on the parapet were fighting in every conceivable attitude. ‘- And as the sun brilliantly rose over the tree tops, illumining the scene, the semicircular Jine of fight, with its streams of fire, bursting of caissons, shouts, yells, and charging on the right and left— the centre occupied by the strong redoubt, crowds of combatants rushing in and out, with a sea of heads swaying to and fro round our banner floating on the wall,—all was soul-stirring, sublime, and horrible. ) “ The fight on and around the hill, supports ad- yancing from the woods, the volley and rush of ours to prevent it—the occasional discharge of cannon in the works—men clambering up and tumbling from parapets, the yells, shrieks, and shouts of friend and foe in that central position, clouded with vapour, all spoke of a terrible attack and a desperate resistance. “ One wild shout | QO comico oo SHoCO) GGG ———————— ee ee