Part 44 (1/2)
”There is the first sh.e.l.l,” was the general exclamation.
In another instant the missile burst near some infantry, at two hundred yards to the right.
”Take orders to that battery, there, to take position on that little eminence to the left there, Captain Barclay. Tell them to keep the guns a little back among the trees, and to open sharply upon Terminiers.”
It was just twelve o'clock now and, in five minutes, there was a roar of cannon along the whole length of both lines. For half an hour the combat continued a mere artillery duel. The sh.e.l.ls fell in all directions; cutting the dry branches from the trees, tearing up the ground, and leaving deep black gashes in the white snow; cras.h.i.+ng through a wall or, occasionally, exploding among the troops.
”Their fire is slackening a little,” General Chanzy said. ”It is time to be pus.h.i.+ng forward.
”Lieutenant Porcet, take my orders to the colonel of that regiment of Mobiles to advance at once, covered by skirmishers.
”Captain Barclay, order that Line regiment to support.
”Captain Maillot, order the artillery to concentrate their fire upon the village, and to advance by batteries.”
The orders were carried out, and the Mobiles advanced to within five hundred yards of the village. The musketry fire was now tremendous, and the Mobiles wavered. The Germans were entrenched in the gardens and walled enclosures of the village. Every wall, every house was loopholed; and rough barricades had been erected, to fill up the breaks in the walls.
General Chanzy was sitting on horseback, a short distance in the rear of the fighting. Mounted officers rode up and left again, every moment, with news of the battle going on near the other villages.
”Ride up and order the Mobiles to lie down, Captain Barclay; then tell the colonel of the Line to bring his troops up in line with them. Let them lie down, also.
”Tempe, have the two reserve batteries of artillery brought up, at full speed, to silence that battery in the wood to the left of the village. Its fire crosses the ground we have to pa.s.s over.”
Ten minutes more of continuous cannonading, and then it was apparent that the Prussian fire was weakening.
”Now, Barclay, tell them to charge, at the double.”
Ralph set spurs to his horse but, just as he reached the troops, a sh.e.l.l exploded just under his horse. Ralph heard a crash; felt a shock, and a whirling through the air; and then fell heavily upon the ground. Believing he was dangerously wounded, he made no effort to get to his feet; but sat up and shouted to the colonel of the Mobiles, who were not thirty yards from him:
”The Mobiles and Line are to charge, at the double, and to carry the village with the bayonet.”
The Mobiles had flinched a little before, as they had advanced with the deadly fire of shot and sh.e.l.l; but they did not flinch now, and leaping upon their feet, with a cry of ”Vive la France!” the Mobiles and Line soldiers literally made a race of it for the village.
Ralph, after having given his message, lay back again, with a sort of bewildered sensation. A minute afterwards he heard a rapid galloping; and Colonel Tempe rode up, followed by Tim Doyle.
”Are you badly hurt, my dear boy?” the former exclaimed, as he leaped from his horse. ”The general himself asked me to come, and see after you.”
”I don't quite know, colonel,” Ralph answered. ”I feel, at present, as if my head was knocked in, and my legs shot off.”
”You had a tremendous shake,” said Colonel Tempe--who was, with Tim, by this time kneeling beside him--”and your horse is blown almost to pieces; but I don't think, as far as I can see, at present, that you are hit anywhere. Here, take a sip of brandy. It will bring you round; you are stunned a little, you know.
”There, you are better now,” he said; as Ralph, having drunk a little brandy, sat up and looked round.
”I am all right, I think, colonel; don't stay any longer. Tim will wait here. I don't think I was stunned, else I could not have given the order. No, I imagine I had a near escape of breaking my neck.
”Please, don't wait. I shall be all right again, in five minutes. I will take Tim's horse, and join you again. Tim will pick up a musket--there are plenty about--and do a little fighting on his own account.”
Colonel Tempe jumped on his horse, and rode off. In a minute or two, Ralph was able to mount Tim's horse, and ride slowly up to the village, where a heavy musketry fire was still going on; but as no sh.e.l.l or shot were now coming in the direction in which Ralph was, it was evident that the French had taken the position, and had opened fire upon the retreating Germans. The fight still raged, both to the right and left; but in another quarter of an hour it slackened also, here, and the three villages were all in the hands of the French.
In a quarter of an hour, Ralph felt quite himself again and, seeing one of his fellow staff officers gallop up, he asked him where he could find the general.