Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

DEAD ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. 361
was, however, a lesser evil. Two minutes had not passed
when a terrible explosion and loud cry were heard ;
a ball had
split the wheel of a cannon, and stretched two cannoniers in a
shapeless mass on the ground. It was not your son's cannon."
The old man breathed as if some hope remained that his son
were stiil living.
" At that sight,
I remember your son struck his head with his
hand, and uttered a cry of pain. We were not yet reduced to
a desperate condition ;
we might have still
kept our post for
some time ;
two new cannon joined the other four of the enemy
the Austrian columns
; began to advance again, and we
could no longer remain there. Suddenly we heard a confused
sound of steps, voices, and arms behind us, and saw two battalions
hastily draw up in line on the crest of the hill to repel an
assault. Between us and the crest, the ground, as I said, was
sunken ;
for this reason it would not do for the infantry to advance
to our line, and we were obliged to recede.
The centre
column was coming rapidly forward. I waited for it to arrive
within reach, and then ordered :
'
Fire with grape-shot
!
'
At
the word ' fire ' we heard something like a clap of thunder,
and a sharp whistle a cloud of dust rose and hid the ; column,
and when it
thinned, we saw such a confusion and complete
rout in the enemy's lines But ! it was late. The enemy, scattered
and disordered as it
was, continued to climb boldly ;
there was no time to be lost, and we must save the cannon.
There were not enough horses.
'
Back ! with your arms ? ' I
shouted. Thirty vigorous arms instantly seized the wheels,
orillons, mouths, and began to push the cannon back. There
was one artillery man lacking at the cannon on the right.
son took his place, and seized the left wheel.
'
Courage !
Your
'
I