Page 260 - A Jacobite Exile

"Yes, I have no doubt we shall take their battery, coming down, as we do,
upon its rear. The question is, are there any intrenchments ahead? Major

Sion told us, when we halted, that the peasant assured him that there were
no works beyond it, and that it was the weakest point of the line; but it is

three days since he came out from Notteburg, and, working hard as the
Russians evidently do, they may have pushed on their intrenchments far in
advance of the battery by this time."

The force halted for a moment. The guns were unlimbered, turned round,

and loaded. Then the line of cavalry opened right and left, the four pieces
poured a discharge of grape into the Russians, clustered thickly in the
battery four hundred yards away, and then, with a shout, the Swedish

cavalry charged, the infantry coming on at a run behind them.

The surprise was complete. With cries of terror, the Russians for the most
part leapt from the battery and fled, and the few who attempted to defend
their guns were sabred by the cavalry.

"There are other works ahead!" Major Sion exclaimed, as, sitting on his

horse, he looked over the parapet, "and bodies of troops scattered all about.
Push forward, men, at a double, and do you, Captain Sherlbach, cut a way
for us with your cavalry."

The sun had set a few minutes before the guns were fired, and Charlie, as

he led his men over the earthwork, and saw the Russian lines in front,
congratulated himself upon the fact that, in another half hour, it would be
quite dark. As they approached the next line of works, a scattering fire of

musketry opened upon them, but the aim was wide, and without loss they
reached the work. The Russians, though inferior in numbers, defended

themselves obstinately, and continually received reinforcements of bodies
of men, running up from all sides. In five minutes the Swedes cleared the
works of them, but, as they prepared to advance again, they saw a large

body of horse riding down to bar their advance, while numbers of footmen
were running to occupy some intrenchments ahead of them. Trumpets were

sounding to the right, left, and rear.