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they popped merrily at us as we stepped across the field, but they never touched either of us; we got in safe and each of us “counted a coup,” as the French Canadian trappers used to say.
After shaking hands with the infantry, hearing my plucky comrade complimented on his quick and successful trip, and seeing the men draw their rations of powder and ball, I made my way to the gun, told Bob and his gallant detachment what the General had said about them, looked to their fortification and ammunition, and was just about to take the perilous trip back again when the enemy began to press us in a very determined way. There was heavy timber immediately in front, and their mode of attack was to thicken a skirmish line into a line of battle behind the trees, and then try to rush us at very short range.
The infantry ammunition had been replenished just in time, but it must be remembered there was not an infantry soldier to our right.
If the woods had been as close upon us in that direction they would undoubtedly have captured the piece, but they did not relish coming out into the open.
I was struck with the splendid fighting spirit of Campbell, the tall, lean, keen-eyed, black-haired gunner of the piece; but he was entirely too reckless, standing erect except when bending over the handspike in sighting the piece, and not much “sighting” is done at such short range.
Every time the gun belched its deadly contents into the woods Campbell would throw his glengary or fez cap around his head and yell savagely.
I cautioned him again and again, reminding him that the other men of the detachment were fighting, and fighting effectively, on their hands and knees.
When his commanding officer or I ordered him to “get down” he would do so for a moment, but spring up again when the gun fired.
Suddenly I heard the thud of a minie striking a man, and Campbell's arms flew up as he fell backward, ejaculating, “Oh, God!
I'm done forever!”
We lifted the poor fellow around, across the face of the little work, under the mouth of the piece, and Falligant kneeled by him and pressed his finger where the blood was spouting, while I took the gunner's place at the trail.
Every time the gun
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