As  other  skirmishers  were  passing
on  each  side,  it  was  evident  that  the
enemy  would  not  be  able  to  hold
their  around  veiy  long ;  still  it  was
painful  to  be  thus  detuned  and  pre-
vented from  keeping  on  the  a%s«-
fn«fU  with  our  countrymen.  At  last
a  French  officer  moved  from  the
wood  to  observe  our  motions.  A
non-conmiissioned  officer,  the  son  of
a  forester,  and  who  had  been  aUowed
to  carry  his  oM  trusty  rifle,  seeing
him  within  range,  took  a  steady  aim
over  the  stump  of  a  tree,  fired,  and
the  unhappv  Frenchman  fell  to  the
ground.  A  hurrah  was  instantiy
shouted,  and  the  enemy,  now  de-
prived of  their  leader,  fled  and
left  us  in  possession  of  the  post
When  I  came  up  to  the  officer,
a  fine-looking^  Toun0  grenadier  was
standinff  besioe  hun;  on  seeing
me  he  laid  down  his  arms,  said  he
surrendered  himf^if  ^  prisoner  on
purpose  to  attend  on  hjs  wounded
captain,  one  of  the  most  deserving
offieers  in  the  army,  aud  request^
permission  to  wait  on  him.  The
wounded  man  oould  have  had  no


better  reoonunendtttion ;  I  expressed
my  regret  to  see  him  hurt,  gave  him
in  charge  of  two  of  my  people,  who
were  oi^ered  to  convey  hun  safely  to
the  best  hospital  station  within  reach,
and  then,  wishing  him  a  speedy  re-
covery, I  hastened  to  follow  my
skirmishers.
