The  breast-work  still  continued  to  burn,  and  the  fire  from  the  bat-
teries was  directed  upon  it  with  redoubled  fury,  while  the  grenadiers
were  busily  engaged  laying  the  planks  upon  the  great  beams*  Much
of  this  important  work  had  been  accomplished,  when  a  sergeant  and
ten  men,  in  complete  armour,  leaped  over  the  burning  breast-work,
on  the  Irish  side,  and  proceeded  resolutely  to  tear  up  the  planks  and
beams  that  had  been  laid  with  so  much  labour,  and  fling  them  into
the  river.
'  This  bold  proceeding  struck  the  British  with  surprise,  and  made
them  pause  for  a  moment.  The  next  instant  the  batteries  thundered
on  the  spot,  and  these  few  brave  men  were  all  killed ;  but  net  till
much  of  their  work  had  been  accomplished.  They  were  instantly
succeeded  by  another  party  armed  in  the  same  manner,  as  brave,  and
more  successful.  These  completed  the  task  the  first  party  had  com-
menced, and  before  they  fell,  they  flung  bridge,  plants,  beams,  and


•V  History  ttf  Inland.  1 7

«U;iat»  life  tkto.    1W  ctotyed  fc  die  rest  perished ;  burtli*  task  was

done.  *      '

/  'There  is  not  upon  record  to  instance  of  nobler  heroism  than  this
of  these  tew  humble  soldiers.  It  was  not  an  attack  upon  an  enemy,
where  a  desperate  daring  might  find  some  hopes  of  safety ;  it  was  not
a  risk  shqred  with  a  multitude,  where  an  electric  courage  spreads
tTrrttugft  the  mtes  and  fehrmntes  the  ttotiitidu&l;  it  watf  a  deliberate,
certain,  and  altriobt  solitary  death/  Yd).  II.  pp.  £95— £3?.
