the blame upon himself for having, in the natural yielding of his character, attended to his counsels, "it is always thus that, in a military career, we are exposed to the chances of good or ill fortune, and what has now befallen us all (more particularly myself as chief) demonstrates that the issue of our schemes, prudent or not, depends as it were upon the cast of a die. Had we happily been in time to check the impetuous ardour of Major Harrold, the suggestion would instantly have occurred that cavalry alone would be of service here; two or three regiments of dragoons, fiercely riding over and trampling down that barbarous throng, were indispensable towards gaining us the victory. Desperate emergencies require desperate energies. The fatal hour is past, and it is now too late to reason."
Thus occupied in discourse, the General was scarcely sensible of the exhaustion his mind and body underwent, till suddenly pulling up his horse's reins he slackened his pace, approaching a small cabin, whence at no great distance a woman was seen bearing with her a pail.
His orderly dismounting, asked the General if he would not like to refresh himself with a draught of new milk, drawing as he spoke a bottle-case from his pocket, in which he had provided brandy.
