Page:Narrative of the Battles of Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge (1).pdf/19

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

19

(illegible text)s to husband what remained. They fought (illegible text) with their earabines, The cannons eould no (illegible text) be loaded The enemy soon pereeived this. I asw a troup of horse approach the bridge. It was that of the life-guards. I recognized the plame of Clavers. They approached in rapid march. A (illegible text) column of infantry followed. I sent a request to Captain Nesbit to join his troop to mine. He was in an instaint with us.--. We eharged the life-guards. Our swords rung on their steel caps---many of my brave lads fell on all sides of me. But we hewed down the foe. They began to reel.---The whole column was kept stationary on the bridge. Clavers' dreadful voiee was heard --more like the yell of a savage, than the commanding voice of a soldier. He pushed forward his men, and again we hewed them down. A third mass was pushed up. Our exhausted dragoons fled.---(illegible text) supported, I found myself by the brave Nesbit, and Paton, and Hackstone. We looked for a moment's spaee in silence on each other. We galloped in front of our retreating men. We rallied them. We pointed to the General almost alone. We pointed to the white and to the searlet colours floating near him. We eried, 'God and our Country'. They faeed about. We charged Clavers once more..-.'Torfoot,' cried Nesbit, I dare you to the fore-front of the battle. We rushed up at full gallop. Our men seeing this, followed also at full speed--We broke down the enemy's line, bearing down those files which we eneountered. We cut our way through their ranks. But thoy had now lengthened their front. Superior numbers drove us in They hade gained entire possession of the bridge. Livingstone and Dalzeil were actually taking us on the flank---A band had got between us and Burley's infantry. 'My friends.' said Hackstone to his officers, we are last on the field. We