THE MAIN FIGHT. 147 one of the Catherinburg regiment, were about to chap. be attacked by a corps 500 strong, under General Adams in person, and on the opposite flank the ^*' ^'^'^• right of the Borodino regiment was confronted, English* forcGS at some distance, by a little band of 200 men opposing it under Colonel Mauleverer ; * but except those two bodies of English, and a few of the outpost men still hovering near, the 6600 Eussians had no hostile troops before them. The Taroutine bat- Advance talions remained halted, but the two Borodino Borodino battalions, which were on and near the Post-road, '*"^""- began to move forward. The 200 men under Colonel Mauleverer were Mauieverer-e a wing of the 30th Eegiment. This small force advance already in line attempted to deliver its fire upon oVthe^soth* the advancing masses of the Borodino regiment, ^^""° but from the practice of piling arms in all weathers without closing the muzzles, it resulted that but few of the pieces would receive fire, and for a moment the men, baffled by this sudden failure of their rifles in the close presence of the enemy, began, as it seemed, to waver ; but Colonel Mauleverer, a cool, skilful, and resolute officer, who commanded the regiment, and was present on foot with this wing, proved equal to the emer- gency. If no spark could be wrung from the firelock, he knew there was still the bayonet. He caused his men to advance to the ' Barrier,' or main picket wall, and there for the moment lie down behind it. The enemy's masses approached,
- The left wing of the 30th Regiment, with a strength of 202
men.
