The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events — John Shaqi
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
As the 95th charged up the hill, one of the most affecting episodes
of that fierce encounter--so full of incidents, of unsurpassed
courage, and pathetic scenes--occurred. Early in the charge,
Captain Eddington, a young officer, fell wounded, a ball passing
through his chest. The regiment, unable to stand against the
scathing fire to which they were exposed, fell back to re-form,
and left the wounded officer on the ground. In full view of the
regiment, a Russian rifleman advanced, and kneeling by his side,
appeared to be about to offer his canteen to his lips. A thrill
passed through the ranks, at the spectacle of a soldier exposing
his own life thus for the purpose of alleviating the sufferings of
a dying enemy. No gun would have been pointed against that man, no
bayonet levelled at his life. It seemed one of those incidents that
show the better feelings of humanity are not quite extinguished by
the breath of war. But what was their horror when the rifleman,
laying aside his canteen, levelled his piece and deliberately blew
out the brains of the dying man! Among those who witnessed this
cowardly assassination was a younger brother of the captain who
had recently exchanged into the regiment, that he might share death
and danger with his brother, whom he tenderly loved. Maddened by
the spectacle of his brother’s murder, the young lieutenant sprang
forward, shouting with frantic energy to the men to follow and
avenge the deed. One loud yell of execration burst from the lips
of the soldiers, and bounding onwards, they rushed after their
leader. Waving his sword above his head, the gallant young man was
a conspicuous mark, and in another moment fell headlong, pierced by
a dozen bullets. Thus the two brothers, so fondly attached in life,
mingled their blood on that fatal hillside--among thousands of the
slain perhaps the most generally and deeply mourned.
At length Sir De Lacy Evans, who had received a severe contusion
on his shoulder, rallied his men, and led them victors to the
summit of the hill, silencing one of the batteries which had done
such execution upon the gallant fellows of the Light Division.
Sir Richard England’s division had fought--to use the language
of one who shared in that charge--“like devils,” and surmounting
every impediment, though not without dreadful loss, joined their
gallant comrades. Everywhere the Russians were driven back by the
irresistible bayonets of the British, and the conquerors literally
marched through paths of blood to victory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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