1 TO THE PRESENT TIME. | 59
2 “The divisions of Major-General Sir John Lit-
3 tler, Brigadier Wallace (who had succeeded
4 Major-General Sir John M‘Caskill,) and Major-
5 General Gilbert, deployed into line, ‘having in the
6 centre our whole force of artillery, with the ex-
7 ception of three troops of horse artillery, one on
8 either flank and one in support, to be moved
9 as occasion required. Major-General Sir Harry
10 Smith’s division, and our small cavalry force,
11 moved in second line, having a brigade in re-
12 serve to cover each wing.
13 ‘ T should here observe, that I committed the
14 charge and direction of the left wing to Lieute-
15 nant-General Sir Henry Hardinge, while I per-
16 sonally conducted the right.
17 “A very heavy cannonade was opened by the
18 enemy, who had dispersed over their position
19 upwards of 100 guns, more than 40 of which
20 were of battering calibre; these kept up a heavy
21 and well-directed fire, which the practice of our
22 far less numerous artillery, of much lighter
23 metal, checked in some degree, but could not
24 silence; finally, in the face of a storm of shot and
25 shell, our infantry advanced and carried these
26 formidable entrenchments; they threw them-
27 selves upon the guns, and with matchless gal-
28 lantry wrested them from the enemy ; but, when
29 the batteries were partially within our grasp, our
30 soldiery had to face such a fire of musketry from