Out with Garibaldi: A story of the liberation of Italy

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER I.

  AWAITING THE ATTACK.

  On April 29th, 1849, two men were seated in a room whose open windowscommanded a view down the Tiber. A sound of confused uproar rose fromthe city.

  "I am afraid, Leonard," the elder of the two men said, "that the crisisis at hand. The news that the French are landing to-day at CivitaVecchia is ominous indeed. It is true that Oudinot has sent a messagesaying that the flag he has hoisted is that of peace and order. Thepeople will not believe that he comes as an enemy; but, for my part, Ihave no doubt of it."

  "Nor have I," the other replied. "It was bad enough that we had Austriaagainst us, Sardinia powerless, and all the princelings of Italyhostile; but that France, having proclaimed herself a republic, shouldnow interfere to crush us and to put the Pope back upon his throne isnothing short of monstrous. I feared that it would be so, but Mazzinihad so much faith in his influence with members of the French Assemblythat he has buoyed up the hopes of the populace, and even now the peoplegenerally believe that the French come as friends."

  "It is doubtless the influence of their new president, Napoleon, thathas turned the scale against us," the other said gloomily. "I do notsuppose that he cares about the Pope one way or the other, but it is hisinterest to pose as his champion. By so doing he will gain the goodopinion of Austria, of Naples, and the ducal rulers of the Italianstates. Even Prussia, protestant as she is, would view with satisfactionthe suppression of a rising like ours, for her throne well-nigh totteredin last year's explosion. Russia, too, which perhaps more than any otherpower has reason to fear a popular rising, would feel grateful toNapoleon for undertaking to crush free thought in Rome. It is evidentthat the French President's move is a politic one. Do you think that weshall fight, Leonard?"

  "I fancy so. I have no belief in Mazzini's courage, president though hemay be. Garibaldi is the popular hero, and I know him well enough to besure that if he has but a handful of men to back him he will fight tillthe end. We had the odds as heavily against us when we werecomrades-in-arms at Rio, with but the Susie and a merchantman with threeor four guns against the whole Brazilian navy, or when, with the Italianvolunteers, two hundred strong, we several times withstood the assaultof five times our number. You will see we shall fight; but there can beno question what the end must be. We may repulse Oudinot's attack; butFrance could send any amount of reinforcements to him, while we have nofriends to go to. It is well that your wife, Muriel, and the boy weresent off a month since to Leghorn, where, if we escape from what musthappen here, we can join them and take ship for England."

  "I am sorry that you should be involved in this affair, Leonard."

  "I am not sorry," the other said. "In the first place, after being heremore than ten years, I have come to hate the tyranny and oppression, Idon't say of the Pope himself, but of his underlings, as much as you do.In the second place, I would fight by the side of Garibaldi in almostany quarrel. I do not agree with him in his love for republics, but hehas infected me with his hatred of tyrants and his burning patriotism.He is a glorious man; and after having been his comrade, I may almostsay his brother, in adventures, hardships, and battles for two years, itwould be strange indeed if I hesitated to join him in his crusade to ridItaly of her tyrants. I am a soldier, and I own to a fondness forfighting when convinced that the cause is a just one. I know youropinions on the subject; but I suppose you do not propose to fightyourself?"

  "I do indeed, Leonard. I do not say that I should be a match for astrong and active man in a bout with swords, though of course I learnedthe use of the rapier when a student, but at fifty I can at least use amusket as well as a younger man, and if Rome fights I fight with her.Ah, here comes Garibaldi!"

  The door opened, and a man entered, whose appearance, even had he notbeen dressed in a red shirt, blue trousers of rough cloth, and a soft,broad-brimmed wide-awake, would have been remarked wherever he went. Ofmiddle height, he was exceptionally wide across the shoulders and deepin the chest; he wore his hair and beard long--both were of a goldenyellow, giving a remarkably leonine look to his face; his eyes wereblue, and the general expression of his face, when not angered, waspleasant and good-tempered, although marked also by resolution andfirmness. At that time his name was comparatively little known inEurope, although the extraordinary bravery and enterprise that he hadshown at Rio and Monte Video had marked him as a leader of guerillawarfare, possessing many characteristics that recalled the exploits ofLord Cochrane. It was only when, after his services had been declined byCarlo Alberto, King of Sardinia, he was, with a few hundred followers,making his way to aid in the defence of Venice against the Austrians,that, on hearing that Rome had risen, he hurried to aid the movement,and on his arrival there was greeted with enthusiasm by the populace,who had been informed by Mazzini of his exploits.

  "You have heard the news?" he said as he entered.

  "Yes; we were just talking it over," Leonard Percival said, "andconclude, as I suppose you do, that the French come as enemies."

  "There can be no doubt about it, my friend," Garibaldi said. "If theyhad said that they came as enemies I might have doubted them; but afterthe evasive answer their general gave to the deputation Mazzini sentthem this morning, I have no question whatever that they will attack usto-morrow."

  "And you will fight?"

  "Of course. We shall beat them, I think; in the end Rome must fall, butour resistance will not have been in vain. The stand we shall makeagainst tyranny will touch every heart throughout Italy. It will showthat, ground down as the people have been for centuries, the old fire ofthe Romans is not extinct. This will be but the beginning. When it isseen that the despots cannot maintain their authority save by the aid offoreign powers, there will be revolt after revolt until Italy is free.There were some grand lines you once told me as we sat round a campfire, Percival, that exactly express my thoughts."

  "I know what you mean," the Englishman said. "They were Byron's:

  For freedom's battle once begun, Bequeath'd by bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft, is ever won."

  "They are splendid and true," Garibaldi said enthusiastically. "So shallit be with us. This is our first battle--we cannot hope to win it; butour guns will tell Italy and Europe that we have awoke at last, that,after being slaves so long that we had come to be looked upon as apeople content to be ruled by despots, we are still men, and that,having once begun the fight for freedom, we will maintain it untilfreedom is won."

  "And now, what are your plans for to-morrow?"

  "As soon as the French are seen approaching the city the church bellswill ring and the alarm be beaten in the streets. The word has beenpassed round that all are to assemble instantly. The troops that havebeen organised will first pour out; the rest will follow with such armsas they have. We shall simply rush upon the French. In such a fightthere is no need for manoeuvring; and it is well that it is so, forthere the French would be our superiors. We shall simply attack anddrive them back. We may take it for granted that, being boastfulcreatures and believing that they have but to show themselves and weshall lay down our arms and implore their mercy, they will be whollytaken by surprise and disconcerted by our onslaught. Can you recommendanything better, my friend?"

  "No. With such a force as yours, newly raised and wholly unused todiscipline, it is probable that at the first engagement, and with theadvantage of surprise, they will, as you say, drive back the French; butyou will have to adopt different tactics afterwards: to stand on thedefensive and prevent their entering the city as long as possible, andto defend every street and lane, as the Spaniards did at Saragossa. Theymay take the city at last, but at so terrible a cost of blood that wemay be sure that when you rise again the French people will not allowanother expedition to be undertaken for a cause in which they have noconcern, and which would entail such heavy sacrifices."

  "Will you have a separate command, Percival? You have but to choose one,and it is yours."

  "I will fight by your side," the Englishman said briefly.
"I know that Ishall get my full share of the work then."

  "And you, professor?"

  "I shall go out with the rest. The students have elected me theircaptain, and I shall, of course, lead them. It is a simple matter. I seethe enemy in front, and I go at them. Even I, a man of peace all mylife, understand that. I shall have with me at least a dozen of mycolleagues, and if I am shot they can direct our boys as well as I can."

  "Good!" Garibaldi said. "If I thought that you could keep the studentsin hand, and then dash into the thick of it if you see our men waveringanywhere, I should say do so; but I know that it would be impossible.They will long to be in the front rank and to set an example to others,and I shall feel confident that, wherever they may be, there will be nofaltering. Your chief difficulty will be in restraining their ardour.Well, my friends, I have many things to arrange, so must be going. Youwill find me in my quarters at nine o'clock this evening, Percival. Theofficers and the heads of the various quarters of the town are to meetme there at that hour, to arrange where the assembling-places are to bewhen the alarm is given, and the streets through which they must movewhen we see at which point the French are going to attack us."

  "I will come down with him," the professor said. "I will send word to mycolleagues where to meet me an hour later, so that I can inform them ofthe arrangements."

  And with a nod Garibaldi, who had been unanimously elected general ofthe Roman forces, strolled away.

  Leonard Percival had been a captain in the British army, but havingbecome tired of garrison life during the long peace, had sold out in1837, and sailed for South America, where there were alwaysopportunities for a man of action to distinguish himself. He took partin the struggle of Rio Grande for separation from Brazil. Here he firstmade the acquaintance of Garibaldi, and shared with him in the manyperilous adventures and desperate fights of that war. Becoming disgustedwith the factions and intrigues that were rampant at Rio, he left theservice of the little republic and returned to England.

  He was the second son of a wealthy English gentleman, who had viewedwith much disapproval his leaving the army and undertaking the life of asoldier of fortune when there was no occasion for his doing so, as hehad an allowance amply sufficient for him to live upon. His father wasnot much surprised when, after staying for a month at home, Leonard toldhim that, having a taste for art, he had made up his mind to adopt it asa profession, and should go out to Rome to study. This seemed to himbetter than wandering about the world fighting in quarrels in which hehad no concern, and he had no valid reply to his son when the lattersaid,--

  "You see, father, you cannot expect me to spend my life in absolutelaziness. I must be doing something. The life of a club lounger is thelast I should choose. I have no liking for a country life--if I had Iwould go out to Australia or Canada and settle; but I know that in a fewmonths I should be home again, for I could not stand a life of solitude.If you can suggest anything better I shall be ready, as far as possible,to be guided by your wishes."

  "You may as well have your own way, Leonard. I suppose it will come tothat in the end, and therefore you may as well do it first as last; andat any rate, a few months in Rome will be a change for you, and I shallnot be expecting by every post a communication saying that you have beenkilled."

  So Captain Percival went to Rome, without any idea of staying there morethan a year. His plans, however, were changed when he met and fell inlove with Muriel, the only child of Professor Forli, a man of almostEuropean reputation for his learning and attainments. His wooing hadbeen an uneventful one. His income was amply sufficient, in theprofessor's eyes, to keep his daughter in comfort, and, moreover, themaster under whom Leonard was studying gave an excellent account of hisability and industry, and in 1842 the marriage took place. Previous tothis Leonard had obtained his father's consent to his intended marriage,although not his approval.

  "I consider that it is one more piece of folly," he wrote. "There was noreason in the world why you should not have settled at home and made agood marriage. I had specially hoped that this would have been the case,as Tom still remains a bachelor. However, there are some redeemingpoints in the matter. I have, through a friend, who is a member of theAthenaeum, learned that Professor Forli's name is well known, and that heis considered one of the most learned men in Italy. In the next place,the young lady's mother is, as you have told me, an Englishwoman of goodfamily, and her daughter is therefore only half an Italian. From yourdescription of her, allowing for the usual exaggeration in such cases,she takes after her mother, and might pass anywhere as of unmixedEnglish blood, so I may hope that I shall not have black-haired, swarthylittle grandchildren running about. I shall add a couple of hundred ayear to your allowance, as I always intended to do when you married."

  A year later Captain Percival brought his wife home to England, andstayed there for some time; and here a son was born, who was christenedFrank, after his grandfather. Whatever objections the latter might atfirst have felt to his son's marriage, they were altogether removed bythis visit; neither in appearance nor in speech did his wife betray herforeign origin, for her mother had always conversed with her in English,and she spoke it without the slightest accent. She was now twenty, wasstrikingly handsome, and very graceful in her movements. He would gladlyhave kept her and his son with him; but when they had consented to hermarriage, her parents had bargained that she should, at any rate, spenda large portion of her time with them, as they had no other children.Moreover, her husband was now devoted to art, and although he had onlybeen working for two years, his pictures were already beginning toattract attention.

  Mr. Percival was, therefore, obliged to content himself with the promisethat they would come over every year for at least four months. Thearrangement, however, was not carried out, for, a few months after theirreturn to Italy, Mr. Percival died suddenly. His death made nodifference pecuniarily to his son, as he had settled upon him a sumsufficient to produce an income equal to that which he had before beenallowed. His elder brother came out a year later, and stayed for a fewweeks with him.

  "You must send this little chap over to England to be educated,Leonard," he had said, "if you will persist in sticking in this rottenold city. I don't suppose I shall ever marry; and if not, of course someday he will come in for the property."

  "But why on earth shouldn't you marry, Tom? You know what a trouble itwas to our father that you did not do so--it was a real grievance tohim."

  "Well, I should really have been glad to oblige him; but somehow orother I never saw any girl whom I earnestly desired to make my wife, or,as I suppose you would call it, fell in love with. I very much preferknocking about in my yacht, or travelling, to settling down. Of course Ialways spent a month or two, twice a year, at my father's, and was intown three months in the season--that is to say, when I did not get sickof it. Then I either went up the Mediterranean or to the West Indies, orknocked about round England for three or four months, and finished theyear with a run up the Nile, or out to India or China. Now I feel evenless inclined to marry than I did before, for if I did, it would simplymean eight months in the year down in the country, and four in London.Of course, if I ever do fall in love--and at forty it is hardlylikely--I shall marry; I don't bind myself in any way to remain single.Anyhow, I am glad that you are married, and that, when I go, there willbe another Frank Percival, who we must hope will be of a more settleddisposition than either of us, to reign in the old place."

  So things had gone on quietly until, in 1848, the revolution in Pariswas followed by an upheaval all over Europe. The ascent of Pius IX. tothe papal chair was hailed by the liberal party in Italy as thecommencement of a new era. He was accredited, and not unjustly, withliberal views, and it was believed that he would introduce reforms intothe Papal States, and act as a centre round which patriots could rally.Unfortunately, the party of reform in Italy was divided into twoclasses; of one of these the Marquis d'Azeglio was the leading spirit;he was a moderate reformer, and looked to a union of Italy under aconstitutional m
onarch. Carlo Alberto, the King of Sardinia, seemed tohim the only man who could assume that position, and for years d'Azegliohad worked quietly to this end.

  A more violent spirit was however working with as much zeal and energyin another direction. Mazzini was an extreme republican of the narrowestkind; he was in communication with men of the same type in France, andhad formed secret societies all over Italy. He and those with him wereanxious to obtain the countenance and prestige which a Pope of advancedliberal opinions would give to their party, and Pius IX. was receivedwith enthusiastic acclamations by the republican party of Rome. But,liberally inclined as he was, he shrank from committing himself whollyto the reformers. He was a weak man; and although his vanity wasgratified by his reception, and although he had sincerely desired tointroduce broad reforms, he hesitated when called upon to carry thosereforms into action. The King of Sardinia had been pushed forward by theMazzinians, until he compromised himself, and made advances to the Pope,when in 1847 Austria violated the Papal territories at Ferrara. But thePope hesitated. His army was already near the frontier; but he declaredthat he had no intention of making war, and desired only to protect histerritory.

  The news of the movement had reached Monte Video; and Garibaldi,believing that the Pope would stand forth as the champion for thefreedom of Italy, wrote, offering his services and those of hisfollowers, the greater part of whom were Italians who had been exiledfor their political opinions. No answer was received from him; andGaribaldi took the matter into his own hands, and with eighty-fiveItalians sailed for Europe. On arriving at Alicante he learned that arevolution had broken out in Paris, that Carlo Alberto had given hispeople a constitution, that Lombardy and Venice had risen, that theMilanese had driven the Austrians out of the city, that there wereinsurrections in Vienna and Berlin, that Tuscany and Rome were sendingthousands of volunteers to fight in the national cause, and that evenFerdinand of Naples had promised his people a constitution. Garibaldiwas unavoidably detained for some time at Nice, his native town, andbefore he was able to move a change had set in.

  The Lombards and Venetians had both quarrelled among themselves.Mazzini's party were struggling against those who would have made CarloAlberto King of Italy. The Piedmontese, after brilliant successes atfirst, were obliged to retreat. The Roman volunteers had been forced tocapitulate. Garibaldi went to see the king, and offer to act with hisvolunteers in his service; but his application was slighted, and thisthrew him into the hands of the revolutionary party. It was a grievousmistake on the part of the king; but the latter could not forget thatGaribaldi had been a rebel against him, nor could Garibaldi forget thatit was the king who had sentenced him to death and had sent him intoexile. He therefore hurried to Milan, where he was received withenthusiasm. The king moved to the aid of Milan, against which theAustrians were advancing; but in that city the party of Mazzini waspredominant, and they refused to open the gates to him; and early inAugust the king came to terms with the Austrians, and Milan surrendered.

  For a time Garibaldi's following alone maintained the war. Carrying on aguerilla warfare, he, with fifteen hundred men, was surrounded by fivethousand Austrians, but he effected a marvellous retreat, and retiredinto Switzerland. Here he was taken ill, and was forced to rest for somemonths. He then went to Genoa. The extraordinary skill and bravery whichhe had shown during the campaign induced the King of Sardinia to offerhim the rank of general in his army, that being the grade that he hadheld in Monte Video. But Garibaldi refused, and with two hundred andfifty volunteers started for Venice, which was besieged by theAustrians. On hearing, however, of the rising in Rome and the flight ofthe Pope--who had now abandoned his liberal professions, and had thrownhimself into the hands of Austria--Garibaldi changed his course, and hisranks being swollen as he marched along, he arrived at Rome at the headof fifteen hundred men. Here he met his comrade in the struggle at Rioand Monte Video.

  During his six years' residence in Rome Captain Percival had imbibedthat hatred of the Austrians and detestation of the despotisms underwhich the Italian States groaned, that was felt by all with whom he camein contact, his father-in-law, Professor Forli, being one of the leadersof the liberal party in Rome. His wife, too, was an enthusiast in thecause; and although he felt no sympathy whatever with Mazzini and therevolutionary party, he was, even before the arrival of Garibaldi,resolved to take up arms should Rome be attacked. The presence ofGaribaldi still further confirmed this resolution; but as soon as heheard that a French expedition had set sail, he had insisted that hiswife and child should leave the city, for he by no means shared thegeneral belief that the French were coming as allies. Her motheraccompanied her to Leghorn, for the professor was as anxious as Percivalthat his wife and daughter should be in a place of safety.

  They were most reluctant to go, and only yielded when Signor Forli andCaptain Percival declared that their presence in Rome would hamper theirmovements and render it impossible for them to make their escape if thecity should be taken, which both foresaw would be the case. Theypromised that when they found all was lost they would leave the city andjoin them at Leghorn. Madame Forli was to take her maiden name again;and as two English ladies staying at an hotel at Leghorn they would besafe from annoyance even if a French or Austrian army marched throughthe town. The professor spoke English well, and once out of the city heand Leonard would be able to pass as two English tourists travellingfrom Naples to Florence.

  Had the Pope sought refuge in Capua or Malta, events might have taken avery different turn; but he threw himself into the hands of the King ofNaples, and went the length of pronouncing him to be a model monarch, apattern to the rest of Europe, and this at a time when the disclosuresthat had been made respecting the horrible dungeons into which allNeapolitans suspected of entertaining liberal views were thrown, werefilling Europe with horror.

  This change of front extinguished the hopes of those who had imaginedthat the Pope would become the centre of liberal thought in Italy,rendered the people of the papal dominions desperate, and vastlyincreased the party of Mazzini and the extreme republicans. On February9th a constituent assembly was held in Rome, and the republic wasproclaimed. Garibaldi was appointed to defend the frontier. Volunteerspoured in from all parts of Italy, and as the King of Sardinia had againtaken up arms, a force was moving forward to support him, when the newscame of his defeat at Novara, followed by his abdication and thesuccession of Victor Emmanuel to the throne. Austria, Naples, and Spainwere now eager to crush the revolution in Rome; but the resolution ofthe Romans was unshaken, and they still hoped to be able to maintainthemselves with, as they expected, the aid of France.

  The terrible blow that had been inflicted on finding that the Frenchwere coming as enemies, instead of as friends, did not shake theirdetermination, although it was now with a courage of despair rather thanof hope that they prepared for the conflict. Rome must fall; but atleast it would prove itself worthy of its best traditions, and set anexample that would not be lost upon the peoples of Italy. Anything, theyfelt, would be better than the reign of a pope in close alliance withthe tyrant of Naples; and the evening after the French landing saw Rometranquil and grimly determined. Doubtless many of those who wereresolved to fight till the last were buoyed up with the hope that in anycase they would be able to make their escape when the action was over.Rome covered a great extent of ground, and the French army was not ofsufficient strength to form a cordon round it.

  Captain Percival had, a fortnight before, sent his finished andunfinished canvases and all his most valuable belongings down to CivitaVecchia, and had shipped them for England. He knew the recklessdestruction carried out by an army after a successful assault, and thatpossibly, if it came to street to street fighting, a considerableportion of the city might be burnt. The professor had similarly sentaway his very valuable collection of coins, books, and manuscripts. Atnine o'clock they went down to the mansion that Garibaldi occupied. Along discussion took place, and routes were decided upon for the variouscontingents to follow when the alarm
was given. News had been brought infrom time to time during the day as to the movements of the French, andthe point at which they would probably assault was therefore now known.It would be either at the Porta Cavalleggieri or at the Porta SanPancrazio.

  Captain Percival and the professor returned to the former's house, wherethe professor had taken up his residence since his wife had gone toLeghorn, and sat talking until a late hour. They were roused early thenext morning by the ringing of the great bells of the cathedral, whichwere joined almost immediately by those of all the other churches in thecity. Captain Percival had lain down fully dressed, and springing to hisfeet, he buckled on a sword, placed a brace of pistols in his belt, andthen ran down to the Porta San Pancrazio, where, as he knew, Garibaldiwould take up his post. The general, indeed, had not slept at all, but,fearful that the French might attempt an assault under cover ofdarkness, kept watch round the western wall, along which he had postedthe men he could most depend upon. Even before the Englishman joinedGaribaldi the roar of the guns on the wall told that the French werealready advancing.

  "It is like old times, comrade," Garibaldi said, with a strong grip ofhis hand, "only it is on a larger scale than we were accustomed to inSouth America. Oudinot is beginning with a blunder, for he is making forthe Porta Cavalleggieri, which is flanked by the walls of the Vatican.He is over-confident, and I do not imagine that he expects anything likea serious resistance. I think we shall certainly beat him back there,and that then he will attack us here. Will you go to the other gate? Allmy old comrades know you, and, indeed, all the volunteers, as you haveassisted to drill them."

  Oudinot, indeed, had believed that the force of regular troops he hadwith him would easily brush aside the resistance of a half-armed mob.

  Captain Percival hurried away. The volunteers were already gathered onthe walls, and in every street the townspeople were hurrying out, armedwith weapons of all kinds. On the roofs and at the windows of the houseswomen were clustered thickly, waving their handkerchiefs and scarves,and shouting words of encouragement and applause to the men. To the roarof cannon was now added the rattle of musketry. When he reached the gatehe found a heavy column of volunteers drawn up there, while behind themwas a dense crowd of excited citizens. From the wall he saw the Frenchadvancing; the leading regiment was but a few hundred yards away. Theywere moving steadily forward, apparently heedless of the cannon thatthundered on their flank and face. The musketry they could afford todespise, for they were beyond the distance at which any accurateshooting was possible; and, indeed, the firing was of the wildestdescription, as comparatively few of the men had ever handled a gununtil a few weeks previously. Captain Percival went up to the officerwho was in command, and with whom he was well acquainted. Although themassive walls still stood, the gates had long since disappeared, theirplaces being occupied simply by barriers, where the duty on provisionsand goods coming into the city was collected.

  "The men are clamouring to be let out," he said. "What do you think,Captain Percival?"

  "I should let them go soon. They are full of dash and enthusiasm atpresent, and would fight far better on the offensive than they would ifthey are kept stationary. I should keep them in hand till the French arewithin seventy or eighty yards of the gate. By that time they will beanswering the fire from the walls, and even those in the front lines,whose muskets are still loaded, will only have time for one shot beforeour men are upon them. I should place three or four hundred of yoursteadiest men on the wall here, so that if the sortie is repulsed, theycan cover the retreat by their fire."

  "I think that is good advice," the other said. "Will you come down withme, and tell them that they shall go, but that they must not move till Igive the order, and that no man is to fire until he is within ten yardsof the enemy's line."

  It was difficult to make their voices heard above the crack of musketryand the shouts of the excited crowd; however, their words were passedfrom man to man, and so back among the people behind. Now that they knewthat they were to have their way, and that the critical movement was athand, the shouting abated, and a stern look of determination settled ontheir faces. Leonard Percival joined a group of officers who were at thehead of the volunteers, and the officer in command resumed his place onthe wall, as it was all-important that, if the sortie were repulsed, heshould lead his men down and oppose the entrance of the enemy until theretiring force had rallied.

  It was not long before a roll of musketry broke out, showing that theassailants were now returning the fire of the Garibaldians on the wall.It grew louder and louder; and then, when the head of the French columnwas some eighty yards away, the officer on the wall gave the order, andthe volunteers followed by the citizens poured out with a mighty shout.The French halted for a moment in surprise, not having dreamt that thedefenders of the town would venture upon sallying out to attack them.Then there was a scattered fire of musketry; but most of the barrelswere already empty, and few of the balls took effect. Without replying,the volunteers rushed forward, opening out as they ran to something likeorder. When within ten yards of the French bayonets every man deliveredhis fire, and then hurled himself upon the broken ranks. The strugglewas a short one. The weight and impetuosity of the attack, supported asit was by a surging crowd of excited citizens, was irresistible, and theregiment broke and fled hastily to the shelter of the troops followingit, leaving the ground strewn with dead and wounded. Then the bugles atthe gate rang out the order to the exulting crowd to retire. Theofficers threw themselves in front of the men, and with great difficultychecked the pursuit, and caused them to withdraw to their originalposition behind the wall.