But the
French, comparatively unwearied and, roused to the highest pitch of
combativeness by the appearance of the enemy directly in their front,
threw themselves upon them in greatly superior numbers, and after a
close fight, which by the front ranks of both forces was actually
conducted in certain places with steel weapons, forced them back to the
ravine. It was impossible to make a stand there, the poor Westphalians
were obliged to wheel, and tumbled heels over head down the slope
again, not without leaving a number of killed and wounded. The French
were close behind and reached the bottom of the gorge almost at the
same time. The Westphalians attempted to climb up the opposite side
again, and then those who were left behind witnessed a heart-rending
spectacle. The German soldiers were so utterly exhausted that their
limbs could not carry them up the ascent, gentle as it was. They sank
down in throngs as though paralysed, the muskets dropped from their
nerveless hands, which no longer obeyed their will, and the French
could seize hundreds of them and lead them away as prisoners, while
many fell on the way and were left lying on the ground by the foe.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145