CHAP. I.
were ready enough to begin shooting into the column; and those who first caught sight of the Russian helmets were going to deliver their fire, when suddenly they were checked by a voice which implored every man to stay his hand.
Confusing rumours amongst our soldiery.
Unauthentic orders and signals to the men.
When troops are about to be overpowered, confusing rumours flit round them. The voice which
had stayed the fire of our men was a voice crying
out, 'The column is French!—the column is
'French! Don't fire, men! For God's sake don't
'fire!' At this moment Colonel Chester was
sitting in his saddle close to the redoubt, and
when he saw the soldiery beginning to catch the
belief that the approaching column was French,
he eagerly strove to undeceive them. Enforcing
his words by gesture, he was impatiently moving
his uplifted sword, as though he would say to
those who might see without being able to hear,
'No! no! nonsense! the column is not French—'it is an enemy's column. Fire into it! fire into
'it!' Whilst thus striving to correct the mistake
he was struck first by one shot, and then almost
instantly by another. Upon receiving the first
shot, he seemed to put his hand to the wound,
but when the second shot struck him he dropped
from his horse and fell dead.
Repeated again and again, the prohibition against opening fire travelled fast along the line; and presently it was further impressed, for a bugler of the 19th, under orders from a mounted officer, began to sound the 'cease firing.'
