Chapter 20

           

           Theinfantryregimentsthathadbeencaughtunawaresintheoutskirtsofthewoodranoutofit,thedifferentcompaniesgettingmixed,andretreatedasadisorderlycrowd.Onesoldier,inhisfear,utteredthesenselesscry,“Cutoff!”thatissoterribleinbattle,andthatwordinfectedthewholecrowdwithafeelingofpanic.

           “Surrounded!Cutoff?We’relost!”shoutedthefugitives.

           Themomentheheardthefiringandthecryfrombehind,thegeneralrealizedthatsomethingdreadfulhadhappenedtohisregiment,andthethoughtthathe,anexemplaryofficerofmanyyears’servicewhohadneverbeentoblame,mightbeheldresponsibleatheadquartersfornegligenceorinefficiencysostaggeredhimthat,forgettingtherecalcitrantcavalrycolonel,hisowndignityasageneral,andaboveallquiteforgettingthedangerandallregardforself-preservation,heclutchedthecrupperofhissaddleand,spurringhishorse,gallopedtotheregimentunderahailofbulletswhichfellaround,butfortunatelymissedhim.Hisonedesirewastoknowwhatwashappeningandatanycostcorrect,orremedy,themistakeifhehadmadeone,sothathe,anexemplaryofficeroftwenty-twoyears’service,whohadneverbeencensured,shouldnotbeheldtoblame.

           HavinggallopedsafelythroughtheFrench,hereachedafieldbehindthecopseacrosswhichourmen,regardlessoforders,wererunninganddescendingthevalley.Thatmomentofmoralhesitationwhichdecidesthefateofbattleshadarrived.

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