Jumbled,
as the March over the Rails &c. had shifted the 47th Regt. (that was on
our Right on leaving the low Ground) in such a manner as to divide the
2 Companies on the right of our Battalion from the other 6 on the Left;
but as they were nearly in a Column of Files we were not far asunder:
in this situation we received a Check (tho' with retreating an Inch) from
the very heavy and severe Fire from the Enemy in the Redoubt, and in this
Spot we lost a number of Men, besides the irreparable loss of poor Major
Pitcairne, whose worth I never was sensible of till that day we remaind
about Ten Minutes or near a Quarter of an Hour in this dangerous situation,
where the poor Fellows were kill'd as I was directing the Files how to
level their Fire, at length half mad with standing in this situation &
doing nothing towards Reducing the Redoubt, I requested Colnel Nesbit
to form upon our Left in order that we might advance to the Enemy with
our Bayonets without firing: this was with difficulty perform'd and Captain
Campbell coming up at this Instant, and forming upon our Right we mounted
the Hedges without firing a Shot, and ran directly up the Talus, got into
the Ditch and mounted the Parapet. Here let me stop and mourn for a Moment
the loss of my dear, and amiable Friend Archy Campbell, for here he fell,
poor Ellis also on this fatal spot perform'd his last services to his
Country, Shea rece'd also his mortal wound here, and Chudleigh Ragg, &
Dyer were also wounded in this Attack. I cannot pretend to describe the
Horror of the Scene within the Redoubt when we enter'd it, 'twas streaming
with Blood & strew'd with dead & dying Men the Soldiers stabbing some
and dashing out the Brains of others was a sight too dreadful for me to
dwell any longer on;
therefore
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