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On a Battle, or "Journalism," or
"Points of View"


"The art of historical writing is rendered the less facile in expression from I know not what personal differences which the most honest will admit into their record of events, and the most observant will permit to colour the picture proceeding from their pens." (Extract from the Judicious Essay of a Gentleman in Holy Orders, author of A History of Religious Differences.)


I

From His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief to the Minister of War of his Brother the Emperor of Patagonia.

(Begins)

I HAVE the honour to report: Upon the morning of Sunday, the 31st, the enemy attacked the left of my position in great force, a little before dawn. I withdrew the XIth, XIIIth, and IInd Brigades, which were here somewhat advanced, covering their retirement with detachments from the First, the Thirty-seventh, and the Forty-second of the Line. The retirement was executed in good order and with small loss, the total extent of which I cannot yet determine, but of which by far the

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