CHAPTER X.
Late in the afternoon succeeding the victory, the European troops, formed into three sides of a hollow square under the peaceful azure sky, witnessed the burial of the killed. And the sad ceremony of the funeral service that was observed over the mortal remains of those fine fellows, who had but just fought and fallen by the side of those now looking on, must have touched every heart there, even were its nature at other times cold and hard as a stone. And doubtless there were many noble fellows of all ranks in that assemblage who, though ordinarily taking little heed of military obsequies, in this last duty due to the honourable slain, whispered a prayer to the gates of Heaven, on behalf of their fallen comrades in arms.
Amidst manifestations of general rejoicing, mingled with sorrow after the action, it was not forgotten that the camp was put in jeopardy by the rebels out-flanking the Brigade. Had they boldly precipitated their attempt to capture it, the disastrous consequences would undoubtedly have been the annihilation of the feeble guard, the indiscriminate massacre of our sick and wounded, the helpless flight of the camp followers, the destruction of the magazine and commissariat
