That sudden snowstorm was the real cause of our
victory, and, had it not been for that, I still think that we could
not have succeeded. The Russian cannon certainly continued to fire,
but it was wholly at random, and they were taken by surprise when
we suddenly appeared at the side of the ditch, while we were across
before they could gather any force sufficient to defend it.
"After that, panic did the rest. The commander in chief fell early
into our hands. There was no one to give orders, no one to rally
them, and I expect the Russian soldiers gave us credit for having
brought on that storm, to cover our assault, by the aid of malign
spirits.
"Well, lads, and how did you feel when the shots were whistling
about?"
"I did not like it at all, major," Charlie said. "It seemed such a
strange thing, marching along in the thick of that snowstorm,
hearing the rush of cannonballs overhead, and the boom of guns, and
yet be unable to see anything but the rear files of the company in
front."
"It was an uncanny feeling, Charlie. I felt it myself, and was very
grateful that we were hidden from the enemy, who, of course, were
blazing away in the direction in which they had last seen us. We
only lost three killed and twelve wounded, altogether, and I think
those were, for the most part, hit by random shots.
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