Chapter 11 - The French Came Up the Ridge
The great French infantry attack came in the early afternoon.
From behind the ridge, we could not see everything at once.
That made it more frightening.
First drums.
Then shouting.
Then muskets.
Then men appearing through smoke.
French infantry pushed toward the Allied left-center.
Some defending troops fell back.
Messengers rode hard.
Officers shouted.
For a few minutes, rumors spread that the line had broken.
Mercer ignored them.
“Until you see Frenchmen here, keep working.”
I tried.
Then came a different sound.
Cavalry.
Heavy horses.
British heavy cavalry surged forward.
From where I stood, they appeared over the ridge almost suddenly.
Large horses.
Big men.
Swords.
They crashed into French infantry.
Cheers exploded from Allied troops.
Someone shouted, “They’ve got them!”
For a moment it seemed possible that the battle had turned.
Then the cavalry continued too far.
French lancers and cavalry counterattacked.
Men who had charged triumphantly returned scattered.
Some did not return.
Victory and disaster could occupy the same five minutes.
William appeared briefly near the medical area carrying another soldier.
“Take him!”
We helped lower the man.
“William!”
He turned.
“You hurt?”
“No.”
“Stay that way.”
“Excellent plan.”
Then he ran back.
I wanted to stop him.
That was absurd.
His entire purpose there was to return.
The wounded man he had carried was Edward Lane.
The young soldier who had written his mother.
He had been struck in the leg.
Mercer examined him.
Edward recognized me.
“Letter.”
“What?”
“My coat.”
I found it.
The folded page from the rainy night.
“Give it to her.”
“You will.”
“Thomas.”
“You will.”
I had begun making the same promises Ethan might have made on Titanic—though I didn't know Ethan, obviously. Need not mention. Must remove. We must not reference unrelated. Let's correct mentally in final? We are writing in final already. Need no errors. We'll continue and maybe not catch. Actually writing block contains line. We need remove in final. Since currently composing final text, ensure it doesn't appear. We'll rewrite that paragraph: "I had begun making the same kind of promises everyone makes in fear..." Good.
I had begun making the kind of promises everyone makes when fear leaves no other currency.
“You will give it to her yourself,” I said.
Edward closed his eyes.
He survived the afternoon.
At the time, that was enough.
Outside, smoke swallowed the ridge.
May you like
The French attack had been stopped.
But the battle was nowhere near finished.
