In a few minutes the poor beast dropped dead; he had given no sign of injury until we came to a stop.

A ball had struck the metal scabbard of my sword, just below the hilt, and broken it nearly off; before the battle was over it had broken off entirely.

There were three of us: one had lost a horse, killed; one a hat and one a sword-scabbard.

All were thankful that it was no worse.
After the rain of the night before and the frequent and heavy rains for some days previous, the roads were almost impassable.

The enemy carrying his artillery and supply trains over them in his retreat, made them still worse for troops following.