Captain Peel asked if he should bring up his sailors, but was told to hold them in reserve, as the force in the trenches had already been fearfully weakened.
"Stay here," Captain Peel said to the midshipmen.

"I shall go forward a little, but do you remain where you are until I return.

Just lie down behind the crest.

You will get no honor if you are hit here." The lads were not sorry to obey, for a perfect hail of bullets was whistling through the air.

The mist had lifted still farther, and they could obtain a sight of the whole line along which the struggle was raging, scarce a quarter of a mile in front of them.