Ah, _mon Dieu_, it is incredible how imbecile they would be! Not they alone, I mean, but all young troops.

They are so afraid of being afraid that they would take no precaution.

Ah, I have seen it! In Spain I have seen a battalion of conscripts attack a battery of ten pieces.

Up they went, ah, so gallantly! and presently the hillside looked, from where I stood, like-- how do you say it in English ?--a raspberry tart.

And where was our fine battalion of conscripts?
Then another battalion of young troops tried it, all together in a rush, shouting and yelling; but what will shouting do against a mitraille of grape?
And there was our second battalion laid out on the hillside.