In fact, when I got the report the enemy were already storming the unfortunate handful of burghers and firing fiercely upon them.

If these burghers had only had enough ammunition they would have been able to defend themselves, but as they were obliged to keep up a continuous fire on the storming party their cartridges were speedily exhausted.

When this happened there was nothing for them to do but to fly.

This they did under a fierce fire from three guns, which had been bombarding them continuously since the morning--doing but little damage however, as our burghers were behind the railway embankment.

But now they had to fly over open ground, and on foot, as they had gone down without their horses because there was no safe place for the animals.
If two hundred burghers--the number I had arranged for--had been in the position, there would have been no chance of the enemy's reinforcement being able to drive them out: and in all probability General Barton would have been obliged to surrender.