There was a heavy, sullen, tremendous explosion that snuffed out the sound of the cannon, and paralyzed the French and Prussian gunners' hands, and checked the very beating of their hearts.

Thirty thousand pounds of gunpowder were in that awful explosion.

War itself held its breath, and both armies, like peaceable spectators, gazed wonder-struck, terror-struck.

Great hell seemed to burst through the earth's crust, and to be rushing at heaven.

Huge stones, cannons, corpses, and limbs of soldiers, were seen driven or falling through the smoke.