The men, intrepid, indeed, both from constitution and from enthusiasm, but not yet broken to habits of military submission, expostulated with Cleland, who commanded them.

They had, they imagined, been recklessly, if not perfidiously, sent to certain destruction.
They were protected by no ramparts: they had a very scanty stock of ammunition: they were hemmed in by enemies.

An officer might mount and gallop beyond reach of danger in an hour; but the private soldier must stay and be butchered.

"Neither I," said Cleland, "nor any of my officers will, in any extremity, abandon you.

Bring out my horse, all our horses; they shall be shot dead." These words produced a complete change of feeling.