all the officers, it was found impossible to induce the men to climb the obstacles, in the face of such a well-sustained fire, into the fort.

The gun was ordered up, to try to stop the enemy's fire with canister; but so many of the porters on the drag ropes were hit that a panic started, and they bolted precipitately, leaving the gun in the hottest of the fire. Commandant Ponthier, Hambursin, and Collet dragged the gun nearly into position themselves, and, with the timely help afforded by Doorme and a few of his men, the gun was got into position within a hundred yards of the fort. Protected by the effective fire of the piece, the men were withdrawn from under the walls of the fort with comparatively little loss. At this very moment a large body of the enemy appeared on the right flank, having come out of a much larger