“Before any alarm was given, Eugene had established himself at the Hotel de Ville, was master of the great street that separated half the garrison from the other half, had taken possession of the cathedral; and, in fact, the place was captured without a shot being fired.

“Then the uproar began.  Parties of troops, led by natives of the town, seized a large number of officers at their lodgings; and as the alarm spread, the troops seized their muskets and rushed out, only to be sabred and trodden down by the enemy’s cavalry.  I was asleep, and dreaming, when my servant rushed into my room, and said: 

“‘The Germans are in possession of the town, Captain.’

“‘You are a blathering idiot,’ I said.

“‘It’s true, your honour.  Get up and listen.’

“Very unwillingly, I got out of bed and opened the window, and, by the holy poker, I found that Pat was right.  There was a sound of firing, shouting, and screaming, and I heard the gallop of a heavy body of horsemen, and, directly afterwards, a squadron of German cuirassiers came galloping down the street.

“‘It is time for us to be out of this, Pat,’ I said, and jumped into my clothes, quicker than I had ever done before.

“We went downstairs, and I borrowed two overcoats that we found hanging there, and put them on over our uniforms.  Then we went out, by the back door, and ran as hard as we could, keeping through narrow lanes, to the barracks.

“On my way, I had to pass a barrier near a toll gate.  Here there were thirty-six of our men under a sergeant.  Not knowing where the enemy were, or whether they were between me and the barracks, I thought it best to stay there, and of course took the command.  Just as I had done so, I heard the tramping of cavalry, and had the gate shut.  We were just in time, for two hundred and fifty cuirassiers came galloping along.

“Their leader, Baron de Mercy, as soon as the troops began to enter Saint Margaret’s gate, was ordered to dash round and capture the Po gate, through which Vaudemont’s corps would, after crossing the bridge, enter the town.  He shouted to me to surrender, promising us our lives.  I told him that if he wanted the place, he would have to come and take it.  He used language which I need not repeat, but he did not attack us, waiting for the arrival of four hundred infantry, who had been ordered to follow him.  They were some time in coming up, having lost their way, owing to the rascally native who was their guide being killed by a shot from a window.

“I was not sorry for the delay, for it gave us time to look at matters quietly, and prepare for defence.  Another six hundred cavalry now came up, and Mercy placed them so as to cut off, altogether, the French cavalry, who were quartered away to the right; then he ordered the infantry to attack us.