I lost no time in quitting the house, which was full of blood, and where I was sickened by the sight of the bodies of two wretched women who had been killed by the fire through the doors Once outside I met Captain Laine, coming by the ramparts, and carrying out his task of destruction as he went.  He urged me to march with my company on a point in the town where Parseval’s column was keeping up a steady fire, keeping an eye meanwhile on the churches, the towers of which were reported to be armed with cannon.  I set out on this true “course au clocher” and presently got to a large building from which we were fired upon.

We entered.  It was the hospital.  There was another shindy in a big room on the ground floor, full of sick, standing up or kneeling on their beds, scantily covered with red blankets, and all shouting “Gracia!” “Mercy!” It was a horrible sight.  All the poor wretches were more or less far gone in yellow fever.  We went in at one door and hurried out at the other, and at last we got into a long straight street, at the end of which we saw a large house with musketry fire crackling from every window like a great set piece of fireworks.  This huge and solid building, set astride on the ramparts, with doors on to the town, and doors into the country, was called the “la Merced barracks.  Full of troops as it was, and with reinforcements constantly coming in from outside, it had stopped Parseval’s column ever since the morning, and was soon to stop Laine’s as well.  One great door faced the street up which we were going.  Of course it was shut.  We brought a gun to bear on it, and sent a shell into it.  Amid the smoke of the discharge, mingled with the sort of fog that was still hanging, we thought the door was broken in, and rushed forward.  But when we got near we found the cursed thing was intact, and we were forced to throw ourselves back into the side streets for shelter, for in one instant the whole head of our column, six or seven being officers, had been killed or wounded.  We then set to work, sappers, artillerymen, sailors, and all, to throw up a barricade across the street, so as to bring up a battery of guns, and break that door right down before beginning the attack afresh.  But just on this the admiral arrived and the chiefs in command took counsel with him.  Considering half our crews were on shore and that the slightest change in the weather might prevent their getting back on board ship, and considering too that the admiral’s object had been attained, he gave orders for us to re-embark.  The return journey offered no difficulty, except at the very last moment, when nobody was left on the mole but the admiral and a few officers.  Then, a great sound of cheering and of warlike music was heard in the town.  It was Santa Anna coming to drive the Frenchmen into the sea.  Out he came, on horseback, on to the mole, at the head of his men, but the launches from the frigates which were still lying on each side of the jetty fired grape shot into the head of the