They opened out in slender lines of brightly flashing steel.
Our place was on the farther flank,[481] behind some rising ground,
That hid the stirring scene from view; but soon a booming sound
Proclaimed the opening of the fight. Then war’s loud thunder rolled,
And hurtling shells and whistling balls their deadly message told.
We hoped to have a gallant day; our hearts were all aglow;
We longed for one wild, sweeping charge,[482] to chase the flying foe
Our troopers marked the hours glide by, but still no orders came:
They clutched their swords[483] and muttered words ’twere better not to name.
For hours the loud artillery roared—the sun was at its height—