Mounting his horse, and attended by the guard, bearing the arms, he galloped off to General Carpenter's quarters.
“What has been done?” asked Carpenter.
“The business is settled,” replied Lord Forrester. “An hour hence the entire rebel force will surrender in the market-place.”
XIV.—THE TWO GENERALS ENTER THE TOWN.
Amid the sound of trumpets and drums, General Carpenter entered the conquered town at the head of two regiments of dragoons. He was accompanied by the Earl of Carlisle and Lord Lumley, and had with him Colonels Churchill and Molesworth, and a brilliant staff of officers.
As he rode slowly along Church Street, by which avenue he made his entrance, he looked with some curiosity at the blackened remains of the houses, and other evidences of the fight. For a few minutes he halted on the spot where the barricade had been reared, and explained what had been done to the noblemen with him, giving Brigadier Mackintosh full credit for his plan of defence.
“The barriers could not have been better placed,” he said; “and though the town must have succumbed to Wills, it might have held out for another day—perhaps till now.”
With these remarks, with which Churchill and Molesworth entirely concurred, he proceeded towards the market-place, noticing everything as he rode on.