Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

392 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. XVI.
June 4. Sabbath. We went into the trenches, and
Providence has been kind to us as it hath always been.
The Lord was very gracious to me in particular, and
put a new song of praise into my mouth : while I was
looking to our batteries firing, there came a musket-
ball from the town and shot through my hat, slanting
close by my head. Thou, O Lord, coverest my head
in time of danger. O make me careful to treasure up
these experiences in my heart. We came out of the
trenches next day with small loss.
June 6. This morning I was hurried out by com-
pany ere I got time for retirement ; and was led away
to a place in the trenches, where we were needlessly
exposed to great and small shot from the town. I
have no peace in these needless exposings of myself.
When I have a call that it is my duty to go into dan-
ger, then I depend upon God for suitable through-
bearing. But where I have no call, I have no such
promise. Riding abroad in the afternoon I went to
our hospital, where was a melancholy sight of wounded
men. May it please God in his mercy to put an end
to this tedious troublesome siege.
June 8. I went through all the imperial attack in
the forenoon. In the evening there was an attack
upon the two ravelines of the town. I went up and
saw it. It was hot work for a while ; but we know
not yet how it has gone. But many poor souls, no
doubt, by this time are hurried into eternity.
June 9. This morning we went into the trenches.
We see that our attack did not succeed so well as we
could have wished, for we were beat back and got not
full possession of the ravelines ; yet we made a lodg-
ment in them both. This attack has cost us dear.