Frasers of Philorth > Volume 1

256 THE FRASERS OF FHILORTH, LORDS SALTOW.
trees impede their progress ; for although the enemy made a resolute defence,
they were driven back on every side, and the loud sharp rattle of musketry,
which was heard gradually but steadily advancing, told plainly how successful
was the progress of the British Guards, and, that even in this quarter, where
the enemy had hitherto been most successful, he was encountering a most
vigorous and determined resistance. The French skirmishers attempted to
take advantage of the rivulet, which crosses the wood, to form up, and arrest
the further progress of the attack ; but their stand was only momentary, for
the First Guards, forcing their way across, charged, and, with a cheer, drove
everything before them, till they debouched on the other side. During
this manoeuvre, the Light Companies sustained considerable additional loss
from the hasty and hurried manner in which the Battalion companies were
ordered forward by the Prince of Orange, to support Lord Saltoun, for, upon
entering the wood, and hearing a heavy fire in their front, these imagined it
was the enemy, and commenced firing, and although Lord Saltoun's subaltern,
Charles Ellis, was sent back to explain, it was impossible to stop the firing
till they emerged from the wood, at the other end. From the spot where
the Guards came into the open, they observed the 33d Begiment lying sheltered,
behind a low hedge, about 150 yards to their left rear, while on their right
was the deep ravine or hollow way before referred to, and the Guards had no
sooner readied this spot than they became exposed to the direct fire of the
enemy's artillery and reserve infantry. The thickness of the underwood had
thrown the line into some confusion ; and as it continued to be exposed to
the galling fire of artillery, to which no return could be made, it was deemed
advisable to draw back to the stream in the wood, which was more out of
range ; but even here, under the comparative shelter of the trees, some men
were killed or maimed by the artillery fire that the French continued to
direct upon them.
"The Third Battalion of the First Guards, under Colonel Hon. William
Stuart, had now come up, and the Begiment, after a few moments' repose,
again advanced, being ordered to form line outside, and to the left, of the
wood ; which was at once commenced. As the companies had got mixed in
advancing through the tangled thicket, the men formed up in succession to
the right as they came into the open ; and men of other Begiments who had