Such a day as that we have just described was the ----
of September, 1763, when the chief portion of the English
garrison of Detroit issued forth from the fortifications
in which they had so long been cooped up, and in the
presumed execution of a duty undeniably the most trying
and painful that ever fell to the lot of soldier to
perform. The heavy dull movement of the guns, as they
traversed the drawbridge resembled in that confined
atmosphere the rumbling of low and distant thunder; and
as they shook the rude and hollow sounding planks, over
which they were slowly dragged, called up to every heart
the sad recollection of the service for which they had
been required. Even the tramp of the men, as they moved
heavily and measuredly across the yielding bridge, seemed
to wear the character of the reluctance with which they
proceeded on so hateful a duty; and more than one
individual, as he momentarily turned his eye upon the
ramparts, where many of his comrades were grouped together
watching the departure of the detachment, testified by
the significant and mournful movement of his head how
much he envied their exemption from the task.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212