We did our best to restore the lady's courage and hoped that the bombardment would soon cease.
It was about seven p.m., when all of a sudden, we heard the roar of transports and the shouting of people in the street, and I went out to see what was the matter.

To my horror I saw a battery of artillery galloping into the town.

Civilians were rushing down the pavements on each side of the road, and had even filled the limbers.

I called out to one of the drivers and asked him what it meant.

"It is a general retreat", he shouted.