Here they were halted for a couple of minutes to gain breath, and then the order was given to climb the precipitous hill, which was some seventy feet high.
It was desperate work, for there were points so steep that the men were obliged to help each other up.

Happily they were in shelter until they got to within twenty feet of its summit, the intervening distance being a steep slope.

At this point they waited until the whole party had come up; and then, with a cheer, dashed up the slope.
The effect was instantaneous.

The enemy, though outnumbering them by five to one, could not for a moment withstand the line of glittering bayonets; and fled precipitately, receiving volley after volley from the Pioneers.

As the situation was commanded by still higher slopes, the men were at once ordered to form a breastwork, from the stones that were lying about thickly.