midday
The English army , already terribly weak , suffered such serious losses in the fight that there were those who would have at once re-embarked the remnants and raised the siege . Retreat on the morrow of victory would have been craven indeed , but to stand firm with such shattered forces was a bold and hazardous resolve , for which Lord Raglan deserves the fullest credit , and the coming winter , with its terrible trials , was destined to put his self-reliance to the proof . It is time to return more particularly to our friends , who took part in this hard-fought , glorious action . By midday the worse part of the battle was over , and although Colonel Blythe still clung to his Barrier , whence he launched forth small parties to harass the retreating foe , McKay was released of his attendance upon the acting brigadier , and suffered to follow his own general to the rear . They had carried poor old Wilders in a litter to one of the hospital marquees in the rear of the Second Division camp . The aide-de-camp found him perfectly conscious , with two doctors by his side . McKay was allowed to enter into conversation with his chief .