his ground against the assault — now diminishing in vigour
— issued from the gorge, and rallying all the panic-
stricken soldiers who were massed together at this point,
rushed on the enemy. The French were then obliged to
retreat as best they could, not without leaving many of
their men on the field. But it was evident 'that the
boulevard P could hold out no longer. Surrounded by
the enemy's fire, and the outer intrenchment taken, a fresh
assault would place it in the power of the enemy. Its
parapets were ruined, and its three pieces disabled. All
night the besiegers occupied both sides of the intrench-
ments N, L, o, M and kept up an incessant . fire to hinder
the besieged from reinforcing this defence. The Sire de
Montcler determined, though with regret, and only to
avoid a useless sacrifice of life, to give the orders required
for bringing back into the town such pieces of ordnance
as were still serviceable. He was obliged to abandon
the bombard, of which indeed the besiegers could make
no use Two of the five culverins were placed on the
platforms of the great towers, and the three others on
terraces raised behind the curtain, together with three
pieces taken from the reserve.
On the morning of the 2ist of September, the besiegers
found the outwork abandoned ; but in occupying it them-
selves they were exposed to the fire of the two great
bombards of the towers and of ten culverins, which did
not cease to fire on the boulevard and the intrenchment.
