for the last time. There was not a minute to lose. Down
came the Royal Musketeers of France, full gallop, smash.
through the Scots Fusiliers and into the line in rear,
where most of them were unhorsed and killed. Next, both
sides advanced their cavalry, but without advantage to
either. Then, with a clear front once more, the main
bodies of the French and British infantry rushed together
for a fight to a finish. Nearly all of Wolfe's regiment
were new to war and too excited to hold their fire. When
they were within range, and had halted for a moment to
steady the ranks, they brought their muskets down to the
'present.' The French fell flat on their faces and the
bullets whistled harmlessly over them. Then they sprang
to their feet and poured in a steady volley while the
British were reloading. But the second British volley
went home. When the two enemies closed on each other with
the bayonet, like the meeting of two stormy seas, the
British fought with such fury that the French ranks were
broken. Soon the long white waves rolled back and the
long red waves rolled forward. Dettingen was reached and
the desperate fight was won.

Both the boy-officers wrote home, Edward to his mother;
James to his father. Here is a part of Edward's letter:

My brother and self escaped in the engagement and,
thank God, are as well as ever we were in our lives,
after not only being cannonaded two hours and
three-quarters, and fighting with small arms [muskets
and bayonets] two hours and one-quarter, but lay the