human
I think, Mr. Grantham, pursued Colonel Forrester, remarking his hesitation,
gpt
I can understand what is passing in your mind. However I beg you will suffer no mere considerations of courtesy to interfere with your inclination. I can promise you will find this place most dismally dull, especially to one who has no positive duty to perform in it. If I may venture to recommend, therefore, you will accompany Captain Jackson. The ride will afford you more subject for diversion than any thing we can furnish here.
human
he pursued, anxious to assign a satisfactory reason for his choice,
gpt
And yet, said Colonel Forrester,
human
he continued,
gpt
I can really see no objection to a candid answer to your question, Colonel, returned Gerald, after a moment's consideration.
human
Each division was, I believe, for I cannot state with certainty, little more than two hundred strong, making in all, perhaps, from six hundred to six hundred and fifty men. In return, may I ask, the number of those who so effectually repulsed us?
gpt
Why I guess only one hundred and fifty, and most all my volunteers,
human
Only one hundred and fifty men!
gpt
That ere's a poser for him,
human
Even so, Mr. Grantham, replied the Colonel.
gpt
One hundred and fifty men of all arms, save artillery, composed my force at the moment when your columns crossed the plain. To-night we muster one hundred and forty nine.
human
Good Heaven! exclaimed Gerald warming into excitement, with vexation and pique,
gpt
Disgraceful, yes--but only in as far as regards those who planned, and provided (or rather ought to have provided) the means of attack. I can assure you, Mr. Grantham, that although prepared to defend my post to the last, when I saw your columns first emerge from the wood, I did not expect, with my small force, to have been enabled to hold the place one hour; for who could have supposed that even a school boy, had such been placed at the head of an army, would have sent forward a storming party, without either fascines to fill a trench, or ladders to ascend from it when filled. Had these been provided, there can be no doubt of the issue, for, to repulse the attempt at escalade in one quarter, I must have concentrated the whole of my little force--and thereby afforded an unopposed entrance to the other columns--or even granting my garrison to have been sufficient to keep two of your divisions in check, there still remained a third to turn the scale of success against us.
human
I can understand the satisfaction with which you discovered this wretched bungling on the part of our leaders,
gpt
No sooner had I detected the deficiency, pursued Colonel Forrester,