ting for a chance to enter the contest. As the
officer passed along they cried out, 'Why not put us into the fight?'
How is the battle going?' 'Are we driving them?' 'The rebs are being
re-enforced; we can see troops coming down by Pageland.' (The town was
in full view from where they were impatiently waiting for the command
'Forward!')

"Gen. Fitzgibbon paid no attention to the order, except to say, 'Pike
doesn't know what he is doing.'

"The officer said, on returning, Fitzgibbon's men were lying by their
arms, (which were stacked,) and could be put into use instantly.
The General could not believe that the attack would not be made by
Fitzgibbon. The battle now was at white heat--infantry, artillery and
cavalry were all engaged. The lines swayed, sometimes the rebels were
gaining slight advantage, and then the forces on our side. Gen. David
Lyon's command was now all engaged.

"He drove the enemy through the woods where his left first rested. He was
handling his troops well. The commanding General came along where he was
engaged and complimented him very highly for the manner in which he was
succeeding on his part of the line. He then asked David (Gen. Lyon)
if he could hear any firing on his left. Gen. Lyon answered him in the
negative.

"'Is it possible? Are you not mistaken? It seems to me that I can hear
it.9

"'No, Gen. Pike,' said Gen. Lyon; 'you imagine so; for I assure you I
have watched and listened for some movement on my left. There has been
none whatever.'

"Gen. Shunk came up just at that moment and said:

"'Gen. Pike, Gen. Rackett is killed.'

"'Is that so? He was one of my most faithful Generals.'

"He sent an officer back to see that the next officer in rank should
take command at once.

"Gen. Shunk said to Gen. Pike:

"'I fear that re-enforcements for the enemy are coming up. I have just
captured some prisoners, who say they have marched fifteen miles to-day,
and were put into the battle as soon as they arrived. They also say that
the commander of the rebel armies is not more than ten miles away with
at least 20,000 men.'

"'Yes, that may be so; but if Fitzgibbon will attack on the left, as I
have ordered him positively to do, and Gen. Farlin comes up--who is not
farther away than the rebel troops--we will be their equal in numbers.'

"'Do you think Farlin is trying to get here, General?'

"'Why, he knows we are engaged. He is an old soldier and ought to do his
duty.'

"'True enou