Colonel and
two Captains were blown to pieces on our side. While this duel was going
on the rebel General was reforming his men for another infantry attack
on our left. At this moment Gen. Pike said to Gen. Lyon:

"'General, I hear guns over to our left.'

"Gen. Lyon listened, and answered:

"'Well, General, I believe you are correct. I think I heard a gun.'

"Pike then believed that Fitzgibbon had made an attack, and would compel
the enemy to withdraw their forces directly on our left. But he was
mistaken. No attack was made except the one by the rebels. Very soon
afterwards they had completed their line, and, knowing the value of a
flank attack, again assaulted in the same manner as before. They came
this time with more caution than before, but with a stronger force.
They opened fire on both sides about the same time. The battle was now
renewed all along the line--cavalry, infantry and artillery. The Unes
wavered occasionally on both sides. The left of our line gave way at
first, but rallied again. Gen. Lyon rode up and down his line, cheering
his men. He led them again and again against the seeming adamantine wall
of rebels, and finally forced them back slowly, holding all the ground
gained. By this time our center was penetrated and broken. Our troops
could not be rallied for some time. The rebels seeing our confusion took
advantage of it, and with the intrepidity of so many demons made another
attack on all parts of the line and forced our whole line some distance
to the rear. It looked for an hour as though all was lost. At one time
our lines seemed to be melting away and becoming disorganized. They were
rallied again, however, and formed a new line about a mile in the rear
of our first. Both armies were exhausted. Fresh troops then to our aid
would have settled the fortunes of the day in our favor But they did
not come. Gen. Pike thought that whoever made the first attack would
be successful, and ordered our line forward. They moved cautiously, but
steadily, attacking and driving the enemy back. He kept falling back
until he occupied his first line and we ours. Our left, however, was
soon struck by a division of fresh troops, and was driven back some
distance through the woods with great loss. My dear son, Gen. Lyon,
here, while rallying his men, was shot through the heart and instantly
killed."

[Illustration: Death of General Lyon 142]

"The old man wept bitterly, and many tears rolled down the cheeks of