Northern commander, posted with his
main force just behind the town, knew that Jackson had emerged from the
wilderness and was upon him. Banks not dreaming of Jackson's nearness,
had taken away Kenly's cavalry, and there were only pickets to see.

The Northern commander was brave and capable. He drew up his men rapidly
on a ridge and planted his guns in front, but the storm was too heavy
and swift.

Harry saw the front of the Southern army burst into fire, and then a
deadly sleet of shell and bullets was poured upon the Northern force.
He and Dalton did not have time to rejoin Jackson, but they kept with
Sherburne's force as the group of wild horsemen swung around toward the
Northern rear, intending to cut it off.

Harry heard the Southern bugles playing mellow and triumphant tunes, and
they inflamed his brain. All the little pulses in his head began to beat
heavily. Millions of black specks danced before his eyes, but the air
about them was red. He began to shout with the others. The famous rebel
yell, which had in it the menacing quality of the Indian war whoop, was
already rolling from the half circle of the attacking army, as it rushed
forward.

Kenly hung to his ground, fighting with the courage of desperation, and
holding off for a little while the gray masses that rushed upon him. But
when he heard that the cavalry of Sherburne was already behind him, and
was about to gain a position between him and the river, he retreated
as swiftly as he could, setting fire to all his tents and stores, and
thundering in good order with his remaining force over the bridge.

These Northern men, New Yorkers largely, were good material, like
their brethren of Ohio and West Virginia. Despite the surprise and the
overwhelming rush of Jackson, they stopped to set fire to the bridge,
and they would have closed that avenue of pursuit had not the Acadians
rushed forward, heedless of bullets and flames, and put it out. Yet
the bridge was damaged and the Southern pursuit could cross but slowly.
Kenly, seeing his advantage, and cool and ready, drew up his men on a
hill and poured a tremendous fire upon the bridge.

Harry saw the daring deed of the men from the Gulf coast, and he clapped
his hands in delight. But he had only a moment's view. Sherburne was
curving away in search of a ford and all his men galloped close behind
him.

Near the town the river was deep and swift and the horsemen would be
swept away by it, but willing vill