A
cheer went up from Fort Slatter. In an instant the air was thick with
flying missiles, in the midst of which we dimly descried the storming
parties sweeping up the hill, shoulder to shoulder. The shouts of the
leaders, and the snowballs bursting like shells about our ears, made it
very lively.

Not more than a dozen of the enemy succeeded in reaching the crest of
the hill; five of these clambered upon the icy walls, where they were
instantly grabbed by the legs and jerked into the fort. The rest retired
confused and blinded by our well-directed fire.

When General Harris (with his right eye bunged up) said, "Soldiers, I am
proud of you!" my heart swelled in my bosom.

The victory, however, had not been without its price. Six North-Enders,
having rushed out to harass the discomfited enemy, were gallantly
cut off by General Ames and captured. Among these were Lieutenant P.
Whitcomb (who had no business to join in the charge, being weak in the
knees), and Captain Fred Langdon, of General Harris's staff. Whitcomb
was one of the most notable shots on our side, though he was not much
to boast of in a rough-and-tumble fight, owing to the weakness before
mentioned. General Ames put him among the gunners, and we were quickly
made aware of the loss we had sustained, by receiving a frequent artful
ball which seemed to light with unerring instinct on any nose that was
the least bit exposed. I have known one of Pepper's snow-balls, fired
pointblank, to turn a corner and hit a boy who considered himself
absolutely safe.

But we had no time for vain regrets. The battle raged. Already there
were two bad cases of black eye, and one of nosebleed, in the hospital.

It was glorious excitement, those pell-mell onslaughts and hand-to-hand
struggles. Twice we were within an ace of being driven from our
stronghold, when General Harris and his staff leaped recklessly upon the
ramparts and hurled the besiegers heels over head down hill.

At sunset, the garrison of Fort Slatter was still unconquered, and the
South-Enders, in a solid phalanx, marched off whistling "Yankee Doodle,"
while we cheered and jeered them until they were out of hearing.

General Ames remained behind to effect an exchange of prisoners. We held
thirteen of his men, and he eleven of ours. General Ames proposed to
call it an even thing, since many of his eleven prisoners were officers,
while nearly all our thirteen captives were privates. A dispute arising
on this po