r general was driven
back, losing cannon, although he retook them in a second and desperate
charge. Still no news from McClernand and his fifteen thousand! There
was silence where his guns ought to have been thundering, and Grant
burned with silent anger.

It was noon, and a half-hour past. The Union plans, made with so much
care and judgment, and the movements begun with so much skill and
daring seemed to be going awry. Yet Grant with the tenacity, rather
than lightning intuition, that made him a great general, held on. His
lieutenants clung to their ground and prepared anew for attack.

Dick hurried back to his own regiment, which was still lying in the
thickets, bearing an order for its advance in full strength. Colonel
Winchester, who was standing erect, walking among his men and
encouraging them, received it with joy. Word was speedily passed to all
that the time to win or lose had come. Above the cannon and rifles the
music of the calling trumpets sounded. The fire of both sides suddenly
doubled and tripled in volume.

"Now, boys," shouted Colonel Winchester, waving his sword, "up the hill
and beat 'em!"

Uttering a deep-throated roar the Winchesters rushed forward, firing
as they charged. Dick was carried on the top wave of enthusiasm. He
discharged his pistol into the bank of fire and smoke in front of them
and shouted incessantly. He heard the bullets and every form of missile
from the cannon whining all about them. Leaves and twigs fell upon him.
Many men went down under the deadly fire, but the rush of the regiment
was not checked for an instant.

They passed out of the thicket, swept across the road, and drove the
defenders up the hill. Along the whole line the Union army, fired with
the prospect of success, rushed to the attack. Grant threw every man
possible into the charge.

The Southern army was borne back by the weight of its enemy. All of the
front lines were driven in and the divisions were cut apart. There
was lack of coordination among the generals, who were often unable to
communicate with one another, and Pemberton gave the order to retreat.
The battle was lost to the South, and with it the chance to crush Grant
between two forces.

The Union army uttered a great shout of victory, and Grant urged forward
the pursuit. Bowen, one of the South's bravest generals, was the last to
give way. The Winchester regiment was a part of the force that followed
him, both fighting hard. Dick found himsel