onets.

The battle became wild and confused, a turmoil of mingled horse and
foot, of firing and shouting and of glittering swords and bayonets. A
man on a huge horse made a great sweep at Dick's head with a red saber.
The boy dropped to his knees, and felt the broad blade whistle where his
head had been.

The swordsman was borne on by the impetus of his horse, and Dick caught
one horrified glimpse of his face. It was Colonel Kenton, but Dick knew
that he did not know, nor did he ever know. It was never in the lad's
heart to tell his uncle how near he had come unwittingly to shearing off
the head of his own nephew.

The charge of the cavalrymen carried them clear through the Winchester
regiment, but a regiment coming up to the relief drove them back, and
the great mass turning aside a little attacked anew and elsewhere. A
few moments of rest were permitted Dick and his comrades, although the
mighty battle wheeled and thundered all about them.

But their regiment was a melancholy sight. A third of its numbers were
killed or wounded. The ground was torn and trampled, as if it had been
swept by a hurricane of wind and red rain. Dick had one slight wound
on his shoulder and another on his arm, but he did not feel them.
Pennington and Warner both had scratches, but the colonel was unharmed.

"My God," exclaimed Warner, "how did we happen to survive it!"

"I live to boast that I've been ridden over by old Forrest himself,"
said Pennington.

"How do you know it was Forrest?"

"Because his horse was eight feet high and his sword was ten feet long.
He slashed at me with it a hundred times. I counted the strokes."

Then Pennington stopped and laughed hysterically, Dick seized him by the
arm and shook him roughly.

"Stop it, Frank! Stop it!" he cried. "You're yourself, and you're all
right!"

Pennington shook his body, brushed his hands over his eyes and said:

"Thanks, Dick, old man; you've brought me back to myself."

"Get ready!" exclaimed Warner. "The cavalry have sheered off, but the
infantry are coming, a million strong! I can hear their tread shaking
the earth!"

The broken regiment reloaded, drew its lines together and faced the
enemy anew. It seemed to their bloodshot eyes that the whole Southern
army was bearing down upon them. The Southern generals, skillful and
daring, were resolved to break through the Northern left, and the attack
attained all the violence of a convulsion.

The great Southern line,