the valor and fire that distinguished them upon countless
occasions, they were hurling themselves upon their enemy. The fortress
poured out regiment after regiment. Chafing so long upon the defense
Southern youth was now at its best. Attacking, not attacked, the farmer
lads felt the spirit of battle blaze high in their breasts. The long,
terrible rebel yell, destined to be heard upon so many a desperate
field, fierce upon its lower note, fierce upon its higher note, as
fierce as ever upon its dying note, and coming back in echoes still as
fierce, swelled over forest and fort, marsh and river.

The crackling fire of the pickets ceased. They had been driven back in a
few moments upon the army, but the whole regiment of Colonel Winchester
was now up, rifle in hand, and on either side of it, other regiments
steadied themselves also to receive the living torrent.

The little band of Pennsylvanians were on the left of the Kentuckians
and were practically a part of them. Colonel Newcomb and Major Hertford
stood amid their men, encouraging them to receive the shock. But Dick
had time for only a glance at these old comrades of his. The Southern
wave, crested with fire and steel, was rolling swiftly upon them, and as
the Southern troops rushed on they began to fire as fast as they could
pull the trigger, fire and pull again.

Bullets in sheets struck in the Union ranks. Hundreds of men went down.
Dick heard the thud of lead and steel on flesh, and the sudden cries of
those who were struck. It needs no small courage to hold fast against
more than ten thousand men rushing forward at full speed and bent upon
victory or death.

Dick felt all the pulses in his temples beating hard, and he had a
horrible impulse to break and run, but pride kept him firm. As an
officer, he had a small sword, and snatching it out he waved it, while
at the same time he shouted to the men to meet the charge.

The Union troops returned the fire. Thousands of bullets were sent
against the ranks of the rushing enemy. The gunners sprang to their guns
and the deep roar of the cannon rose above the crash of the small arms.
But the Southern troops, the rebel yell still rolling through the woods,
came on at full speed and struck the Union front.

It seemed to Dick that he was conscious of an actual physical shock.
Tanned faces and gleaming eyes were almost against his own. He looked
into the muzzles of rifles, and he saw the morning sun flashing along
the ed