ns, just as the Southern generals were preparing to
break down the last stand of the North.

Meanwhile, a terrible rumor had been spreading in the ranks of the
Southern troops. The word was passed from soldier to soldier that their
commander, Johnston, whom they had believed invincible, had been killed,
and they did not trust so much Beauregard, who was left in command,
nor those who helped. Their fiery spirit abated somewhat. There was no
decrease of courage, but continuous victory did not seem so easy now.

Confusion invaded the triumphant army also. Beauregard had divided the
leadership on the field among three of his lieutenants. Hardee now urged
on the center, Bragg commanded the right, and Polk, the bishop-general,
led the left. It was Bragg's division that was about to charge the great
battery of siege guns that the alert Webster had manned so quickly. Five
minutes more and Webster would have been too late. Here again were the
fortunes of Grant brought to the very verge of the pit. The Northern
gunboats at the mouth of Lick Creek moved forward a little, and their
guns were ready to support the battery.

The Kentucky regiment was wedged in between the battery and a brigade,
and it was gasping for breath. Colonel Winchester, slightly wounded
in three places, commanded his men to lie down, and they gladly threw
themselves upon the earth.

There was a momentary lull in the battle. Wandering winds caught up the
banks of smoke and carried most of them away. Dick, as he rose a little,
saw the Southern troops massing in the forest for an attack upon their
new position. They seemed to be only a few yards away and he clearly
observed the officers walking along the front of the lines. It flashed
upon him that they must hold these hills or Grant's army would perish.
Where was Buell? Why did he not come? If the Southerners destroyed one
Northern army today they would destroy another tomorrow! They would
break the two halves of the Union force in the west into pieces, first
one and then the other.

"What do you see, Dick?" asked Warner, who was lying almost flat upon
his face.

"The Confederate army is getting ready to wipe us off the face of the
earth! Up with your rifle, George! They'll be upon us in two minutes!"

They heard a sudden shout behind them. It was a glad shout, and well it
might be. Nelson, held back by Buell's orders, had listened long to
the booming of the cannon off in the direction of Shiloh. Nothing