arge, and up the hill
went the cavalry at full speed, firing as they advanced.

The cracking of guns was incessant, and now came a fierce hand-to-hand
conflict, as the first and second companies of the Riverlawns rode
directly upon the front rank of the enemy. Infantry and cavalry splashed
and slipped in the mud, and many a sabre-stroke fell harmlessly upon the
flying ends of a water-soaked army cloak. But the top of the hill was
gained and held, and with a yell of defiance the Confederates fell back
to where their main body was located, at the other end of the Gap. Deck
then halted, to allow the rest of the regiment to overtake him.

It was decided by General Mitchell to follow up every advantage gained,
and soon another advance was ordered, directly along the main road of
Guy's Gap, and for nearly two hours the battle raged, the Confederates
trying vainly to hold their own. At last they broke, and fled directly
to the rifle-pits in front of Shelbyville.

"We've got them pretty well back now," said Artie, to Life Knox, after
the engagement had been going on for the best part of two hours. "I
don't believe General Mitchell will want us to charge those rifle-pits
to-day."

"There is nothing like keeping at them when they have been retreating,"
answered the tall Kentuckian. "By to-morrow they may be braced up
again."

"Yes, but Wheeler is here with a very large force of cavalry, Life."

"So I've heard. Well, we'll obey orders, I reckon, no matter what they
are," concluded the commander of the seventh company.

Orders were not long in coming. It was about six o'clock in the evening,
and now General Granger joined Mitchell with his infantry once more, and
another advance was ordered, with the cavalry again to the front. Away
went the horsemen, straight for the trenches. Many took flying leaps
over the openings, sending the mud into the very faces of the surprised
and bewildered Confederates. The attack was short and sharp, and unable
to withstand the shock of cavalry backed up by Granger's fine infantry,
the enemy threw down their arms and started pell-mell for Shelbyville
proper. The Union forces pursued, and captured a number of Confederates
near the bank of Duck River. The larger portion of the Confederate
cavalry, under General Wheeler, however, escaped by swimming their
animals across the turbulent and swollen stream. At seven o'clock the
town had surrendered, giving up a number of small arms, three cannon,
and