to march the
regiment up to a position midway between the creek and the hospital on
the field.

The road ran for some distance parallel with the creek, with short
brush on one side and a sparse growth of trees on the other. It was
uneven and the cavalry had torn it up considerably.

The first battalion was well in advance, when, without warning, a
regiment of the enemy poured down on them from the woods. The first
intimation of the proximity of the Confederates was a round from four
companies, which tore through the ranks of Captain Artie Lyon's command,
killing three and wounding twice as many more.

Without waiting for orders from the colonel, who was riding in the rear,
watching Major Truman's battalion, Major Deck Lyon called a halt, and
swung the first and second companies into position. "Take aim--fire!"
was the command, and the bullets clipped hither and thither through the
trees. One Confederate was thus taken unawares and the whole regiment
brought to a halt.

But though repulsed, the enemy did not halt long. In less than a minute
the Confederate colonel gave the command for nearly his whole regiment
to advance, and the leading companies came out of the timber on the
double-quick. A portion of them fired again at the first battalion of
the Riverlawns while the remainder reserved their ammunition for Tom
Belthorpe's four companies.

Colonel Lyon now galloped up and looked inquiringly at his son. "Deck,
what does this mean?"

"We are caught, father, that is what it means," answered the major. "If
you will allow me to say so, I think we had best re-form behind yonder
brush."

"I will take your advice, for you have felt the enemy," said Colonel
Lyon, and lost not an instant in giving the necessary orders. By the
time the shelter of the brush was gained, the firing line of the
Confederates was fairly well defined, and the colonel placed his own
men, four companies abreast, and two companies deep, with the second
half of the second battalion and the second half of the third battalion
in reserve. Ten sharpshooters from Captain Life Knox's command and an
equal number from Captain Ripley's company were detached, to make a
detour and learn the true fighting force of the body thus suddenly
encountered.

The Confederates had advanced as far as the edge of the woods. Between
this and the road lay a small patch of grass, so that the cleared space
between the brush and the first row of timber was a little over a