Atdaylightthebuglesounded"Rightforward！foursright！"again,andthe300ofusresumedouronwardplodovertherocky,cedar—crownedhills。
　　Inthemeantime,otherthingsweretakingplaceelsewhere。OuresteemedfriendsoftheSixty—fourthVirginia,whowereincampatthelittletownofJonesville,about40milesfromtheGap,hadlearnedofourstartinguptheValleytodrivethemout,andtheyshowedthatwarmreciprocitycharacteristicoftheSouthernsoldier,bymountingandstartingdowntheValleytodriveusout。Nothingcouldbemoreharmonious,itwillbeperceived。Barringthetriflingdivergenceofyewsastowhowastodriveandwhobedriven,therewasperfectaccordinourideas。
　　Ournumberswereaboutequal。IfIweretosaythattheyconsiderablyoutnumberedus,Iwouldbefollowingtheuniversalprecedent。
　　Nosoldier—highorlow—everadmittedengaginganequalorinferiorforceoftheenemy。
　　About9o'clockinthemorning——Sunday——theyrodethroughthestreetsofJonesvilleontheirwaytogiveusbattle。ItwasherethatmostofthemembersoftheRegimentlived。Everyman,womanandchildinthetownwasrelatedinsomewaytonearlyeveryoneofthesoldiers。
　　Thewomenturnedouttowavetheirfathers,husbands,brothersandloversontovictory。Theoldmengatheredtogivepartingcounselandencouragementtotheirsonsandkindred。TheSixty—fourthrodeawaytowhathopetoldthemwouldbeagloriousvictory。
　　Atnoonwearestillstragglingalongwithoutmuchattemptatsoldierlyorder,overtherough,frozenhill—sides。Itisyetbitterlycold,andmenandhorsesdrawthemselvestogether,asiftoexposeaslittlesurfaceaspossibletotheunkindelements。Notawordhadbeenspokenbyanyoneforhours。
　　Theheadofthecolumnhasjustreachedthetopofthehill,andtherestofusarestrungalongforaquarterofamileorsoback。
　　Suddenlyafewshotsringoutuponthefrostyairfromthecarbinesoftheadvance。Thegeneralapathyisinstantly,replacedbykeenattention,andtheboysinstinctivelyrangethemselvesintofours——thecavalryunitofaction。TheMajor,whoisridingaboutthemiddleofthefirstCompany——I——dashestothefront。Aglanceseemstosatisfyhim,forheturnsinhissaddleandhisvoiceringsout:
　　"CompanyI！FOURSLEFTINTOLINE！——MARCH！！"
　　TheCompanyswingsaroundonthehill—toplikeagreat,jointedtoysnake。Asthefourscomeintolineonatrot,weseeeverymandrawhissaberandrevolver。TheCompanyraisesamightycheeranddashesforward。
　　CompanyKpressesforwardtothegroundCompanyIhasjustleft,thefourssweeparoundintoline,thesabersandrevolverscomeoutspontaneously,themencheerandtheCompanyflingsitselfforward。
　　AllthistimeweofCompanyLcanseenothingexceptwhatthecompaniesaheadofusaredoing。Wearewroughtuptothehighestpitch。AsCompanyKclearsitsground,wepressforwardeagerly。Nowwegointolinejustasweraisethehill,andasmyfourcomesaround,Icatchahurriedglimpsethroughariftinthesmokeofalineofbutternutandgraycladmenahundredyardsorsoaway。Theirgunsareattheirfaces,andIseethesmokeandfirespurtfromthemuzzles。Atthesameinstantoursabersandrevolversaredrawn。Weshoutinafrenzyofexcitement,andthehorsesspringforwardasifshotfromabow。
　　IseenothingmoreuntilIreachtheplacewheretheRebellinestood。
　　ThenIfinditisgone。Lookingbeyondtowardthebottomofthehill,I
　　seethewoodsfilledwithRebels,flyingindisorderandourmenyellinginpursuit。ThisistheportionofthelinewhichCompaniesIandK
　　struck。Hereandtherearemeninbutternutclothing,proneonthefrozenground,woundedanddying。Ihavejusttimetonoticecloselyonemiddle—agedmanlyingalmostundermyhorse'sfeet。Hehasreceivedacarbinebulletthroughhisheadandhisbloodcolorsagreatspacearoundhim。
　　Onebraveman,ridingaroanhorse,attemptstorallyhiscompanions。
　　Hehaltsonalittleknoll,wheelshishorsetofaceus,andwaveshishattodrawhiscompanionstohim。Atall,lankfellowinthenextfourtome——whogoesbythenicknameof"'LevenYards"——aimshiscarbineathim,and,withoutcheckinghishorse'space,fires。TheheavySharpe'sbullettearsagapingholethroughtheRebel'sheart。Hedropsfromhissaddle,hislife—bloodrunsdowninlittlerillsoneithersideoftheknoll,andhisriderlesshorsedashesawayinapanic。
　　AtthisinstantcomesanorderfortheCompanytobreakupintofoursandpressonthroughtheforestinpursuit。Myfourtrotsofftotheroadattheright。ARebelbugler,whohagbeencutoff,leapshishorseintotheroadinfrontofus。Weallfireathimontheimpulseofthemoment。Hefallsfromhishorsewithabulletthroughhisback。CompanyM,whichhasremainedincolumnasareserve,isnowthunderingupclosebehindatagallop。Itsseventy—fivepowerfulhorsesarespurningthesolidearthwithsteel—cladhoofs。Themanwillbegroundintoashapelessmassifleftwherehehasfallen。Wespringfromourhorsesanddraghimintoafencecorner;thenremountandjoininthepursuit。
　　ThishappenedonthesummitofChestnutRidge,fifteenmilesfromJonesville。
　　LateintheafternoontheanxiouswatchersatJonesvillesawasinglefugitiveurginghiswell—nighspenthorsedowntheslopeofthehilltowardtown。Inanagonyofanxietytheyhurriedforwardtomeethimandlearnhisnews。
　　ThefirstmessengerwhorushedintoJob'spresencetoannouncethebeginningoftheseriesofmisfortuneswhichweretoafflicttheuprightmanofUzisatypeofallthecowardswho,beforeorsincethen,havebeenthefirsttospeedawayfromthefieldofbattletospreadthenewsofdisaster。Hesaid:
　　AndtheSabeansfelluponthem,andtookthemaway;yea,theyhaveslaintheservantswiththeedgeofthesword;andIonlyamescapedalonetotellthee。
　　SothisfleeingVirginianshoutedtohisexpectantfriends:
　　"Theboysareallcuttopieces;I'mtheonlyonethatgotaway。"
　　Theterribleextentofhiswordswasbeliedalittlelater,bytheappearanceonthedistantsummitofthehillofaconsiderablemoboffugitives,flyingattheutmostspeedoftheirnearlyexhaustedhorses。
　　Astheycameondownthehillasalmostequallydisorganizedcrowdofpursuersappearedonthesummit,yellinginvoiceshoarsewithcontinuedshouting,andpouringanincessantfireofcarbineandrevolverbulletsuponthehaplessmenoftheSixty—fourthVirginia。
　　Thetwomassesofmensweptonthroughthetown。Beyondit,theroadbranchedinseveraldirections,thepursuedscatteredoneachofthese,andtheworn—outpursuersgaveupthechase。
　　ReturningtoJonesville,wetookanaccountofstock,andfoundthatwewere"ahead"onehundredandfifteenprisoners,nearlythatmanyhorses,andaconsiderablequantityofsmallarms。Howmanyoftheenemyhadbeenkilledandwoundedcouldnotbetold,astheywerescatteredoverthewholefifteenmilesbetweenwherethefightoccurredandthepursuitended。Ourlosswastrifling。
　　Comparingnotesaroundthecamp—firesintheevening,wefoundthatoursuccesshadbeenowingtotheMajor'sinstinct,hisgraspofthesituation,andthesoldierlywayinwhichhetookadvantageofit。WhenhereachedthesummitofthehillhefoundtheRebellinenearlyformedandreadyforaction。Amoment'shesitationmighthavebeenfataltous。
　　AthiscommandCompanyIwentintolinewiththethought—likecelerityoftrainedcavalry,andinstantlydashedthroughtherightoftheRebelline。CompanyKfollowedandplungedthroughtheRebelcenter,andwhenweofCompanyLarrivedontheground,andchargedtheleft,thelastvestigeofresistancewassweptaway。Thewholeaffairdidnotprobablyoccupymorethanfifteenminutes。
　　ThiswasthewayPowell'sValleywasopenedtoourforagers。
　　CHAPTERIII。
　　LIVINGOFFTHEENEMY——REVELINGINTHEFATNESSOFTHECOUNTRY——SOLDIERLY
　　PURVEYINGANDCAMPCOOKERY——SUSCEPTIBLETEAMSTERSANDTHEIRTENDENCYTO
　　FLIGHTINESS——MAKINGSOLDIER'SBED。
　　Forweekswerodeupanddown——hitherandthither——alongthelengthofthenarrow,granite—walledValley;betweenmountainssoloftythatthesunlaboredslowlyovertheminthemorning,occupyinghalftheforenooningettingtowherehisrayswouldreachthestreamthatranthroughtheValley'scenter。PerpetualshadowreignedonthenorthernandwesternfacesofthesetoweringNights——notenoughwarmthandsunshinereachingtheminthecoldmonthstocheckthegrowthoftheever—lengtheningicicleshangingfromthejuttingcliffs,ormeltthearabesquefrost—
　　formswithwhichthemanydashingcascadesdecoratedtheadjacentrocksandshrubbery。Occasionallywewouldseewheresomelittlestreamrandownoverthefaceofthebare,blackrocksformanyhundredfeet,andthenitscoursewouldbealongbandofsheenywhite,likeagreatrich,spotlessscarfofsatin,festooningthewar—grimedwallsofsomeoldcastle。
　　OurdutynowwastobreakupanynucleiofconcentrationthattheRebelsmightattempttoform,andtoguardourforagers——thatis,theteamstersandemployeeoftheQuartermaster'sDepartment——whowereloadinggrainintowagonsandhaulingitaway。
　　Thislastwasanarduoustask。ThereisnomanintheworldthatneedsasmuchprotectionasanArmyteamster。HeisworseinthisrespectthanaNewEnglandmanufacturer,oranoldmaidonhertravels。Heisgiventosuddenfearsandcauselesspanics。VeryinnocentcedarshaveafashionofassuminginhiseyestheappearanceofdesperateRebelsarmedwithmurderousguns,andthereisnotellingwhatmomentarockmaytakesuchaformastofreezehisyoungblood,andmakeeachparticularhairstandonendlikequillsuponthefretfulporcupine。Onehastobeparticularaboutsnappingcapsinhisneighborhood,andgivetohimcarefulwarningbeforedischargingacarbinetocleanit。Hisfirstimpulse,whenanythingoccurstojaruponhisdelicatenerves,istocuthiswheel—mulelooseandretirewiththeprecipitationofamanhavinganappointmenttokeepandbeingbehindtime。Thereisnomanwhocangetasmuchspeedoutofamuleasateamsterfallingbackfromtheneighborhoodofheavyfiring。
　　Thisnervoustremorwasnotpeculiartotheengineersofourtransportationdepartment。ItwasnoticeableinthegentrywhocartedthescantyprovisionsoftheRebels。OneofWheeler'scavalrymentoldmethatthebrigadetowhichhebelongedwasoneeveningorderedtomoveatdaybreak。Thenightwasrainy,anditwasthoughtbesttodischargethegunsandreloadbeforestarting。Unfortunately,itwasneglectedtoinformtheteamstersofthis,andatthefirstdischargetheyvarnishedfromthescenewithsuchenergythatitwasoveraweekbeforethebrigadesucceededingettingthembackagain。
　　Whyassociationwiththemuleshouldthusdemoralizeaman,hasalwaysbeenapuzzletome,forwhilethemule,asCol。Ingersollhasremarked,isananimalwithoutprideofancestryorhopeofposterity,heisstillnotacowardbyanymeans。Itisbeyonddisputethatafull—grownandactivelionessonceattackedamuleinthegroundsoftheCincinnatiZoologicalGarden,andwasignominiouslybeaten,receivinginjuriesfromwhichshediedshortlyafterward。
　　Theapparitionofabadly—scaredteamsterurgingoneofhiswheelmulesatbreak—neckspeedovertheroughground,yellingforprotectionagainst"themJohnnies,"whohadappearedonsomehilltopinsightofwherehewasgatheringcorn,wasanalmosthourlyoccurrence。Ofcoursethesquaddispatchedtohisassistancefoundnobody。
　　Still,therewereplentyofRebelsinthecountry,andtheyhungaroundourfront,exchangingshotswithusatlongtaw,andoccasionallytreatingustoavolleyatcloserange,fromsomefavorablepoint。
　　Butwehadthedecidedadvantageofthematthisgame。OurSharpe'scarbinesweremuchsuperiorineverywaytotheirEnfields。Theywouldshootmuchfarther,andagreatdealmorerapidly,sothattheVirginianswerenotlongindiscoveringthattheywerelosingmorethantheygainedinthisuselesswarfare。
　　Oncetheyplayedasharppracticaljokeuponus。CopperRiverisadeep,exceedinglyrapidmountainstream,withaveryslipperyrockybottom。
　　TheRebelsblockadedafordinsuchawaythatitwasalmostimpossibleforahorsetokeephisfeet。Thentheytolledusoffinpursuitofasmallpartytothisford。Whenwecametoittherewasalightlineofskirmishersontheoppositebank,whopoppedawayatusindustriously。
　　Ourboysformedinline,gavethecustomary,cheer,anddashedintocarrythefordatacharge。Astheydidsoatleastone—halfofthehorseswentdownasiftheywereshot,androlledovertheirridersintheswiftrunning,ice—coldwaters。TheRebelsyelledatriumphantlaugh,astheygallopedaway,andthelaughwasre—echoedbyourfellows,whowereasquicktoseethejokeastheotherside。Wetriedtogetevenwiththembyasharpchase,butwegaveitupafterafewmiles,withouthavingtakenanyprisoners。
　　But,afterall,therewasmuchtomakeoursojournintheValleyendurable。Thoughwedidnotwearfinelinen,wefaredsumptuously——forsoldiers——everyday。Thecavalrymanisalwayschargedbytheinfantryandartillerywithhavingafinerandsurerscentforthegoodthingsinthecountrythananyothermanintheservice。Heisbelievedtohaveaninstinctthatwillunfailinglyleadhim,inthedankestnight,totheroostingplaceofthemostdesirablepoultry,andafterhehascampedinaneighborhoodforawhileitwouldrequireaclosechemicalanalysistofindatraceofham。
　　Wedidourbesttosustainthereputationofourarmoftheservice。
　　Wefoundthemostdelicioushamspackedawayintheash—houses。
　　Theyweresmall,andhadthat;exquisitenuttyflavor,peculiartomast—
　　fedbacon。Thentherewasanabundanceofthedelightfullittleappleknownas"romanites。"Therewereturnips,pumpkins,cabbages,potatoes,andtheusualproductsofthefieldinplenty,evenprofusion。Thecorninthefieldsfurnishedanamplesupplyofbreadstuff。Wecarriedittoandgrounditinthequaintest,rudestlittlemillsthatcanbeimaginedoutsideoftheprimitiveaffairsbywhichthewomenofArabiacoarselypowderthegrainforthefamilymeal。Sometimesthemillwouldconsistonlyoffourstoutpoststhrustintothegroundattheedgeofsomestream。Alineofbouldersreachingdiagonallyacrossthestreamansweredforadam,bydivertingaportionofthevolumeofwatertoachannelattheside,whereitmovedaclumsilyconstructedwheel,thatturnedtwosmallstones,notlargerthangood—sizedgrindstones。Overthiswouldbeashedmadebyrestingpolesinforkedpostsstuckintotheground,andcoveringthesewithclapboardsheldinplacebylargeflatstones。Theyresembledthemillsofthegods——ingrindingslowly。
　　Itusedtoseemthatahealthymancouldeatthemealfasterthantheygroundit。
　　Butwhatsavorymealsweusedtoconcoctaroundthecampfires,outoftherichmaterialscollectedduringtheday'sride！Suchstews,suchsoups,suchbroils,suchwonderfulcommixturesofthingsdiverseinnatureandantagonisticinpropertiessuchdaringculinaryexperimentsincombiningmaterialsneverbeforeattemptedtobecombined。TheFrenchsayofuntastefularrangementofhuesindress"thatthecolorsswearateachother。"Ihaveoftenthoughtthesamethingoftheheterogeneitiesthatgotomakeupasoldier'spot—afeu。
　　Butforallthattheyneverfailedtotastedeliciouslyafteralongday'sride。Theywerewasheddownbyatincupfulofcoffeestrongenoughtotanleather,thencameabrier—woodpipefuloffragrantkinnikinnic,andaseatbytheruddy,sparklingfireofaromaticcedarlogs,thatdiffusedatoncewarmth,andspicy,pleasingincense。Achatovertheeventsoftheday,andtheprospectofthemorrow,thewonderfulmeritsofeachman'shorse,andthedisgustingirregularitiesofthemailsfromhome,lasteduntilthesilver—voicedbuglerangoutthesweet,mournfultattoooftheRegulations,totheflowingcadencesofwhichtheboyshadarrangedtheabsurdlyincongruouswords:
　　"S—a—y——D—e—u—t—c—h—e—r—will—youfight—mitSigel！
　　Zwei—glassoflager—bier,ja！ja！JA！
　　Wordswerefittedtoallthecalls,whichgenerallyboresomerelativenesstothesigmal,butthesewereas,destituteofcongruityasofsense。
　　Tattooalwaysproducesanimpressionofextremeloneliness。Asitsweird,half—availingnotesringoutandareansweredbackfromthedistantrocksshroudedinnight,andperhapsconcealingthelurkingfoe,thesoldierremembersthatheisfarawayfromhomeandfriends——deepintheenemy'scountry,encompassedoneveryhandbythoseindeadlyhostilitytohim,whoareperhapseventhenmaturingthepreparationsforhisdestruction。
　　Asthetattoosounds,theboysarisefromaroundthefire,visitthehorseline,seethattheirhorsesaresecurelytied,rubofffromthefetlocksandlegssuchspecksofmudasmayhaveescapedthecleaningintheearlyevening,andifpossible,smuggletheirfaithfulfour—footedfriendsafewearsofcorn,oranotherbunchofhay。
　　Ifnottootired,andeverythingelseisfavorable,thecavalrymanhaspreparedhimselfacomfortablecouchforthenight。Healwayssleepswithachum。Thetwohavegatheredenoughsmalltuftsofpineorcedartomakeacomfortable,springy,mattress—likefoundation。Onthisislaidtheponchoorrubberblanket。Nextcomesoneoftheirovercoats,anduponthistheylie,coveringthemselveswiththetwoblanketsandtheotherovercoat,theirfeettowardsthefire,theirbootsatthefoot,andtheirbelts,withrevolver,saberandcarbine,atthesidesofthebed。
　　Itissurprisingwhatanamountofcomfortamancangetoutofsuchacouch,andhow,atanalarm,hespringsfromit,almostinstantlydressedandarmed。
　　Halfanhouraftertattoothebugleringsoutanothersadlysweetstrain,thathathadyingsound。
　　CHAPTERIV。
　　ABITTERCOLDMORNINGANDAWARMAWAKENING——TROUBLEALLALONGTHELINE——
　　FIERCECONFLICTS,ASSAULTSANDDEFENSE——PROLONGEDANDDESPERATESTRUGGLE
　　ENDINGWITHASURRENDER。
　　Thenighthadbeenthemostintenselycoldthatthecountryhadknownformanyyears。Peachandothertendertreeshadbeenkilledbythefrostyrigor,andsentinelshadbeenfrozentodeathinourneighborhood。Thedeepsnowonwhichwemadeourbeds,theicycoveringofthestreamsnearus,thelimbsofthetreesaboveus,hadbeencrackingwithloudnoisesallnight,fromthebittercold。
　　WewerecampedaroundJonesville,eachofthefourcompanieslyingononeoftheroadsleadingfromthetown。CompanyLlayaboutamilefromtheCourtHouse。Onaknollattheendofthevillagetowardus,andatapointwheretworoadsseparated,——oneofwhichledtous,——stoodathree—
　　inchRodmanrifle,belongingtotheTwenty—secondOhioBattery。Itanditssquadofeighteenmen,undercommandofLieutenantAlgerandSergeantDavis,hadbeensentuptousafewdaysbeforefromtheGap。
　　Thecomfortlessgraydawnwascrawlingsluggishlyoverthemountain—tops,asifnumbastheanimalandvegetablelifewhichhadbeenshrinkingallthelonghoursunderthefiercechill。
　　TheMajor'sbuglerhadsalutedthemornwiththelively,ringingtarr—r—
　　r—a—ta—araoftheRegulationreveille,andthecompanybuglers,asfastastheycouldthawouttheirmouth—pieces,wereansweringhim。
　　Ilayonmybed,dreadingtogetup,andyetnotanxioustoliestill。
　　Itwasaquestionwhichwouldbethemoreuncomfortable。Iturnedover,toseeiftherewasnotanotherpositioninwhichitwouldbewarmer,andbeganwishingforthethousandthtimethattheeffortsfortheameliorationofthehorrorsofwarfarewouldprogresstosuchapointastoputastoptoallWintersoldiering,sothatafellowcouldgohomeassoonascoldweatherbegan,sitaroundacomfortablestoveinacountrystore;andtellcampstoriesuntiltheSpringwasfarenoughadvancedtolethimgobacktothefrontwearingastrawhatandalinenduster。
　　ThenIbeganwonderinghowmuchlongerIwoulddareliethere,beforetheOrderlySergeantwoulddrawmeoutbytheheels,andaccompanytheoperationwithnumerousunkindandsulphurousremarks。
　　Thiscogitation,wasabruptlyterminatedbyhearinganexcitedshoutfromtheCaptain:
　　"TurnOut！——COMPANYL！！TURNOUT！！！"
　　Almostatthesameinstantrosethatshrill,piercingRebelyell,whichonewhohasoncehearditrarelyforgets,andthiswasfollowedbyacrashingvolleyfromapparentlyaregimentofrifles。
　　Iarose—promptly。
　　Therewasevidentlysomethingofmoreinterestonhandthantheweather。
　　Cap,overcoat,bootsandrevolverbeltwenton,andeyesopenedataboutthesameinstant。
　　AsIsnatchedupmycarbine,Ilookedoutinfront,andthewholewoodsappearedtobefullofRebels,rushingtowardus,allyellingandsomefiring。MyCaptainandFirstLieutenanthadtakenuppositionontherightfrontofthetents,andpartoftheboyswererunninguptoformalinealongsidethem。TheSecondLieutenanthadstationedhimselfonaknollontheleftfront,andaboutathirdofthecompanywasrallyingaroundhim。
　　Mychumwasasilent,sententioussortofachap,andasweranforwardtotheCaptain'sline,heremarkedearnestly:
　　"Well:thisbeatshell！"
　　Ithoughthehadaclearideaofthesituation。
　　Allthisoccupiedaninappreciablyshortspaceoftime。TheRebelshadnotstoppedtoreload,butwererushingimpetuouslytowardus。Wegavethemahot,rollingvolleyfromourcarbines。Manyfell,morestoppedtoloadandreply,butthemasssurgedstraightforwardatus。Thenourfiregrewsodeadlythattheyshowedadispositiontocoverthemselvesbehindtherocksandtrees。Againtheywereurgedforward;andabodyofthemheadedbytheirColonel,mountedonawhitehorse,pushedforwardthroughthegapbetweenusandtheSecondLieutenant。TheRebelColoneldasheduptotheSecondLieutenant,andorderedhimtosurrender。Thelatter—agallantoldgraybeard——cursedtheRebelbitterlyandsnappedhisnowemptyrevolverinhisface。TheColonelfiredandkilledhim,whereuponhissquad,withtwoofitsSergeantskilledandhalfitsnumbersontheground,surrendered。
　　TheRebelsinourfrontandflankpresseduswithequalcloseness。
　　Itseemedasifitwasabsolutelyimpossibletochecktheirrushforaninstant,andaswesawthefateofourcompanionstheCaptaingavethewordforeverymantolookoutforhimself。Weranbackalittledistance,sprangoverthefenceintothefields,andrushedtowardTown,theRebelsencouragingustomakegoodtimebyasharpfireintoourbacksfromthefence。
　　Whilewewerevainlyattemptingtostemtheonsetofthecolumndashedagainstus,bettersuccesswassecuredelsewhere。Anothercolumnsweptdowntheotherroad,uponwhichtherewasonlyanoutlyingpicket。Thishadtocomebackontherunbeforetheoverwhelmingnumbers,andtheRebelsgallopedstraightforthethree—inchRodman。CompanyMwasthefirsttogetsaddledandmounted,andnowcameupatasteady,swinginggallop,intwoplatoons,saberandrevolverinhand,andledbytwoSergeants—KeyandMcWright,——printerboysfromBloomington,Illinois。
　　TheydivinedtheobjectoftheRebeldash,andstrainedeverynervetoreachthegunfirst。TheRebelsweretoonear,andgotthegunandturnedit。Beforetheycouldfireit,CompanyMstruckthemheadlong,buttheytooktheterribleimpactwithoutflinching,andforafewminutestherewasfiercehand—to—handwork,withswordandpistol。
　　TheRebelleadersankunderahalf—dozensimultaneouswounds,andfelldeadalmostunderthegun。Mendroppedfromtheirhorseseachinstant,andtheriderlesssteedsfledaway。ThescaleofvictorywasturnedbytheMajordashingagainsttheRebelleftflankattheheadofCompanyI,andaportionoftheartillerysquad。TheRebelsgavegroundslowly,andwerepackedintoadensemassinthelaneupwhichtheyhadcharged。
　　Aftertheyhadbeencrowdedback,sayfiftyyards,wordwaspassedthroughourmentoopentotherightandleftonthesidesoftheroad。
　　Theartillerymenhadturnedthegunandloadeditwithasolidshot。
　　Instantlyawidelaneopenedthroughourranks;themanwiththelanyarddrewthefatalcord,fireburstfromtheprimerandthemuzzle,thelonggunsprangupandrecoiled,andthereseemedtobeademoniacyellinitsear—splittingcrash,astheheavyballleftthemouth,andtoreitsbloodywaythroughthebodiesofthestrugglingmassofmenandhorses。
　　Thisendedit。TheRebelsgavewayindisorder,andourmenfellbacktogivethegunanopportunitytothrowshellandcanister。
　　TheRebelsnowsawthatwewerenottoberunoverlikeafieldofcornstalks,andtheyfellbacktodevisefurthertactics,givingusabreathingspelltogetourselvesinshapefordefense。
　　Thedullestcouldseethatwewereinadesperatesituation。Criticalpositionswerenonewexperiencetous,astheyneveraretoacavalrycommandafterafewmonthsinthefield,but,thoughthepitchergoesoftentothewell,itisbrokenatlast,andourtimewasevidentlyathand。ThenarrowthroatoftheValley,throughwhichlaytheroadbacktotheGap,washeldbyaforceofRebelsevidentlymuchsuperiortoourown,andstronglyposted。Theroadwasaslender,tortuousone,windingthroughrocksandgorges。Nowherewasthereroomenoughtomovewithevenaplatoonfrontagainsttheenemy,andthisprecludedallchancesofcuttingout。Thebestwecoulddowasaslow,difficultmovement,incolumnoffours,andthiswouldhavebeensuicide。OntheothersideoftheTowntheRebelsweremassedstronger,whiletotherightandleftrosethesteepmountainsides。Wewerecaught—trappedassurelyasarateverwasinawiretrap。
　　Aswelearnedafterwards,awholedivisionofcavalry,undercommandofthenotedRebel,MajorGeneralSamJones,hadbeensenttoeffectourcapture,tooffsetinameasureLongstreet'srepulseatKnoxville。
　　Agrossoverestimateofournumbershadcausedthesendingofsolargeaforceonthiserrand,andtheroughtreatmentwegavethetwocolumnsthatattackedusfirstconfirmedtheRebelGeneral'sideasofourstrength,andledhimtoadoptcautioustactics,insteadofcrushingusoutspeedily,byadeterminedadvanceofallpartsofhisencirclinglines。
　　Thelullinthefightdidnotlastlong。AportionoftheRebellineontheeastrushedforwardtogainamorecommandingposition。
　　Weconcentratedinthatdirectionanddroveitback,theRodmanassistingwithacoupleofwell—aimedshells。——ThiswasfollowedbyasimilarbutmoresuccessfulattemptbyanotherpartoftheRebelline,andsoitwentonallday——theRebelsrushingupfirstonthisside,andthenonthat,andwe,hastilycollectingattheexposedpoints,seekingtodrivethemback。Wewerefrequentlysuccessful;wewereontheinside,andhadtheadvantageoftheshortinteriorlines,sothatourfewmenandourbreech—loaderstoldtoagoodpurpose。
　　Therewerefrequentcrisesinthestruggle,thatatsometimesgaveencouragement,butneverhope。OnceadeterminedonsetwasmadefromtheEast,andwasmetbytheequallydeterminedresistanceofnearlyourwholeforce。Ourfirewassogallingthatalargenumberofourfoescrowdedintoahouseonaknoll,andmakingloopholesinitswalls,beganreplyingtousprettysharply。Wesentwordtoourfaithfulartillerists,whotrainedthegunuponthehouse。Thefirstshellscreamedovertheroof,andburstharmlesslybeyond。Wesuspendedfiretowatchthenext。Itcrashedthroughtheside;foraninstantallwasdeathlystill;wethoughtithadgoneonthrough。Thencamearoarandacrash;theclapboardsflewofftheroof,andsmokepouredout;panic—
　　strickenRebelsrushedfromthedoorsandsprangfromthewindows—likebeesfromadisturbedhive;theshellhadburstamongtheconfinedmassofmeninside！Weafterwardsheardthattwenty—fivewerekilledthere。
　　Atanothertimeaconsiderableforceofrebelsgainedthecoverofafenceineasyrangeofourmainforce。CompaniesLandKwereorderedtochargeforwardonfootanddislodgethem。Awaywewent,underafirethatseemedtodropamanateverystep。AhundredyardsinfrontoftheRebelswasalittlecover,andbehindthisourmenlaydownasifbyoneimpulse。Thencameaclose,desperateduelatshortrange。ItwasaquestionbetweenNorthernpluckandSoutherncourage,astowhichcouldstandthemostpunishment。Lyingasflataspossibleonthecrustedsnow,onlyraisingtheheadorbodyenoughtoloadandaim,themenonbothsides,withtheirteethset,theirglaringeyesfastenedonthefoe,theirnervesastenseastightly—drawnsteelwires,rainedshotoneachotherasfastasexcitedhandscouldcrowdcartridgesintothegunsanddischargethem。