The fire now became heavy along the whole Union front. All the batteries
on both sides were coming into action, and the earth trembled with the
rolling crash. The smoke rose and hung in clouds over the hills, the
valley and the cornfield. The hot air, surcharged with dust, smoke and
burned gunpowder, was painful and rasping to the throat. The frightful
screaming of the shells filled the air, and then came the hissing of the
bullets like a storm of sleet.
Colonel Winchester and his staff dismounted, giving their horses to an
orderly who led them to the rear. Horses would not be needed for the
present, at least, and they had learned to avoid needless risk.
The attack was coming closer, and the bullets as they swept through their
ranks found many victims. Colonel Winchester ordered his regiment to
kneel and open fire, being held hitherto in reserve. Dick snatched up a
rifle from a soldier who had fallen almost beside him, and he saw that
Warner and Pennington had equipped themselves in like fashion.
A strong gust of wind lifted the smoke before them a little.
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