Dick saw ahead of him a vast cloud of dust extending miles from east
to west, marking where the army of Pope pushed on its retreat to the
Rappahannock. There was no need to search for the Northern force.
The newest recruit would know that it was here.
The Southern vanguard was behind them and not many hundred yards away.
Dick distinctly saw the cavalry, riding along the road, and hundreds of
skirmishers pushing through the woods and fields. He judged that the
force did not number many thousands and that it could not think of
assailing the whole Union army. But with the coming of day the vigor of
the attack increased. The skirmishers fired from the shelter of every
tree stump, fence or hillock and the bullets pattered about Dick and his
comrades.
The Union rear guard maintained its answering fire, but as it was
retreating it was at a disadvantage. The regiments began to suffer.
Many men were wounded. The fire became most galling. A sudden charge by
the rearguard was ordered and it was made with spirit. The Southern van
was driven back, but when the retreat was resumed the skirmishers and the
cavalry came forward again, always firing at their retreating foe.
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