Men fell by
hundreds, but neither side yielded. The South could not drive away the
North and the North could not hurl back the South.
The field of battle became a terrible and deadly vortex. The fire of the
opposing lines blazed in the faces of each other. Often they were only
three or four score yards apart. Ewell, Jackson's ablest and most
trusted lieutenant, fell wounded almost to death, and lay long upon the
field. Other Southern generals fell also, and despite their superior
numbers they could not drive back the North.
Dick never had much recollection of the combat, save a reek of fire and
smoke in which men fought. He saw Colonel Winchester's horse pitch
forward on his head and springing from his own he pulled the half-stunned
colonel to his feet. Both leaped aside just in time to avoid Dick's own
falling horse, which had been slain by a shell. Then the colonel ran up
and down the lines of his men, waving his sword and encouraging them to
stand fast.
The Southern lines spread out and endeavored to overlap the Union men,
but they were held back by a deep railroad cut and masses of felled
timber.
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