Jackson had formed his plan. There came for a few moments a lull in the
battle which had now lasted nine hours, and then gathering a powerful
reserve he sent them charging through the wood with the bayonet. Dick
saw the massive line of glittering steel coming on at the double quick
and he felt his regiment giving back. The men could not help it.
Physically exhausted and with ammunition running low they slowly yielded
the wood. Many of the youths wept with rage, but although they had lost
thousands in five desperate charges they were compelled to see all five
fail.
Dick, aghast, gazed at Warner through the smoke.
"It's true!" gasped Warner, "we didn't break the trap, Dick. But maybe
they'll succeed off there to the left! Our own commander is there,
and they say that Lee himself has come to the help of Jackson!"
They had been driven back at all points and their own battle was dying,
but off to the left it thundered a while longer, and then as night
suddenly rushed over the field it, too, sank, leaving the hostile forces
on that wing also still face to face, but with the North pushed back.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170