Rifles instantly flashed through the rain and a sharp fire met them.
Men fell, but others pressed on with all the more zeal, seeing just
beyond the Southern pickets the roofs of a little town. Cannon shot also
whizzed among them, indicating that the Southern pickets were in strong
force.
But the Northern troops, full of vigor and zeal, swept back the pickets
and charged directly upon a larger force in the town beyond. A short and
fierce battle for the possession of the village ensued, but this was only
a Southern outpost, and it was not strong enough to withstand the rush
of the Ohio men and Winchester's regiment. Fighting at every step they
retreated through the village and into the forest beyond, leaving one of
their cannon in the hands of the Union troops.
"An omen of victory," exclaimed Dick, when he saw the captured cannon.
"Careful, Dick! Careful!" said Warner. "Remember that you're not strong
on omens. You're always seeing sure signs of success just before we go
into a big battle."
"If Dick sees visions, and they're visions of the right kind, then he's
right," said Pennington.
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