But the Southern brigades gave them no chance.
Their leaders continually urged on the pursuit. The broken regiments
fell back still loading and firing, and they would soon be on the banks
of the creek again.
After a time that seemed almost infinite, Dick heard the roar of shells
over their heads. In their retreat the regiments had come upon another
Northern division which opposed a strong resistance to the Southern
advance. Winchester's men welcomed their friends joyfully. But the
fresh troops could not stop the advance. The fire of the Southern cannon
and rifles was so deadly that nearly all the Northern artillerymen were
killed around their guns.
The North again gave ground, seeking point after point for fresh
resistance. They rallied strongly around a building used as a hospital,
and filled it with riflemen. But they were driven from that, too,
although they inflicted terrible losses on their enemy.
"We've got to stop this backward slide somewhere," gasped Pennington.
"Yes, but where?" cried Dick.
Whether Warner made any reply he did not know, because he lost him then
in the flame and the smoke.
Pages:
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425