The artillery, too, handled with splendid skill and daring, poured a
storm along the whole gray front. The combat deepened to an almost
incredible degree. The cannon were compelled to cease firing because the
men were now face to face. Regiments lost half their numbers and more,
but Sheridan still held his ground and the South still attacked.
Dick began to shout with joy. He saw that the indomitable stand of
Sheridan was saving the whole Northern army from rout. The South must
continually turn aside troops to attack Sheridan, and they dared not
advance too far leaving him unbeaten in their rear. Rosecrans in the
center was urging his troops to a great resistance and the battle flamed
high there. It now thundered along the whole front. Nearly every man
and cannon were in action.
Dick was glad that chance had thrown his regiment with Sheridan, when he
saw the splendid resistance made by the young general. Sheridan massed
all his guns at the vital point and backed them up with riflemen.
Nothing broke through his line. Nothing was able to move him.
"He'll have to retreat later on," Colonel Winchester shouted in Dick's
ear, "because our lines are giving way elsewhere, but his courage and
that of his men has saved us from an awful defeat.
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