rifles. They judged from it that their cannon had been taken, but they
did not know that the rush of the Southern troops had been so fast that
their own batteries were not able to keep up.

Rosecrans read the signs with them and his alarm was great and justified.
Then a dispatch came from McCook telling him that his right wing was
routed and he took an instant resolve.

Many regiments were marching to another point in the line, and the
commander at once changed their course. He meant to save his right wing,
but at the same moment a tremendous attack was begun upon the center of
his army. He struck his horse smartly and galloped straight toward the
rolling flame.

Dick and his friends, driven from the defense around the hospital,
lost touch with the rest of the troops. Colonel Winchester held together
what was left of his regiment, and presently they found themselves in the
woods with the troops of the young officer, Sheridan, who had saved the
battle of Perryville. Here they took their stand, and when Dick saw the
quick and warlike glance of Sheridan that embraced everything he believed
they were not going to retreat.

He heard cheers all around him, men shouting to one another to stand
firm. They refused to take alarm from the fugitives pouring back upon
them, and sent volley after volley into the advancing gray lines.
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.