such as it was, and, in a measure, under their protection.

"Their charge is splendid," continued the colonel, "and I hope Pemberton
has made full use of the ground for defense! He will need all the help
he can get! Oh, to be out of the battle on such a day! The smoke is in
the way again and I can see nothing. Now it has passed and the enemy is
still advancing, but our fire grows hotter and hotter! The shells and
the grape and the canister and the bullets are smashing through them.
They cannot live under it! They must go back!"

Nevertheless the blue lines came steadily toward the Southern earthworks.
Dick saw officers, some ahorse, and some afoot, rushing about and
encouraging the men, and he saw many fall and lie still while the
regiments passed on.

"They are in the nearer thickets," cried the colonel, "and now they're
climbing the slopes! Ah, you riflemen, your target is there!"

The Northern army was so near now that the Southern rifle fire was
beating upon it like a storm. Never flinching, the men of the west
and northwest hurled themselves upon the powerful fortified positions.
Some reached shelves of the plateau almost at the mouths of the guns and
hung there, their comrades falling dead or dying around them, but now the
rebel yell began to swell along the vast line, and reached the ears of
those in the ravine.

"The omen of victory!" exclaimed the colonel exultantly. "Our brave lads
feel that they're about to triumph! Grant can't break through our line!
Why doesn't he call off his men? It's slaughter!"