the night still had its perils.

The moon, though clouded, was out as they withdrew slowly. On their
flanks there was still firing, as strong detachments skirmished with
one another, but the Winchester men as yet paid little attention to it.
They said grimly to one another that two days in the infernal regions
were enough for one time. They looked back at the vast battlefield and
the clumps of pines burning now like funeral torches, and shuddered.

The retreat of Thomas was harried incessantly. Longstreet and Forrest
were eager to push the attack that night and the next day and make the
victory complete. They and men of less rank dreamed of a triumph which
should restore the fortunes of the Confederacy to the full, but Bragg was
cautious. He did not wish to incur the uttermost risk, and the roll of
his vast losses might well give him pause also.

Nevertheless Southern infantry and cavalry hung on the flanks and rear of
the withdrawing Union force. The cloudy moon gave sufficient light for
the sharpshooters, whose rifles flashed continuously. The lighter field
guns moved from the forests and bushes, and the troops of Thomas were
compelled to turn again and again to fight them off.

The Winchester regiment was on the extreme flank, where the men were
exposed to the fiercest attacks, but fortunately the thickets and hills
gave them much shelter. At times they lay down and returned the fire of
the enemy until they beat him off. Then they would rise and march on
again.

All the officers had lost their horses, and Colonel Winchester strode at
the head of his men. Just behind were Dick, Pennington and some other