The sooner we fight the better."
"Well, that's what General Grant thinks already," said Dick; "so I
suppose he doesn't need chills and fever to drive him on. All the same,
Sergeant, I'll wrap up as you say."
All the men in the Winchester regiment were soon doing the same. The
mists of the Mississippi, the Big Black and the bayous were raw and cold,
although it would be hot later on. But the period of coldness did not
last long. Soon the low sun showed in the east and the warm daylight
came. In the new light they saw the Confederate forces strongly posted
on the ridge where the halves of the road rejoined. As the Union column
came into view a cannon boomed and a shell burst in the road so near
that dirt was thrown upon them as it exploded and one man was wounded.
At the same time the column on the left under Osterhaus appeared, having
performed its semicircle about the marsh, and the whole Union army,
weary of body but eager of soul, pressed forward. The Winchester
regiment and the Ohio regiment beside it charged hotly, but were received
with a fire of great volume and accuracy that swept them from the road.
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