The cavalry were advancing in a field, but they were yet held back to
a slow walk. Dick heard many impatient exclamations, but he knew the
restraint was right. He saw the accuracy of the Southern gunners.
They were driving the Northern infantry from the road. Their fire was
rapid and deadly, and, for a while, the Union army was checked.
Hertford was calmly examining the Southern position through his glasses,
while he restrained his eager men. The volume of Southern fire was
growing fast. Shells and shrapnel rained death over a wide area, and the
air was filled with whistling bullets. It was certain destruction for
any force to charge down the road in face of the Southern cannon, and the
Northern army began to spread out, wheeling toward either flank.
An aide arrived with an order to Hertford, and then he loosed his eager
cavalry. Turning to one side they galloped toward the creek. Some of
the Southern gunners, seeing them, sent shells toward them, and a swarm
of riflemen in a wood showered them with bullets. But they passed so
rapidly that not many saddles were emptied, and the trumpeter blew a
mellow note that urged on spirits already willing enough.
Pages:
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196