Although many fell they
charged into the ravine, driving out the enemy, and pursued him on the
other side.
But the Southern cannon, manned by daring gunners, still held the field
and, aided by the thick mud which held back charging feet, they repulsed
every attack. The Winchester regiment was forced to cover, and then Dick
heard the booming of cannon in another direction. He knew that Grant and
Sherman were coming up there, and he expected they would rush at once
into Jackson, but it was a long time before the distant thunder came any
nearer.
Johnston, whose astuteness they feared, was proving himself worthy of
their opinion. Knowing that his forces were far too small to defend
Jackson, he had sent away the archives of the state and most of the army.
Only a small force and seventeen cannon were left to fight and cover his
retreat. But so bold and skillful were they that it was far beyond noon
before Grant and Sherman found that practically nothing was in front of
them.
But where Dick and his comrades rode the fighting was severe for a while.
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