The Winchester regiment crossed a ravine and knelt among the thickets.
Its losses had not yet been heavy, as most of the cannon fire was passing
over their heads. Grape and canister were whistling among the woods,
and Dick was devoutly grateful that these deadly missiles were going so
high. Yet if they did not hurt they made one shiver, and it was not
worth while to recall that when he heard the sound the shot had passed
already. One shivered anyhow.
As well as Dick could judge from the volume of sound the battle seemed to
be concentrated directly upon the hill. He knew that Grant expected to
make a general attack in full force, and he surmised that one of the
commanders under him was not pushing forward with the expected zeal.
His surmise was correct. A general with fifteen thousand men was
standing almost passive in front of a much smaller force, but other
generals were showing great fire and energy.
The Winchester regiment contained many excellent riflemen and they were
so close now that they could use the weapons for which the Kentuckians
were famous.
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