A terrible volley was poured into the valley, and it seemed to Dick that
half of Slade's force went down, but as they rushed forward to finish
the task they met a fire that caused many of the Union soldiers to drop.
Slade was evidently a man of ability. Dick saw him springing about and
blowing a little silver whistle, which he knew was a call to rally.
But the surprise was too sudden and great. The irregulars, fighting hard,
were driven out of the valley and into the woods on the upper side of the
glade. Sheltered in the underbrush, they might have made a good defense
there, but a sudden tremendous cheer arose, and they were charged in the
flank by the Ohio regiment, coming up on the run.
Spurred by emulation the Winchester men also rushed into the underbrush,
and those of Slade's men who had not fallen quickly threw down their
arms. But they did not catch the leader, nor did they know what had
become of him, until Dick caught sight of a little, weazened figure under
an enormous wide-brimmed hat running with three or four others along the
mountain-side.
Pages:
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356