on the spot if he had not been on the alert.

The men rallied, and stood boldly up to the work before them. They were
inspired by the example of the young lieutenant; and the rebel regiment
slowly and doggedly retired, leaving many of their number dead or wounded
on the field, and a small number as prisoners in the hands of Somers's
new command.

After alternate repulses and successes, the rebels were signally defeated
and driven back. It was a sharp and decisive struggle; but again had the
army been saved from destruction, and the long line of army wagons still
pursued its way in safety towards the waters of the James.

Again had the rebel general's brilliant calculation failed. His troops,
maddened by the fires of the whiskey demon, had done all that men or
fiends could do; but the trained valor of the Army of the Potomac had
again saved the country. Onward it marched towards the goal of safety
under the sheltering wings of the gunboat fleet in the river.

All night long the men marched, with frequent intervals of rest, as the
movements of the army trains required them. There was no sleep, even
after that hard-fought battle; no real rest from the exciting and wearing
events of the day. There was little or no food to be had; and the
fainting soldiers, though still ready to fight and march in their
weakness, longed for the repose of a few hours in camp. But not yet was
the boon to be granted. On the following morning, our regiment arrived at
Malvern Hills, where they were again formed in line of battle, in
readiness to receive the menacing hosts of the rebels.

"We are all right now, Somers," said Captain de Banyan while they were
waiting for the onset.

"Not quite yet, captain. Don't you see those signal-flags on the houses
yonder?"

"They mean something, of course. I did not intend to say there will be no
fighting; only, that we have a good position, and all the rebels in the
Confederacy can't start us now."

"Those flags indicate that the rebels are moving."

"Let them come; the sooner the better, and the sooner it will be over.
Hurrah!" exclaimed the captain, as the inspiring strains of the band in
the rear saluted his ears.

Cheer after cheer passed along the extended lines as the notes of the
"Star-spangled Banner" thrilled the hearts of the weary, fainting
soldiers. The bands had not been heard during the operations in front of
Richmond; and their music, as Sergeant Hapgood expressed it, "sounded
like