are
coming up! The whole army will now advance!"

They saw very clearly the deepening of the lines in the center. Sheridan
was there massing the new troops for the attack, and soon the trumpets
sounded the charge along the whole front. The Northern batteries
redoubled their fire, and the South, knowing that a heavier shock of
battle was coming, replied in kind.

"Here we go again!" cried Pennington, and the horsemen rode straight at
their enemy. It seemed to Dick that the Southern regiments came forward
to meet them and a battle long, fierce and wavering in its fortunes
ensued. The wing to which the Winchesters belonged pressed forward,
driving their enemy before them, only to be caught when they went too far
by a savage flanking fire of artillery. Early had brought in his reserve
guns, and so powerful was their attack that at this point the Northern
line was almost severed, and a Southern wedge was driven into the gap.

But Sheridan did not despair. He had a keen eye and a collected mind,
infused with a fiery spirit. Where his line had been weakened he sent
new troops. With charge after charge he drove the Confederates out of
the gap and closed it up. A whole division was then hurled with its
full weight against the Southern line and broke it, although the gallant
general who led the column fell shot through the heart.

But Early formed new lines. It was only a temporary success for
Sheridan. An important division of cavalry sent on a wide flanking
movement had not yet arrived, and he wondered why. Perhaps the thought
came into his own dauntless heart that he might not succeed at all, but,
if so, he hid it, and called up fresh resources of strength and courage.
It was now far into the afternoon but he resolved nevertheless to win
victory before the day was over. Everywhere the call for a new charge
was sounded.

The Winchesters had a good trumpeter, a deep-chested young fellow who
loved to blow forth mellow notes, and now as his brazen instrument sang
the song that summoned men to death the young men unconsciously tightened
the grip of the knee on their horses, and leaned a little forward,
as if they would see the enemy more closely. To the right the fire grew
heavier and heavier, and most of the field was hidden by a thick veil of
smoke.

Dick saw other cavalry massing on either side of the Winchester regiment,
and he knew their charge was to be one of great weight and importance.

"I feel that