re still
marching through the forests.

The battle was now behind them and the sun was very low, but the command
halted and turned toward the east. Nevertheless, they were still hidden
by the woods and the low hills of the valley. Yet they lay behind and
on the side of their enemy who would speedily be exposed where he was
weakest, to their full weight. The long flanking movement had been a
complete success so far.

Little of the day was left. The sun was almost hidden behind the eastern
mountains but it still flamed in the west, glittering along the bayonets
of the men in the forest, and showing their eager faces. Dick's heart
throbbed. In that moment of anticipated victory he forgot all about
Harry and his friends who were in the closing trap. Then trumpets sang
the charge, and the cavalry thundered out of the wood, followed by the
infantry and the artillery.

At the same time, another powerful division that had been moved forward
by Sheridan, charged, while those in front increased their fire. The
unfortunate Southern army was overwhelmed by troops who had moved forward
in such complete unison. They were swept out of their earthworks,
driven from their fortified hill, and those who did not fall or were not
taken were sent in rapid flight down the valley.

The battle was short. Completeness of preparation and superiority in
numbers and resources made it so. Early and what was left of his army
had no choice but the flight they made. The sun had nearly set when the
deadly charge issued from the wood, and, by the time it had set, the
pursuit was thundering along the valley, the Winchester men in the very
forefront of it. Long after dark it continued. Several miles from the
field the fragments of the Invincibles and some others rallied on a hill,
posted two cannon and made a desperate resistance. But the attack upon
them was so fierce that they were compelled to retreat again, and they
did not have time to take the guns with them.

It was a strange night to Dick, alike joyous and terrible. He believed
that the army of the enemy was practically destroyed, and yet he had a
great sympathy for some who were in it. He was in constant fear lest he
should find them dead, or wounded mortally. But he had no time to look
for them. Sheridan was pressing the pursuit to the utmost. Midnight did
not stop it. Fugitives were captured continually. Here and there an
abandoned cannon was taken. Rifles flashed all