were not able to keep up.

Rosecrans read the signs with them and his alarm was great and
justified. Then a dispatch came from McCook telling him that his right
wing was routed and he took an instant resolve.

Many regiments were marching to another point in the line, and the
commander at once changed their course. He meant to save his right wing,
but at the same moment a tremendous attack was begun upon the center of
his army. He struck his horse smartly and galloped straight toward the
rolling flame.

Dick and his friends, driven from the defense around the hospital, lost
touch with the rest of the troops. Colonel Winchester held together what
was left of his regiment, and presently they found themselves in the
woods with the troops of the young officer, Sheridan, who had saved the
battle of Perryville. Here they took their stand, and when Dick saw
the quick and warlike glance of Sheridan that embraced everything he
believed they were not going to retreat.

He heard cheers all around him, men shouting to one another to stand
firm. They refused to take alarm from the fugitives pouring back upon
them, and sent volley after volley into the advancing gray lines. The
artillery, too, handled with splendid skill and daring, poured a storm
along the whole gray front. The combat deepened to an almost incredible
degree. The cannon were compelled to cease firing because the men
were now face to face. Regiments lost half their numbers and more, but
Sheridan still held his ground and the South still attacked.

Dick began to shout with joy. He saw that the indomitable stand of
Sheridan was saving the whole Northern army from rout. The South must
continually turn aside troops to attack Sheridan, and they dared not
advance too far leaving him unbeaten in their rear. Rosecrans in the
center was urging his troops to a great resistance and the battle flamed
high there. It now thundered along the whole front. Nearly every man and
cannon were in action.

Dick was glad that chance had thrown his regiment with Sheridan, when he
saw the splendid resistance made by the young general. Sheridan massed
all his guns at the vital point and backed them up with riflemen.
Nothing broke through his line. Nothing was able to move him.

"He'll have to retreat later on," Colonel Winchester shouted in Dick's
ear, "because our lines are giving way elsewhere, but his courage and
that of his men has saved us from an awful defeat."

The battle in fro