e remainder, upheld by their cannon, returned a
fire almost as deadly. Rosecrans, absolutely fearless, stood in the very
front where the danger was greatest. A cannon ball blew off the head
of his chief of staff who stood by his side. "Many a brave fellow must
fall!" cried Rosecrans, a devoted Catholic. "Cross yourselves, and fire
low and fast!"

Many a brave fellow did fall, but his men fired low and fast, and, while
the Southern troops charged again and again to the very mouths of the
cannon they were unable to break down the last desperate stand of the
Northern army. They had driven it back, but they had not driven it
back far enough. Then the sun set as it had set so often before on an
undecisive battle, terrible in its long list of the slain, but leaving
everything to be fought over again.

"They didn't beat us," said Dick as the firing ceased.

"No," said Colonel Winchester, "nor have we won a victory, but we're
saved. Thank God for the night!"

"They'll attack again to-morrow, sir," said Sergeant Whitley.

"Undoubtedly so," said Colonel Winchester, who felt at this moment not
as if he were speaking as colonel to sergeant, but as man to man, "and I
hope that our artillery will be ready again. It is what has saved us. We
have always been superior in that arm."

The colonel had spoken the truth, and the fact was also recognized by
Rosecrans, Thomas and the other generals. While they rectified
their lines in the darkness, the great batteries were posted in good
positions, and fresh gunners took the place of those who had been
killed. Both Rosecrans and Thomas were made of stern stuff. Afraid of no
enemy, and, despite their great losses of the day and the fact that
they had been driven back, they would be ready to fight on the morrow.
Sheridan, Crittenden, McCook, Van Cleve and the others were equally
ready.

Food was brought from the rear and the exhausted combatants sank down to
rest. Dick was in such an apathy from sheer overtasking of the body and
spirit that he did not think of anything. He lay like an animal that has
escaped from a long chase. Silence had settled down with the darkness
and the Confederate army had become invisible.

Dick revived later. He talked more freely with those about him, and he
gathered from the gossip which travels fast, much of what had happened.
The Union army, so confident in the morning, was in a dangerous position
at night. Nearly thirty of its guns were taken. Three thous