formant.

"You don't mean to say he was killed, Corporal?" asked Life, looking as
though he had lost the only friend he had in the world.

"I don't know for certain that he was killed, and should report him
with the missing," replied the corporal.

"I don't understand it," continued the sergeant. "The lieutenant was
always able to take care of himself."

"I can tell you just how it was, if you want to hear it in this place,"
returned Tilford, as he looked about him, and discovered a company of
infantry coming out of the fort, and another approaching across the
field. "We shall soon be surrounded here."

The sergeant looked about him, and the prospect near the fort was not
encouraging. He gave the order to march, and led the way. The ground
was hard here, and he galloped his horse at his best speed towards the
second hill. The main body of the Riverlawns had a favorable position
between the first hill and the end of the breastworks. The enemy had
come down the pike. Between the two hills the two companies of the
First Kentucky Cavalry had been skilfully posted by the senior captain
when he found that there was no space between the hill and the
intrenchments for his command.

Major Lyon, as it was afterwards stated, had started to the entrance of
the fort, for the purpose of aiding the escape of the second platoon of
the first company. Before he had advanced more than a few rods, his
force had been attacked by the regiment which had just escaped from the
field of battle. They had been ordered by some superior officer on the
ground to attack the major's command; and the regiment had rushed into
the narrow defile, where only a portion of it could be brought into
action. The sharpshooters were rapidly reducing the numbers at the head
of the column, though the ranks were immediately filled up by the
sections behind them.

Life led his platoon, diminished in numbers by only three men besides
the lieutenant, to a point in the field abreast of the farther side of
the first hill. At this place he could see the riflemen posted behind
trees and rocks, plying their deadly office with the utmost diligence,
and after the manner the captain had ordered on the hill and at the
meadow. He was operating upon the head of the enemy's column. The
sergeant found that there was space enough between the hill and the end
of the breastworks for him to charge the regiment on the flank, and at
least make a demonstration in that quarter.

T