reatest fight of our lives!" cried Major Deck to
Captain Artie. "How it will end Heaven alone knows!"

And then and there the Riverlawns got their first taste of that
never-to-be-forgotten battle of Chickamauga Creek.

CHAPTER XXVIII

AN ADVENTURE AT CRAWFISH SPRINGS

The three battalions of the Riverlawns had been drawn up in something of
a semicircle, the first under Deck occupying the right, the second the
centre of the road, and the third the left. As the road was scarcely
eight feet wide and winding through the woods at that, all of the
companies were practically behind more or less shelter.

The attack by the first battalion paralyzed the panic-stricken advance
guard of those in retreat, and they knew not how to turn. But when they
did realize their position, they concluded that, for the present, the
greater danger lay in front of them, and they scampered to the rear,
behind the companies which still kept their formations.

The first battalion was still delivering its fire, when the second and
third opened up, aiming at the Confederate companies drawn up in proper
ranks. This fire was returned, and several of the Riverlawns were
struck, though none fatally. Then more Confederate companies appeared,
spreading out to the right and the left, in the hope of either
surrounding the Union regiment and capturing it, or of passing around it
and thus effecting an escape.

Colonel Lyon was wide awake, and never had he shown greater ability as a
commander than now. As the Confederates came on, he made a rapid
calculation as to their number, and of how many were armed. Then he sent
word back to Captains Knox and Ripley, to divide their forces and send
the sharpshooters into the woods, with orders to drive the fleeing ones
toward the centre,--that is, the road. Then he dashed up to Deck.

"Dexter, can you take that gun?" he asked hurriedly.

"I can try," answered the young major.

"Do so at once, and train it on the companies coming up. We can take
care of this panic-stricken horde, I feel certain."

Deck saluted and turned to his battalion. "We must take that gun, boys!
And we must take it quickly. Will you do it?"

"We will!" shouted over three hundred voices in deep unison; and away
went the four companies on the double-quick.

The captain of the battery saw them coming. He had lost his other guns,
and he was determined to hold this at any cost. As rapidly as he could,
he turned his gun into position.