ited efforts
of the officers could hardly preserve. The men in the covert fired when
they were ready; and as they carefully observed the injunction of Tom not
to waste their lead, every shot told upon the rebels.

The Confederate officers glanced nervously at the clump of bushes, which
glowed with flashes of fire as the sergeant's little command poured in
their volleys; but they were too closely pressed by the Federals in front
to attempt to dislodge them. The rebel privates were not long in
ascertaining what was so clear to their officers--that they were flanked,
and were being shot down like sheep, from a quarter where they could not
defend themselves. They had been slowly and doggedly retiring before the
advancing Federals, disputing every inch of ground; but when they realized
that the bolts of death were dropping among them from another direction,
they could no longer endure that awful suspense which takes possession of
the minds of men when they are suspended, as it were, between life and
death.

Tom saw them waver, and he knew what it meant. The rebel line was just
abreast of him, and he had seen at least a score of men fall before the
deadly fire of his party.

"Give it to them, boys! They shake!" shouted Tom, as he delivered his fire
again. "Pour in as fast as you can, but don't waste your powder."

The men redoubled their exertions, and the rapidity of their fire was
sensibly increased. The effect was soon perceptible in the rebel ranks;
for the right of the line, probably supposing a company, if not a whole
regiment, of sharp-shooters was concealed in the covert, suddenly broke
and fled with the utmost precipitation, in spite of the gallant efforts of
their officers to rally them.

The Federal regiment instantly took advantage of this partial panic, and
charged furiously upon the rebel line. A desperate hand-to-hand encounter
ensued, during which Tom and his companions emerged from their
concealment, and ran along the rear of the victorious line. They soon
satisfied themselves of what they had before believed--that the regiment
was their own; and they lost no time in finding the company to which they
belonged. They joined in the pursuit, which soon ended in the utter rout
of the rebel force.

The position of the enemy's lines did not permit them to follow the
advantage to any great extent, and the order was soon given to fall back.
At this juncture the regiment, which had been constantly engaged for
se