We were completely at their mercy. Twenty
men in my own company fell dead or wounded, among them the
captain and first lieutenant. Of what followed I can give you
little idea. I gave myself up for lost. A desperate impulse
enabled me to march on to what seemed certain destruction. All at
once I felt a sensation of numbness in my left arm, and looking
down, I saw that the blood was trickling from it.
"But I had little time to think of myself. Hearing a smothered
groan, I looked round, and saw Frank Grover, pale and reeling.
" 'I'm shot in the leg,' he said. 'Don't leave me here. Help me
along, and I will try to keep up with you.'
"The poor lad leaned upon me, and we staggered forward. But not
for long. A stone wall stared us in the face. Here rebel
sharpshooters had been stationed, and they opened a galling fire
upon us. We returned it, but what could we do? We were compelled
to retire, and did so in good order, but unfortunately not until
the sharpshooters had picked off some of our best men.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212