We had maintained the unequal struggle for eight hours; over one-fourth of our number were stretched upon the snow, killed or badly wounded.

Our cartridges were nearly all gone; the cannon had fired its last shot long ago, and having a blank cartridge left, had shot the rammer at a gathering party of the enemy.
Just as the Winter sun was going down upon a day of gloom the bugle called us all up on the hillside.

Then the Rebels saw for the first time how few there were, and began an almost simultaneous charge all along the line.

The Major raised piece of a shelter tent upon a pole.

The line halted.