He was still waiting and watching with a patience that seemed equal to that of the Sphinx.

Noon came, food was served, and the hours trailed their slow length on.
Then they saw a great movement in the Union army.

The Northern generals were about to make their supreme effort.

Hooker, who had shown such desperate courage at Antietam and who had won the name of Fighting Joe, called for men who would cross the river in boats under the fire of the Mississippi rifles.

It looked like certain death, but four entire regiments came forward at once.