The charge shivered against them, and the Southern troops fell back.

Yet it was only for a moment.

They came again to be driven back as before, and then once more they charged, while their resolute foe swung forward to meet them rank to rank.
Dick was not conscious of much except that he shouted continuously to the men to stand firm, and wondered now and then why he had not been hit.

The Union men and their enemy were reeling back and forth, neither winning, neither losing, while the thunder of battle along a long and curving front beat heavily on the drums of every ear.

The smoke, low down, was scattered by the cannon and rifles, but above it gathered in a great cloud that seemed to be shot with fire.
The two colonels, Winchester and Newcomb, were able and valiant men.
Despite their swelling losses they always filled up the ranks and held fast to the ground upon which they had stood when they were attacked.
But for the present they had no knowledge how the battle was going elsewhere.