He quickly wrote a dispatch and beckoned to Dick: "Here," he said, "jump on the horse that the sergeant is holding for me, and bring up our reserve, the brigade under General Carter.

They are to meet the attack there on the hill, where our troops are wavering!" Dick, aflame with excitement, leaped into the saddle, and while the roar of battle was still in his ears reached the brigade of Carter, already marching toward the thick of the conflict.

One entire regiment, composed wholly of Kentuckians, was detached to help the Indiana troops who were being driven fiercely by Zollicoffer.
Dick rode at the head of the Kentuckians, but a bullet struck his horse in the chest.

The boy felt the animal shiver beneath him, and he leaped clear just in time, the horse falling heavily and lying quite still.

But Dick alighted on his feet, and still brandishing his sword, and shouting at the top of his voice, ran on.
In an instant they reached the Indiana troops, who turned with them, and the combined forces hurled themselves upon the enemy.