Harry heard behind him the triumphant shouts of their pursuers and he saw the Northern bayonets gleaming as they came on in masses.

Ashby was imploring his men to stand but they would not.

The columns pressing upon them were too heavy and they scarcely had strength enough left to fight.
More and yet more troops came into battle.

The Northern success for the time was undoubted.

The men in blue were driving in the Southern rear guard, and Ashby was unable to hold the road.
But the two colonels at last succeeded in drawing the Invincibles across the turnpike, where they knelt in good order and sent volley after volley into the pursuing ranks.