A cry as of anguish arose from the column and it reeled back, but the men, many of them hardy young farmers from the West, men of staunch stuff, were eager to get at the enemy and the terrible surprise could not daunt them.

Uttering a tremendous shout they charged directly upon the Southern force.
It was a case largely of vanguards, the main forces not yet having come up, but the two detachments charged into each other with a courage and fierceness that was astounding.

In a minute the woods and fields were filled with fire and smoke, and hissing shells and bullets.

Men fell by hundreds, but neither side yielded.

The South could not drive away the North and the North could not hurl back the South.
The field of battle became a terrible and deadly vortex.