Then he closed the watch and gave the signal, but stationed officers along the line to see that the men made as little noise as possible.

The long black column moved again through the forest and Dick, full of excitement was at its head with the colonel and the sergeant.
They reached a slope, crept up it, and then spread out, as they knew that the valley and the enemy were within rifle shot.

Dick, glancing through the bushes, saw the glitter of steel and caught the murmur of voices.

He knew that their presence was not yet suspected, and he did not like the idea of firing from ambush upon anybody, but there was no occasion for testing his scruples, as the advance of so many men created noise sufficient to reach the alert ears in the glade.
"Up, men! The enemy!" he heard a voice shout.

Colonel Winchester at the same moment ordered his men to fire and charge with the bayonet.
A terrible volley was poured into the valley, and it seemed to Dick that half of Slade's force went down, but as they rushed forward to finish the task they met a fire that caused many of the Union soldiers to drop.
Slade was evidently a man of ability.