Dick felt the strong and sure hand over them.

The Union fire grew in might and rapidity.
McPherson arrived with two brigades to help Osterhaus, and the strengthened division was able to send a brigade across a ravine, where it passed further around Bowen's flank and assailed him with fury.
Dick felt that their own division under McClernand was also making progress.

Although many men were falling they pressed slowly forward, and Grant brought up help for them too.

For a long time the struggle was carried on.

It was one of the little battles of the war, but its results were important and few were fought with more courage and resolution.
Bowen, with only eight thousand against twenty thousand, held fast throughout all the long hot hours of the afternoon.