Knowing that his forces were far too small to defend Jackson, he had sent away the archives of the state and most of the army.

Only a small force and seventeen cannon were left to fight and cover his retreat.

But so bold and skillful were they that it was far beyond noon before Grant and Sherman found that practically nothing was in front of them.
But where Dick and his comrades rode the fighting was severe for a while.

Then everything seemed to melt away before them.

The fire of the Southern cannon ceased suddenly, and Colonel Winchester exclaimed that their works had been abandoned.