He had eaten nothing since morning, but he had not noticed it, until this moment, when he began to feel a little faintness.

He resolved that Vicksburg should supply him.
It was curious how much help he expected of Vicksburg, a hostile town.
He saw lights soon both to right and to left and he strengthened his soul.

He knew that he must be calm, but alert and quick with the right answer.

With his singular capacity for meeting a crisis he advanced into the thick of danger with a smiling face, even as his great ancestor, Paul Cotter, had often done.
His calm was of short duration.

There was a rushing sound, something struck violently, and a tremendous explosion followed.