[The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army by Oliver Optic]@TWC D-Link book
The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army

CHAPTER XXXI
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"Forward! You have no time to lose!" The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of the work before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all day, and Massachusetts would be proud of them.

A ringing cheer was the reply to the stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were given for the advance.
On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated themselves upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up their temporary advantage.

The point of attack was all in their favor, and their exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe kindled up the expiring enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose assistance they had come.

The shock was terrible--more fearful and destructive than any which our boys had before experienced.
"Steady, my men!" shouted Captain Benson.
"Give it to them!" roared Tom, maddened to desperation by the awful strife around him, and by seeing so many of our men fall by his side.
"Stand up to it!" shouted the excited colonel.

"They run!" At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of Company K placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of them, taking advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and actually broke through the line, trampling some of our soldiers beneath their feet, and transfixing them with their bayonets.
A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole rebel regiment began to press into the weak place.


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