“You coward, go forward!” came the command, and worse scared than ever, Jerry turned again, but took good care not to get anywhere near the front line. Fearful of the onslaught, the Confederate battery now ceased its fire and allowed the cavalry and infantry to come forward. There was a thunder of hoofs in the wet grass and the Goreville Volunteers found themselves face to face with a band of cavalry numbering at least sixty men. One glance showed Louis that they were not the Montgomery Grays, then he felt a saber swish over his head and his cap was taken off and half cut in two. Bang! went his gun, and the man who had attacked him toppled over, shot in the sword arm. The dash of the Confederate cavalry was a resolute one and for the minute it looked as if the Goreville Volunteers would be annihilated. But they stood firm, another regiment close by poured in their earnest fire upon the figures in the saddle, and slowly the Confederates were driven back, only, however, to make place for the long line of gray-coated infantry. “Forward again!” shouted the Union general in command, and again they went on, within fifty feet of the guns they had set out to capture. The firing was incessant and the bullets whistled in every direction. Louis could scarcely stand and went down once on both knees in the mud, while Hornsby pitched over him on his own broad back. But both were up in a jiffy, before the Confederates around them could pin them down with their bayonets. The smoke of battle, added to the rain and mist, was speedily cutting off the view upon all sides, and the battery they had started to capture was no longer in view. Although they did not know it until some time later, the enemy had taken time by the forelock and removed it to a safer position. The third charge of their regiment was the fiercest of all, and Louis was almost taken off his feet by the rush. He was caught between half a dozen struggling soldiers, some friends, some enemies, and tried in vain to get out of the scrimmage. Then a bayonet flashed before his face, the Union soldier just beside him was pierced through the shoulder, and the crowd opened and he ran forth to join the advancing line. “Look out! Drop!” somebody shouted. Louis tried to obey. Before he could do so, a bellowing roar sounded just ahead, something rushed directly past his face, and he felt his breath leave his body. He tried to get back his wind, but it seemed impossible, and off he dashed wildly, like one choking, until, falling over a mass of brush, he went headlong, and for the time being knew no more. CHAPTER XXI AT THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG All of the Confederates, upon withdrawing from Yorktown, did not go up the peninsula towards Richmond. Many of them took to the York River, and following this and the Pamunkey River, landed at White House, already a place of considerable importance to them, and fortified it for an attack.