Poor boy! At that terrible moment, in the throes of his fierce agony, he thought not of himself, but of the mother at home, who was dependent on his exertions for a livelihood. For in war it is not alone the men in the field who are called upon to suffer, but the mothers, the wives, and the children, left at home, whose hearts are rent with anxiety--to whom, at any moment, may come the tidings of the death of their loved one. On a rocky height, commanding the field, Garfield watched the tide of battle. He saw that it was unequal, and that there was danger that his troops would be overmatched. He saw that they were being driven, and that they would lose the hill if not supported. Instantly he ordered to the rescue five hundred of the Ohio Fortieth and Forty-second, under Major Pardee and Colonel Craven. They dashed boldly into the stream, holding their cartridge-boxes above their heads, and plunged into the fight, shouting: "Hurrah for Williams and the Hiram boys!" But their position was most critical, for shot, and shell, and canister, and the fire of four thousand muskets are now concentrated upon them. "This will never do!" cries Garfield. "Who will volunteer to carry the other mountain?" Colonel Munroe, of the Twenty-second Kentucky, responded quickly, "We will. We know every inch of the ground." "Go in, then," cries Garfield, "and give them Columbia!" I have not space to record the varying fortunes of the day. For five hours the contest rages. By turns the Union forces are driven back, and then, with a brave charge, they regain their lost ground, and from behind rocks and trees pour in their murderous volleys. The battle began at noon, and when the sun sets on the brief winter day it is still unfinished. Posted on a projecting rock, in full sight of both armies, stands the Union commander--his head uncovered, his hair streaming in the wind, and his heart full of alternate hopes and fears. It looks as if the day were lost--as if the gallant eleven hundred were conquered at last, when, at a critical moment, the starry banner is seen waving over an advancing host. It is Sheldon and reinforcements--long and anxiously expected! Their shouts are taken up by the eleven hundred! The enemy see them and are panic-stricken. The day is won! CHAPTER XXV. THE PERILOUS TRIP UP THE BIG SANDY. I have followed Col. Garfield through the Kentucky campaign, not because it compared in importance with many other military operations of the war, but because in its conduct he displayed in a remarkable degree some of the traits by which he was distinguished. From a military point of view it may be criticised. His attack upon an enemy far his superior in numbers, and in a more favorable position, would scarcely have been undertaken by an officer of more military experience. Yet, once undertaken, it was carried through with remarkable dash and brilliancy, and the strategy displayed was of a high order.