The Shades of the Wilderness: A Story of Lee's Great StandAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
History
The Shades of the Wilderness: A Story of Lee's Great Stand
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
Ewell's men, fighting with all the courage and desperation that they
had shown on so many a field, were driven back further and further.
Ewell, strapped in his saddle, flourishing his sword, his round, bald
head glowing, rode among them, bidding them to stand, that help would
soon come. They continued to go backward, but those veterans of so
many campaigns never lost cohesion nor showed sign of panic. Their own
artillery and rifles replied in full volume. The heads of the charging
columns were blown away, but other men took their places, and Warren's
force came on with undiminished fire and strength.
Harry wondered if the attack at other points had been made with such
impetuosity, but there was such a roar and crash about him that it was
impossible to hear sounds of battle elsewhere. Men were falling very
fast, but the general was unharmed, and neither the young lieutenant
nor his horse was touched.
A sudden shout arose, and it was immediately followed by the piercing
rebel yell, swelling wild and fierce above the tumult of the battle.
Help was coming. Regiments in gray were charging down the paths and on
the left flank rose the thunder of hoofs as a formidable body of
cavalry under Sherburne, sabers aloft, swept down on the Northern flank.
Ewell's entire division stopped its retreat and, reinforced by the new
men, charged directly upon the Northern bayonets. Men met almost face
to face. The saplings and bushes were mown down by cannon and rifles
and the air was full of bursting shells. From time to time Ewell's men
uttered their fierce, defiant yell, and with a great bound of the heart
Harry saw that they were gaining. Warren was being driven back. Two
of his cannon were captured already, and the Southern men, feeling the
glow of the advance after retreat, charged again and again, reckless of
death. But Harry soon saw that ultimate victory here would rest with
the South. The troops of Warren, exhausted by their early rush, were
driven from one position to another by the seasoned veterans who faced
them. The Confederates retained the captured cannon and thrust harder
and harder. It became obvious that Warren must soon fall back to the
main Northern line, and though the battle was still raging with great
fury Ewell beckoned Harry to him.
"Don't stay here any longer," he shouted in his ear. "Ride to General
Lee and tell him we're victorious at this point for the day at least!"
Harry saluted and galloped away through the thickets. Behind him the
battle still roared and thundered. A stray shell burst just in front
of him, and another just behind him, but he and his horse were
untouched. Once or twice he glanced back and it looked as if the
Wilderness were on fire, but he knew that it was instead the blaze of
battle. He saw also that Ewell was still moving forward, winning more
ground, and his heart swelled with gladness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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