They seemed to be only a few yards away and he clearly
observed the officers walking along the front of the lines. It flashed
upon him that they must hold these hills or Grant's army would perish.
Where was Buell? Why did he not come? If the Southerners destroyed one
Northern army today they would destroy another tomorrow! They would
break the two halves of the Union force in the west into pieces, first
one and then the other.
"What do you see, Dick?" asked Warner, who was lying almost flat upon
his face.
"The Confederate army is getting ready to wipe us off the face of the
earth! Up with your rifle, George! They'll be upon us in two minutes!"
They heard a sudden shout behind them. It was a glad shout, and well it
might be. Nelson, held back by Buell's orders, had listened long to the
booming of the cannon off in the direction of Shiloh. Nothing could
convince him that a great battle was not going on, and all through the
morning he chafed and raged. And as the sound of the cannon grew louder
he believed that Grant's army was losing.
Nelson obtained Buell's leave at last to march for Shiloh, but it was a
long road across hills and creeks and through swamps. The cannon sank
deep in the mire, and then the ardent Nelson left them behind. Now he
knew there was great need for haste. The flashing and thundering in
front of them showed to the youngest soldier in his command that a
great battle was in progress, and that it was going against the North.
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