He has been with Grant for some time, and
all his brigades are marching at the double quick. Lew Wallace arrived
less than half an hour ago with seven thousand men fresh and eager for
battle. Dick! Dick, my boy, we'll have forty thousand new troops on
the field at the next dawn, and before God we'll wipe out the disgrace
of today! Listen to the big guns from the boats as they speak at
intervals! Why, I can understand the very words they speak! They are
saying to the Southern army: 'Look out! Look out! We're coming in the
morning, and it's we who'll attack now!'"
Dick saw that Colonel Winchester himself was excited. The pupils of his
eyes were dilated, and a red spot glowed in either cheek. Like all the
other officers he was stung by the surprise and defeat, and he could
barely wait for the morning and revenge.
Colonel Winchester walked away to a council that had been called,
and Dick turned to Pennington and Warner, who were not hurt, save for
slight wounds. Warner had recovered his poise, and was soon as calm
and dry as ever.
"Dick," he said, "we're some distance from where we started this
morning. There's nothing like being shoved along when you don't want to
go. The next time they tell me there's nothing in a thicket I expect to
search it and find a rebel army at least a hundred thousand strong right
in the middle of it."
"How large do you suppose the Southern army was?" asked Pennington.
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