All this was but a glimpse, and with the tumult ringing in my ears, I was down stairs facing my own men.

“Where are the prisoners, Sergeant?”

“Here, sir, under guard.”

“Open the front door, and pass them out.  We’ll be away before they can do us any harm.  Step lively now.”

I scarcely looked at them, moving on a run at the threats of the men, but wheeled on Hardy, who was half way down the stairs.

“Major, what do you mean to do?  How will you protect your daughter?”

“Stay here with her,” was the prompt reply.  There will be disciplined troops here in a few minutes.”

“Yes, and a battle.”

“As soon as Chambers gets up in force I can pass her back to the rear.”

That seemed the safer plan to me, and I had no time to argue.

“All right, you and Bell are free to do as you please.  Get your men out the same window you came in, Sergeant; I’ll go last.  Keep down behind the fence, and make for the ravine.”

He flung open the door into the parlor, and we crowded after him, but were still jammed in the doorway when he sprang back from the open window with hands flung up.

“By God, sir, here come our men!”

They came like so many monkeys, leaping the balcony rail, plunging headlong through the opening, and crowding into the room.  It was like a dream, a delirium, yet I could see the blue uniforms, the new faces.  In the very forefront, flung against me by the rush, I distinguished the lad I had sent back into the lines the night before.

“What does all this mean, Ross?  Who are these fellows?”

“Our men, sir,” he panted, scarcely able to speak.  “Here—­read this,” and he thrust a paper into my hand.  My eyes took the words in a flash, and yet for the instant they were vague, meaningless.  It was only as I read them a second time that I understood, and then I gazed helplessly into the faces about me, striving to grasp the full situation.

“HDQTS 9th ill.  CAV. “9:10 A.M.

“Lieut.  Galesworth: 

“We advanced our centre and left at daylight, and have driven the enemy from intrenchments.  Our right is under orders to advance up ravine and strike their rear.  We move at once.  I send this back by Ross, who will take twenty men with him to help you.  Hold the Hardy house to the last possible moment.  Our whole movement pivots there, and keeping possession until we arrive is of utmost importance.  Hold it at any price.  These are Grant’s orders.”

“Who gave you this?—­it is unsigned.”

“The colonel, sir, I saw him write it.”

“And they were ready to leave?”

“They’ll not be more than an hour behind, unless something stops them—­the whole brigade is coming.”