I comprehended now—­the plan was clear-cut, easily understood.  Taking advantage of the ravine in which to conceal the movement, Grant proposed to throw a brigade, or even a greater force, suddenly upon the enemy’s unprotected rear, thus crushing Johnston between two fires.  The word I had sent back, disclosing the complete desertion of that gash in the earth by the Confederates, had made this strategy possible.  And the Hardy house was naturally the pivot of the movement, and the retention of it in our possession essential to success.  But the one point they had apparently overlooked was Chambers’ advance along this pike.  He was supposed to be much farther east, his column blocked by heavy roads.  Instead of that he was here already, his vanguard sweeping past the gate, double-quicking to the front, with long lines of infantry hurrying behind.  For us to bar the retreat of Johnston’s demoralized men, safely intrenched within the house, might be possible, provided artillery was not resorted to.  Even with my small force I might hold them back for an hour, but to attempt such a feat against the veterans of Chambers, was simply a sentence to death.  These men, fresh, undefeated, eager for battle, would turn and crush us as though we were some stinging insect.  Thirty men pitted against a division!  Good God! if he could send these—­why not more?  Yet there was nothing to do except obey, and, feeling to the full the hell of it, I crushed the paper in the palm of my hand, and looked around into the faces about me.  I was in command, and we were to stay here until we died.  That was all I knew, all I remembered, the words, “hold it at any price,” burning in upon my brain.

“Men,” I said sharply.  “My orders are to hold this house until our troops come up.  We’ll make a try at it.  Who commands this last squad?”

A sergeant, a big fellow, with closely trimmed gray moustache, elbowed his way forward, and saluted.

“From H troop, are you not?”

“Yes, sir; we’re all H; my name’s Mahoney.”

“I remember you; Irish to a man.  Well, this is going to beat any Donnybrook Fair you lads ever saw.  Get busy, and barricade every door and window on this floor; use the furniture, or whatever you get hands on.  Miles, take the south side, and Mahoney, the north.  No shooting until I give the word; we won’t stir up this hornets’ nest until we have to.”

The newcomers stacked their carbines in the hall, and divided into two parties, going to work with a vim, while I quickly stationed my old men where they could command every approach to the house, seeing to it that their arms were in condition, and that they had ample ammunition.  Within ten minutes we were ready for a siege, or prepared to repel any attack other than artillery.  The rooms looked as though a cyclone had wrecked them, the heavy furniture barricading doors and windows, yet leaving apertures through which we could see and fire.  Mattresses had been dragged