My tone angered him.

“There are enough in reserve to crush you,” he retorted warmly.  “I demand your immediate surrender, sir.”

“On what terms?”

“Unconditional,” he thundered, “and if I have to charge you we shall take no prisoners.”

I waited for a lull in the firing, and they accepted the pause as hesitation.  Then I stepped backward to the door.

“I regret greatly to disappoint you, Colonel,” I said clearly, “but we have decided to fight.  If you are not out of range within two minutes my men will open fire.”

Without awaiting an answer, I stepped within and closed the door.

CHAPTER XXXII

WE REPULSE THE ENEMY

I naturally anticipated an immediate attack, and began preparations.  Glass was broken from the small windows through which the men were to fire, and the sergeants and myself made inspection of men and arms, and gave orders for vigorous defence.  Yet we were already so well intrenched that this required but a few moments, and, confident I could shift my force quickly so as to meet any attack, I returned to the front rooms to observe the enemy.  To my surprise there was no evidence of any movement in our direction, although there had been a noticeable shifting of troops.  Chambers had swung his infantry forward through gaps in the line of battle, and was now confronting the Federal advance, not only holding his ground, but it seemed to me, slightly pushing his opponent.  I ran up stairs so as to obtain a wider view of the field.  They were fighting fiercely to our front and left, the line of fire slightly overlapping the pike, although, from the led horses in the rear, the troops engaged on this extremity were mostly dismounted cavalry.  Marching columns were still approaching from the south, swinging off from the pike as they neared the house, and disappearing into a grove of trees to the east.  The land in that direction was rough, and I could only guess at the formation by the sound of firing, and the dense clouds of smoke.  It was out there the artillery was massed, although in all of Chambers’ command I saw but two batteries.  The heaviest fighting was to the east, not so far away but what we were within shell range, and yet out of direct view, while to the north the Confederates could be seen struggling to gain possession of a low hill.  Their first rush had dislodged the Federals from the log church, but had been halted just below in the hollow.  Beyond to the westward stretched the black shadow of the ravine, silent and deserted, largely concealed by a fringe of trees.