The Federal brigade was overmatched, and the result seemed to waver upon a balance; then the equilibrium was slightly disturbed, and the Union force fell back a little, but only a little, and doggedly resisted the advance of the foe.  It needed but little to restore the equilibrium, and our regiment, after struggling through the mud with all attainable speed, arrived upon the spot when the prospect was so gloomy for the loyal cause.

The men were almost exhausted by the tremendous strain which had all day long been imposed upon their nervous systems, and by the physical exertion required of them.  But the battle was going against the North, and they were ready again to make a desperate effort to redeem the field.

“One more of your Massachusetts charges, colonel,” said General Hooker, as the weary soldiers moved up to the endangered position.

“You shall have it, general.  My men are always ready, though they are nearly used up.”

“Hancock and Kearney are close by, and if we can hold out a few minutes longer, all will be well with us.”

“We’ll drive them back, general!” shouted the colonel.

“Go in, then!” added the gallant Hooker, waving his sword to encourage the soldiers.  “Forward!  You have no time to lose!”

The fiery colonel briefly stated to the regiment the nature of the work before them, admonished the men to do as they had done all day, and Massachusetts would be proud of them.  A ringing cheer was the reply to the stirring words of the colonel, and the orders were given for the advance.

On went the brave fellows like a wall of iron, and precipitated themselves upon the rebels, buoyant with hope as they followed up their temporary advantage.  The point of attack was all in their favor, and their exhilarating shouts as they sprang upon the foe kindled up the expiring enthusiasm of the yielding brigade to whose assistance they had come.  The shock was terrible—­more fearful and destructive than any which our boys had before experienced.

“Steady, my men!” shouted Captain Benson.

“Give it to them!” roared Tom, maddened to desperation by the awful strife around him, and by seeing so many of our men fall by his side.

“Stand up to it!” shouted the excited colonel.  “They run!”

At this moment an inequality of the ground beneath the men of Company K placed them in a bad position, and the rebels in front of them, taking advantage of the circumstance, pressed forward, and actually broke through the line, trampling some of our soldiers beneath their feet, and transfixing them with their bayonets.

A terrible scene ensued at this gap in the ranks, for the whole rebel regiment began to press into the weak place.  The breach was made by the side of our sergeant, so that he was not borne down by the pressure of the rebel battalion.

“Close up!” yelled Tom.  “Close up!  Hail, Columbia! and give it to them!”