Drawing a revolver which he had been permitted to retain after the capture of the contraband craft on the Potomac, he discharged its six barrels into the foremost of the assailants; and Hapgood and Fred Pemberton, who were armed in like manner from the same source, imitated the example of the sergeant.

“Now give them the bayonet, boys!” screamed Tom, hoarsely, as he plunged into the midst of the rebels.

The men on the other side of the gap pushed forward with equal energy, and the ranks closed up again over a pile of dead and wounded rebels, and Federals, who had fallen in that sharp encounter.

“Bravo!” shouted General Hooker, whose attention had been drawn to the break in the line.  “Bravo, sergeant!  You shall have a commission!  Forward, my brave boys!  Massachusetts sees you!”

“Up and at them,” cried Tom, as the rebels began to yield and break before the tremendous charge of our regiment.

The young sergeant’s throat was raw with the shouting he had done, and his limbs were beginning to yield to the fatigues of the day; but the words of the commander of the division made him over new again, and his husky voice still rang along the line, full of new courage and new energy to his exhausted comrades.  The rebels were driven back for the time, and fled before the iron masses that crowded upon them.

The regiment was recalled, and the weary troops, now almost decimated by the slaughter which had taken place in their ranks, were permitted to breathe once more.

“This is awful,” said the veteran of Company K, panting from the violence of his exertions.  “I never saw any thing like this before.”

“Nor I,” replied Tom, dropping upon the ground with exhaustion.

“I know something about this business.  I thought Cerry Gordy was consid’able of a battle, but ‘twas nothin’ like this.”

“It’s awful,” sighed Tom, as he thought of the good fellows he had seen fall upon the field.

“Heaps of our boys have gone down!”

“Attention—­battalion!” came ringing with startling effect along the line, in the familiar tones of the intrepid colonel.

“If we win the day, we can afford to lose many.  Victory or death!” shouted Tom, as he sprang to his feet, in obedience to the command.  “More work for us!”

“How do you feel, Tom?” demanded the veteran, as they sprang into the line.

“All right,” replied Tom, with a forced buoyancy of spirits.

“Are you sure, my boy?” continued the veteran, gazing with deep anxiety into the face of the sergeant.

“I’m first rate, uncle.  I think I can stand it as long as any body else.”

“You have done wonders to-day, Tom.  I’m proud of you, but I’m afeared you are doing too much.  If you are used up, it wouldn’t be any disgrace for you to go to the rear.  After what you’ve done, nobody will say a word.  Don’t kill yourself, Tom, but go to the rear.”