Dick and Warner, with the watchful sergeant near, were in the very front of the advance.  The two young aides carried away by success and the fire of battle, waved their swords continually and rushed at the enemy’s lines.

Dick’s face was covered with smoke, his lips were burnt, and his throat was raw from so much shouting.  But he was conscious only of great elation.  “This is not another Bull Run!” he cried to Warner, and Warner cried back:  “Not by a long shot!”

Thomas, still cool, watchful, and able to judge of results amid all the thunder and confusion of battle, hurried every man into the attack.  He was showing upon this, his first independent field, all the great qualities he was destined later to manifest so brilliantly in some of the greatest battles of modern times.

The Southern lines were smashed completely by those heavy and continuous blows.  Driven hard on every side they now retreated rapidly, and their triumphant enemies seized prisoners and cannon.

The whole Confederate army continued its swift retreat until it reached its intrenchments, where the officers rallied the men and turned to face their enemy.  But the cautious Thomas stopped.  He had no intention of losing his victory by an attack upon an intrenched foe, and drew off for the present.  His army encamped out of range and began to attend to the wounded and bury the dead.

Dick, feeling the reaction after so much exertion and excitement, sat down on a fallen tree trunk and drew long, panting breaths.  He saw Warner near and remembered the blood that had been dripping from his hand.

“Do you know that you are wounded, George?” he said.  “Look at the back of your hand.”

Warner glanced at it and noticed the red stripe.  It had ceased to bleed.

“Now, that’s curious,” he said.  “I never felt it.  My blood and brain were both so hot that the flick of a bullet created no sensation.  I have figured it out, Dick, and I have concluded that seventy per cent of our bravery in battle is excitement, leaving twenty per cent to will and ten per cent to chance.”

“I suppose your calculation is close enough.”

“It’s not close merely.  It’s exact.”

Both sprang to their feet and saluted as Major Hertford approached.  He had escaped without harm and he saw with pleasure that the lads were alive and well, except for Warner’s slight wound.

“You can rest now, boys,” he said, “I won’t need you for some time.  But I can tell you that I don’t think General Thomas means to quit.  He will follow up his victory.”

But Dick and Warner had been sure of that already.  The army, flushed with triumph, was eager to be led on, even to make a night attack on the intrenchments of the enemy, but Thomas held them, knowing that another brigade of Northern troops was marching to his aid.  The brigade came, but it was now dark and he would not risk a night attack.  But some of the guns were brought up and they sent a dozen heavy cannon shot into the intrenchments of the enemy.  There was no reply and neither of the boys, although they strained ears, could hear anything in the defeated camp.