Chapter XXII Summary

Suddenly the regiment knew that they were safe. There was no firing that threatened them. In the distance, they heard colossal noises, but where they stood it was silent. As they moved back to their own lines, some of the men moved frantically as if to keep ahead of danger and the embarrassment of somehow being killed outside a battle situation. When they were safely entrenched again, they surveyed the ground that they had covered and found that it had not been much at all. That fact was validated when the officer who had called them mule drivers earlier in the day chastised their lieutenant for stopping short of a success.

The negative report rippled down the line and the men were incredulous about the officer's opinion of them. They had given all they had and that should have been enough...