Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 146: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE “LOYAL TIGERS.” 139 And the speaker’s voice was husky. with emotion as he finished. CHAPTER XXVI. THE ‘‘LOVAL TIGERS.”? As we have said, Wright formed a new line of bat- tle, and partially succeeded in checking the frightful rush of fugitives. The force of the onset now seemed very much spent, for the Confederates began to advance with more caution, and bring forward their artillery. Besides, the rich plunder of two; camps was too tempting a prize for the half-starved troops of Early, and they left their ranks in crowds, and began to pil- lage. Had Wright known this, it is possible that he might have made a successful stand where he was, but the enemy having possession of the turnpike that — led toward Winchester, he feared that his communi- cations would be severed, and therefore fell back toward Middletown. | But this was somewhat later than the hour of Cap- tain Chetwood’s joining the command with his friend, Andy Potter. Although the Confederates were intent on securing the good things left in the Federal camp, they were still mindful of the fact that a portion of the Union Army still remained almost intact, and to render their victory complete, it would be necessary to break the lines of Wright and send him flying down the val- ley after the broken legions of Crook and Emory. Huge masses of the enemy soon moved upon the last position held by the Federals. “Make ready, boys, the rebs are coming!”’ _ This cry broke the hush that had rested over the (E(0) m co im Ebooks