Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

A SAD SCENE. 145 ‘Now came a breathing spell for the Sixth Corps, enabling them to form their lines with a view to cov- ering the flight of the immense crowd of fugitives that darkened all the fields and the highway in the rear. | Nevertheless, this was but a pause in the conflict. Early had won a great victory, and broken the splendid army into fragments that Sheridan had led up the valley to victory from Opequon to Fisher’s Hill and beyond. How changed the scene! The victorious banners of the Union are, in one short hour, hurled back, and the great army of Sheri- dan cut in twain, scattered into fragments, almost utterly dispersed—no, not utterly, for the gallant Sixth Corps still holds its organization intact, and falls slowly and sullenly back, covering the disgrace- ful route as best it can. | Amid the roar of artillery, incessant volleys of musketry, and shouts and yells of the pursuers, were heard the cries and screams of teamsters, as they en- deavored to get off with the heavy train. It was a scene of the wildest confusion. Shells fell and exploded amid horses and wagons, tearing the animals to pieces, rending wagons, and slaughtering the drivers mercilessly. There was no help for it. The Federals were re- _treating, and-soon the ground now occupied by the © Union heroes would be swarming with gray-coats, Instead of assaulting with the bayonet, Early posted his artillery in such a position as to pour a merciless storm of shot and shell into the -Union ranks, and beyond, into the demoralized mass that was rushing down the valley in a manner that was plainly devoid of hope. ; The day was lost. To escape from the fearful fire of those guns and comicbooks (€(0)