Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

SHERIDAN’S RIDE. 163 front of the astonished army, and at once ordered the retreat to stop. The enemy had paused in his pursuit, so that our army was, at this time, out of the range of his guns, which enabled Sheridan to take measures to arrest the - fugitives and bring them back, and in a short time he had a new line of battle ed: Then the task of infusing the beaten army with — new lite and courage devolved upon the brave young commander. Up and down the lines rode this modern Murat, giving words. of cheer to men and officers alike. His presence reassured the men. They had confi- dence in him, and his coming was far more to those beaten, disheartened battalions than an army with banners. ‘“Boys,’’ cried Sheridan, ‘‘if I had been here this never would have happened; I tell you this never should have happened; and now we are going back to our camps. We are going to get a twist on them. We’re going to lick them out of their boots.’? Not very elegant language, perhaps, but it was plain, and to the point, and given with an emphasis not to be misunderstood. The boys in blue could understand the meaning of such language. In answer, they gave~ vent to shouts and cheers that rent the very heavens. Although the. brave soldiers had eaten nothing since the night before, and been fighting for five hours, they felt a new strenoth infused into them by the confident bearing and language of their heroic commander. ° For two hours Sheridan Bpucaned the task of rid- ing up and down the lines, injecting. cheerful words into the ears of his soldiers. The gloom of the morning was fast passing away, | and new life seemed infused in every arm, new hope co miicboo cS ((0) ar