Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/103

Rh Lieutenant McKinley was now on Colonel, or rather Acting General, Hayes's staff, and after this battle had a great deal of work to do in getting the different companies and regiments together again. A warm friendship had sprung up between the two future Presidents of the United States, a friendship which was to endure until death separated them.

"I could not help but like the boy," was what General Hayes said afterward. "He was such a clean-cut, bright fellow, honest to the core, and always willing to do anything asked of him. Sometimes he fairly seemed to anticipate my wishes, and he always carried them out, no matter what the cost." And on another occasion he added: "The night was never too dark, the weather never too cold, there was no sleet, or storm, or snow, or rain that stood in the way of his prompt and efficient performance of every duty." What a tribute to the character of any soldier boy!

On the 24th of July a battle was fought near Winchester, in which the Unionists were defeated after a contest lasting from nine in the morning until nine at night.