Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/104

76 In this engagement the Twenty-third Ohio lost one hundred and fifty-three men killed and wounded, including ten commissioned officers.

Immediately after the military movement narrated above came the battle of Kernstown, near Winchester, and here it was that McKinley gained his highest reputation for courage, performing an act which for daring is not outmatched by any performed during our Civil War.

The Union forces were falling back, when they were attacked by a portion of Early's army. Thinking he could hold the enemy in check, General Crook went to the front with his brigades, which included that under General Hayes. For a while the contest waged furiously, but at last Crook saw that the plan was futile, and the soldiers were called upon to retreat. As the different regiments were retiring, General Hayes saw that one body of soldiery—the Thirteenth West Virginia regiment—had not received any orders and was in immediate danger of being surrounded and captured.

"They must be informed that the retreat