Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/110

82 enemy, and he faced them about and then started the retreat in the proper direction. The Unionists skirted the orchard, followed by the Confederates, and led by the young lieutenant and several of their officers, ran pell-mell to join the brigade from which they had become separated.

As the young lieutenant appeared at the front of that disorganized body of soldiery, a storm of applause went up, and General Hayes was deeply affected. As McKinley rode up to him, he caught the young soldier by the hand.

"McKinley, I never expected to see you in life again," he said. "You did your duty well."

And then came a shout from the men of the lieutenant's old company:—

"Hurrah for Lieutenant McKinley and his bob tailed horse! Hurrah!" And the cheer was taken up on all sides until, blushing painfully, the young staff officer retired from view.

The losses to the Twenty-third Ohio had been great, and there was a vacancy among the captains. But it was filled inside of twenty-four hours by the appointment of