Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/115

Rh pressed on until they gained a patch of undergrowth, where a slight halt was made.

Beyond the undergrowth was another stretch of swamp land, and here several of the soldiers got so stuck that their companions had to come to their assistance and haul them out. The swamp was worse on its further side, and the whole regiment stopped in the middle, not knowing if it would be safe to go on.

"Forward, men, and you'll soon be over!" shouted General Hayes, and led the way, his horse scattering the mud in all directions, and the Confederates sending a shower of bullets around him. He kept on and was the first soldier across, and soon the line followed him, cheering and yelling madly.

While these movements were going on. Captain McKinley, who was still acting on the staff, was ordered by General Crook to go to Colonel Duval with an order to move his command quickly to the right of the Sixth Corps.

Riding with all possible speed, the young captain reached the hillside which Colonel Duval occupied, and presently found the