Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/128

100 a moment the soldiers were dazed, then as McKinley spoke to them, they turned and followed back to the scene of battle, inspired by the words Sheridan had uttered.

On the great battlefield all was confusion. Staff officers and aides were rushing in all directions. The Confederates were pouring in their hottest fire, and it looked as if nothing could withstand that terrible discharge of iron hail. General Hayes lay on the ground in a retired nook, suffering from a bad tumble from his horse. Crook was not far away, doing his best to make the panic-stricken soldiers hold their own.

And then from out of a whirl of dust on the Winchester Turnpike came Sheridan, his steed trembling in every limb as if ready to drop from exhaustion. A roar went up and down the long line. "Sheridan has come! Sheridan has come! He'll tell us what to do!"

In a second more Sheridan was at Crook's side, and a few words were spoken in an undertone. Staff officers came dashing up and were sent off with important messages. Then of a sudden Sheridan leaped into the