Suddenly, as the men fell back, Stuart appeared, with drawn sabre, among them, calling upon them to rally. His voice rose above the fire, and a wild cheer greeted him.
The men rallied, the enemy were met again, sabre to sabre, and the field became a scene of the most desperate conflict.
Stuart led every charge. I shall never forget the appearance which he presented at that moment; with one hand he controlled his restive horse, with the other he grasped his sabre; in his cheeks burned the hot blood of the soldier.
“Breathed!” he exclaimed.
“General!”
“Take command of all the mounted men in the road, and hold it against whatever may come! If this road is lost, we are gone!”{1}
{Footnote 1: His words.}
Breathed darted to the head of the men and shouted:—
“Follow me!”
His sword flashed lightning, and digging the spur into his horse, he darted ahead of the column, disappearing in the middle of a swarm of enemies.