At length the rebels fled, leaving the Indianians in possession of their colors and the hillside.
"Some of you find Lieut. Bowersox, and bring him here," said Capt. McGillicuddy, sitting up, and beginning to twist a handkerchief around his thigh, to form a tourniquet. "Lieutenant, you all right?"
"Nothing more than a mere scratch on the side of my head," said the Lieutenant, wiping away the blood.
"Well, Lieutenant, you'll have to take command of the regiment. I had a personal altercation with that Mississippi Colonel lying over there, and he put a bullet through my thigh. Get the men together, pick up our wounded, and fall back to the top of the hill again."
"I'm afraid there's no use of picking up Corp'l Klegg and Shorty," said the Lieutenant, with tears in his eyes. "They got the rebel flag, but they're lying there stiff and cold."
"Well, bring them back, anyway, so we can lay them beside the other gallant boys who have fallen to-day."
CHAPTER XVII. IN THE HOSPITAL
REMOVED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE HOSPITAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
FOR a short time a silence that seemed oppressive followed the fierce turmoil of the last charge of the rebels upon Snodgrass Hill and its repulse. Both sides had exhausted themselves in the awful grapple, and had to regain breath and thought. Then the night was pierced by the agonizing groans of the innumerable wounded, the stern commands of officers to their men to re-form, the calls of scattered men seeking their regiments and companies.