“By order of the general commanding the first corps, I place you in command of this broken regiment,” said Somers, not doubting that he could soon procure a confirmation of his deed.
“Good! that reminds me—”
“No, it don’t; no what-you-call-ems,” laughed Somers.
“You are right, Somers. I have hardly told a story since we parted.”
At this moment the brigadier general rode up, and Somers referred the matter of the command to him. When he learned what had happened, he installed Major de Banyan in the temporary charge of the regiment. Somers said a few words to the boys, to reconcile them to their new commander. He told them who and what De Banyan was; the major stepped in front of them, and went to work with his usual skill and bravery. Somers left his friend, with a promise to see him again as soon as possible, and rode back to the general.
There was a certain piece of woods on the right which the general regarded as the key to the position, and which he had determined to take and to hold. He was in the act of riding forward for the purpose of examining this point in person, as he did on all important occasions. Somers reported to him just as he was leaving the front of the most advanced line of troops. He continued his bold reconnaissance till he reached the top of the hill, where he dismounted, and went forward on foot. He coolly and carefully surveyed the ground, returned to his horse, and remounted.
The storm of musket balls from the point of woods was kept up all this time with the most determined vigor. The erect, manly form of “Fighting Joe” had been conspicuous on the field all the morning, and the rebels had fired at him individually hundreds of times; but he seemed to have a charmed life. He had been spared to complete the work he had begun, and which he had so ably and successfully carried forward.
As he mounted his horse he sent Somers off on a mission to the batteries of artillery planted on the ridge behind him. It was in the midst of one of the hottest fires of the day. Three men dropped near the general. He turned and started for another part of the field; but he had hardly advanced a pace before he was struck in the foot by a rifle ball.
“You are wounded, general,” said Somers, returning to the spot.
“Carry the order I gave you, Captain Somers,” replied he, with an expression of pain on his noble features.