“Sartin; they’ve done me heaps of good, and I’m sure they’re just the thing for that man.”
Somers took one of the powders, and opened the paper.
“Now, my man, open your mouth, and let me give you this medicine,” he added.
“What kind of medicine is it?”
“It’ll make you kinder sick to the stomach; but it’ll cure you in less’n half an hour.”
“Well, lieutenant, I don’t know as I want to take any medicine,” answered poor Phineas, who was not prepared for this active treatment; though he would have taken it quick enough if he could be sent to the rear. “I guess I don’t keer about takin’ on it.”
“You needn’t, if you don’t want to get well.”
“I only want to go back to camp, and lay down for a spell.”
“We can’t spare you just yet, Phineas; but, if you don’t stir yourself, you will lie down here somewhere, and never get up again,” added Somers, as a shower of bullets passed over their heads. “Forward, boys!”
The captain detailed a couple of men to conduct the prisoners to the rear, and the company pressed forward. The rebel sharpshooters were dislodged from the trees; a few prisoners were captured; but the heavy fighting and the heavy losses fell upon other portions of the line. The rebels had been forced back, and the movement seemed to be a success. Half the regiment moved out of the woods, while the rest remained under the trees; when a halt was ordered. Somers found himself near an old house, behind which a number of rebel sharpshooters had concealed themselves for the purpose of picking off the Union soldiers.