The old general smiled grimly as he muttered—
"They're getting on."
In this way he conducted the fight to the point of assault. This, of course, was the critical stage of the whole manœuvres. But before proceeding he gave another address.
"Look here, my boys. This is where you've got to frighten the devil out of the [pg 141] enemy, and charge like Hell. When you charge, open your mouth and yell like a mad Dervish. Keep yelling till you get at them, and then plug your bayonet home with a mighty thrust. As you pull it out give it a pleasant twist. Every twist helps to end the war. Are you ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, charge!" and off went "Sunny Jim" at their head yelling like a mad fakir. They gleefully followed and charged as they never had before. At the conclusion he formed them up, remarking, "Well, how did you like that?"
"Fine, sir," was the quick response.
"All right, lads; that's the way I want it done—good day to you."
"Good day, sir," answered the company, as proud as Punch.
There was no more growling in the Mixed Division, for the general had shown them that he could do their job.