"I promise gladly," replied Harry; "but you know what General Jackson
is. He makes his plans without telling anybody what they are, and he
carries them out. If it is a part of his plan for the Invincibles to
lead the attack, so far as his division is concerned, you'll lead it.
If not, you won't."

"But still a word in his ear might have some influence," persisted
Colonel Talbot. "It might come at the very moment when he was
hesitating over a choice, and it would probably decide him in our favor."

"Then I shall do my best, sir," said Harry. "You can rely upon me"

He returned to General Jackson, but found that his commander was yet
inactive. He was still waiting and watching with a patience that seemed
equal to that of the Sphinx. Noon came, food was served, and the hours
trailed their slow length on.

Then they saw a great movement in the Union army. The Northern generals
were about to make their supreme effort. Hooker, who had shown such
desperate courage at Antietam and who had won the name of Fighting Joe,
called for men who would cross the river in boats under the fire of
the Mississippi rifles. It looked like certain death, but four entire
regiments came forward at once. They entered the boats, which promptly
pulled for the right bank, and the great batteries at once opened a
covering fire.

The Mississippians once more sent forth their hail of bullets, but the
boats were so numerous that, although some were stopped, the majority
came on. Man after man, shot through, fell over the sides into the
deep river. Sometimes a boat itself sank, but the main force rapidly