Here the retreat became faster,
and, with shouts of triumph, the riflemen followed after. Wyatt
lost some men in the flight through the field, but when he came
to the orchard, having the advantage of cover, he made another
desperate stand.
But Shif'less Sol and Heemskerk took the band on the flanks,
pouring in a destructive fire, and Wyatt, Coleman, and a fourth
of his band, all that survived, broke into a run for the town.
The riflemen uttered shout after shout of triumph, and it was
impossible to restrain their pursuit. Henry would have stopped
here, knowing the danger of following into the town, especially
when the army was near at band with an irresistible force, but he
could not stay them. He decided then that if they would charge
it must be done with the utmost fire and spirit.
"On, men! On!" he cried. "Give them no chance to take cover."
Shif'less Sol and Heemskerk wheeled in with the flanking parties,
and the riflemen, a solid mass now, increased the speed of
pursuit. Wyatt and his men had no chance to turn and fire, or
even to reload. Bullets beat upon them as they fled, and here
perished nearly all of that savage band. Wyatt, Coleman, and
only a half dozen made good the town, where a portion of the
Iroquois who had not yet fled received them.
Pages:
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489