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feet wide。 Lee and Beauregard hurried to the scene； checked the
panic that prevailed； brought up troops； and before the great
Federal columns approached the breach the Confederates were
ready to receive them。 The assault was made with little vigor； the
approaches to the breach were obstructed by abattis； and instead of
rushing forward in a solid mass they occupied the great pit； and
contented themselves with firing over the edge of the crater； where
regiments and divisions were huddled together。 But the
Confederate batteries were now manned； and from the works on
either side of the breach； and from behind； they swept the
approaches； and threw shell among the crowded mass。 The black
division was now brought up； and entered the crater； but only
added to the confusion； There was no officer of sufficient
authority among the crowded mass there to assume the supreme
command。 No assistance could be sent to them； for the arrival of
fresh troops would but have added to the confusion。 All day the
conflict went on； the Federals lining the edge of the crater； and
exchanging a heavy musketry fire with the Confederate infantry；
while the mass below suffered terribly from the artillery fire。
When night closed the survivors of the great column that had
marched forward in the morning； confident that victory was
assured to them； and that the explosion would lay Petersburg open
to capture； made their retreat； the Confederates； however； taking a
considerable number of prisoners。 The Federal loss in killed；
wounded and captured was admitted by them to be 4；000； the
Confederate accounts put it down at 6；000。
After this terrible repulse it was a long time before Grant again
renewed active operations； hut during the months that ensued his
troops suffered very heavily from the effects of fever； heightened
by the discouragement they felt at their want of success； and at the
tremendous losses they had suffered since they entered Virginia on
their forward march to Richmond。
CHAPTER VIII。 A PERILOUS UNDERTAKING。
VINCENT WINGFIELD had had an arduous time of it with his
squadron of cavalry。 He had taken part in the desperate charge
that checked the advance of Sheridan's great column of cavalry
which approached within three miles of Richmond； the charge that
had cost the gallant Stuart his life； and the death of his beloved
general had been a heavy blow for him。 Jackson and Stuart； two of
the bravest and noblest spirits of the Confederate army； were gone。
Both had been personally dear to Vincent； and he felt how
grievous was their loss to the cause for which he was fighting； but
he had little time for grief。 The enemy； after the tremendous
battles of the Wilderness； swung their army round to Cold Harbor；
and Vincent's squadron was called up to aid Lee in his struggle
there。 Then they were engaged night and day in harassing the
enemy as they marched down to take up their new base at
Petersburg； and finally received orders to ride round at full speed
to aid in the defense of that place。
They had arrived in the middle of the second day's fighting； and
dismounting his men Vincent had aided the hard…pressed
Confederates in holding their lines till Long…street's division
arrived to their assistance。 A short time before the terrible disaster
that befell the Federals in the mine they exploded under the
Confederate works； he was with General Wade Hampton； who had
succeeded General Stuart in the command of the cavalry； when
General Lee rode up。
〃They are erecting siege works in earnest；〃 General Lee said。 〃I do
not think that we shall have any more attacks for the present。 I
wish I knew exactly where they are intending to place their heavy
batteries。 If I did we should know where to strengthen our
defenses； and plant our counter batteries。 It is very important to
find this out； but now that their whole army has settled down in
front of us； and Sheridan's cavalry are scouring the woods； we shall
get no news； for the farmers will no longer be able to get through
to tell us what is going on。
〃I will try and ride round； if you like； general；〃 Vincent said。 〃By
making a long detour one could get into the rear of their lines and
pass as a farmer going into camp to sell his goods。〃
〃It would be a very dangerous service； sir；〃 General Lee said。
〃You know what the consequence would be if you were caught？〃
〃I know the consequence；〃 Vincent said； 〃but I do not think； sir；
that the risk is greater than one runs every time one goes into
battle。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 General Lee replied； 〃but in one case one dies
fighting for one's country by an honorable death； in the other…〃 and
he stopped。
〃In the other one is shot in cold blood；〃 Vincent said quietly。 〃One
dies for one's country in either case； sir； and it does not much
matter； so far as I can see； whether cue is killed in battle or shot in
cold blood。 As long as one is doing one's duty； one death is surely
as honorable as the other。〃
〃That is true enough；〃 General Lee said； 〃although it is not the way
men generally view the matter。 Still； sir； if you volunteer for the
work； I do not feel justified in refusing the opportunity of
acquiring information that may be of vital consequence to us。
When will you start？〃
〃In half an hour； sir。 I shall ride back to Richmond； obtain a
disguise there； and then go round by train to Burksville Junction
and then ride again until I get round behind their lines。 Will you
give me an order for my horse and myself to he taken？〃
〃Very well； sir；〃 General Lee said。 〃So be it。 May God he with
you on your way and bring you safely back。〃
Vincent rode off to his quarters。
〃Dan；〃 he said； 〃I am going away on special duty for at least three
days。 I have got a couple of letters to write； and shall be ready to
start in half an hour。 Give the horse a good feed and have him at
the door again by that time。〃
〃Am I to go with you； sah？〃
〃No； Dan； I must go by myself this time。〃
Dan felt anxious as he went out； for it was seldom that his master
ever went away without telling him where he was going； and he
felt sure that the service was one of unusual danger； nor was his
anxiety lessened when at the appointed time Vincent came out and
handed him two letters。
〃You are to keep these letters； Dan； until I return； or till you hear
that something has happened to me。 If you hear that； you are to
take one of these letters to my mother； and take the other yourself
to Miss Kingston。 Tell her before you give it her what has
happened as gently as you can。 As for yourself； Dan； you had your
letters of freedom long ago； and I have left you five hundred
dollars； so that you can get a cabin and patch of your own； and
settle down when these troubles are over。〃
〃Let me go with you； master；〃 Dan said； with the tears streaming
down his cheeks。 〃I would rather be killed with you a hundred
ti