Rogers ordered his men to reply, but, as the ravine afforded
little or no cover, they were finally obliged to make their way as
quickly as possible to the end of the pass and fight their way
through. They found their way completely blocked by a force of two
or three hundred rebels, but, as to return would have proved equally
disastrous, there was nothing for it but to surrender, or cut a path
for themselves through, the enemy. Bracing themselves for a terrible
struggle, Rogers and his little band advanced to within a few yards
of the open, where their foes, with rifles loaded and bayonets fixed,
stood demanding their surrender. Captain Jack ordered his men to
fire at a given signal, and then to advance; and, firing his own
pistols by way of signal, he dashed through the smoke, followed by
his daring band, cutting and slashing right and left.
But courage will not enable men to do impossibilities. Out of the
handful who entered the ravine but three managed to cut their way
through the opposing forces, and these were all more or less injured
by rifle balls or sabre cuts. Poor Rogers fought like a lion; but,
being the centre of attraction on account of his uniform, he had his
hands more than full, and though he pistoled two men and knocked an
officer who would have seized him senseless with the butt-end of his
empty revolver, he was finally brought off his horse with a pistol
shot, and captured, more dead than alive, by the enemy.
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