The regiment, involved like a cart involved in mud and muddle, started unevenly with many jolts and jerks.

The men stopped now every few paces to fire and load, and in this manner moved slowly on from trees to trees.
The flaming opposition in their front grew with their advance until it seemed that all forward ways were barred by the thin leaping tongues, and off to the right an ominous demonstration could sometimes be dimly discerned.

The smoke lately generated was in confusing clouds that made it difficult for the regiment to proceed with intelligence.

As he passed through each curling mass the youth wondered what would confront him on the farther side.
The command went painfully forward until an open space interposed between them and the lurid lines.

Here, crouching and cowering behind some trees, the men clung with desperation, as if threatened by a wave.
They looked wild-eyed, and as if amazed at this furious disturbance they had stirred.