Even with my small force I might hold them back for an hour, but to attempt such a feat against the veterans of Chambers, was simply a sentence to death.

These men, fresh, undefeated, eager for battle, would turn and crush us as though we were some stinging insect.
Thirty men pitted against a division! Good God! if he could send these--why not more?
Yet there was nothing to do except obey, and, feeling to the full the hell of it, I crushed the paper in the palm of my hand, and looked around into the faces about me.

I was in command, and we were to stay here until we died.

That was all I knew, all I remembered, the words, "hold it at any price," burning in upon my brain.
"Men," I said sharply.

"My orders are to hold this house until our troops come up.