The Guns of Bull Run

Kentucky, more enthusiastic, perhaps, and less prone to count the cost. The people had come not only on the railroad, but they were arriving now from far places in wagons and on ho

te of pleasurable excitement, although the

h applications. The military law continued to lie heavily upon them, and, soon after they finished a solid breakfast with appetites sharpened by the open air, they were ordered to fall

f life who were gathering. Harry, a cadet with a small sword by his side, felt his heart swell as he trod the young turf, and heard the shouting and applause. The South Carolinian

aving proudly in front, wheeled and marched toward the railroad station. There they halted in close ranks and stood at attention. Although the young soldiers remained immo

hem gathered the people, a vast mass through which ran the hum and murmur of expectancy. Overhead, the sun leaped out and shone for a while with great brilliancy. "A

s that which bore the President elect, coming fast, and a sudden great shout went up from the multitude, followed by s

began a continuous shout, bands played fiercely, and a tall, thin man of middle years, dressed in black broadcloth, descended f

ightly together. He did not behold here the Southern fire and passion of which he was hearing so much talk, but rather the reserve and icy resolve of the far North. Harry at firs

ained throughout set in the same stern mold. As the troops closed up, he entered the carriage waiting for him, and

President-elect all the time. The face held his attention. Its sternness did not relax.

play, Mr. Davis descended from the carriage and entered the portico, where a group of men famous in the South stood,

r, resonant, and emphatic tone. The applause compelled him to stop at times, but throughout, Mr. Davis stood rigid and unsmiling. His countenance expressed none of his thoughts, whatever they may have been. Harry's eyes never wandered from his face, except to glance now and then at the weazened,

he was glad to witness this gathering of the mighty. The tide of youth flowed high in him, and he believed himself fortunate to have been at Charles

he front ranks, and then stopped, arrested by a countenance that he had little expected to see. It was the shadow, Shepard, standing there, and listening, and looking as intently as

The first scene in the first act of a great drama, a mighty tragedy, had begun, and

South, but he alluded to the possibility of war, and thought the new republic ought to have an army and navy. The c

ht and liberty and equality. Obstacles may retard, but they cannot long prevent the progress of a movement sanctified in justice and sustained by a virtuous people. Reverently let us invoke the God of our fathers to guide and protect us in our efforts to

pressed together tightly. The points of his high collar touched his thick, close beard. He wore a heavy black bow tie and his coat had broad braided lapels. His hair was thick and slight

e head of the new republic had been duly installed, and the separation from the old Union was complete. The enthusiasm was tremendous, but Harry, like many others, had an underlyin

n. Youth had reasserted itself and Harry was again all excitement and elation. It seemed to him at the moment that he was a boy

little city in the twilight, looking at everything of interest, visiting the Capitol, and t

h short beards trimmed closely, and no mustaches. Black was the predominant color in clothing, and they talked with soft, drawling voices. But their talk was sanguine. Most of them asked what the North wo

he exact spot upon which Jefferson Davis had stood, when he delivered his speech of acceptance. He was so full of the scene that he shut his eyes and beheld it again. He tried to ima

the windows. The man, whoever he was, seemed to be intently watching those inside, and Harry saw at once that it was not a look of mere curiosity. It was the gaze of on

was true. He was there, spying upon the Confederacy, seeking its inmost secrets, in order that he might report them to its enemies. Harry was

ollowed him there. It was not much more than an alley, dark, silent, and deserted. Montgomery was a small town, in which people retired early after the custom of the times, and tonight, t

at he was pursued. The boy thought once or twice of using his pistol, but could not bring himself to do it. There was really n

tol in hand, resolved at last to call a halt upon the fugitive. A laugh and the blue barrel of a levelled pistol met him. Shepard was sitting upon a fallen log facing him. The moon poured a mass of molten silver dire

me. You feel chagrin, but you need not. I knew that you were following me, a

courage and resolution, and now his presence of mind retur

it is, I know now that I'm not going to get it. I've walked into a trap. I believe

laughe

y when there is no war. I am willing to tell you, however, that Shepard is my right name, and I am willing to tell you also, that you and your Charleston friends litt

Harry, "I give my word that I will seek to offer none myself.

hey were not more than ten feet part and the moon poured a shower of silver rays upon both. Although Shepar

s to you. You are seeing me now probably for the last time. My spying is over for a long while, at least. A mile further on, a horse, saddled and bridled, is waiting for

what

on, do you think that a Union such as ours, formed as ours was, can be broken up in a moment, as you would smash a china plate? The forces on the other side are sluggish, but they are mighty. I foresee war, terrible

hand. What right had he to judge? Each to his own

ut at the same time I'm gla

mery. Shepard had given him deep cause for thought. He approached the Exchange Hotel, thinking that he would find his friends there and return with them

mp, and he was about to turn away when he saw a window in the hot

d, even gloomy. The thin lips were pressed together more tightly than ever, and the somber eyes looked out over the city, but evidently saw nothing there. Harry felt ins

that Jefferson Davis was thinking, not looking at anything, because his head never moved, and his

, as he had surmised, he found St. Clair and Langdon. He gave some excuse for his delay, and telling nothing of She

btful states. Even the border slave states were afraid the lower South had been a little too hasty. But among the youths of the Palmetto Guards there w

"we'll have down here the tightest and finest republic the world ever heard of. New Orleans wil

of thought yourself. Don't be so terribly san

e such a happy time before the smash comes that I can afford to pay for i

ooking at him with admiration. "

t's a compliment to be called Happy Tom. Happy I

er was a mig

s face in th

s hair with

a toothache

Ransome, "but I've got something that beats it all holler. '

t go?" aske

tale of disaster and pain. The fi

Dinah, she

ire and kicke

al popped

ty! how de

ir, "and I've heard both in New Orleans, too, but nothing quite

the cars, so noisy in those days. Often they sang negro melodies with a plaintive lilt. The slave had given his music to his master. Harry joined with all t

singing in the deep forest. And as they sped across the open they heard the negroes singing, too, in their deep mellow voices in the fields. Then came the delicate f

one. It was crowded with people. All the rich planters were there. Society had never been more brilliant than during those tense weeks on the eve of men knew not what. But the Charlestonians wer

teries, but St. Clair, Langdon, and Harry remained together. Toutant Beauregard, after having resigned the command at West Point, as the Southern leaders had expected, came to Charleston and took supreme command there. Harry saw him as

o do things. I heard today that they were preparing a big fleet in the North to relieve Sumter, b

barrel. Harry agreed with him that Charleston harbor could be held inviolate. He d

to go to Madame Delaunay's. She was unfeignedly glad to see hi

rces are gathering, and I am afraid, I am afraid for

r, Lincoln, had been duly inaugurated President of what remained of the old Union, although he had gone to Washington at an unexpected hour, and partly in disgui

! for Southern

ie blue flag that b

with the odor of rose and orange blossom. The bay moved gently, a molten mass now blue, now green. The blue figures could be

yet. The state had proved more stubborn than he and his friends had expected. A powerful Union element had been disclose

, but his thoughts soon slipped from it, returning to his absorption in the great and thr

r. But Charleston thrilled continually with excitement. Fort after fort was seized by the Southerners, almost without opposition and wholly without t

the sanguine Langdon. "Abe Lincoln may be the best rail-splitt

with the impression of Shepard's w

t. The news was spread instantly through the city and fire sprang up in the South Carolina heart. The population, increased far beyond its normal numbers by the influx from