The Star of Gettysburg

behind. Nor was it likely that any further enemy would appear now between him and Jackson's army. Chance had certainly favored him. Wha

holsters lay across the saddle. He could account for two enemies if need be, but when he loo

he vanguard of the Invincibles. St. Clair himself was with the

ad gone with Sherburne, and now he was alarmed to se

arry?" he cried, "and

ow where the others are. But, Arthur, I've go

gh to impress his comra

n four or five hundred yards. Ther

tent. The flap was open, but a sentinel who stood in front put up hi

he said. "I can't let you

ion that he felt for Jackson was tinged at times with awe, and this awe was always strongest when the general was praying. He knew th

oss the way, and Harry, entering, saluted his general, who was sitting in the half

d Jackson looked

said, "but you've obeyed my instructi

ave,

ave you

Berlin. He must have had there a hundred thousand men and three o

this with y

for a long time. They were cr

k very worn. Did you come

nd this morning I was pressed very hard by a troop of their cavalry. I gain

Then how could you e

gullies here and there, and when I came to the edge of the wood only a single horseman w

u did not

a day or two, and then he will be as well as ever. I jumped o

passed over

you have done well. The enemy comes and our days of rest are

that some of them at least might reach you with the news of General McClell

trust that Captain Sherburne and all of hi

y hope

u will be called when you are needed.

k you

hysical collapse. He obtained some food at a camp fire near by, ate it quickly, wrapped himself in borrowed blanket

't know you were bac

army are this side of the Pot

with the multifarious noises of the camp about him, he fell into t

s main force had been pursued and had been in a hot little brush with the Union cavalry, both sides losing several men. Others

under Lee, assisted by his two great corps commanders, Jackson and Longstreet, was making ready to meet the Army of the Potomac un

dows were falling. He yawned prodigiously, stretched his arms, and for

don. "You may get your mouth so wide open t

s happ

e we fought a great battle with McClellan, were defeated by him, chiefly owing to your comatose condition, and have fallen back on Richmond, carrying you with us as

mean to enter you in all of them for the first prize. Now,

and haughty as thyself, defy thee. George, you tell him all about it." Dalton grinned. A

possible great battle. We're scattered along a long line, and General Lee and General Longstreet are some distance from us, but our generals do

ho was also sitting by. "It would make M

he Army of Northern Virginia, and it cost him a whole year's pay in Confederate money. Have you noticed, Harry, that the weakest thing about us

d should come," said St. Clair. "The boys, as far as I can see, have r

said Harry. "Look at those

e valley in the spring, now they were dancing when autumn was merging into winter, and they sang t

arms, their dark faces glowing, white teeth flashing and black eyes sparkling. He saw that they were carried away by the music and the dance, and as they floated over the turf they were dreaming of their far and

isn't it, Harry?

good to

e dip, and I'll show you anot

etween the two was a snug and grassy bowl, and within the bowl, sitting on the dry grass, with a chessboard between them, were Colonel Leonidas Talbot and Lie

nd tremendous battles. They may have been a little leaner and a little thinner, but they were lean and thin men, anyhow. Their uniforms, although faded

eutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire waited without a sign of impatience. He would take just a

onel Talbot at length, "that

St. Hilaire; "but you must recall that just before the Second Manassas you seeme

rom my net. Those were, beyond all dispute, most skillful a

fence corner before action. They've taken it up again at least four or five times between battles, but neither has ever been able to win. However, th

ppened to look up

its success and your safe return. Hector, I suppose we'll have to postpone the next stage of our ga

oubtedly you'll have plent

a good thi

btedly a good t

tions. Then both, after heaving a deep sigh, transformed themselves into men of energy, action,

orth, was at work. McClellan's enemies at Washington were active, and his indiscreet utterances were used to the full against him. Attention was called again and again to his great overestimates of Lee's army and t

winds off the mountains swept the last leaves from the trees, and Harry wondered what was going to happen.

, Arthur?"

ngton that McClellan is no longer c

nobody to put

somebody in his pla

, ple

with a beautiful fringe of whisk

have McClellan to deal with again. Wasn't this Burnside the man who delayed a part

e s

ht between the hammer and the anvil o

l of McClellan as commander-in-chief of the Army of the Pot

th you, Seven Days and Antietam, with Pope in betwee

ace a man who was far less of a match for Lee and Jackson than McClellan had been, and McClellan himself had been unequal to the task. They were anxious to meet Burnside. They he

a man thinks he's not able to lead the Army of the Potomac,

er, the town that he loved so much, and around which he had won so much of his glory. His tent was pitched beside the Presbyterian manse, and he and Dr. Graham resumed their

hrough the fields and in the forest about the town, were in a happy mood. They had many dead comrades to remember, but youth cannot mourn long. They were there in ease and plenty again, under a commander who had led them to nothing but victory. They heard many reports that Burnside was marching and that he might soon

daring raid which Stuart had made through Chambersburg, one of her cities, picking up prisoners on the way, dreaded the coming of a far mightier

a town. The people of Winchester and those of the country far and wide delighted to help and honor them. Food was abundant and

in the world to be a great minister. Harry, as his aide, being invariably near him, was impressed more and more by his extraordinary mixture of martial and religious fervor. The man who prayed before going into battle,

proportions, and they always inspired him with a sort of awe. Deep as were his affection and admiration for J

e hero-worshipping women of the South often brought their children to see him, to receive his ble

ar the creek, were returning late one afternoon to headquarters n

east a dozen little girls, every one of whom demanded in turn that he shake her hand. He

ults of the cavaliers," said St. Clair. "I only wish they could see General Jackso

The words were not audible, but the steady and earnest sound came to him for some time. It was late, and all the soldiers were asleep or at

ition and a presage. Sitting there in the half dark mighty events were foreshadowed. It seemed to him that they were about to e

npike in order to effect the junction with Lee and Longstreet. All Winchester had assembled to b

ed to the shouts and cheers and saw the youn

anything," said Harry,

. See how straight and precise they are. But both are suffering from a deep disappointment. They started their chess game again last night, Colonel Talbot to make the first move with his king, but bef

e their battlefields of the spring, and there were the massive ridges of the Massanuttons that Jac

ike all the others, was content to wait. Old Jack knew where he was going and what he meant to do. And wherever he was going it was the right place

n, "purple patches" on the landscape. Over ridges to both east and west the fine haze of Indian summer yet hung. It was a wonderful wor

them as they passed, and to bring them what food and clothing they could. The Valley never wavered in its allegiance to

ttle Sorrel, his chin sunk upon his breast, his eyes apparently not seeing what was about them, the worn face somber and thoughtful. Harry knew that the great brain under the old slouch hat was working every moment

med to Harry, in the intense autumn light, to flow like a river of men

on. "Antietam stopped us for the time, but we

ed. "Ah, there goes the Cajun band and the other ban

ear your cou

se than deat

arms! To a

beacon fires

earts now

arms! To arm

ore of thousand, and the vast volume of sound, confined in narrow defiles, rolled like thunder, giving forth mighty echo

om the hospital and send him into battle. I know now how the French r

m to me to be the same t

t matter? That thrilling music is

n doubt, and different versions of the words were appearing

gone and winter upon them. As the passes rose and the mountains, clothed in pine forest, hung over them, the soft haze of Indian summer fled, and in its place came a low, gray sky, somber and chill. Sharp win

th's great h

nnon's rin

a

rayed, and pl

licted, in

a

he flag o

y. Flakes of snow whirled into their faces, but they merely bent their heads to the storm and marched steadily onward. They had not

ge has occurred in the Northern plans. The Army of

le will be fought

h Lee and Longstree

it l

nd themselves in lower country at the village of Orange Court House. The larger town of Fredericksburg lay less than forty miles away. Harry was not familiar with the name of Fredericksburg, but it was destined to be before long one that he could never forget. In

d of him. He had formed a plan to march upon Richmond, and, despite the alterations in his course, he was clinging to that plan. He had at the least, so the scouts said, one hundred and twenty thousand m

onfederate arms, where the forces of Lee and Jackson had fought off at least double their number. The Northern men could not yet boast of a single clean-cut victory in the battles of the east, but they

The South-and he was sanguine that such men as Lee and Jackson could not be beaten--might wear itself out by the very winning of victories. The chill came again when he counte

rd of victory, trusting absolutely in its leadership and supremely confident that it could whip any other army on the planet. Its brilliant generals were gathered with Jackson or with Lee and Longstreet. They were as confident as their soldiers and no

ways far superior in weight and power to that of the South. Harry heard that the passage of the river would not be opposed

eemed to pour upon them every variety of discomfort. Heavy snows fell, icy rains came and fierce winds blew. The country was deserted, and the roads beneath the rain and snow and the passage of great armies disappeared. Vast muddy trenches marked where they had

ncibles, having brought some order to Colonel Talbot. "There's not

riding along here I was merely thinking about the different kinds we have. I note that this Virginia mud is tremendously sticky, inclined to be red in color, and I sho

black, brown and

ome in alternate layers until within a foot of the top, after which it's all mud. Harry, Old Jack doesn't believe it's right to fight on Sun

n came trotting toward them through a field, where the mud was not so deep. They re

idas Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. H

ed hat, "and I am glad to welcome the vanguard of Ge

t now contain many South Carolinians. Alas! most of the lads who marched so proudly away from Charleston have gone to their last rest, and their places

s meant as a compliment of the fi

"that I am speaking to

t-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire, a most noble gentleman and valiant and skillful officer. We have me

ou were making. And I recognize this young officer, too. He was

long yellow buckskin glove, and Harry

General," he said

ou and all like you. Is

back, sir. I'm a member of his st

. Lead

le Sorrel, his chin sunk upon his breast as usual, the lines of thought deep in his face. General Stuart bowe

apparel upon himself, but he did not disa

lcome, General S

ide's army is gathering in great force on the other side of the Rappahan

ide will cross

rotect it. The river, as you know, sir, has a width of about two hundred yar

ksburg," said General Jackson thoughtfully. "The R

at him in a

say that the Rappahannock will protect Gene

across the river over his bridge or bridges and we shall not be able to get at him. We will win

t breaking on his face. "You consi

nd a

ckson, I think so, too," said Stu