The Star of Gettysburg

own the Rappahannock. Harry, as an aide, rode back and forth on many errands while the troops were settling into place. Once more he saw Gene

elike and picturesque in peaceful days, but now lying between two mighty armies, directl

to clean them away, but the wheels of the cannon had cut ruts in them a foot deep. The great white colonial houses, with their green shutters fastened tightly, stood lone and desolate amid their deserted lawns. No smoke

eld after the battle is over," he

ing," said Dalton, looking at the c

appahannock. Four hundred Union cannon on the other side of the river could easily smash their little city to pieces. The people were scattered among their r

for a small force, did not o

here, in addition to the pits and trenches, Longstreet threw up breastworks. Down the slopes were ravines and much timber, making the whole position one of great strength. Ha

down until it reached zero. Thick ice formed over everything and some of the shallower brooks froze solidly in their beds. The Southern lad

the timber. Hardy youths, skilled in such work, they rapidly built log huts or shelters for themselves, and within these or outside under th

been able to confirm his earlier news that his father, Colonel Kenton, had passed through it safely. But the hostile armies in the west had gone down into Tennessee, and there were

nursed back to health by his mother, who with others had found him upon the field. He had

it in his pocket, and for a

rong and Dick Mason had stood in the place of a brother. They were alive for the present at least, but Harry knew of the sinister threat that hung over the west. The terrible battle that was to be fought at Stone River w

imself from them more than a few minutes. He quickly returned, heart and soul, to his duties, which in these days took all his time.

ows made the country a sea of mud and slush and horses often became mired so deeply that it took a dozen soldiers to

you and join General Stuart, who is going with his h

t's

f the Yankee gunboats are trying to get up, now

can't s

s likely to make it warm for the enemy in the water. Harry,

ot a navy, it is doub

nd falling in line with the troop of Sherburne rode swiftly towar

e river flowed a deep and somber stream, and all the hills about were yet white with snow. At that time, colored too, as it was by his feelings,

he wind. He knew that the smoke came from gunboats. They must be endeavoring to land troops, an

were embarking troops. But his quick eye caught a horseman on their own side of the river who was galloping away. He was already too distant for a rifle shot

ps warning that Stuart was coming. He was sure of it the moment the cavalry emerged from the woods, because one of the gunboats instantly turned loose with two heavy guns which sent shells whistling and scr

d and posted his cannon. Quick as they were, the black wasps on the river buzzed and stung as fast. Shells and solid shot were whistling among

shot toward the boats, which had relanded their troops on the other side, and which were now puffing up and down the river like the angry l

despite a pretty full experience now, could not repress involuntary shivers as the deadly steel flew by. He an

deep booming note soon showed the gunboats that they had an enemy worthy of their fire. Dalton and Ha

nd it got home, too, with that shot! By George, how the shell raked our ranks! Ah, but, you saucy little creature, that shell paid you back! See, Harry, its wheel is smashed, and it's floating away with the stream! Guns on land have an advantage over guns on t

of it. Stuart's guns, protected by the ridge, were inflicting so much damage that they were

llery, which was sheltered well by the ridge. The men in gray began to cheer. It soon became obvious that they would win. Gradually all of the gunboats, having suffered mu

ant, but Dalton said to Harry that

, you mean?"

de will attack in a day or two now. Lots of Northern newspapers find their way into our lines, and

a general who is p

y, look at those frowning heights around Fredericksburg, covered with the finest riflemen in the world, the ditches and trenches sow

is never won or lost until it's fought.

away over the icy mud. General Jacks

Stuart has routed them with horse artill

nter with the gunboats a day or two later. Early also beat back an attempt to cross the river at a third place, and it became apparent now that the U

rations going on in the Union camp. He could often watch them himself with his glasses from the hills. He did not see much of St.

e river. One hundred and fifty great guns were in position there and they could easily blow Fredericksburg to pieces. Harry looked do

body was stirring in the streets, except some Mississippi soldiers who had been placed there to opp

do now but wait. That's what General Jackson is doing. I saw him in his t

n we. Well, not much of this day is left. See how th

come back again, massive metal and

d to anything. Neither the presence nor the absence of the Yankee army wil

our history. Look at that winter sun setting there over the western hills. It may be my fancy, Harr

he whole sky is one of steel to me. I see the gleaming of s

verything! Now the Yankee cannon and the Yankee army are gone! The river itself i

o let your imagination run away with you. You know that Lee

undly, but while the pitchy darkness of a winter night still enclosed the land he was awakened by a heavy rumbling noise. His nerves had bee

river. Other officers were already gathering near him. Harry and Dalton stood at attention, where

shots-came again, but they were

enemy has begun the passage. Those are

e builders, but a thick, impenetrable fog, rising from the river and the muddy earth, covered the stream and its shores. The Southerners could not see just where the bridge head was and their cannon must fire at rando

e. These army engineers could throw a bridge across a river in half a day. He recognized at all times the great resources and the mechanical genius of the North. The South had good bridge b

ed in his camp, but nevertheless he was not a shadow. That personality, quiet and modest, was so intense, so powerful that it seemed to Harry to beco

atch, George?" he w

y twenty minutes past

will have nearly four hours in which to work before the su

th the heaviest inland fog I ever knew. Maybe it will take the sun

tell you, we'll win anyho

here are mighty few who wouldn't be at such a time;

t the night and the swollen fog still hid everything going on beyond the river from those on the heights. Down by the shore the Miss

d insistent drumming in his head. Emotions yielded now to will and he waited patiently. Genera

e daylight," he said, "and it

e. Harry and Dalton procured their blankets from their tents, wrapped them about their bodies and lay down on the dryest spots they could

bones. He shivered and drew the blanket close. Now, with his ears close to the earth, he was sure that he co

a murmur came from the long Southern line along the heights and on the ridges. Horses stirred here and there, cannon, moved to new positions, made sighing sounds as their wheels sank in the mud

Jackson. It merely stated that all was ready and to hold the positions that he had taken up the night before. Jackson wrote a brief reply by t

hough he noted an occasional flame in the darkness. "Of course, they want to hi

Dalton. "I'm bound to say they're going abo

calm superiority o

and by holding it close to his

three hours since we first heard those alarm guns, but my five known

said Dalton. "Confound this fog. If

er sun which he knew would come so late, but as yet the fog showed nothing save a faint luminous tinge low down

n, "but here comes a little wind that will dri

somber red of the sun trying to break through. Look, Geor

he color of steel, and by all the stars, ther

ere the two great armies clustered on opposing ridges, there was the deserted town, there was the deep river, the color of lead, flowing betwee

the ridges looking at each other. But as the roar died it was succeeded by the rapid, stinging fire of rifles. The Miss

he ridges, but the Mississippians were there to keep the enemy from being too forward. So deadly were their rifles that

e in the face of those terrible Mississippi rifles. A blast of death again blew upon them. Bullets in hundreds struck upon bodies or rattled on timbers. The workmen could not live in the face of such a fire, and those who had

thing braver," h

ers never had a chance before the rifles. But now their suppor

the Southerners, in the shelter of the cellars and pits, held their ground. But few of them were hit and they

ut as if they would meet each other. The wind that had driven away the fog also carried off the smoke, and the r

," said Harry, "to drive out t

atching through glasses, "and here it comes

me, and shells and solid shot crashed upon the whole devoted town. Nor did this tremendous fire from a hundred and fifty great guns cea

e the bombardment was at its very height workmen ran out on the bridge for the fourth time to complete it, and while the shells and solid shot were whistling over their heads, the rifles of the Mississippians once more swept it clean. Harry groaned. He could not help it at the sight of men so brave who

cely moved, but all the while he attentively watched through his glasses the great cannonade. Nearly all the sol

das Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire were lying down. They stood rigidly erect, their eyes

cannonade do, Hector?

e town, lit

't have an artiller

pity, L

forward in much greater fo

sting the lives of such brave men in small effort

heir side of the river. I fancy they will use t

ning, Lieutenant Kenton. A

said Harry, saluti

strong enough to reply to their covering cannonade. We are glad to see you safe

en Harry looked over its edge, St.

d. Captain Swayne, Lieutenant Kenton, once of the Invincibles, but now of General Jackson's personal staff. Swayne's from Tennessee, Harry, and you two are well met. Swayne belongs to a regiment a few yards beyond the g

ed and extended a hearty hand, which Harry received with

e, Mr. Kenton," he said, "but the meetin

's t

Days and the Second Manassas all by myself. Now, it se

aid Langdon, a

s a voice f

pa's lon

of one w

n is n

d of sun a

lies pill

l drink the

min Have

y Haven

y Haven

? Remember that I heard yo

ave it right, or as near right as need be, and yo

true place is on the operatic

e I was lying here listening to the continued roar of all those g

ery minute particle of dried mud from his uniform. "It seems to soften the sounds of all

ants of his hammering away on their anvils," s

. Clair, "they're also hammering out sw

d mirror, not more than three inches in diamete

. "If I hadn't seen you risk your life fifteen

"At least, I mean to be one, i

ntend to wear?

ave the money, it's going to be the bes

suits, I

I wear fine clothes if I want 'em? Do you demand that instead I spend it on fiery whisky to pour down me, as s

up his hands

the shade of a live oak, have our big colored man, Sam, to bring me luxurious food about once every three hours, and between these three-hour periods I'll be fanned by Julius, another big colored man of ours, and I won't make

aid St. Clair. "I believe you could keep up the so

Now, what under

preconcerted signal, and their nerves, attuned so long to such a continuous roar, seemed to collapse, because some su

time being," he said, "but they're su

k to attack us, because the whole North is driving him on, and he hasn't got the moral courag

f the Rappahannock where the Union batteries were massed. All work seemed to have been abandoned there, although the troops w

dvanced no further, and I should say that our shore is now enriched by about fift

w that a period of rest has come, I shall hurry back t

eneral Jackson, of course, being his personal aide. If it should fall out conveniently, would you

olonel. Gladl

the moment should be propitious, would you kindly whisper in his ear that the skeleton regiment, known as the Invincibles, Leonidas Talbot, Colone

l Hector St. Hilaire in his softest and most persuasi

t telling anybody what they are, and he carries them out. If it is a part of his plan for the Invin

Colonel Talbot. "It might come at the very moment when he was hesit

st, sir," said Harry.

e was still waiting and watching with a patience that seemed equal to that of th

am and who had won the name of Fighting Joe, called for men who would cross the river in boats under the fire of the Mississippi rifles. It looked like certain death,

though some were stopped, the majority came on. Man after man, shot through, fell over the sides into

they will make the crossing

als could bring up enough men to drive them bac

holding the trap open fo

nd the Mississippians, leaving their rifle pits, are retreating. Now the

Southern army did not stir. The Northern army, almost unmolested, con