The Star of Gettysburg

d creeks and smaller rivers remained flooded beyond their banks, and the Rappahannock flowed a swollen and mighty stream. Ponds and little lakes stood everywhere. Roads had been destroyed by t

the Rappahannock, and defended by the victors of Fredericksburg. After that disastrous day the Northern masses at home w

intended to do, he would have more men and more guns than Burnside had led when he attacked the blazing heights of Fredericksburg. Lincoln and

his veterans under Longstreet were drawn off to meet a flank attack of other Northern forces which seemed

m merely to defeat the Northern armies. They must destroy them. The immense patriotism of those who fought for the Union always filled up their d

colonels sat down to finish their game. Fifteen minutes later a dispatch from General Jackson to Colonel Leonidas Talbot arrived, telling him to leave at once by the railway in the Confederate re

nel Leonidas Talbot rose, buttoned every butto

absence, and if any young lieutenants should be exceedingly obstreperous in the course o

is eye, and the lads knew that they had nothing to fear, especially as Lieutena

and that day a young officer arrived from South Carolina and too

man seemed familiar to him. A little thought recalled where he had first seen that eager gesture and the manne

trand?" he said-the man wor

two years that had passed since Bertrand was in Colonel Kenton's house at Pendleton, Harry had grown much larger and mo

Kenton! And we held that meeting at your father's house on the eve of the war!

laugh. "Captain Bertrand, Lieutenan

heir hands with zeal and warmth, showing what Harry thought-as

aid St. Clair. "Let's sit down and talk. You're

been serving mostly on the coast of the Carolinas, and when I asked to be sent to the larger theater of war they very naturally

whom nothing could depress more than a minute, "but we

of the Golden Circle g

a little, despite

ed. "It has taken us longer to co

t just look and you'll see 'em across the river there, stronger and more numerous than ever, and that, too, on the heels of the big defeat they sustai

black eye

ot?" he as

ds of people whom we'd have to hold in check with arms. A fine mess we'd make of it, an

Bertrand, with an increa

l defeat the North and show to her that s

trand. "What are we fighting for but

s to me that we went to war to defend the right o

being fought to establi

ged with fanaticism; "it's all that can be asked of us. After Happy Tom sleeps in the White House with his boo

f the new republic toward the north will be cut off by the Yankees. Then its expansion must be southwa

lf with rolling into a little easier position. Harry foresaw that these two South Carol

himself present

's a captain in the Invincibles now, and you're a li

otion in me that might bear the

ire on the brain? Although he's older than you, A

can you, Arthur? I know I couldn't," s

r's face

ghtn't to be quarreling among ourselves

ultitude gathered about the officers distributing it. The delivery of the mail was always a

ore, and there were letters for men who would never receive them. The letters were being given

mbe, Field

a thick letter addressed in a woman's handwriting, that of his m

brigade. Girl's handwrit

o us! Maybe her picture's inside

nd opened his letter when

ves, Thoma

I'll take the letter to

ayton, Lane

for a moment, and

t Antiet

e letter on one

gdon, the I

forward and sei

superscription, although it was half hidden from h

d Harry, who was waiting in an anxiety that w

is from a girl, too, and there is a photograph inside. I c

is hand, retreated rapi

rson, Lane'

ksburg, sir; I he

tairs, Field

he Second Ma

aves, Arche

ital after An

ton, Field'

a year ago, in

zpatrick, La

t Antietam. Not y

nes, Pender

South Mou

il seemed to run in streaks. Presently it found a streak of the living. It was a great mail that came that day, the largest the army

t been so long a time without news, as the battlefield was his own state, Virginia. Harry watched them with

tle at Stone River, but not a word from him or about him had ever come. No news in this case was bad news. If he were

disappointed ones had already gone away, hopeless, and Harry felt like following

staff of Lieutenant-Genera

seen that the address was in his father's handwriting and he believed that he was alive. The letter must have been written after the battle of Stone River or it would hav

hat his son had passed through it safely. The Southern army had not been so successful in the west as in the east, but he believed that they had met tougher antagonists there, the men of the west and northw

and murmure

s state pride. With him the

ow that the letters would arrive safely. He himself had been wounded slightly in a skirmish just after Stone River, but he was now entirely well. The Southern forces were gathering and General Bragg would have a great army with which they w

eat in the west as in the east. The hero-worship which the fiery and impressionable South gives in such unstinted measure to these two men ha

. The colonel closed with some good advice to his son about caring for himself on the marc

Then he folded it carefully and put

ed Happy Tom, who had already

t's che

niform that was ever created, he said: 'You fellows will get licked like thunder, and maybe you'll deserve it. As for you, you'll probably get a part of your fool head shot off, but it's so thick and hard that it will be a benefit to you to lose some of it and have the rest o

y talked to

s the Yankees themselves. He's got sea island cotton in warehouses in more than one place along the coast, and he writes me that he's already selling it to the blockade r

m what you say about your father we'd be

believe it.

do you hear?

has put in the pack a brand new uniform. She sewed on the gold lace

oker is too polite a man to push us before Li

said St. Cl

ghly happy. Harry also received a second letter from Colonel Kenton, telling of the receipt of his own, an

eeks now, and the winter of cold rain had not yet broken up, but spring could not be far away. Meanwhile

s. Harry was impulsive, physically restless, and now and then talkative, as the young almost always are. Jackson's impassive face and the few wor

ainst the rain and mud. The Southern pickets along the river also established good relations with the pickets on the other side. Why not? They were of the same blood and the s

nd throw it to the Johnny Reb picket in another boat near the right bank, and there were strong-armed Johnny Reb pickets who could throw a

wed. It was well into March, a dry and warm day, when they sat on a little hillock and gazed at four of the men in blue who were fishing from a small boat near their shore. St. Clair

nt Davis who has

his hands in like fashion

d like him. I've got to put my hands over my eye

lled somewhat after the brilliant fashion of Stuart

the talking, H

" Harry called, "but he's sure, when he's

ny Reb, that President

hen I ride down Pennsylvania Avenue in my Confederate

ouse in Richmond, with the Army of the Potomac looking on

keep out of the conversation no longer. "I'll bet you two dollars that no

ills or in money?

of the Rappahannock, crossed one an

ehind the four. "Conversation with the e

flushed and his eyes sparkling. Harry leaned

d. "We've had some mighty hot talks with bullets and cannon balls, and some not s

off the talk just when it was getting interesting. Are you going to bac

r, shouting across the stream, "but we

If you've troubles of your own, we w

as pallid

nly a lieutenant. You'll return to your regiment at once and prepare a wr

s true that a captain outranks a lieutenant, but you're a compa

me, and there is another and p

y touched the h

me well enough," said St. Clair,

rning in the woods

its

seco

his feet in a mighty

! And there won't be any

ed Bertrand, h

I won't a

n you h

of my father's house, Captain Bertrand, and he's helped you and been kind to you elsewhere. You owe me enough at least to listen to me. Unless I get the promise of you two to drop this matter, I swear I'll go straight to General Jackson and tell all

, and a bullet hole through it would go far toward spoiling it. Besides, there's nothing to fight about. And if they did fight, I'd hate to see the survivor standing up before one of Old Jack's firing squads and then falling b

would be unparalle

ok upon the duel as a wicked proceeding. "General Jackson wouldn't tolerate such a t

n depend upon me as a th

t forget this, won't you? Both of you are from S

erned, it's finishe

pon his heel without

of the river. "What's the matter with your friend who's just go

nd he hasn't fully re

remendous burst of c

Tom, glancing back. "Here comes Old Ja

ousand veteran troops who were eager to follow wherever he led. The mighty cheering swept back and forth in volumes, and wh

s, what's the

arry roared back, pointing

or Stonewall Jackson! Hurrah for Jackson!" Thus did the gallant Northern troops show their admiration for their great enemy whose genius had defeated the

the foe, but rode quietly on, until he

," said Harry to Dalton. "It'll be wise fo

y Tom. "Wash your faces, run to school, and

dueling business, send for us. We'll come back, and we three together will pound his foo

. Clair, "but you fell

ing in the grounds of a large mansion. The whole place, the property of an orderly in his service, had been offere

a little while under the budding boughs of the great trees. The general had not yet arrived, bu

when his very appearance draws suc

it. Everything about the house and grounds was in the neatest order. B

al Jackson came to these qua

the river, carrying some message or

ed she. 'It is, madame,' he replied, lifting his hat politely. 'My husband owns this house,' she said, pointing toward it, 'and we will feel honored and glad if you will occupy it as your headquarters w

hunting lodge, and as he and the orderly rode back through the gate to the grounds, the orderly said: 'General, do you feel wholly pleased with what you have chosen?' 'It suits me entirely,' replied General Jackson. 'I'm going to make my hea

did place belongs to a

ranted that you knew it. As you say, that grand place belongs to one of our orderlies. After all, we're

cheering. A stranger would think from the way he acts that he's the least conspicuous of our generals, an

e general went into the house, followed by the two young staff officers. They knew that

dly tone, "at least not for some time. So you can go out and enjoy th

said Harry, but

some offi

ting lodge and caught sight of a waving plume

s well defer my work if Jeb Stuart is coming to see me. Stay with me, lads, and help me to entertain him. You know Stuart i

with him rode at a canter. They leaped from their horses at Jackson's door, throwing the reins over their necks and leaving them to the orderly. Then they entered

ost magnificent feather looped and draped about his gold-braided hat. His uniform, of the finest cloth, was heavy

asked General Jackson, as Stuart and his men salu

eeve and looked about the hunting lodge, the walls of whi

s fine. Ah, sir, I knew there were good sporting instincts in you and that they would come out in time. I ap

shed and remained si

or racing, but for coursing dogs as well, and maybe fighting dogs, too! Throughout the South all the old ladies look up to you as

on, "I know more about race

ods races for a sport-loving uncle. But Stuart continued his jests and Jackson secretly enjoyed them. Th

ss for a quarter of an hour. When Stuart emerged he glanced at Harry and Dalton and beckoned to them. When they ca

you d

r," repl

Knight of th

, sir," sa

u make it a

an,

inia and of the Acadians will be there to play, alternating. You're invited and you're coming. I've already obtained leave from General Jackson for you both. I wish the general himself would come

a genuine knight of old alike in his courage

ho certainly loves

don't I love it, Mr. Philoso

son said, General Stuart is a b

same kind of a boy

oble landscape, the wooded ranges stretching to right and left, with the long sweep of rolling country between. The somber ruins of Fredericksbur

d all they had for the Confederacy in its hour of need. They had cut up their rugs and carpets and sent them to the great camp on the Rappahannock that the soldiers who had no blankets might us

before the eyes of the great horseman, but as it cleared he became once more his natural self, the gayest of the gay. He

the long rest they had been able to brush and furbish up their best uniforms, until they were both neat and bright. They had no thought of rivalling St. Clair, who undoubtedly would

rls be there?

o be at Jeb Stuart's ball. I wish we could invite a few o

wouldn't let 'em, and Lee and Ja

bound for the same place. The captain was pretty fond of good dress himself, and he, too,

ust watch out for St. Clair. He's sure to be there, and he has a new uniform straight from Charleston

herburne joyously.

It is true that most of these lights were of home-made tallow candles, because no other illumination was to be had, and

ws. The four were Colonel Leonidas Talbot, just returned from Richmond, Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire, Lieutenant Arthur St. Clair, and Lieutenant Thomas Langdon, all arrayed

o see Colonel Talbot, whom they had missed very much, but Harry

ll and not dance, when the fair and bright young womanhood of Virginia is present? A

ould one do when he had about twenty girl cousins, all of dancing age? We danced in New Orleans and we danced out on the great plantation of Louis de Crespigny, the oldest of the brothers, and all the neighbors for miles around danced with us. There was one of my cousins, a third cousin only she was, Flora de Crespigny, just seventeen years of age, but a beautiful girl, Leonidas, a most beautiful girl-they ripen fas

ar later I went back to New Orleans, and I was the best man at the wedding of Gerard and Flora, one of the happiest and handsomest pairs I ever saw, God bless 'em. Their third son, Julien, is in a regiment in the command of Lon

, outwalk, outdance, and, if need be, make love better than any of these young cubs who are with us. I am astonished at you, Hector! Why,

re puffed out his chest-he was, in fact, a fine figure of a man. "We'll go to Jeb Stuart's b

o see you do it, Col

aying the grand old Revolutionary tune with all the spirit and fervor with which Frenchmen must have first played and sung

an open door, with a fire blazing in a large fireplace serving as a red background. That background was indeed so brillian

nd tell me if in very t

said St

me gauzy, filmy stuff, with ruffl

rre

silk, perchance, with the toe of it ju

rve well,

slim white hand, and a r

hou observest wel

ht makes more rosy, and a crown of golden hair,

e of Fair Ladies;

s that the farms could furnish, turkeys, chickens, hams, late fruits well preserved, and, above all, that hero-worship with which they favored their champions

usand men and four hundred guns lay on the other side of the river which flowed almost at their feet. It seeme

their country. The Virginia band and the Acadians carried on an intense but friendly rivalry, playing with all the spirit and vigor of men who were anxious to please. It wa

. In truth they had done the deeds of men for two years now, and they were treated as such by the othe

d slender. But the pure strain of his Gallic blood showed, nevertheless, as clearly as if he had been born in Northern France itself. Lie

autiful cousin, Flora de Crespigny, and of that gallant and noble man, Gerard de Langeais, with whom I fought

I could come," replied young de Langeais, "but it is

was in love with life, a soul akin to that of Langdon, and he and his comrades liked him at once and without reserv

ys. Meanwhile I have a dance with that beautiful Mrs. Edgehill, and if I am not there, Leonidas, honorabl

unt," said young de Langeais. "I'

aintaining their reputations as dancing men. St. Clair and Langdon had partners, and

id that you were with L

m, but when he was detached to meet the possible march on R

are sure to be where

heir lives. The night lengthened. Refreshments were served at times, but the dancers took th

heir military cloaks over their shoulders, walked out on one of the porticos fo

nd the others. His intuition was sudden, but he had not the least doubt of

he tree. But Shepard was gone, and Harry had expected that, too. He did n

call of war that came again. The deep boom of a cannon rolled from a point on the Rappahannock, and Harry was not the only one who

d, because they heard the hoofs of a galloping horse. The man wh