The Littlest Rebel

e destinies of the United States sent out the telegrams which kept the Federal forces gnawing at the cage in which Lee had shut himself and meanwhile held to his strategic position south

oah and, putting themselves south of the enemy, follow him to the death. To which telegram the tall, lank, furrow-faced man in the White House whose kindly heart was bursting with the strain replied in c

d as to the means for swiftly bringing on the end. But the plans must be well laid and to that end he must leave City Point within a few hours and go north. And so h

d bloodied orderlies throw themselves off of plunging horses and gasp out th

, at one side of the room, a table and a desk, littered with papers, maps and files. At the table Grant's adjutant, Forbes, sat writing. Facing him was the door opening out into the hallway of the house where two sentries stood on guard. In the

ars a message. An orderly appeared in the doorway, spoke to

out a folded note of white paper. "P

e and yet without any perceptible loss of time or motion and, as always, without unnecessary words. Scanning it, he shifted h

e him. A

w weeks before a Lieutenant-Colonel of cavalry had been court-martialed on the charge of allowing the escape of a spy. The court had found him guilty and its findings had been submitted to the higher authorities and endorsed by them. A copy of these reports now lay on his desk. All this his

room, his hand going up in salute. But his General was still looking out of the win

utenant, w

of Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison." It was hard work to talk

neral's cigar still c

me the monosyl

elf together and p

eral. A

eled and stood ga

desk where he stood with his eyes steady on Harris' face. "L

ed him with a gesture and picked up a

y chance. He has been court-

desk. "And you-his counsel-having failed to

a sheaf here and there on his desk and meditate their contents. The incident of Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison has

, as the General looked up with some surprise at th

"And approve the sentence.

ledged Harris. "Un

o, to so few, had the bearing of a great general, faced Lieutenant Harris and

g the strenuous emotions in the young man's mind. "Harris-you are an officer of promise. Don't cut that promise shor

an impulsive step an

isk. When a man is

een him exhibit through many vexatious, worrying months. His voice took o

n his military duty. He released a Rebel

ought as Morrison did a week ago? Who stood his ground till his whole command was sho

nity undoubted. Yet it seemingly only served to ma

nary care, and speaking them in firm,

soldier's lapse from duty." He sat

r through three hard campaigns; they had shared food and water and shelter, had slept together for warmth on sodden fields, had exchanged such confidences as two officers from the same town in the North but of unequal rank may exchange under the pressure of war-time emotions. If there was one man living who knew Morrison's heart

ed to his general with half a smile, "but still I find in Shakespear

encil, repeating the las

er

beside his table, speaking with

e! A wheel! A machine half human-yes! A thing of muscle and bone and blood-but without a heart! A mer

rd, cold words which followed, all ho

scard it!-for another and a better one!

ed to his littered table; b

ne's control." The General looked up, frowning sharply; but Harris still went on: "In

r's obstinate temerity than his

he asked,

gesture that seemed to leave his logic t

now my ground-and," in rising tones of sincerity, "I chal

reply. "For your sake, I hope they are w

d the appeal from grounds on which he stood no chance whateve

the first place, it is alleged that my client captured a Rebe

rupted. "To which fact," he said,

"Ten! But not one of them actually saw the man! The

mething of no consequence. "Immaterial-in

d this spy and allowed him to enter the Un

of impatience, and struck the papers

. "Proved by several officers who stop

the sheaf before him and held it up, a pie

ned on one side by R.E. Lee and, on the other, by Colonel Morrison." He laughed shortly ov

officer facing him bowed

s given Herbert Cary either by

ed the Gene

only

rant's eyes started to scan the pass again, and

escort through Federal

t and a child. 'Escort' may mean a single pe

im thoughtfully, then slowly rose from his desk and took a turn abou

oes Cary sa

wyer who has been confronted with such questi

his life. His evidence, na

what says

calm reply. "The burden of proof lies wit

your legal flaw in my machine

t

'll call in these silent partners and dig

oner, Mr. Morrison-and the Rebel, Herber

d the Adjutant's exit Harr

is hardly just to the i

omething mere than impatie

It's the truth I want-not legal technicalities. Next you'll

clasped loosely behind his back, the eternal cigar smoke rising above his head. Then, to

s the man who preferred th

ley," was the

as not brought out. In reporting his Colonel, Dudley was act

nge?

killed Dudley's brother-a

came back fr

in-w

ndiarism-attempted desert

action of an inch. He seated himse

's death?" he asked evenly as

lied. "An old negro-now in our camp-a

le of papers and then looked up. "Is that the old codger who's been worr

le, for Unc' Billy's persistency and hi

neral remarked sardonically. "Have him in! See

ut again, paused

said with a flicker of a, smile. "The old man has been regularl

of a squad of soldiers marching. In single file, with the two prisone

ners file out!" The two prisoners s

had done the rest. His eyes may not have been bright with hope but at least they were clear with health and his straight back

clemency. Yet, with all the sad, quiet look of resignation in his eyes, behind them glowed a wonderful light-the light of self-sacrifice. For he had chosen to put on the tender glove of humanity and grip hands with the mailed gauntlet of war, and though he had bee

e General-the Confederate, hard and defiant-the U

mouth drawing one side of his face into harsh, deep lines. As a matter of fact, Ulysses Simpson Grant was very far removed from harshn

two prisoners chairs directly in front of his desk one of the i

the negro?" He asked crisply

the hallway. Dismissing the two privates who had arrived with Uncle Billy between them he led the old man down

Billy, intruding delicately on the

up quickly and ran hi

r na

Lewis, seh

do you

ght this sudden question introduced a stiffening into

ry, seh-of de Confed'it Army.

d negro was simply a natural slave-that he probably had no other thought in his grayed head than

freedom has been offered you-an

s,

d the Gener

illy st

wn whar I lives at de-de white gent'men understan

nally, but the only symptom of amus

been some difference o

st Uncle Billy directly at Mo

difference to the old negro that Morrison's uniform was mutilated-he could only see the familiar

t, with a broad grin. "How

ng beside him and at the sight of that loved figure the old man began t

retched out as if to touch him testingly-then suddenly dropped down on his knees before Gary who had risen from hi

neral

d. "Put a stop to t

as the Adjutant sprang up. All his thought

at had seemed an inexcusable breach of trust. "Dey wouldn' gimme no pass

ary said with a gesture of

rose slowly

e, Mars' Gen'l. I couldn' he'p it, seh. I-I couldn' he'

eneral firmly. "Listen to me. Whe

e Union officer. "'Twas-'twas in de spring, s

ed the General, n

arris came f

I spoke of, General-on th

looked up

t due weight would be given the fact let

neral's mouth. "Tell me abou

lf up and shifted his we

n' up, lookin' fer horses an' fodder an'-an' Mars' Cary-an' anything else what was layin' roun'. Yas, seh. An' des' befo' dis here ge

e?" queried

illy. "My mis'tiss, seh," he said ag

," Harris said in a low t

n de front po'ch-and put him under 'rest. Yas, seh.

he man whose creed was Pati

lry gent'men fer to light out fr'm dar in a hurry. An' whilst dey was gettin' ready, seh, an' m

rows went up in surprise. "Dat's right. Den de front do' flewed open, an' here

neral. "Was he running towar

unmistakable truthfulness, "t'odes de ice house

rison tried

with a chuckle. "He mo'

odded, his li

d. But what did

nly developed dramatic abilities t

he pointed something deadly at an invisibl

or with a whack. "Dat's all, seh. Dat po'

oment there was a pause. Finally, he lifted his

t failed in his military duty-and deserve

favorable than the tone in which they were spoken and his fac

ustice now occupy precisely the same po

r the first just encomium-w

inflexible th

ed officer, must also govern his superiors. As Se

Morrison's face and

d towards Uncle Billy. "You ought to study law! Take him away," and he picked up

ho stepped into the room at a gesture from Forbes. He seemed to realize that his testimony had

givin' it to me. Yas, seh. Thank'e, seh." At the doorway he bowed with careful politeness to e

Billy the General swung around on the off

en tones. "Your friend and counsel, Lieutena

pringing to his feet with a

him-not from you. But still, as an interested pa

s own behalf, all of them weighted with Right and Humanity but none of them worth putting into words in the face of this deadly machine of war, this gri

othing to

eep your seat, sir; you are wounded. Is it true-as I learn from this report-that dur

his chair with a f

ded the man-not the

ke in surprise. "You draw a rather fine distinction, Captain. You saved the colors-but

e General asked: "Is it true that you

k his head. "And a greater debt than I can e

o matter what human elements might be drawn into it, the General in

ass he gav

lowered his own not a whit and backe

and drove the reply h

l relaxed-

and presently looked up with another one of those terribly vital questions which came so sim

as he felt the assault o

General Gra

the sharp comman

rrupted Harris, with a lawy

ame the curt order. "Answer

erb defiance that General Grant knew so well-which was his one eterna

he Confederate Captain said in ringing tone

everyone the Gene

said, and Cary, with a look of s

Morri

fficer rose

vernment you were ordered to pursue this man a

vely but shot a look of respec

rt-I f

leveled at him across the desk and t

ing he wa

shook h

. I hunted him many times; but nev

you capt

mply indicated Cary's

you did ca

me the qu

escort mention

rison answ

neral. He rose and

ne spun distinctions and your legal technicalitie

e desk he caught Morrison's eye and

ter of our lines! A pass! Carte blanche to learn the disposition of our forces-our weakness and our strengt

f his contemptuous summing up Morrison saw where they

with honest courage. Then, as the General turned his

justice of court-martial law prescribes a fi

fficer of the Army of the Potomac shot out his one

aptured him and, by the rules of war, I was about to have him shot. Then he asked

I trusted Herbert Cary to pierce the very

g back came a statement o

you your swor

he General's head and sent his answer home

oner still lives! I could not accept the confidence of his child-the trust of innocence-a bab

tle at a time-first his h

ked dryly. "But you seem to forget

ces which would presently send him forth to the firing squad, Morrison

nes flung out to starve. When a helpless tot had lost its mother and a father would protect it, then war demands that I smash a baby's one last hope-in the name of the

and then the General turned away to pace the floor. Present

ignificance could not be misunderstood, "I wa

ily and made a last

uard"

s all

ho is being kept from something she has set her heart upon. Another moment and there was a rush of tiny feet in the hall, whereupon the two sentries crossed their rifles across the doorway. But what might have proved

ng new comer in tones of shrill command as she stamped he

d surprise on the par

ld out of her

tossing her curls back and stan

called th

m the desk, eluded the orderly and

the Colonel. Daddy, you won't! You won't!"

e General in a plea for a

please. S

her father's shoulder; the little shoulders stiffened, and eye to eye she looked into the face of Cary as his pleading voice went on:

was what her General wanted, this her General would have, though childhood's sobs

ng," her fathe

ience, casting a scowl at the grim and silent G

aid a qui

the truth." He paused and then said gently: "C

ild choked down her sobs and came slowly forward to the desk. But, as she stood there, he

heads were nearly on a level across his desk an

h?" he said in low ton

ded Virgie, gulping down a sob and n

you know the uniform of a Un

pen at the absurdity of the qu

ith scorn. "Well, I recko

ke at the ceiling. "Now, tell me. When you lived at home-and a

ded in emphatic assever

" asked the

wisted themselves

w, sir. But he

smiled. "When your father came, did he eve

father but, as he could not help, her

n don't have hardly any cl

e the sternness of

lained gently. "Did he ever wear

" broke i

d. He turned back to Virgi

? Tel

ked in agony the child turned a look of pure anguish on her silen

rth with a wail of tragedy in he

t the pain that racked him, softened with the p

gie. Whatever t

therner for an instant, noted that his face was quit

id he?"

" answered Virg

ed and his face

even know what

e Littlest Rebel, a

ember how many time

stant answer, and she t

General, surprise

poor, tattered dress, and her clear eyes rested fearlessly on two ot

n started out on the forehead of more than one listener. "

of the man whose iron heel was crushing them into the ground and she made her answer-

ough the woods an'-an' pu

hitherto unnoticed, became a veritable clamor, so complete was the stillness in the room. Everyone except, perhaps, the child herself realized the vital importance of her answ

ead slowly towards th

Cary, is

our nearest post with a flag of truce and asked permission to

s with his own he spoke to him as one officer speaks to a

tleman, that once-once only-you wore a Federal uni

last. "And that was the only cause in heaven o

defiant prisoner, then turned his back and walked to the window where he

blue. Yet the fact had been established-by the spotless honesty of a little child-that he had worn the uniform only so that he might reach his home

ked out another smoke, felt of it thoughtfull

he said in clear, incisive to

his title-at the sound of that blessed order which, by right of supreme power, instantly restored him to his rank, the Union officer leaped to his feet with a cry of joy. But it was not even for th

t up in a gesture whic

to decide between military d

took up a small piece of

r the pass as given you by Colonel Morrison," and he turned the

rd as if in a dream. Then the General turned his back agai

he could escape Virgie's brown little arms were round

looked down on her with a softer light in his face

ert my officers and upset the discipline of the Fed

d there a wistful feminine appeal fo

've got to do it," and he stooped and kissed her. Then

d bare brown legs stood still and threw out h

ight of heaven in her eyes. "Thank you for Daddy and Colone

and love, she rushed back to where th