The Tree of Appomattox

d his army left the great valley pike, and took a road leading toward the Blue Ridge, where he eventually entered a gap, and fortified to await supplies and fresh me

mph that the Union had yet achieved and

sent forward food in abundance to its troops, and now, just as the twilight was coming, the fires were lighted and the pleasant aromas of supper were rising. Colonel Winchester and his young staff sat by one of the fires near the edge of the creek. They had not tak

to my taking a census?" said

what kind of a ce

eparately and individually and

o ahead," said Colone

hat hurts have you sust

ft arm, about healed now, a spent bullet that hit me on the head, raising a lump and ache

e, as it was one of o

seriously. I withdraw m

r wounds. Now, Penni

the Nebraskan. "A bullet went right through my left

errible.' That's

nd bled in a most disgraceful manner all over

ound only when you're hit yourself, not w

the flesh of my left arm just above the elbow. It healed so fast that I've hardly noticed it, due, of course, to the v

p to your subject. When you're solving one of those delightful problems in mathematics you can't digress and drag in irrelevant

fell so hard that I was thrown over his shoulder, giving m

it happened in battle.

efinition of a wound. I'm one behind Dick, but I believe that when I wa

good comrade, but you're a

illing to be angry with anybody I'd get u

st the same. You're ho

g at, you chattering

g under the enemy's fire, helped him on your own horse, although you got two wounds in your body while do

gton b

ything about that," he m

to do it. You go down for five

about yourself, G

t waste time in words, like you two, my verbose friends. That gives t

that not one of the twelve i

so are satisfied. But the last two or three weeks of battles and marches have fairly made me dizzy. I can't remember them or their se

ur part of Nebraska for my appetite. But nature always gets even. For all those periods of forgetfulness memory

the winds from the mountains had an edge. The foliage had turned and it glowed in vivid reds

intry nights, when children. Beyond the trees the horses, under guard, were grazing on what was left of the late grass, but within the wood the men themselves, save thos

l be tonight," said Pennington, who

ut I lost them, and so we won't be able to orde

h sausage and spare ribs in old Kentucky,"

ey'll be having a roasted bull buffalo weighing fiv

ner. "No buffalo ever wei

looked at h

aid. "Why can't you let me put on an extra twenty-five

t buffaloes whole and br

f that we can't or won't. Now, wh

a whole pumpkin pie, and a few tin cups of cider would go along w

without clothes, but in whatever part of the world you may be, you must have food. And it's best when you've ridden hard all day, and, i

ything tastes good to us. Nothing could taste bad. Our twelve wounds don't pain us in the least, and they'll heal absolutely in a few days, our blood being so healthy. The air we breathe is absolutely pure and the sky over our heads is all blue and silver, spangled with stars, a canopy stretched for

much anyway. I've lived mostly in the saddle since I was seven or eight years old, but the wa

," said a voice behind them, "it would be well for all

r who spoke, and they lo

, which way we

neral Sheridan," r

no enemy to th

I'm not going to tell you any more. Now, as you've eaten enough food and drunk enough co

e news soon spread among the horsemen that from Front Royal the general would go on to Washington for a conference with the War Department, while

aid Dick. "But it's quite sure that we'll meet no enemy until we go

k them. He demanded to be taken at once to the presence of Genera

nant-Gene

soon as my forces

Sher

, Lieutena

signal made by the Confederate flags on Three Top Mountain, and deciphered by Union officers who had obtained the secret o

nto the valley with a formidable force, then indeed it would be the dance of death. Longstreet, although he did not have the genius of Stonewall Jackson, was a fierce and dangerous fighter. All of them knew how

o deceive, Early's signalmen learning that the Union signalmen had deciphered their code, or it might be some sort of a grim joke. He did not believe that the Army of Nor

He decided at last that the coming of Longstreet with an army into the valley was an impossibility, and he would go on to Washington. But Sheridan made a reservatio

knew. They discussed it fully as they rode back on their own

"I prefer anyhow for the valley to be my home at present, although I believe that disp

eneral Sheridan had taken me on to Washington with him. I'd like to see the lights of the capit

He means it," said

General Sheridan failed to take me with hi

ode gaily back, unconscious of the sin

*

give up, was gathering them together again, and was meditating a daring counter stroke. The task might well have appalled any general and any troops, but if Early had one quality in preeminence it was the resolution to fight. And most of his officers and

The great valley had been stripped of all its live stock, all its grain and of every other resource that would avail an army. Nothing could

might be left, and ate it roasted or parched. Along the slopes of the m

nd the South Carolinians, St. Clair and Langdon. St. Clair alone was impeccable

s search well you may be able to find others like it. All things come to him who looks long enough. Remember how Nebuchadnezzar ate grass, and he must have had to do some hunting too, because I understand

for a nubbin of corn and then feel happy when I've got the wretched, dirty, insignificant little thin

y acres that produces fifteen hundred bushels of wheat, b

" said Harry, "that it's too late in

either, so far as

m find anything, but optimists find, often.

d gleaming through a fringe of woods beyond. The experienced eye o

now there is because I caught a glimpse of a red apple hanging from a tr

ed with a s

rove!" excl

timist now?"

are," sai

October sun. A little beyond the orchard in a clearing was a small log house, obviously that of the owner of the orchard, and also obviously deserted. No smoke rose from the chimneys,

," said St. Clair. "We'll fill up our s

or the corn, but the few ears they

boyhood coming back to him, and, as he shook with his whole strength, the red apples, held now b

id St. Clair, "and on our

nd sending them with swift steps toward the welcome orchard. They passed within the shadow of a grove, and then entered a small open space, where two

aining knight, Hector, you'll ha

played properly it demands time. If I don't take your remaining knight be

Hector; I've hear

e statements and prophecies, but I trust

ine, Hector, and see what y

r hardships floated away from them, their minds absorbed thoroughly in the difficult game which had come in the dim past out of the E

very unworldliness lay their attraction. He knew that whatever the fortunes of the war, they would, if they lived, prove good citizens after its close. All rancor-no, not rancor, because they felt none-rather

, despite a critical situation on the board. Then they looked down again at the scarlet heap upon the grass, and, pow

onel Talbot. "Many apples, magnif

idan swept as bare as the palm of my hand. It's only an idle dream, Leonidas. I was deceived by it myself, for a moment, b

Harry joyfully. "We found an abandoned orchard,

ined them. Harry and Dalton, after having eaten their share, were walking along the slope of the mountain, when they heard the sound of a shot. It seemed to come from a dense thicke

of something being dragged, and the young South Carolinian appeared, pulli

g around the woods feeding on nuts until he was fat and juicy! My, how good he will tas

minute and gloated with him. Then they helped him drag the hog into the cove, where the colonels sat. A half doze

ly discover, that is, 'seek and ye shall find.' It's the optimists who arrive. Your pessimist quits before he comes to the apple trees, or before he reac

eel any sense of responsibility," said Dalton.

n. Born with a sour disposition you can't be

n lau

lp, and for that reason we tolerate you

at fellow Slade agai

skill in the forest, but our officers don't like his looks. Nor did I. If there was ever a thorough villain I'm sure he's one.

om the Kentucky mountains with anot

" asked Harry wit

think, Bi

town of Pendleton, and he claimed to be on the Union side. H

Union man, but he's shifting around now, I fancy, to suit his own plundering and ro

he Confederate signal station was located, and from which the Union officers had taken the dispatch about the coming of Longstreet wit

with her healing touch. Harry smothered a sigh as he recalled their early and wonderful victories there, and the tremendous marches with the invincible Stonewall. Old Jack, as he sat so

at hour was in charge of a young officer named Mortimer, but little older than themselves. They delivered to him their message and stood by

can't read it," he said when Morti

d it's heavy with import

bit of it,

is army and gone nor

ha

e've signaled it to General Early.

is imp

rthward. Since Sheridan went away, the Union commander, whoever he is, has been strengthen

al Early will at

ations like ours. We can look down upon the enem

heir left?" asked Harry.

t of him, and on his own left the north fork of the Shenandoah. He's considerably

ying upon the natural

it, but we may gi

o the distance, Harry knew they were moving. Apparently they were infantry going toward the Union right, where danger was feared, and he felt a grim satisfaction in knowing that

ed, and in all probability it was part of the cavalry that had gone north with Sheridan. But he thought again how strange it was that the two should have been face to face

again, and Confederate signalmen, on a far peak, replied. Harry and

y, when they had finished, "w

mer l

housand?' He replied: 'No, eight thousand!' I said: 'In center or on their right flank?' He replied: 'On their right flank.' I said: 'Two thousand fresh horses?' He replied: 'Nearer twenty-fiv

k was meant to f

ng venture that we're entering upon, but it's great luck for

is worth at least ten thousand men to the Yankees. Good-by, we'd like to see more of your work with the flags, but dow

now and then to survey the valley with their glasses, where they could yet mark the movements of the Northern troops. When they reached the cove they found that the board

ader of great skill and energy, but now they had come back to risk everything in a daring venture. The Union forces, of course, knew of their presence in the old lines

e liked. He even remembered with a smile their long duel when Lee was retreating from Gettysburg, and particularly their adventure in the river. Would that du

de before their scanty numbers, held themselves as proudly as ever, and the hearts of their young officers, in spite of all the odds, beg

the valley to cover its movements and hide the advancing columns from its foe. When Harry felt the damp touch of the vapor on his face his hopes rose yet higher. He knew

Langdon, as the fog grew thicker and thicker,

d and found that orchard of apples. We persisted and found that fat porker. Now

y la

best of things,

tion. Gordon led three divisions of infantry, supported by a brigade of cavalry across the Shenandoah River and marched east of Fisher's Hill.

had completed his great circling movement. Then he would push forward with all his might, and he and Gordon appearing suddenly out of the fog and dark would strike sledge

movement. Both artillery and infantry were up, and there was nothing for them to do but wait. The officers dismounted and naturally

ade it chillier. Harry as he stood by his horse felt it cold and damp on his face, but it was a true friend

too the murmur of voices, and now and then the clank of a cannon, as it was advanced a little. More time passed. It was the hour when