The Star of Gettysburg: A Story of Southern High TideAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
History
The Star of Gettysburg: A Story of Southern High Tide
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
But there were bolder spirits at the Southern headquarters, three miles
away. Lee and Jackson always saw clearly and were always able to
decide upon a course. Besides, their need was far more desperate. The
Southern army did not increase in numbers. Victories brought few new
men to its standards. Winning, it held its own, and losing, it lost
everything. Before it stood the Army of the Potomac, outnumbering it
two to one, and behind that army stood a great nation ready to pour
forth more men by the hundreds of thousands and more money by the
hundreds of millions to save the Union.
Harry, leaning against a bush, fell into a light doze, from which Dalton
aroused him bye and bye. But the habit of war made him awake fully
and instantly. Every faculty was alive. He arose to his feet and saw
that Lee and Jackson were just parting. A faint moon shone over the
Wilderness, revealing but little of the great army which lay in its
thickets.
"I fancy that the plan which will give us either victory or defeat is
arranged," said Dalton.
But neither Harry nor Dalton was called, and bye and bye they sank into
another doze. They were awakened toward morning by Sherburne, who stood
before them holding his horse by the bridle. The horse was wet with
foam, and it was evident that he had been ridden far and hard.
"What is it?" asked Harry, springing to his feet. "I've been riding
with General Stuart," replied Sherburne, who looked worn and weary,
but nevertheless exultant. "How many miles we've ridden I'll never know,
but we've been along the whole Northern front and around their wings.
With the help of Fitz Lee we've discovered their weak point. The
Northern left, fortified in the thickets, is impossible. We'd merely
beat ourselves to pieces against it; but their right has no protection
at all, that is, no trenches or breastworks. I thought you boys might
be wanted presently, and, as I saw you sleeping here, I've awakened you.
Look down there and you'll see something that I think the Northern army
has cause to dread."
Harry and Dalton looked at a little open space in the center of which
Lee and Jackson sat, having met for another talk, each on an empty
cracker box, taken from a heap which the Northern army had left behind
when it withdrew the day before. The generals faced each other and two
or three men were standing by. One of them was a major named Hotchkiss,
whom Harry knew.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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