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
Harry, as he listened to the prayer, felt a deep and overwhelming sense
of solemnity and awe. He felt that it was at once a petition and a
presage. Sitting there in the half dark mighty events were
foreshadowed. It seemed to him that they were about to enter upon a
struggle more terrible than any that had gone before, and those had
been terrible beyond the anticipation of anybody.
The omens did not fail. Jackson's army marched the next morning,
turning southward along the turnpike in order to effect the junction
with Lee and Longstreet. All Winchester had assembled to bid them
farewell, the people confident that the army would win victory, but
knowing its cost now.
There was water in Harry's eyes as he listened to the shouts and cheers
and saw the young girls waving the little Confederate flags.
"If good wishes can do anything," said Harry, "then we ought to win."
"So we should. I'm glad to have the good wishes, but, Harry, when
you're up against the enemy, they can't take the place of cannon and
rifles. Look at Colonel Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire.
See how straight and precise they are. But both are suffering from a
deep disappointment. They started their chess game again last night,
Colonel Talbot to make the first move with his king, but before he could
decide upon any course with that king the orders came for us to get
ready for the march. The chessmen went into the box, and they'll have
another chance, probably after we beat Burnside."
They went on up the valley, through the scenes of triumphs remembered so
well. All around them were their battlefields of the spring, and there
were the massive ridges of the Massanuttons that Jackson had used so
skillfully, not clothed in green now, but with the scanty leaves of
closing autumn.
Neither Harry nor any of his comrades knew just where they were going.
That secret was locked fast under the old slouch hat of Jackson, and
Harry, like all the others, was content to wait. Old Jack knew where he
was going and what he meant to do. And wherever he was going it was the
right place to go to, and whatever he meant to do was just the thing
that ought to be done. His extraordinary spell over his men deepened
with the passing days.
As they went farther southward they saw sheltered slopes of the
mountains where the foliage yet glowed in the reds and yellows of autumn,
"purple patches" on the landscape. Over ridges to both east and west
the fine haze of Indian summer yet hung. It was a wonderful world,
full of beauty. The air was better and nobler than wine, and the creeks
and brooks flowing swiftly down the slopes flashed in silver.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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