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
The young officer flushed crimson through his brown, but he knew it was
no use to resent the words of his tormentors, and he rode steadily on,
looking straight before him.
"That's Caswell, a Georgian, of Longstreet's corps," said Sherburne; "a
good soldier and one of the bravest men I ever saw."
"Which proves," said St. Clair, in a tone of conviction, "that clothes
do help make the man."
Caswell passed out of sight, pursued by derisive comment, but his place
was taken quickly by a new victim. A man of middle age, in civilian
clothes, came riding slowly on a fat horse. He was a well-known sutler
named Williams and the wild lads did not confine themselves to hidden
cries, but rushed from the shelter of trees and bushes, and held up worn
articles of apparel, shouting in his ears:
"Hey, Mr. Williams! The soles of these shoes are made of paper, not
leather. I bought leather, not paper."
"What's the price of blue silk neckties? I've got a Yankee sweetheart
in New York, and I want to look well when our conquering army marches
into that city!"
"A pair of blankets for me, Mr. Williams, to be paid for when we loot
the Yankee treasury!"
But Williams was not disconcerted. He was used to such badinage.
He spread out his large hands soothingly.
"Boys," he said, "those shoes wore out so fast because you chased the
Yankees so hard. They were made for walking, not for foot races.
Why do you want to buy blankets on time when you can get them more
cheaply by capturing them from the enemy?"
His answers pleased them, and some one called for three cheers for
Williams, which were given with a will, and he rode on, unmolested.
But in a few minutes another and greater roar arose. Now it was
swelling, continuous, and there was in it no note whatever of criticism
or derision. It was made up wholly of affection and admiration, and
it rolled in unceasing volume along the stream and through the forest.
The four lads and Sherburne sprang to their feet, shading their eyes
with their hands as they looked.
"By the great Jupiter!" exclaimed Sherburne, "it's Old Jack himself in a
new uniform on Little Sorrel! The boys, I imagine, have heard that he's
been made lieutenant-general."
"I knew that nothing could stir up the corps this way except Old Jack
or a rabbit," said Happy Tom, as he sprang to his feet--he meant no
disrespect to his commander, as thousands would give chase to a rabbit
when it happened to be roused out of the bushes.
"Thunderation! What a change!" exclaimed St. Clair, as he ran with the
others to the edge of the road to see Stonewall Jackson, the victor of
twenty battles, go past in a uniform that at first had almost disguised
him from his amazed soldiers. Little Sorrel was galloping. He had
learned to do so whenever the soldiers cheered his rider. Applause
always embarrassed Jackson, and Little Sorrel, of his own volition,
now obeyed his wish to get by it as soon as possible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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