The Sword of Antietam: A Story of the Nation's CrisisAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
History
The Sword of Antietam: A Story of the Nation's Crisis
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
Jackson's column did not stop until midnight. They had been more than
twenty-four hours on the march, and they had not seen a hostile soldier.
Harry Kenton himself did not know where they were going. But he lay down
and gratefully, like the others, took the rest that was allowed to him.
But a few hours only and they were marching again under a starry sky.
Morning showed the forest lining the slopes of the mountains and then
all the men seemed to realize suddenly which way they were going.
This was the road that led to Pope. It was not Washington, or
Winchester, or some unknown army, but their foe on the Rappahannock that
they were going to strike. A deep murmur of joy ran through the ranks,
and the men who had now been marching thirty hours, with but little
rest, suddenly increased their speed. Knowledge had brought them new
strength.
They entered the forest and passed into Thoroughfare Gap, which leads
through Bull Run Mountain. The files narrowed now and stretched out in a
longer line. This was a deep gorge, pines and bushes lining the summits
and crests. The confined air here was closer and hotter than ever, but
the men pressed on with undiminished speed.
Harry Kenton felt a certain awe as he rode behind Jackson, and looked
up at the lofty cliffs that enclosed them. The pines along the summit on
either side were like long, green ribbons, and he half feared to see
men in blue appear there and open fire on those in the gorge below. But
reason told him that there was no such danger. No Northern force could
be on Bull Run Mountain.
Harry had not asked a question during all that march. He had not
known where they were going, but like all the soldiers he had supreme
confidence in Jackson. He might be going to any of a number of places,
but the place to which he was going was sure to be the right place.
Now as he rode in the pass he knew that they were bound for the rear of
Pope's army. Well, that would be bad for Pope! Harry had no doubt of it.
They passed out of the gap, leaving the mountain behind them, and swept
on through two little villages, and over the famous plateau of Manassas
Junction which many of them had seen before in the fire and smoke of the
war's first terrible day. Here were the fields and hills over which
they had fought and won the victory. Harry recognized at once the places
which had been burned so vividly into his memory, and he considered it a
good omen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account