HALCOM. So much will I as becomes a soldier who would defend his country from such assassins. If I fall, let me sleep in my old home in the soil of Tennessee, whose honor I have tried to defend against the cowards who have dragged her into this infamous revolt. SHERMAN. (_Taking his hand._) Well said, my boy. You will not fall. God will protect the brave hearts that are to save the home he has made for the poor. I have gazed in wonder and surprise so many times on the brave fellows that sprang so wildly to the front, before the echoes of Sumter’s cannon had hardly died away among the free hills of the north. Half of them fit to be governors or presidents! What a people have sprung from the little squad that first planted civil liberty on old Plymouth Rock. Brave old New England! How quickly her sword leaped from the scabbard when slavery struck at this. How the offshoots of her brain throb and flash across the prairies of the great west. How her freedom and little church spires cling to the hills as her civilization marches for the western sea! It is God’s advance guard leading the way to a larger and freer home for the poor. Think, Halcom, of the glory that is coming. The star is in the west now. Fifty years hence a hundred millions of free and prosperous people will offer thanksgiving to heaven for this, your sword shall help so much to win. HALCOM. It is indeed beautiful to contemplate. But there are bitter cups for many to drain before that glory comes. I hope for nothing. My family are gone. When my heart reaches out for my kindred, it remembers only that the assassin has left nothing to love but the ashes of the old home. SHERMAN. Let us pursue this painful subject no longer. Go and sleep now. Howard tells me you are watching forever. HALCOM. You will expect us to carry the left redoubts at daybreak? SHERMAN. If heaven wills. HALCOM. The men will do all you may expect. Listen for my cannon at daybreak. SHERMAN. At daybreak? HALCOM. At daybreak. (_Hal. salutes and retires R. U. E._) SHERMAN. The bravest and most honorable man I ever saw! So young to command. (_Turns to leave L.U.E., meets Hez. entering._) HEZEKIAH. Hold on there, you old gunpowder guzzler, you come here and give me the password or I’ll blow you out er water. I will, by jingo! SHERMAN. (_To rear centre slowly._) Atlanta. HEZEKIAH. (_Scratching head and thinking._) I’ll be darned ter Moses ef I don’t think that is the password arter all. My memory wants joggin, wuss ’n Ike Acorn’s cabbages that was planted in a sandbank coz ’twas easy hoin’. SHERMAN. Are you on the regular picket tonight? HEZEKIAH. I’ll be darned if ye hain’t got me. I bin catawaulin round here all day ter get a pop at some er them Johnnies, and Barney brings out the provender. SHERMAN. Do you know the general-in-chief, sir? HEZEKIAH. Well, I should think I ought ter. He and I have drinked over a barrel together since this rumpus come up. SHERMAN. How do you like the service, sir?