The Star of Gettysburg: A Story of Southern High Tide Page 2

  CHAPTER I

  THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY

  A youth sat upon a log by a clear stream in the Valley of Virginia,mending clothes.

  He showed skill and rapidity in his homely task. A shining needledarted in and out of the gray cloth, and the rent that had seemedhopeless was being closed up with neatness and precision. No onederided him because he was engaged upon a task that was usuallyperformed by women. The Army of Northern Virginia did its own sewing.

  "Will the seam show much, Arthur?" asked Harry Kenton, who layluxuriously upon the leafy ground beside the log.

  "Very little when I finish," replied St. Clair, examining his work witha critical eye. "Of course I can't pass the uniform off as wholly new.It's been a long time since I've seen a new one in our army, but it willbe a lot above the average."

  "I admire your care of your clothes, Arthur, even if I can't quiteimitate it. I've concluded that good clothes give a certain amount ofmoral courage, and if you get killed you make a much more decent body."

  "But Arthur St. Clair, of Charleston, sir, has no intention of gettingkilled," said Happy Tom Langdon, who was also resting upon the earth."He means after this war is over to go back to his native city, buy themost magnificent uniforms that were ever made, and tell the girls howLee and Jackson turned to him for advice at the crisis of every greatbattle."

  "We surely needed wisdom and everything else we could get atAntietam--leadership, tenacity and the willingness to die," said Dalton,the sober young Virginia Presbyterian. "Boys, we were in the deepestof holes there, and we had to lift ourselves out almost by our own bootstraps."

  Harry's face clouded. The field of Antietam often returned to him,almost as real and vivid as on that terrible day, when the dead layheaped in masses around the Dunkard church and the Southern army calledforth every ounce of courage and endurance for its very salvation.

  "Antietam is a month away," he said, "and I still shudder at the name.We didn't think McClellan would come up and attack Lee while Jackson wasaway at Harper's Ferry, but he did. How did it happen? How did he knowthat our army was divided?"

  "I've heard a strange story," said Dalton. "It's come through someUnion prisoners we've taken. They say that McClellan found a copy ofGeneral Lee's orders in Frederick, and learned from them exactly whereall our troops were and what they intended. Then, of course, heattacked."

  "A strange tale, as you say, a most extraordinary chance," said Harry."Do you think it's true, George?"

  "I've no doubt it fell out that way. The same report comes from othersources."

  "At any rate," said Happy Tom, "it gave us a chance to show how lessthan fifty thousand men could stand off nearly ninety thousand. Besides,we didn't lose any ground. We went over into Maryland to give theMarylanders a chance to rise for the South. They didn't rise worth acent. I suppose we didn't get more than five hundred volunteers in thatstate. 'The despot's heel is on thy shore, Maryland, my Maryland,' andit can stay on thy shore, Maryland, my Maryland, if that's the way youtreat us. I feel a lot more at home here in Virginia."

  "It is fine," said Harry, stirring comfortably on the leaves and lookingdown at the clear stream of the Opequon. "One can't fight all the time.I feel as if I had been in a thousand battles, and two or three monthsof the year are left. It's fine to lie here by the water, and breathepure air instead of dust."

  "I've heard that every man eats a peck of dirt in the course of hislife," said Happy Tom, "but I know that I've already beat the measurea dozen times over. Why, I took in a bushel at least at the SecondManassas, but I still live, and here I am, surveying this peacefuldomestic scene. Arthur is mending his best uniform, Harry stretched onthe leaves is resting and dreaming dreams, George is wondering how hewill get a new pair of shoes for the season, and the army is doing itsautumn washing."

  Harry glanced up and down the stream, and he smiled at the homely sight.Thousands of soldiers were washing their ragged clothes in the littleriver and the equally ragged clothes of many others were drying on thebanks or on the bushes. The sun-browned lads who skylarked along theshores or in the water, playing pranks on one another, bore littleresemblance to those who had charged so fiercely and so often into themouths of the cannon at Antietam.

  Harry marvelled at them and at himself. It seemed scarcely possiblethat human nature could rush to such violent extremes within so shorta space. But youth conquered all. There was very little gloom inthis great army which disported itself in the water or in the shade.Thousands of wounded, still pale, but with returning strength, lay onthe October leaves and looked forward to the day when they could jointheir comrades in either games or war.

  Harry himself had suffered for a while from a great exhaustion. Hehad been terribly anxious, too, about his father, but a letter writtenjust after the battle of Perryville, and coming through with unusualpromptness by the way of Chattanooga and Richmond, had arrived theday before, informing him of Colonel Kenton's safety. In this letterhis father had spoken of his meeting with Dick Mason in his home atPendleton, and that also contributed to his new lightness of heart.Dick was not a brother, but he stood in the place of one, and it wasgood to hear again of him.

  The sounds of shouts and laughter far up and down the Opequon becamesteady and soothing. The October winds blowing gently were crisp andfresh, but not too cold. The four boys ceased talking and Harry on hisbed of leaves became drowsy. The forests on the far hills and mountainsburned in vivid reds and yellows and browns, painted by the master handof autumn. Harry heard a bird singing on a bough among red leavesdirectly over his head, and the note was piercingly sweet to ears usedso long to the roar of cannon and rifles.

  His drowsy lids sank lower and he would have gone to sleep had he notbeen roused by a shouting farther down the little river. His eyesopened wide and he sat up.

  "What is it, George?" he said to Dalton.

  "I don't know, but here comes Captain Sherburne, and I'll ask him."

  Sherburne was approaching with long strides, his face flushed withenthusiasm.

  "What is it, Captain?" asked Harry. "What are the boys shouting about?"

  "The news has just reached them that Old Jack has been made alieutenant-general. General Lee asked the government to divide his armyinto two corps, with Old Jack in command of one and Longstreet in chargeof the other. The government has seen fit to do what General Leeadvises it to do, and we are now the Second Army Corps, two thousandofficers, twenty-five thousand men and one hundred and thirty guns,commanded by Lieutenant-General Thomas Jonathan Jackson, better knownto his enemy as 'Stonewall' Jackson and to his men as 'Old Jack.'"

  "Splendid!" exclaimed Harry. "Never was a promotion better earned!"

  "And so say we all of us," said Happy Tom. "But just a moment, Captain.What is the news about me?"

  "About you, Tom?"

  "Yes, about me? Didn't I win the victory at the Second Manassas?Didn't I save the army at Antietam? Am I promoted to be a colonel oris it merely a lieutenant-colonel?"

  "I'm sorry, Tom," replied Sherburne with great gravity, "but there is nomention of your promotion. I know it's an oversight, and we'll join ina general petition to Richmond that you be made a lieutenant-colonel atthe very least."

  "Oh, never mind. If it has to be done through the begging of my friendsI decline the honor. I don't know that I'd care to be any kind of acolonel, anyhow. I'd have to pass the boys here, and maybe I'd haveto command 'em, which would make 'em feel bad. Old Jack himself mightbecome jealous of me. I guess I'm satisfied as I am."

  "I like the modesty of the South Carolinians, Tom," said Dalton."There's a story going the rounds that you South Carolinians made thewar and that we Virginians have got to fight it."

  "There may be such a story. It seems to me that it was whispered tome once, but the internal evidence shows that it was invented by aVirginian. Haven't I come up here and shed some of my blood and more ofmy perspiration to save the sacred soil of the Mother of Presidents frominvasion? And
didn't I bring with me Arthur St. Clair, the best dressedman in Charleston, for the Yankees to shoot at? Hello, what's that?This is a day of events!"

  Hoots, cat-calls, and derisive yells arose along a long line. A trimyoung officer on a fine bay horse was riding down a path beside theOpequon. He was as beautifully dressed as St. Clair at his best.His hands were encased in long white buckskin gloves, and long brownmustaches curled beautifully up until they touched either cheek.It was he, this Beau Brummel of the Southern army, who had attracted theattention of irreverent youth. From the shelter of trees and bushescame a chorus of cries:

  "Take them mice out o' your mouth! I know they're there, 'cause I seetheir tails stickin' out!"

  "What kind o' hair oil do you use? I know your head's oiled, or itwouldn't shine so."

  "Be sure you keep your gloves on or the sun'll tan your hands!"

  "Oh, my, it's mother's pretty boy, goin' to see his best girl!"

  The young officer flushed crimson through his brown, but he knew it wasno 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; "agood soldier and one of the bravest men I ever saw."

  "Which proves," said St. Clair, in a tone of conviction, "that clothesdo help make the man."

  Caswell passed out of sight, pursued by derisive comment, but his placewas taken quickly by a new victim. A man of middle age, in civilianclothes, came riding slowly on a fat horse. He was a well-known sutlernamed Williams and the wild lads did not confine themselves to hiddencries, but rushed from the shelter of trees and bushes, and held up wornarticles of apparel, shouting in his ears:

  "Hey, Mr. Williams! The soles of these shoes are made of paper, notleather. I bought leather, not paper."

  "What's the price of blue silk neckties? I've got a Yankee sweetheartin New York, and I want to look well when our conquering army marchesinto that city!"

  "A pair of blankets for me, Mr. Williams, to be paid for when we lootthe 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 theYankees 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 morecheaply by capturing them from the enemy?"

  His answers pleased them, and some one called for three cheers forWilliams, which were given with a will, and he rode on, unmolested.But in a few minutes another and greater roar arose. Now it wasswelling, continuous, and there was in it no note whatever of criticismor derision. It was made up wholly of affection and admiration, andit rolled in unceasing volume along the stream and through the forest.

  The four lads and Sherburne sprang to their feet, shading their eyeswith their hands as they looked.

  "By the great Jupiter!" exclaimed Sherburne, "it's Old Jack himself in anew uniform on Little Sorrel! The boys, I imagine, have heard that he'sbeen made lieutenant-general."

  "I knew that nothing could stir up the corps this way except Old Jackor a rabbit," said Happy Tom, as he sprang to his feet--he meant nodisrespect to his commander, as thousands would give chase to a rabbitwhen it happened to be roused out of the bushes.

  "Thunderation! What a change!" exclaimed St. Clair, as he ran with theothers to the edge of the road to see Stonewall Jackson, the victor oftwenty battles, go past in a uniform that at first had almost disguisedhim from his amazed soldiers. Little Sorrel was galloping. He hadlearned to do so whenever the soldiers cheered his rider. Applausealways embarrassed Jackson, and Little Sorrel, of his own volition,now obeyed his wish to get by it as soon as possible.

  "What splendor!" exclaimed Harry. "Did you ever see Old Jack lookinglike this before?"

  "Never! Never!" they exclaimed in chorus.

  Stonewall Jackson wore a magnificent uniform of the richest gray,with heavy gold lace wherever gold lace could be used, and massiveepaulets of gold. A thick gold cord tied in a bow in front surroundedthe fine gray hat, and never did a famous general look more embarrassedas the faithful horse took him along at an easy gallop.

  All through the woods spread the word that Stonewall Jackson was ridingby arrayed in plumage like that of the dandy, Jeb Stuart himself.It was wonderful, miraculous, but it was true, and the cheers rolledcontinuously, like those of troops about to go into battle and confidentof victory.

  Harry saw clearly that his commander was terribly abashed. Blushesshowed through the tan of his cheeks, and the soldiers, who would nothave dared to disobey a single word of his on the battlefield, now ranjoyously among the woods and bushes. Harry and the other three lads,being on Jackson's staff, hid discreetly behind the log as he passed,but they heard the thunder of the cheering following him down the road.

  It was in truth a most singular scene. These were citizen soldiers,welded into a terrible machine by battle after battle and the genius ofa great leader, but with their youth they retained their personality andindependence. Affection was strongly mingled with their admiration forJackson. He was the head of the family, and they felt free to cheertheir usually dingy hero as he rode abroad in his magnificent newuniform.

  "I think we'd better cut across the woods to headquarters," said Harry."I want to see the arrival of Old Jack, and I'd wager any of you fivecents to a cent that he'll never wear that uniform again. Why, hedoesn't look natural in it at all."

  "I won't take your bet," said Happy Tom, "because I'm thinking just asyou do. Arthur, here, would look all right in it--he needs clothes tohold him up, anyway, but it doesn't suit Old Jack."

  Their short cut took them through the woods to the general's quarters intime to see him arrive and spring hurriedly from Little Sorrel. The manwhose name was a very synonym of victorious war was still embarrassedand blushing, and as Harry followed him into the tent he took off thegorgeous uniform and hat and handed them to his young aide. Then as heput on his usual dingy gray, he said to an officer who had brought himthe new clothes:

  "Give my thanks to General Stuart, Major, but tell him that the uniformis far too magnificent for me. I value the gift, however, and shallkeep it in recollection of him."

  The major and Harry took the uniform and, smoothing it carefully,laid it away. But Harry, having further leave of absence went forth andanswered many questions. Was the general going to wear that uniform allthe time? Would he ride into battle clothed in it? When Harry repliedthat, in his belief, he would never put it on again, the young soldiersseemed to feel a kind of relief. The head of the family was not goingto be too splendid for them. Yet the event had heightened their spirits,already high, and they began to sing a favorite song:

  "Come, stack arms, men, pile on the rails; Stir up the camp fires bright. No matter if the canteen fails, We'll make a roaring night. Here Shenandoah brawls along, There lofty Blue Ridge echoes strong To swell the brigade's rousing song Of Stonewall Jackson's way."

  "It's a bully song!" exclaimed Happy Tom, who had a deep and thunderousvoice. Then snatching up a long stick he began to wave it as a baton,and the others, instinctively following their leader, roared it forth,more than ten thousand strong.

  Langdon in his glory led his cohorts in a vast circle around Jackson'squarters, and the mighty chorus thundered through verse after verse,until they closed in a lower tone with the lines:

  "Silence! ground arms! kneel all! caps off! Old Blue Light's going to pray; Strangle the fool that dares to scoff! Attention! it's his way! Appealing from his native sod In forma pauperis to God Lay bare thine arm--stretch forth thy rod, Amen! That's Stonewall Jackson's way."

  Then Happy Tom threw down his stick and the men dispersed to theirquarters. But they had paid Stonewall Jackson a tribute that fewgenerals ever received.

  "You're a wild and foolish fellow, Tom Langdon," said Dalton, "but Ilike you
for this thing you've done."

  "You'll notice that Old Jack never appeared while we were singing,"said Langdon. "I don't see why a man should be so modest and bashful.Why, if I'd done half what he's done I'd ride the tallest horse in thecountry; I'd have one of those Mexican saddles of yellow leather studdedwith large golden-headed nails; the stirrups would be of gold and thebridle bit would be gold, too. I'd have twelve uniforms all coveredwith gold lace, and I'd have hats with gold-colored ostrich plumeswaving in them after the fashion of Jeb Stuart."

  "Don't you worry, Tom," said Dalton. "You'll never have any excuse forwearing so much gold. Have you heard what one of the boys said afterthe chaplain preached the sermon to us last Sunday about leading thechildren of Israel forty years through the wilderness?"

  "No, George; what was it?"

  "Forty years going through the wilderness," he growled. "Why, StonewallJackson would have double-quicked 'em through in three days, and on halfrations, too."

  "And so he would," exclaimed Harry with emphasis. The great affectionand admiration in which his troops held Jackson began to be tinged withsomething that bordered upon superstition. They regarded his mentalpowers, his intuition, judgment and quickness as something almostsupernatural. His great flanking movement at the Second Manassas,and his arrival in time to save the army at Antietam, inspired them withawe for a man who could do such things. They had long since ceased togrumble when he undertook one of his tremendous marches, and they neverasked why they were sent to do a thing--they had absolute confidence inthe one who sent them to do it.

  The great excitement of Jackson in his new uniform passed and the boysresumed their luxurious quarters on the leaves beside the Opequon.Sherburne, who had left them a while, returned, riding a splendid bayhorse, which he tethered to a bush before rejoining them.

  "That's not the horse I saw you riding at Antietam, Captain," saidLangdon. "I counted that fellow's ribs, and none show in this one.It's no business of mine, but I want to know where you got that finebrute."

  "No, it's none of your business, Tom," replied Sherburne, as he settledhimself comfortably, "you haven't anything in the world to do with it,but that's no reason why you shouldn't ask and I shouldn't answer."

  "Drop the long-winded preliminaries, then, and go ahead."

  "I got him on a wild ride with the general, General Stuart. What acavalryman! I don't believe there was ever such another glutton foradventure and battle. General Lee wasn't just sure what McClellan meantto do, and he ordered General Stuart to pick his men and go see.

  "The general took six hundred of us, and four light guns, and we crossedthe Potomac at dawn. Then we rode straight toward the north, exchangingshots here and there with Northern pickets. We went across Maryland andclear up into Pennsylvania, a hundred miles it must have been, I think,and at a town called Chambersburg we got a great supply of Yankee stores,including five hundred horses, which came in mighty handy, I can tellyou. I got Bucephalus there. He's a fine steed, too, I can tell you.He was intended to carry some fat Pennsylvania colonel or major, andinstead he has me for a rider, a thinner and consequently a lighter man.I haven't heard him expressing any sorrow over the exchange."

  "What did you do after you got the remounts?" asked Harry.

  "We began to curve then. We passed a town called Gettysburg, and wewent squarely behind the Union army. Mountainous and hilly country upthere, but good and cultivated beautifully. Those Pennsylvania Germans,Harry, beat us all hollow at farming. I'm beginning to think thatslaves are not worth owning. They ruin our land."

  "Which may be so," interrupted Langdon, "but we're not the kind ofpeople to give them up because a lot of other people order us to do it."

  "Shut up, Tom," exclaimed Harry. "Let the captain go on with his story."

  "We went on around the Union rear, rode another hundred miles afterleaving Chambersburg, coming to a place called Hyattstown, near which wecut across McClellan's communications with Washington. Things grew warm,as the Yankees, learning that we were in the country, began to assemblein great force. They tried to prevent our crossing the Monocacy River,and we had a sharp fight, but we drove them off before they could get upa big enough force to hold us. Then we came on, forded the Potomac andgot back after having made an entire circuit of McClellan's army."

  "What a ride!" exclaimed St. Clair, his eyes sparkling. "I wish I hadbeen with you. It would have been something to talk about."

  "We did stir 'em up," said Sherburne with pardonable pride, "and we gota lot of information, too, some of it beyond price. We've learned thatthere will be no more attempts on Richmond by sea. The Yankee armieswill come across Virginia soil or not at all."

  "I imagine McClellan won't be in any hurry to cross the Potomac,"said Harry. "He certainly got us into a hot corner at Antietam, andif the reports are true he had plenty of time to come up and wipe outGeneral Lee's whole force, while Old Jack was tied up at Harper's Ferry.They feel that way about McClellan in the North, too. I've got anold Philadelphia newspaper and I'll read to you part of a poem that'sreprinted in it. The poem is called 'Tardy George.' Listen:

  "What are you waiting for, George, I pray? To scour your cross belts with fresh pipe clay? To burnish your buttons, to brighten your guns? Or wait for May-day, and warm spring suns? Are you blowing your fingers because they're cold, Or catching your breath ere you take a hold? Is the mud knee-deep in valley and gorge? What are you waiting for, Tardy George?"

  "That's pretty bitter," said Harry, "but it must have been writtenbefore the Seven Days. You notice what the author says about waitingfor May-day."

  "Likely enough you're right, but it applies just the same or theywouldn't be reprinting it in their newspapers. Some of them claim avictory over us at Antietam, and nearly all are angry at McClellanbecause he wouldn't follow us into Virginia. They think he ought tohave crossed the Potomac after us and smashed us."

  "He might have got smashed himself."

  "Which people are likely to debate all through this generation and thenext. But they're bitter against McClellan, although he's done betterthan any other Yankee general in the east. Just listen to this verse,will you?

  "Suppose for a moment, George, my friend, Just for a moment you condescend To use the means that are in your hands The eager muskets and guns and brands; Take one bold step on the Southern sod, And leave the issue to watchful God! For now the nation raises its gorge, Waiting and watching you, Tardy George."

  Harry carefully folded up the paper and put it back in his pocket.The contrast between these verses and the song that he had just heardten thousand men sing, as they whirled around Stonewall Jackson'sheadquarters, impressed him deeply.

  "It's hard, boys," he said, "for a general to see things like thisprinted about him, even if he should deserve them. McClellan, so allthe prisoners say, has the confidence of his men. They believe thathe can win."

  "And we know that we can and do win!" exclaimed Langdon. "We've got thesoldiers and the generals, too. Hurrah for Bobby Lee, and StonewallJackson and Jim Longstreet, and old Jubal Early, and A. P. Hill andD. H. Hill and Jeb Stuart and--and----"

  "And for Happy Tom Langdon, the greatest soldier and general of themall," interrupted Dalton.

  "That's true," said Langdon, "only people don't know it yet. Now,by the great horn spoon, what is that? What a day this is!"

  A great uproar had begun suddenly, and, as if by magic, hundreds of menhad risen from the ground and were running about like mad creatures.But the boys knew that they were not mad. They understood in an instantwhat it was all about as they heard innumerable voices crying, "Rabbit!Rabbit!"

  Rabbits were numerous in the underbrush and they made good stew.The soldiers often surrounded them and caught them with their bare hands,but they dared not shoot at them, as, owing to the number of pursuers,somebody would certainly have been hurt.

  Harry and his comrades instantly joined in the chase, w
hich led into thedeep woods. The rabbit, frightened into unusual speed by the shouts,darted into the thick brush and escaped them all.

  "Poor little rascal," said Harry, "I'm glad he got away after all.What good would one rabbit be to an army corps of twenty-five thousandmen?"

  As they were returning to their place on the creek bank an orderly camefor Harry, and he was summoned to the tent of Jackson. It was a largetent spread in the shade of an old oak, and Harry found that CaptainSherburne had already preceded him there. All signs of splendor werehidden completely. Jackson once more wore with ease his dingy old grayclothes, but the skin of his brow was drawn into a tiny knot in thecenter, as if he were concentrating thought with his utmost power.

  "Sit down, Mr. Kenton," he said kindly. "I've already been speakingto Captain Sherburne and I'll tell you now what I want. GeneralMcClellan's army is still beyond the Potomac. As nearly as ourspies can estimate it has, present and fit for duty, one hundred andthirty-five thousand men and three hundred and fifty cannon. McClellan,as we well know, is always overcautious and overestimates our numbers,but public opinion in the North will force him to action. They claimthere that Antietam was a victory for them, and he will surely invadeVirginia again. I shall send Captain Sherburne and his troop to findout where and when, and you are to go with him as my aide and personalrepresentative."

  "Thanks, sir," said Harry.

  "When can you start?"

  "Within five minutes."

  "Good. I was going to allow you ten, but it's better to take only five.Captain Sherburne, you have your instructions already. Now go, and bearin mind, both of you, that you are to bring back what you are sent toget, no matter what the cost. Prepare no excuses."

  There was a stern and ominous ring in his last words, and Harry andSherburne, saluting, retired with all speed. Harry ran to his own tent,snatched up his arms and blanket-roll, saddled and bridled his horse,and well within five minutes was riding by the side of CaptainSherburne. He shouted to St. Clair, who had run forward in amazement:

  "Gone on a mission for Old Jack. Will be back--some time."

  The cavalry troop of two hundred splendid men, led by Sherburne, one ofthe finest of the younger leaders, trotted fast through the oak forest.They were fully refreshed and they were glad of action. The greatheats of that famous summer, unusually hot alike in both east and west,were gone, and now the cool, crisp breezes of autumn blew in their faces.

  "Have you heard at what point on the Potomac the Union army is gathered?"Harry asked.

  "At a village called Berlin, so our spies say. You know McClellanreally has some high qualities. We found a heavy reconnoitering forceof cavalry not far in our front two or three days ago, and we did notknow what it meant, but General Jackson now has an idea that McClellanwanted to find out whether we were near enough to the Potomac to disputehis passage."

  "We are not."

  "No, we're not, and I don't suppose General Lee and General Jackson wishto keep him on the other side. But, at any rate, we're sent to find outwhether he is crossing."

  "And we'll see."

  "We surely will."