CONCLUSION
Meanwhile the infantry, expecting the attack, rested on the ground in
long lines. They were broken lines at the very best, and whenever Noel
and Dennis glanced about them each felt a pang when he saw how many of
the regiments, now gathered about the torn and bullet-riddled colors,
were thin. At times, squads of men on the borders of the woods were
seen, who were doubtless rebel pickets or persons who were curious, like
some of the Yankee soldiers.
The captain walked down the lines in which Noel and Dennis were
numbered. One of the men, holding up a large piece of pork on his sword,
said, "Look here, captain! This is the allowance of pork for my men. I
guess I shall have to eat it all, as I am the only one left."
At such a time many wild rumors have full swing. About four o'clock
General McClellan, with his staff, rides along the lines and is greeted
with great enthusiasm by his men. The report now is that the Union
soldiers have been partly successful, the Confederates having been
driven back, although they are still holding firmly the new position
which they have taken.
An orderly stops for a word with Dennis and Noel. He shows a loaf of
bread which he has obtained from a near-by farmhouse and a little piece
of butter which he ingeniously has put in a hole cut in the loaf. All
three, upon their comrade's invitation, sit down to enjoy the rare
treat. The pleasure is increased by a cup of coffee, for the men now
have been permitted to light fires by which to cook their rations. It
looks very much as if the fighting for the day, at least, is ended.
Suddenly, about five o'clock, as abruptly as thunder is heard under a
clear sky, a volley of shot and shell begins to strike or pass over and
about the place where the men are gathered.
Before the officers are fairly able to mount their horses the thirty
great guns, which have been waiting for this opportunity for hours,
begin to sweep the woods and the cornfield with their deluge of shot and
shell. The roar of the artillery soon is almost deafening. The thirty
guns are being discharged one by one as rapidly as the men are able to
load them. The little hillside actually shakes under the force of the
shots. Dennis murmurs, "Faith! 'Tis not only the hill, but the whole
planet that's shaking like a leaf now."
It is supposed that the fire of the rebels is introductory to an attack
by their infantry. In view of this fact, the troops in front are
notified to hold themselves in readiness, while those in the rear are
called upon to fall in and to take their arms and advance closely to the
crest of the hill and also to lie down there and to be ready for action
at any moment. All the reserves are prepared and ready. The wagons now
are drawn by galloping horses. The right wing is believed to be ready.
General Meade, who, after the wounding of General Hooker, succeeds to
the command of the corps, rides up to the crest of the hill on which
Noel and Dennis are stationed and studies the position of the batteries
of the enemy almost as coolly as if he were at a review. Already there
is a bullet-hole in his cap, but the quietness of the great leader in
the midst of the confusion and peril is most impressive. He gives his
orders to make ready for the storm.
Noel saw shots strike so close to his own comrades as to fling the dust
over them. The heavy cannonading by the enemy continues for at least
ten minutes, and it is with a great feeling of relief that Noel, as he
glances about him, is unable to see that any men had been killed or
wounded. Such artillery firing at long range is terrific to hear, but is
seldom fatal.
Later it was learned from some of the prisoners that General Jackson's
plan had been to attack with his infantry after the heavy cannonading.
Just before sunset was his favorite hour for such an order. The
tremendous fire of the Union batteries, however, plainly showed him how
well prepared his enemies were, and in a brief time his cannon ceased to
play and the Union guns also became silent.
Fighting by the right wing ceased when the cannonading stopped. When the
officers were convinced that there had been an end to the immediate
attempt, they permitted every man to bring from the neighboring farms
bundles of straw with which beds were made, and, still in line of
battle, all soon stretched themselves upon these improvised
resting-places.
The weary gunners tried to make themselves comfortable alongside their
guns. The pickets were standing, with every sense alert, close to the
rebel lines, and prepared to give instant warning should a night attack
by the Confederates be attempted. Not an officer removed even his sword.
The horses, tied to near-by fences, were standing saddled and ready for
instant use.
There was no tree above the heads of Noel and Dennis, and as they lay
looking up at the stars, for the first time in twenty-four hours the
tired boys were able to think of the experiences they had undergone.
Within a space of four square miles two hundred thousand men were lying.
Some of them were stiff and stark and with sightless eyes were looking
up into the pitying heavens. Some were stretched on beds in the
improvised hospitals or lying wounded and bleeding under the trees.
Others, even in their sleep, are clasping the deadly weapons with which
on the morrow they are expecting to renew the awful scenes of the day.
It was long before daylight the following morning when the little hill
upon which Noel and Dennis had been sleeping was alive with men
preparing their simple breakfasts and getting ready for the fighting of
the coming day.
Somehow there was a feeling of confidence among the soldiers that the
day was to be marked with victory. They now had every opportunity to
drive the rebels into the Potomac, or perhaps to capture their entire
army.
But when sunrise came and hour after hour passed without any orders to
advance, gradually a feeling of bitter disappointment took possession of
the men. The day dragged on, the batteries still remained in position,
and the infantry still were resting on their arms. In the position held
by the enemy silence brooded throughout the day. It was nearly dark when
orders came to be ready for action at sunrise on the morrow.
With such information the growlers ceased their complaints and there was
a common hope that the enemy would not escape.
"'Tis only put off one day," said Dennis. "We'll either drive the
Johnnies into the Potomac or carry them with us back to Washington."
The following day the men were aroused at three o'clock in the morning.
There was no haste in the orders or in the movements of the men. They
ate their breakfast and drank their coffee, and then all made ready for
battle. But again the hours passed and there was no decisive action. At
eight o'clock it was learned that the Confederates had slipped away and
had withdrawn across the Potomac, and doubtless by this time were safely
in Virginia.
The river into which the Union soldiers had believed they would drive
their enemies had now become the best defense of Lee's army. The battles
of South Mountain and Antietam were robbed of any decisive significance.
It is true that Lee's advance into the North was blocked, and that he
was compelled to turn back to defend the rebel capital, but he had shown
his skill by successfully evading his foes and at the same time
protecting his army as he withdrew.
The following day was Sunday. All signs of storms had passed, and not
since the Union army had departed from Washington had finer marching
weather been seen.
The sound of distant cannonading once more revived the hope that General
McClellan would follow the retiring Confederates and that another battle
would soon be fought. The roar of the great guns, however, was merely a
harmless artillery duel across the river.
The hours of the long day dragged on and still the men were not ordered
to advance. The lack of action was beginning to tell strongly upon their
spirits and there were many complaints to be heard now on every side
over the meaningless, or at least the misunderstood, delay.
It was eleven o'clock at night before it was reported that orders had
been received for the corps to advance to Harper's Ferry the following
day. But the following day came and went, and in turn was followed by
other days until a month had passed and the advance still was postponed.
The battle-field was still the scene of the camp, and it was only after
some time had elapsed that the soldiers understood that they had been
left to help guard the Potomac so that General Lee might not attempt to
cross it again and try another battle.
The terrible excitement and fatigue, the privations and the continued
strain upon the nerves and feelings of the men were followed now by a
calm and monotony that was most deadly. Once a week each soldier was on
guard, taking his turn as a sentinel. Part of each day was given to
drill. At sunset there was a brief parade, but the rest of the day was
largely his own.
Because of such conditions the soldiers were exposed to many
temptations, and in spite of the sorrow which followed the battle of
Antietam there were many pranks being played.
One day, which was unusually warm, Noel had been sent to the
quartermaster's office on some errand for his colonel. He was standing
behind an improvised desk and consequently was partly hidden from the
sight of any one who entered.
In the midst of his task of copying certain details which his colonel
desired he was startled by the sound of a familiar voice. Without being
seen he peered from behind his stand and saw that Levi Kadoff had
entered the quartermaster's place.
"Ish dis de quartermaister's office?" inquired the sutler timidly.
"It is," replied the officer in charge.
"Vell, Mr. Quartermaister, I chust got mine sutler's goots and I vant
von place vere I shall sell dose dings to the soldiers. You gife me von
place, hey?"
"It is against my orders, sir, to give permission to anybody to put up
tents or houses for the sale of goods of any kind."
"I vill not take mooch room for dese leedle dings," pleaded Levi.
"Come back and see me later."
"Ven I comes?"
"About an hour."
"Vell, captain, I comes chust as you say. I send you some of mine fine
goots."
True to his word not long afterwards a basket, with a card attached
bearing the following address, was received,--
"_To Captain Vesh,
Qr. Maister._"
Levi had departed before Noel had been able to make any protest.
Confident that he would return, however, he explained to Captain Vesh
what Levi's former dealings had been and also expressed his surprise
that the little sutler had not been hanged.
In a brief time Levi again appeared, and as he entered the office he
said smilingly, "Vell, captain, I comes to look at dot leedle place vot
ve spoke about dis morning."
"What place, sir?"
"Vy, dot place vat you give me to put up von leedle dent vere I sells
mine goots."
"You must be mistaken, sir. I told you distinctly that we did not grant
any such privileges."
"Vell, now, captain, look at dis. Dis morning I sends you von fine
basket which costs me sixteen dollars mit de wholesale."
"You thought you would bribe me, did you?" replied the quartermaster in
apparent anger. "Now, I'll give you two hours to get out of this place."
As Levi turned to depart, he obtained a glimpse of Noel's face and fled
precipitately.
Nor was Noel afterward able to learn the fate of the little sutler.
Apparently each side had taken him as friendly to itself, or else the
crafty little trader had persuaded both that the charges against him
were untrue. Whether he was hanged as a spy, shot as a deserter, or was
able to continue his nefarious trading with the soldiers was a mystery
which never was made clear.
The husband of Sairy Ann's sister, Noel later discovered among the
wounded prisoners, and in return for the help which he himself had
received, he was able in many ways to aid the wounded man.
The continually repeated question among the men, "When do we move?" was
not answered until a month or more had elapsed. Then, when the army was
moved to Harper's Ferry, Noel there learned that his brother Frank had
been among the prisoners taken by the Confederates and sent to Libby
Prison. Disheartening as the information was, it did not decrease the
interest of Noel when late in October his division was ordered to move
toward Virginia.
It was plain now that the campaign was to be transferred again to the
State in which Noel and Frank had had their first experiences in the
army. The enthusiasm of Dennis was great, and in his loudest tones he
joined in the song of the men when they departed from Harper's Ferry,--
"John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
His soul is marching on."
The boys in blue were somewhat cast down, but not despairing. The Union
army had outnumbered the Confederates nearly two to one in the recent
battle of Antietam.
Among the subordinate Union commanders there had been great energy
displayed, but no one was able to escape the conclusion that on the
Federal side the battle had been badly fought and many great
opportunities had been neglected.
In the battle of Antietam the Federals had lost more than twelve
thousand men and their enemies ninety-five hundred. All the troops of
the latter had been engaged in the fight, but only about two thirds of
the Union army had seriously entered into the struggle.
In a measure the friends of the Union were content that Lee's
threatening invasion of the North had been thwarted. The great Southern
general had fought a pitched battle, but had not destroyed his foe.
There was no escape, however, from the conclusion that Lee's plan to
invade the North had failed, and that the struggle now was to return to
Virginia soil, a fact which Dennis O'Hara and Noel Curtis and his
brother soon were to learn.
THE END
* * * * *
Dr. Tomlinson's Books
The American boy will never tire of reading tales of the early colonial
days and especially of the desperate encounters and struggles of the
colonists with the natives of the forest.
Dr. Tomlinson has read widely and has collected a mass of incident
through family tradition and otherwise, which he has skillfully
incorporated in the historical frameworks of several exceedingly
interesting and instructive stories. He has the knack of mixing history
with adventure in such a way as to make his young readers absorb much
information while entertaining them capitally. His historical tales are
filled with an enthusiasm which it is well to foster in the heart of
every healthy-minded and patriotic American boy.
The plots are all based upon events that actually occurred; and the boy
heroes play the part of men in a way to capture the hearts of all boy
readers. Dr. Tomlinson shows scrupulous regard for the larger truths of
history, and the same care that would naturally go into a book for older
readers.
The Boys of Old Monmouth
A story of Washington's campaign in New Jersey in 1778.
A Jersey Boy in the Revolution
This story is founded upon the lives and deeds of some of the humbler
heroes of the American Revolution.
In the Hands of the Redcoats
A tale of the Jersey ship and the Jersey shore in the days of the
Revolution.
Under Colonial Colors
The story of Arnold's expedition to Quebec; of war, adventure, and
friendship.
A Lieutenant Under Washington
A tale of Brandywine and Germantown.
The Rider of the Black Horse
A spirited Revolutionary story following the adventures of one of
Washington's couriers.
The Red Chief
A story of the massacre at Cherry Valley, of Brant, the Mohawk chief,
and of the Revolution in upper New York state.
Marching Against the Iroquois
An exciting story based on General Sullivan's expedition into the
country of the Iroquois in 1779.
Light Horse Harry's Legion
A stirring story of fights with marauding Tories on the Jersey Pine
Barrens.
The Camp-Fire of Mad Anthony
This story covers the period between 1774 and 1776 and follows the
adventures of the Pennsylvania troops under "Mad Anthony" Wayne.
Mad Anthony's Young Scout
A story of the winter of 1777-1778.
The Champion of the Regiment
An absorbing story of the Siege of Yorktown, with Noah Dare, so well
known to Tomlinson readers, for hero.
The Young Minute-Man of 1812
The young hero joins the garrison at Sacket's Harbor, is sent on an
expedition down the St. Lawrence, and takes part in McDonough's victory
on Lake Champlain.
The Young Sharpshooter
The experiences of a boy in the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, under
McClellan.
The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam
Deals with Lee's invasion of Maryland in 1862, relating further exciting
adventures of Noel, the young sharpshooter.
Young Americans In The British Isles.