CHAPTER IV. SPRINGING THE TRAP
Lying close in the bushes the little party watched the Southernersmaking themselves ready for the night. The cottages were prepared forthe higher officers, but the men stacked arms in the open ground allabout. As well as they could judge by the light of the low fires,soldiers were still crossing the river to strengthen the force alreadyon the Union side.
Colonel Winchester suppressed a groan. Dick noticed that his face waspallid in the uncertain shadows, and he understood the agony of spiritthat the brave man must suffer when he saw that they had been outflankedby their enemy.
Sergeant Whitley, moving forward a little, touched the colonel on thearm.
"All the clouds that we saw a little further back," he said, "havegathered together, an' the storm is about to bust. See, sir, how fastthe Johnnies are spreadin' their tents an' runnin' to shelter."
"It's so, sergeant," said Colonel Winchester. "I was so much absorbed inwatching those men that I thank you for reminding me. We've seen enoughanyway and we'd better get back as fast as we can."
They hurried through the trees and bushes toward their horses, takingno particular pains now to deaden their footsteps, since the Southernersthemselves were making a good deal of noise as they took refuge.
But the storm was upon them before they could reach their horses. Thelast star was gone and the somber clouds covered the whole heavens. Thewind ceased to moan and the air was heavy with apprehension. Deep andsullen thunder began to mutter on the southwestern horizon. Then camea mighty crash and a great blaze of lightning seemed to cleave the skystraight down the center.
The lightning and thunder made Dick jump, and for a few moments hewas blinded by the electric glare. He heard a heavy sound of somethingfalling, and exclaimed:
"Are any of you hurt?"
"No," said Warner, who alone heard him, "but we're scared half todeath. When a drought breaks up I wish it wouldn't break up with such aterrible fuss. Listen to that thunder again, won't you!"
There was another terrible crash of thunder and the whole sky blazedwith lightning. Despite himself Dick shrank again. The first bolt hadstruck a tree which had fallen within thirty feet of them, but thesecond left this bit of the woods unscathed.
A third and a fourth bolt struck somewhere, and then came the rush androar of the rain, driven on by a fierce wind out of the southwest. Theclose, dense heat was swept away, and the first blasts of the rain wereas cold as ice. The little party was drenched in an instant, and everyone was shivering through and through with combined wet and cold.
The cessation of the lightning was succeeded by pitchy darkness, and theroaring of the wind and rain was so great that they called loudly to oneanother lest they lose touch in the blackness. Dick heard Warner on hisright, and he followed the sound of his voice. But before he went muchfurther his foot struck a trailing vine, and he fell so hard, his headstriking the trunk of a tree, that he lay unconscious.
The cold rain drove so fiercely on the fallen boy's face and body thathe revived in two or three minutes, and stood up. He clapped his hand tothe left side of his head, and felt there a big bump and a sharp ache.His weapons were still in his belt and he knew that his injuries werenot serious, but he heard nothing save the drive and roar of the windand rain. There was no calling of voices and no beat of footsteps.
He divined at once that his comrades, wholly unaware of his fall, whenno one could either see or hear it, had gone on without missing him.They might also mount their horses and gallop away wholly ignorant thathe was not among them.
Although he was a little dazed, Dick had a good idea of direction andhe plunged through the mud which was now growing deep toward the littleravine in which they had hitched their horses. All were gone, includinghis own mount, and he had no doubt that the horse had broken or slippedthe bridle in the darkness and followed the others.
He stood a while behind the trunk of a great tree, trying to shelterhimself a little from the rain, and listened. But he could hear neitherhis friends leaving nor any foes approaching. The storm was of uncommonfury. He had never seen one fiercer, and knowing that he had little todread from the Southerners while it raged he knew also that he must makehis way on foot, and as best he could, to his own people.
Making a calculation of the direction and remembering that one mightwander in a curve in the darkness, he set off down the stream. He meantto keep close to the banks of the Rappahannock, and if he persisted hewould surely come in time to Pope's army. The rain did not abate. Botharmies were flooded that night, but they could find some measure ofprotection. To the scouts and skirmishers and to Dick, wandering throughthe forest, nature was an unmitigated foe.
But nothing could stop the boy. He was resolved to get back to the armywith the news that a heavy Southern force was across the Rappahannock.Others might get there first with the fact, but one never knew. Ahundred might fall by the wayside, leaving it to him alone to bear themessage.
He stumbled on. He was able to keep his cartridges dry in his pouch, butthat was all. His wet, cold clothes flapped around him and he shiveredto the bone. He could see only the loom of the black forest before him,and sometimes he slipped to the waist in swollen brooks. Then the windshifted and drove the sheets of rain, sprinkled with hail, directly inhis face. He was compelled to stop a while and take refuge behind a bigoak. While he shivered in the shelter of the tree the only things thathe thought of spontaneously were dry clothes, hot food, a fire and awarm bed. The Union and its fate, gigantic as they were, slipped awayfrom his mind, and it took an effort of the will to bring them back.
But his will made the effort, and recalling his mission he struggledon again. He had the river on his right, and it now became an unfailingguide. It had probably been raining much earlier in the mountains alongthe headwaters and the flood was already pouring down. The river swishedhigh against its banks and once or twice, when he caught dim glimpsesof it through the trees, he saw a yellow torrent bearing much brushwoodupon its bosom.
He had very little idea of his progress. It was impossible to judge ofpace under such circumstances. The army might be ten miles further onor it might be only two. Then he found himself sliding down a muddy andslippery bank. He grasped at weeds and bushes, but they slipped throughhis hands. Then he shot into a creek, swollen by the flood, and wentover his head.
He came up, gasping, struck out and reached the further shore. Here hefound bushes more friendly than the others and pulled himself upon thebank. But he had lost everything. His belt had broken in his struggles,and pistols, small sword and ammunition were gone. He would be helplessagainst an enemy. Then he laughed at the idea. Surely enemies would notbe in search of him at such a time and such a place.
Nevertheless when he saw an open space in front of him he paused atits edge. He could see well enough here to notice a file of dim figuresriding slowly by. At first his heart leaped up with the belief that theywere Colonel Winchester and his own people, but they were going in thewrong direction, and then he was able to discern the bedraggled andfaded Confederate gray.
The horsemen were about fifty in number and most of them rode with thereins hanging loose on their horses' necks. They were wrapped in cloaks,but cloaks and uniforms alike were sodden. A stream of water ran fromevery stirrup to the ground.
Dick looked at them attentively. Near the head of the column but onone side rode a soldierly figure, apparently that of a young man oftwenty-three or four. Just behind came three youths, and Dick's heartfairly leaped when he saw the last of the three. He could not mistakethe figure, and a turning of the head caused him to catch a faintglimpse of the face. Then he knew beyond all shadow of doubt. It wasHarry and he surmised that the other two were his comrades, St. Clairand Langdon, whom he had met when they were burying the dead.
Dick was so sodden and cold and wretched that he was tempted to call outto them--the sight of Harry was like a light in the darkness--but thetemptation was gone in an instant. His way lay in another direction.What they wished he
did not wish, and while they fought for the triumphof the South it was his business to endure and struggle on that he mightdo his own little part for the Union.
But despite the storm and his sufferings, he drew courage from natureitself. While a portion of the Southern army was across it must be aminor portion, and certainly the major part could not span such a floodand attack. The storm and time allied were now fighting for Pope.
He wandered away a little into the open fields in order to find easiergoing, but he came back presently to the forest lining the bank of theriver, for fear he should lose his direction. The yellow torrent of theRappahannock was now his only sure guide and he stuck to it. He wonderedwhy the rain and wind did not die down. It was not usual for a storm sofurious to last so long, but he could not see any abatement of either.
He became conscious after a while of a growing weakness, but he hadrecalled all the powers of his will and it was triumphant over his body.He trudged on on feet that were unconscious of sensation, and his faceas if the flesh were paralyzed no longer felt the beat of the rain.
A mile or two further and in the swish of the storm he heard hoofbeatsagain. Looking forth from the bushes he saw another line of horsemen,but now they were going in the direction of Pope's army. Dick recognizedthese figures. Shapeless as he might appear on his horse that wasColonel Winchester, and there were the broad shoulders of SergeantWhitley and the figures of the others.
He rushed through the dripping forest and shouted in a tone thatcould be heard above the shriek of wind and rain. Colonel Winchesterrecognized the voice, but the light was so dim that he did not recognizehim from whom it came. Certainly the figure that emerged from the forestdid not look human.
"Colonel," cried Dick, "it is I, Richard Mason, whom you left behind!"
"So it is," said Sergeant Whitley, keener of eye than the others.
The whole troop set up a shout as Dick came forward, taking off hisdripping cap.
"Why, Dick, it is you!" exclaimed Colonel Winchester in a tone ofimmeasurable relief. "We missed you and your horse and hoped that youwere somewhere ahead. Your horse must have broken loose in the storm.But here, you look as if you were nearly dead! Jump up behind me!"
Dick made an effort, but his strength failed and he slipped back tothe ground. He had not realized that he was walking on his spirit andcourage and that his strength was gone, so powerful had been the buffetsof the wind and rain.
The colonel reached down, gave him a hand and a strong pull, and witha second effort Dick landed astride the horse behind the rider. ThenColonel Winchester gave the word and the sodden file wound on again.
"Dick," said the colonel, looking back over his shoulder, "you come asnear being a wreck as anything that I've seen in a long time. It's luckywe found you."
"It is, sir, and I not only look like a wreck but I feel like one. ButI had made up my mind to reach General Pope's camp, with the news of theConfederates crossing, and I think I'd have done it."
"I know you would. But what a night! What a night! Not many men can beabroad at such a time. We have seen nothing."
"But I have, sir."
"You have! What did you see?"
"A mile or two back I passed a line of Southern horsemen, just as wetand bedraggled as ours."
"Might they not have been our own men? It would be hard to tell blue andgray apart on such a night."
"One could make such a mistake, but in this case it was not possible.I saw my own cousin, Harry Kenton, riding with them. I recognized themperfectly."
"Then that settles it. The Confederate scouts and cavalry are abroadto-night also, and on our side of the river. But they must be few whodare to ride in such a storm."
"That's surely true, sir."
But both Dick and his commanding officer were mistaken. They stillunderrated the daring and resolution of the Confederate leaders,the extraordinary group of men who were the very bloom and flower ofVirginia's military glory, the equal of whom--two at least being in thevery first rank in the world's history--no other country with so small apopulation has produced in so short a time.
Earlier in the day Stuart, full of enterprise, and almost insensible tofatigue, had crossed the Rappahannock much higher up and at the headof a formidable body of his horsemen, unseen by scouts and spies, wasriding around the Union right. They galloped into Warrenton where thepeople, red hot as usual for the South, crowded around them cheering andlaughing and many of the women crying with joy. It was like Jackson andStuart to drop from the clouds this way and to tell them, although theland had been occupied by the enemy, that their brave soldiers wouldcome in time.
News, where a Northern force could not have obtained a word, was pouredout for the South. They told Stuart that none of the Northern cavalrywas about, and that Pope's vast supply train was gathered at a littlepoint only ten miles to the southeast. Stuart shook his plumed headuntil his long golden hair flew about his neck. Then he laughed aloudand calling to his equally fiery young officers, told them of the greatspoil that waited upon quickness and daring.
The whole force galloped away for the supply train, but before itreached it the storm fell in all its violence upon Stuart and his men.Despite rain and darkness Stuart pushed on. He said afterward that itwas the darkest night he had ever seen. A captured negro guided them onthe final stage of the gallop and just when Dick was riding back tocamp behind Colonel Winchester, Stuart fell like a thunderbolt upon thesupply train and its guard.
Stuart could not drive wholly away the Northern guard, which thoughsurprised, fought with great courage, but he burned the supply train,then galloped off with prisoners, and Pope's own uniform, horses,treasure chest and dispatch book. He found in the dispatch book minuteinformation about the movements of all the Union troops, and Pope'sbelief that he ought to retreat from the river on Washington. Doubtlessthe Confederate horseman shook his head again and again and laughedaloud, when he put this book, more precious than jewels, inside his goldbraided tunic, to be taken to Lee and Jackson.
But these things were all hidden from the little group of weary menwho rode into Pope's camp. Colonel Winchester carried the news of thecrossing--Early had made it--to the commander, and the rest sought thebest shelter to be found. Dick was lucky enough to be taken into a tentthat was thoroughly dry, and the sergeant who had followed him managedto obtain a supply of dry clothing which would be ready for him when heawoke.
Dick did not revive as usual. He threw all of his clothing aside andwater flew where it fell, put on dry undergarments and crept betweenwarm blankets. Nevertheless he still felt cold, and he was amazed at hisown lack of interest in everything. He might have perished out there inthe stream, but what did it matter? He would probably be killed in somebattle anyway. Besides, their information about the crossing of therebels was of no importance either. The rebels might stay on their sideof the Rappahannock, or they might go back. It was all the same eitherway. All things seemed, for the moment, useless to him.
He began to shiver, but after a while he became so hot that he wanted tothrow off all the cover. But he retained enough knowledge and willnot to do so, and he sank soon into a feverish doze from which he wasawakened by the light of a lantern shining in his face.
He saw Colonel Winchester and another man, a stranger, who held a smallleather case in his hand. But Dick was in such a dull and apatheticstate that he had no curiosity about them and he shut his eyes to keepout the light of the lantern.
"What is it, doctor?" he heard Colonel Winchester asking.
"Chill and a little fever, brought on by exposure and exhaustion. Buthe's a hardy youth. Look what a chest and shoulders! With the aid ofthese little white pills of mine he'll be all right in the morning.Colonel, Napoleon said that an army fights on its stomach, which Isuppose is true, but in our heavily watered and but partly settledcountry, it must fight sometimes on a stomach charged with quinine."
"I was afraid it might be worse. A dose or two then will bring himaround?"
"Wish I could be so sure
of a quick cure in every case. Here, my lad,take two of these. A big start is often a good one."
Dick raised his head obediently and took the two quinine pills. Soon hesank into a condition which was as near stupor as sleep. But before hepassed into unconsciousness he heard the doctor say:
"Wake him soon enough in the morning, Colonel, to take two more. What awonderful thing for our armies that we can get all the quinine we want!The rebel supply, I know, is exhausted. With General Quinine on our sidewe're bound to win."
"But that isn't the only reason, doctor. Now--" Their voices trailedaway as Dick sank into oblivion. He had a dim memory of being awakenedthe next morning and of swallowing two more pills, but in a minute ortwo he sank back into a sleep which was neither feverish nor troubled.When he awoke the dark had come a second time. The fever was whollygone, and his head had ceased to ache.
Dick felt weak, but angry at himself for having broken down at sucha time, he sat up and began to put on the dry uniform that lay in thetent. Then he was astonished to find how great his weakness really was,but he persevered, and as he slipped on the tunic Warner came into thetent.
"You've been asleep a long time," he said, looking at Dick critically.
"I know it. I suppose I slept all through the night as well as the day."
"And the great battle was fought without you."
Dick started, and looked at his comrade, but Warner's eyes weretwinkling.
"There's been no battle, and you know it," Dick said.
"No, there hasn't been any; there won't be any for several days atleast. That whopping big rain last night did us a service after all. Itwas Early who crossed the river, and now he is in a way cut off from therest of the Southern army. We hear that he'll go back to the other side.But Stuart has curved about us, raided our supply train and destroyedit. And he's done more than that. He's captured General Pope's importantpapers."
"What does it mean for us?"
"A delay, but I don't know anything more. I suppose that whatever isgoing to happen will happen in its own good time. You feel like a managain, don't you Dick? And you can have the consolation of knowing thatnothing has happened all day long when you slept."
Dick finished his dressing, rejoined his regiment and ate supper withthe other officers around a fine camp fire. He found that he had a goodappetite, and as he ate strength flowed rapidly back into his veins. Hegathered from the talk of the older officers that they were still hopingfor a junction with McClellan before Lee and Jackson could attack. Theyexpected at the very least to have one hundred and fifty thousand men inline, most of them veterans.
But Dick saw Shepard again that evening. He had come from a long journeyand he reported great activity in the Southern camp. When Dick saidthat Lee and Jackson would have to fight both Pope and McClellan the spymerely replied:
"Yes, if Pope and McClellan hurry."
But Dick learned that night that Pope was not discouraged. He had anarmy full of fighting power, and eager to meet its enemy. He began thenext day to move up the river in order that he might face Lee's wholeforce as it attempted to cross at the upper fords. Their spiritsincreased as they learned that Early, through fear of being cut off, wasgoing back to join the main Southern army.
The ground had now dried up after the great storm, but the refreshedearth took on a greener tinge, and the air was full of sparkle and life.Dick had not seen such elasticity among the troops in a long time. Asthey marched they spoke confidently of victory. One regiment took up asong which had appeared in print just after the fall of Sumter:
"Men of the North and West, Wake in your might. Prepare as the rebels have done For the fight. You cannot shrink from the test; Rise! Men of the North and West."
Another regiment took up the song, and soon many thousands were singingit; those who did not know the words following the others. Dick felthis heart beat and his courage mount high, as he sang with Warner andPennington the last verse:
"Not with words; they laugh them to scorn, And tears they despise. But with swords in your hands And death in your eyes! Strike home! Leave to God all the rest; Strike! Men of the North and West!"
The song sung by so many men rolled off across the fields, and the woodsand the hills gave back the echo.
"We will strike home!" exclaimed Dick, putting great emphasis on the"will." "Our time for victory is at hand."
"The other side may think they're striking home; too," said Warner,speaking according to the directness of his dry mathematical mind. "ThenI suppose it will be a case of victory for the one that strikes theharder for home."
"That's a fine old mind of yours. Don't you ever feel any enthusiasm?"
"I do, when the figures warrant it. But I must reckon everything withcare before I permit myself to feel joy."
"I'm glad I'm not like you, Mr. Arithmetic, Mr. Algebra, Mr. Geometryand Mr. Trigonometry."
"You mustn't make fun of such serious matters, Dick. It would be a noblething to be the greatest professor of mathematics in the world."
"Of course, George, but we wouldn't need him at this minute. But herewe are back at those cottages in which I saw the Southern officerssheltering themselves. Well, they're ours again and I take it as a goodomen."
"Yes, here we rest, as the French general said, but I don't know that Icare about resting much more. I've had about all I want of it."
Nevertheless they spent the day quietly at the Sulphur Springs, and laydown in peace that night. But the storm cloud, the blackest storm cloudof the whole war so far, was gathering.
Lee, knowing the danger of the junction between Pope and McClellan hadresolved to hazard all on a single stroke. He would divide his army.Jackson, so well called "the striking arm," would pass far aroundthrough the maze of hills and mountains and fall like a thunderboltupon Pope's flank. At the sound of his guns Lee himself would attack infront.
As Dick and his young comrades lay down to sleep this march, thegreatest of Stonewall Jackson's famous turning movements, had begunalready. Jackson was on his horse, Little Sorrel, his old slouch hatdrawn down over his eyes, his head bent forward a little, and the greatbrain thinking, always thinking. His face was turned to the North.
Just a little behind Jackson rode one of his most trusted aides, HarryKenton, a mere youth in years, but already a veteran in service. Notfar away was the gallant young Sherburne at the head of his troop ofcavalry, and in the first brigade was the regiment of the Invinciblesled by Colonel Leonidas Talbot and Lieutenant Colonel Hector St.Hilaire. Never had the two colonels seemed more prim and precise, andnot even in youth had the fire of battle ever burned more brightly intheir bosoms.
Jackson meant to pass around his enemy's right, crossing the Bull RunMountain at Thoroughfare Gap, then strike the railway in Pope's rear.Longstreet, one of the heaviest hitters of the South, meanwhile wasto worry Pope incessantly along the line of the Rappahannock, and whenJackson attacked they were to drive him toward the northeast and awayfrom McClellan.
The hot August night was one of the most momentous in American history,and the next few days were to see the Union in greater danger than ithas ever stood either before or since. Perhaps it was not given to theactors in the drama to know it then, but the retrospect shows it now.The North had not attained its full fighting strength, and the genius ofthe two great Southern commanders was at the zenith, while behind themstood a group of generals, full of talent and fearless of death.
Jackson had been directly before Sulphur Springs where Dick lay with thedivision to which he belonged. But Jackson, under cover of the darkness,had slipped away and the division of Longstreet had taken its place soquietly that the Union scouts and spies, including Shepard himself, didnot know the difference.
Jackson's army marched swiftly and silently, while that of Pope slept.The plan of Lee was complicated and delicate to the last degree, butJackson, the mainspring in this organism
, never doubted that he couldcarry it out. His division soon left the rest of the army far behind, asthey marched steadily on over the hills, the fate of the nation almostin the hollow of their hands.
The foot cavalry of Jackson were proud of their ability that night. Theycarried only three days' rations, expecting to feed off the enemy atthe end of that time. Near midnight they lay down and slept a while,but long before dawn they were in line again marching over the hills andacross the mountains. There were skirmishers in advance on either side,but they met no Union scouts. The march of Jackson's great fightingcolumn was still unseen and unsuspected. A single Union scout or amessage carried by a woman or child might destroy the whole plan, as agrain of dust stops all the wheels and levers of a watch, but neitherthe scout, the woman nor the child appeared.
Toward dawn the marching Southerners heard far behind them the thunderof guns along the Rappahannock. They knew that Longstreet had openedwith his batteries across the river, and that those of Pope werereplying. The men looked at one another. There was a deep feeling ofexcitement and suspense among them. They did not know what all thismarching meant, but they had learned to trust the man who led them. Hehad led them only to victory, and they did not doubt that he was doingso again.
The march never paused for an instant. On they went, and the sound ofthe great guns behind them grew fainter and fainter until it faded away.Where were they going? Was it a raid on Washington? Were they to hurlthemselves upon Pope's rear, or was there some new army that they wereto destroy?
Up swept the sun and the coolness left by the storm disappeared. TheAugust day began to blaze again with fierce burning heat, but there wasno complaint among Jackson's men. They knew now that they were on one ofhis great turning movements, on a far greater scale than any hitherto,and full of confidence, they followed in the wake of Little Sorrel.
In the daylight now Jackson had scouts and skirmishers far in front andon either flank. They were to blaze the way for the army and they madea far out-flung line, through which no hostile scout could pass andsee the marching army within. At the close of the day they were stillmarching, and when the sun was setting Jackson stood by the dustyroadside and watched his men as they passed. For the first time in thatlong march they broke through restraint and thundering cheers sweptalong the whole line as they took off their caps to the man whom theydeemed at once their friend and a very god of war. The stern Jacksongiving way so seldom to emotion was heard to say to himself:
"Who can fail to win battles with such men as these?"
Jackson's column did not stop until midnight. They had been more thantwenty-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 downand 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 thenall the men seemed to realize suddenly which way they were going.
This was the road that led to Pope. It was not Washington, orWinchester, or some unknown army, but their foe on the Rappahannock thatthey 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 littlerest, suddenly increased their speed. Knowledge had brought them newstrength.
They entered the forest and passed into Thoroughfare Gap, which leadsthrough Bull Run Mountain. The files narrowed now and stretched out in alonger line. This was a deep gorge, pines and bushes lining the summitsand crests. The confined air here was closer and hotter than ever, butthe men pressed on with undiminished speed.
Harry Kenton felt a certain awe as he rode behind Jackson, and lookedup at the lofty cliffs that enclosed them. The pines along the summit oneither side were like long, green ribbons, and he half feared to seemen in blue appear there and open fire on those in the gorge below. Butreason told him that there was no such danger. No Northern force couldbe on Bull Run Mountain.
Harry had not asked a question during all that march. He had notknown where they were going, but like all the soldiers he had supremeconfidence 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 ofPope'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 swepton through two little villages, and over the famous plateau of ManassasJunction which many of them had seen before in the fire and smoke of thewar's first terrible day. Here were the fields and hills over whichthey had fought and won the victory. Harry recognized at once the placeswhich had been burned so vividly into his memory, and he considered it agood omen.
Not so far away was Washington, and so strongly was Harry's imaginationimpressed that he believed he could have seen through powerful glassesand from the crest of some tall hill that they passed, the dome of theCapitol shining in the August sun. He wondered why there was no attack,nor even any alarm. The cloud of dust that so many thousands of marchingmen made could be seen for miles. He did not know that Sherburne and thefastest of the rough riders were now far in front, seizing every Unionscout or sentinel, and enabling Jackson's army to march on its greatturning movement wholly unknown to any officer or soldier of the North.Soon he would stand squarely between Pope and Washington.
Before noon, Stuart and his wild horsemen joined them and their spiritssurged yet higher. All through the afternoon the march continued, andat night Jackson fell upon Pope's vast store of supplies, surprising androuting the guard. Taking what he could use he set fire to the rest andthe vast conflagration filled the sky.
Night came with Jackson standing directly in the rear of Pope. The traphad been shut down, and it was to be seen whether Pope was strong enoughto break from it.
The Sword of Antietam: A Story of the Nation's Crisis Page 6
