His own
regiment had lain down among the leaves, and the men were firing at the
flashes on their right. Dick looked for General Pope and his brilliant
staff, but he did not see them.
"Gone to bring up the reserves," whispered Warner, who saw Dick's
inquiring look.
But the Vermonter's slur was not wholly true. Pope was on his way to his
main force, doubtless not really believing that Jackson himself was at
hand. But the little army that he left behind fighting with renewed
energy and valor broke away from the Southern grasp and continued its
march toward that court house, in which the boys could see no merit.
Jackson himself, knowing what great numbers were ahead, was content to
swing away and seek for prey elsewhere.
They emerged from the wood toward morning and saw ahead of them great
masses of troops in blue. They would have shouted with joy, but they
were too tired. Besides, nearly two thousand of their men were killed
or wounded, and they had no victory to celebrate.
Dick ate breakfast with his comrades. The Northern armies nearly always
had an abundance of provisions, and now they were served in plenty.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56