McClellan had made up his mind
at last, and the army advanced joyfully to shut down the trap on Lee.
Dick's spirits rose with the sun and the advance of the troops. They had
delayed, but they would get Lee yet. There was nothing to tell them that
Harper's Ferry had fallen, and Jackson's force must still be detained
there far away. They ought to strike Lee on the morrow and destroy him,
and then they would destroy Jackson. Oh, Lee and Jackson had been
reckless generals to venture beyond the seceding states!
They marched fast now, and the fiery Hooker soon to be called Fighting
Joe led the advance. He was eager to get at Lee, who some said did not
now have more than twenty thousand men with him, although McClellan
insisted on doubling or tripling his numbers and those of Jackson.
Scouts and skirmishers came in fast now. Yes, Lee was between the
Antietam and the Potomac and they ought to strike him on the morrow.
The spirits of the Army of the Potomac continually rose.
Dick remained in a joyous mood. He had been greatly uplifted by the
return of his comrade, Warner, for whom he had formed a strong attachment,
and he could not keep down the thought that they would now be able to
trap Lee and end the war.
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