The Star of Gettysburg - A Story of Southern High Tide by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler
page 68 of 362 (18%)
page 68 of 362 (18%)
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never wavered in its allegiance to the South, although great armies
fought and trod back and forth over its whole course through all the years of the war. They turned east and defiled through a narrow pass in the mountains, where the sheltered slopes again glowed in yellow and gold. Jackson, in somber and faded gray, rode near the head of the corps on his faithful Little Sorrel, his chin sunk upon his breast, his eyes apparently not seeing what was about them, the worn face somber and thoughtful. Harry knew that the great brain under the old slouch hat was working every moment, always working with an intensity and concentration of which few men were ever capable. Harry, following close behind him, invariably watched him, but he could never read anything of Jackson's mind from his actions. Then came the soldiers in broad and flowing columns, that is, they seemed to Harry, in the intense autumn light, to flow like a river of men and horses and steel, beautiful to look on now, but terrible in battle. "We're better than ever," said the sober Dalton. "Antietam stopped us for the time, but we are stronger than we were before that battle." "Stronger and even more enthusiastic," Harry concurred. "Ah, there goes the Cajun band and the other bands and our boys singing our great tune! Listen to it!" "Southrons hear your country call you; Up, lest worse than death befall you! To arms! To arms! To arms in Dixie! |
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