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,—

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,—

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.