Part 82 (1/2)

Lee smiled. ”General Jackson, what is your opinion?”

Jackson spoke with brevity. ”I might prefer, sir, to attack McClellan first and then turn upon Harper's Ferry. But I see no madness in the other plan--if the movement is rapid. Sometimes to be bold is the sanest thing you can do. It is necessary of course that the enemy should be kept in darkness.”

”Then, general, you will undertake the reduction of Harper's Ferry?”

”If you order me to do it, sir, I will do it.”

”Very good. You will start at dawn. Besides your own you shall have McLaws's and Anderson's divisions. The remainder of the army will leave Frederick an hour or two later. Colonel Chilton will at once issue the order of march.” He drew a piece of paper toward him and with a pencil made a memorandum--SPECIAL ORDERS, NO. 191.

The remainder of the ninth of September pa.s.sed. The tenth of September pa.s.sed, and the eleventh, mild, balmy and extremely still. The twelfth found the landscape for miles around Frederick still dozing. At noon, however, upon this day things changed. McClellan's strong cavalry advance came into touch with Jeb Stuart a league or two to the east.

There ensued a skirmish approaching in dignity to an engagement. Finally the grey drew off, though not, to the Federal surprise, in the direction of Frederick. Instead they galloped north.

The blue advance trotted on, sabre to hand, ready for the dash into Frederick. Pierced at last was the grey, movable screen! Now with the infantry close behind, with the magnificent artillery rumbling up, with McClellan grim from the Seven Days--now for the impact which should wipe out the memory of the defeat of a fortnight ago, of the second Bull Run, an impact that should grind rebellion small! They came to Frederick and found a quiet sh.e.l.l. There was no one there to sabre.

Information abounded. McClellan, riding in with his staff toward evening, found himself in a sandstorm of news, through which nothing could be distinctly observed. Prominent citizens were brought before him. ”Yes, general; they undoubtedly went north. Yes, sir, the morning of the tenth. Two columns, but starting one just after the other and on the same road. Yes, sir, some of our younger men did follow on horseback after an hour or two. They could just see the columns still moving north. Then they ran against Stuart's cordon and they had to turn back.

Frederick's been just like a desert island--n.o.body coming and n.o.body getting away. For all he's as frisky as a puppy, Jeb Stuart's a mighty good watch dog!”

McClellan laughed. ”'Beauty' Stuart!--I wish I had him here.” He grew grave again. ”I am obliged to you, sir. Who's this, Ames?”

”It is a priest, sir, that's much looked up to. He says he has a collection of maps--Father Tierney, will you speak to the general?”

”Faith, and that I will, my son!” said Father Tierney. ”Good avenin', general, and the best of fortunes!”

”Good evening, Father. What has your collection to do with it?”

”Faith,” said Father Tierney, ”and that's for you to judge, general. It was the avenin' of the eighth, and I was sittin' in my parlour after Judy O'Flaherty's funeral, and having just parted with Father Lavalle at the Noviciate. And there came a rap, and an aide of Stonewall Jackson's--But whisht! maybe I am taking up your time, general, with things you already know?”

”Go on, go on! 'An aide of Stonewall Jackson's--'”

”'Holy powers!' thinks I, 'no rest even afther a funeral!' but 'Come in, come in, my son!' I said, and in he comes. 'My name is Jarrow, Father,'

says he, 'and General Jackson has heard that you have a foine collection of maps.'

”'And that's thrue enough,' says I, 'and what then, my son?' Whereupon he lays down his sword and cap and says, 'May I look at thim?'”

Father Tierney coughed. ”There's a number of gentlemen waiting in the entrry. Maybe, general, you'd be afther learning of the movement of the ribils with more accuracy from thim. And I could finish about the maps another time. You aren't under any obligation to be listenin' to me.”

”Shut the door, Ames,” said the general. ”Now Father.--'May I look at them,' he said.”

”'Why, av course,' said I, 'far be it from Benedict Tierney to put a lock on knowledge!' and I got thim down. 'There's one that was made for Leonard Calvert in 1643'--says I, 'and there's another showing St.

Mary's about the time of the Indian ma.s.sacre, and there's a very rare one of the Chesapeake--'

”'Extremely interesting' he says, 'but for General Jackson's purposes 1862 will answer. You have recent maps also?'

”'Yes, I have,' I said, and I got thim down, rather disappointed, having thought him interested in Colonial Maryland and maybe in the location of missions. 'What do you wish?' said I, still polite, though I had lost interest. 'A map of Pennsylvania,' said he--”

”A map of Pennsylvania!--Ames, get your notebook there.”

”And I unrolled it and he looked at it hard. 'Good road to Waynesboro?'

he said, and says I, 'Fair, my son, fair!' And says he, 'I may take this map to General Jackson?' 'Yes,' said I, 'but I hope you'll soon be so good as to return it.' 'I will,' said he. 'Bedad,' said I, 'you ribils are right good at returning things! I'll say that for you!' said I--and he rolled up the map and put it under his arm.”