Part 64 (1/2)

”My G.o.d, General, you can't die--you mustn't die now! Don't you hear the boys shouting? They're driving Grant's army into the river. They've avenged Donelson!--General--for G.o.d's sake speak to me--say you won't die--you can't, you can't--Oh, Lord G.o.d, save his precious life!--”

No sign or answer came. His breast had ceased to move. The Governor tenderly lifted the grief-stricken boy and sent him with his General's last message.

”Find Beauregard and tell him he is in command of the field. Not a word of the death of the Chief until his victory is complete.”

d.i.c.k saluted and sprang into the saddle.

”I understand, sir.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”d.i.c.k saluted and sprang into the saddle--'I understand, sir'”]

It was late in the afternoon before he located General Beauregard and delivered the fateful news.

The victorious Confederate army had furiously pressed its charge.

Johnston's word had pa.s.sed from command to command.

”Forward--forward--let every order be forward!”

Everything had yielded at last before them. From camp to camp, from rallying point to rallying point the Union hosts had been hurled, division piling on division in wild confusion.

Driven headlong, the broken ranks were thrown in panic on the banks of the river. Thousands crouched in ravines and sought shelter under the steep bluffs of the river banks. Trampling mobs were struggling in vain to board the transports and cross the river. The Federal reserve line had been completely crushed, and the entire army, driven from the field they had held that morning, were huddled in a confused ma.s.s of a half mile around the Pittsburg Landing.

The next charge of the Confederates would hurl the whole army into the river or they must surrender.

The gunboats had opened in vain. They were throwing their sh.e.l.ls a mile beyond the Confederate lines where they fell harmlessly.

The Confederate division commanders were gathering their hosts for the last charge at sunset. There was yet an hour of daylight in which to end the struggle with the complete annihilation of the Union army. Down under the steep banks of the river's edge the demoralized remnants of the shattered divisions were already stacking their arms to surrender.

They had made their last stand.

General Bragg turned to his aide:

”Tell Major Stewart of the twenty-first Alabama to advance and drive the enemy into the river!”

The aide saluted.

”And carry that order along the whole line!”

The aide put spurs to his horse to execute the command, when a courier dashed up from General Beauregard's headquarters.

”Direct me to General Bragg!”

The aide pointed to the General and rode back with Beauregard's courier.

”General Beauregard orders that you cease fighting and rest your men to-night.”

Bragg turned his rugged dark face on the messenger with a scowl.

”You have promulgated this order to the army?”