omplish his
purpose. It was the intention of the latter to send Stonewall Jackson
into the rear of the Union army, cut it off from its base of supplies,
and then attack in front and on the left. The plan was defeated by
General McClellan's change of base, which was forced upon him by the
cutting-off of his communications with the Pamunkey River. The Union
generals, who were first attacked on the right, supposed they were
confronted by Jackson, who had come down to flank them in this direction;
while Lee intended that he should attack farther down the Peninsula. Each
commanding general, to some extent, mistook the purpose of the other.
Whatever errors were made by the grand players in this mighty game, about
one thing there can be no mistake--that the courage and fortitude of the
rank and file saved the Army of the Potomac, and pushed aside the mighty
disaster in which its ruin would have involved the country. All honor to
the unnamed heroes who fought those great battles, and endured hardships
which shall thrill the souls of Americans for ages to come!

CHAPTER XVIII

LIEUTENANT SOMERS HAS A NEW SENSATION

The experience of the soldiers at Harrison's Landing, for a month
following their arrival, was not of the most agreeable nature; and
consisted of too large a proportion of exercise with pick and shovel to
be very pleasant to those who had not been accustomed to handling these
useful implements. Intrenchments and batteries were constructed; and the
position was as carefully fortified as the genius of the distinguished
engineer in command could suggest, and as thoroughly as though he
expected to spent the balance of the term of his natural life at this
place.

The army was soon in a condition to defy the operations of the enemy, who
were wise enough not to molest it. Somers, in common with the rest of the
command, recovered from the severe trials of the movement from White Oak
Swamp, and again longed for active operations. About two weeks after the
cessation of active operations, the official documents which announced
his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant came down to the army; but
this was a foregone conclusion. He had won his first bar by his scouting
services, and his commission was expected for a fortnight before its
arrival. It did not, therefore, cause him any surprise; and was so small
an elevation, that his comrades hardly congratulated him upon its
reception.

A fortnight later, there came