seems to me at
times, Harry, not to be human, or rather more than human. It has been
more than a day and night now since he has taken a second of rest, and
he appears to need none."
"He is human like the rest of us, but the flame in him burns stronger.
He gets cold and hungry and tired just as we do, but his will carries
him on all the same."
"I'm thankful that I fight with him and not against him," said Dalton
earnestly.
"Yes, and you're going to march again with him in five minutes. See the
gray blur in the east, George. It's the dawn and Jackson never waits on
the morning."
Jackson was already giving the order for the men to awake and march
forth to battle. It seemed to most of them that they had closed their
eyes but a minute before. They rose, half awake, without food, cold,
and stiff from the frightful exertions of the day and night before, and
advanced mechanically in line.
The sun again was yellow and bright in a clear blue sky, and soon the
day would be warm. As they heard the sound of the trumpets they shook
sleep wholly from their eyes, and, as they moved, much of the soreness
went from their bones. Not far before them was Winchester.
Banks was in Winchester with his army. The fierce pursuit of the night
before had filled him with dismay, but with the morning he recalled his
courage and resolved to make a victorious stand with the valiant troops
that he led. Many of his officers told him how these men had fought
Jackson all through the night, and he found abundant cause for courage.
Harry and Dalton sprang into the saddle again, and, as they rode with
Jackson, they saw that the whole Southern army was at hand. Ewell was
there and the cavalry and the Acadians, their band saluting the morning
with a brave battle march. It sent the blood dancing through Harry's
veins. He forgot his immense exertions, dangers and hardships and that
he had had no sleep in twenty-four hours.
Before him lay the enemy. It was no longer Jackson who retreated before
overwhelming numbers. He had the larger force now, at least where
the battle was fought, and although the Northern troops in the
valley exceeded him three or four to one, he was with his single army
destroying their detached forces in detail.
General Jackson, General Taylor and several other high officers were
just in front of the first Southern line, and Harry and Dalton sat on
their horses a few yards in the rear. The two generals were examining
the N
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