been made just after
sunrise, and had been widened in the later hours of the morning. Now
there was a momentary lull in the firing, but the lifting clouds of smoke
enabled them to see vast masses of men in blue advancing and already in
the suburbs of the town.

Lee's headquarters were about a mile and a half west of Petersburg,
where he stood on a lawn and watched the progress of the combat. Nearly
opposite him was a tall observatory that the Union men had erected,
and from its summit the Northern generals also were watching. Harry and
Dalton stood near Lee, awaiting with others his call, and every detail
he saw that day always remained impressed upon Harry Kenton's mind.

He intently watched his general. Feeling that the Southern army was so
near destruction he thought that the face of Lee would show agitation.
But it was not so. His calm and grave demeanor was unchanged. He was
in full uniform of fine gray, and had even buckled to his belt his dress
sword which he seldom carried. It was told of him that he said that
morning if he were compelled to surrender he would do so in his best.
But he had not yet given up hope.

Harry turned his eyes away from Lee to the enemy. Without the aid of
glasses now, he saw the great columns in blue advancing, preceded by a
tremendous fire of artillery that filled the air with bursting shells.
The infantry themselves were advancing with the bayonet, the sunlight
gleaming on the polished metal. As far as he could see the ring of fire
and steel extended. One heavy column was advancing toward the very lawn
on which they stood.

"Looks as if they were going to trample us under foot," said Dalton.

"Yes, but the general may still find a way out of it," said Harry.

"They are still coming," said Dalton.

The shells were bursting about them and bullets too soon began to strike
upon the lawn. A battery that sought to drive back the advancing column
was exposed to such a heavy fire that it was compelled to limber up and
retreat. The officers urged Lee to withdraw and at length, mounting
Traveler, he rode back slowly and deliberately to his inner line.
Harry often wondered what his feelings were on that day, but whatever
they were his face expressed nothing. When he stopped in his new
position he said to one of his staff, but without raising his voice:

"This is a bad business, colonel."

Harry heard him say a little later to another officer:

"Well, colonel, it has happ