f, abandoned their positions and marched to join Lee.

Dick and his comrades who did not lie down until after midnight had
come, felt that a great success had been gained. McClellan had been slow
to march, but, now that he was marching, he was sweeping the enemy out
of his way.

The whole Army of the Potomac felt that it was winning and McClellan
himself was exultant. Early the next morning he reported to his superior
at Washington that the enemy was fleeing in panic and that General Lee
admitted that he had been "shockingly whipped."

Full of confidence, the army advanced to destroy Lee, who lay between
the peninsula of the Antietam and the Potomac, but just about the
time McClellan was writing his dispatch, the white flag was hoisted at
Harper's Ferry, the whole garrison surrendered, and messengers were on
their way to Lee with the news that Stonewall Jackson was coming.

CHAPTER IX. ACROSS THE STREAM

Dick and his comrades had not heard of the taking of Harper's Ferry and
they were full of enthusiasm that brilliant morning in mid-September.
McClellan, if slow to move, nevertheless had shown vigor in action,
and the sanguine youths could not doubt that they had driven Lee into a
corner. The Confederates, after the fierce fighting of the day before,
had abandoned both gaps, and the way at last lay clear before the Army
of the Potomac.

Dick was mounted again. In fact his horse, after pulling the reins from
his hands and fleeing from the Confederate fire, had been retaken by
a member of his own regiment and returned to him. It was another good
omen. The lost had been found again and defeat would become victory.

But Dick said nothing to anybody of his duel with Harry Kenton. He
shuddered even now when he recalled it. And yet there had been no guilt
in either. Neither had known that the other lay behind the stone,
but happy chance had made all their bullets go astray. Again he was
thankful.

"How did you stand that fighting yesterday afternoon, George?" Dick
asked of Warner.

"First rate. The open air agreed with me, and as no bullet sought me out
I felt benefited. I didn't get away from that hospital too soon. How far
away is this Antietam River, behind which they say Lee lies?"

"It's only eight miles from the gap," said Pennington, who had been
making inquiries, "and as we have come three miles it must be only five
miles away."

"Correct," said Warner, who was in an uncommonly fine humor. "Your
m