The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam Read online

  THE YOUNG SHARPSHOOTER AT ANTIETAM

  by

  EVERETT T. TOMLINSON

  Boston and New YorkHoughton Mifflin CompanyThe Riverside Press Cambridge1914

  Copyright, 1914, by Everett T. TomlinsonAll Rights Reserved

  Published September 1914

  THEY WERE FALLING BY SCORES]

  PREFACE

  This story has been written with no desire to revive or even to keepalive the spirit of the struggle between the States.

  Nevertheless the facts which have made our history and the forces whichhave entered into the making of the life of our country ought not to beignored or forgotten. The effect of the conflict was too great for that.The Civil War is now far enough away to enable us to see the heroic,dramatic, and even romantic elements that composed it; and all these,too, free from the bitterness which naturally was characteristic of thetimes.

  To-day each side understands the other better, and with a more completeknowledge is able to see more clearly the sterling qualities of bothcontestants.

  The appreciation of the importance of Lee's first attempt to invade theNorth is necessary if one is to understand the struggle which followed.The dash, spirit, and skill of the great Southern leader, as well as theenergy and the daring of his lieutenants, are seen to-day more clearlythan in the times when his effort was made. What the consequence wouldhave been if General Lee had succeeded, all can appreciate. The battleof Antietam was almost a pivot of the great Civil War.

  That my young readers may gain a more complete knowledge of the daringadvance of the great Southern general and the result which followed whenhis army was turned back into Virginia, I have written this story. Myhope is that it will lead to a careful study of the conflict, and thatboys, North and South alike, may be led into an increased knowledge ofand interest in our common country.

  EVERETT T. TOMLINSON.

  ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

  CONTENTS

  I. THE IRISHMAN AND HIS PIG 1

  II. THE SUTLER'S GOODS 13

  III. INTERCEPTED 27

  IV. THE V IN THE FENCE 38

  V. THE PLAN OF GENERAL LEE 47

  VI. LONG JOHN 54

  VII. CAUGHT 63

  VIII. UNDER GUARD 72

  IX. THE PLOT 83

  X. INTO THE STORM 93

  XI. NICK 102

  XII. THE GIANT 113

  XIII. FRIENDS OF THE UNION 124

  XIV. THE SUTLER AS A GUIDE 135

  XV. WARLIKE BEES 146

  XVI. A HELPER 154

  XVII. THE GUEST ROOM 166

  XVIII. THE FIRE 177

  XIX. AT THE FORK 188

  XX. THE STACK OF STRAW 198

  XXI. THE CARPET-BAG 207

  XXII. A MYSTERY 217

  XXIII. THE GUARD-HOUSE 227

  XXIV. A FRUITLESS INTERVIEW 236

  XXV. THE EXECUTION 248

  XXVI. THE TEST 260

  XXVII. THE SHARPSHOOTERS 270

  XXVIII. THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION 280

  XXIX. THE BATTLE 290

  XXX. THE FOLLOWING DAY 302

  XXXI. ANTIETAM 311

  XXXII. CONCLUSION 323

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  THEY WERE FALLING BY SCORES (PAGE 303) _Frontispiece_

  "DEY SAY YO' HAB HAWNS" 58

  NOEL HEARD THE BULLET AS IT WHISTLED PAST 152

  "WHO'S IN THERE?" 200

  _From drawings by George Avison_

  THE YOUNG SHARPSHOOTER AT ANTIETAM