The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam
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