In Lee\'s simple tent on the battlefield amid the ghostly trees of thewilderness his Adjutant-General, Walter Taylor, sat writing rapidly.
Sam, his ebony face shining, stood behind trying to look over hisshoulder. He couldn\'t make it out and his curiosity got the better ofhim.
"What dat yer writin\' so hard, Gin\'l Taylor?"Without lifting his head the Adjutant continued to write.
"Orders of promotion for gallantry in battle, Sam.""Is yer gwine ter write one fer my young Marse Robbie?"Taylor paused and looked up. The light of admiration overspread hisface.
"General Lee never promotes his sons or allows them on his staff, Sam.
General Custis Lee, General Rooney Lee, and Captain Robbie won theirspurs without a word from him. They won by fighting.""Yassah! Dey sho\'s been some fightin\' in dis here wilderness. Hopes terGod we git outen here pretty quick. Gitten too close tergedder ter suitme."The clatter of a horse\'s hoofs rang out in the little clearing in frontof the tent.
Taylor looked up again.
"See if that\'s Stuart. General Lee\'s expecting him."Sam peered out the door of the tent.
"Dey ain\'t no plume in his hat an\' dey ain\'t no banjo man wid him.
Nasah. Tain\'t Gin\'l Stuart.""All right. Pull up a stool.""Yassah!"Sam unfolded a camp stool and placed it at the table. A sentinelapproached and called:
"Senator William C. Rives of the Confederate Congress to see GeneralLee."Taylor rose.
"Show him in."The Senator entered with a quick, nervous excitement he could notconceal.
"Colonel Taylor--""Senator."The men clasped hands and Taylor continued to watch the nervous mannerof his caller.
"My coming from Richmond is no doubt a surprise?""Naturally. We\'re in pretty close quarters with Grant here to-night--"Rives raised his hand in a gesture of despair.
"No closer than our Government in Richmond is with the end at thismoment, in my judgment. I couldn\'t wait. I had to come to-night. Youhave called an informal council as I requested?""The moment I got your message an hour ago."Taylor caught his excitement and bent close.
"What is it, Senator?"Rives hesitated, glanced at the doors of the tent and answered rapidly.
"The Confederate Congress has just held a secret session without theknowledge of President Davis--"He drew from his pocket a letter and handed it to the Adjutant.
"You will see from this letter of the presiding officer my credentials.
They have sent me as their agent on an important mission to GeneralLee."He paused as Taylor carefully read the letter.
"How soon can I see him?""I\'m expecting him in a few minutes," Taylor answered. "He\'s riding onthe front lines trying to feel out Grant\'s next move. He is very anxiousover it.""This battle was desperate?" Rives asked nervously.
"Terrific.""Our losses in the two days?""More than ten thousand.""Merciful God--""Grant\'s losses were far greater," Taylor added briskly.
"No matter, Taylor, no matter!" he cried in anguish, springing to hisfeet. He fought for control of his emotions and hurried on.
"The maws of those cannon now are insatiate! We can\'t afford to lose tenthousand men from our thin ranks in two days. If your army suspectedfor one moment the real situation in Richmond, they\'d quit and we\'d belost.""They only ask for General Lee\'s orders, Senator. Their faith in ourleader is sublime.""And that\'s our only hope," Rives hastened to add. "General Lee may saveus. And he is the only man who can do it."He stopped and studied Taylor closely. He spoke with some diffidence.
"The faith of his officers in him remains absolutely unshaken?""They worship him.""My appeal will be solely to him. But I may need help.""I\'ve asked Alexander and Gordon to come. General Gordon did greatwork to-day. It was his command that broke Hancock\'s lines and tookprisoners. I\'ve just slated him for further promotion. Stuart is alreadyon the way here to report the situation on the right where his cavalryis operating."The ring of two horses\' hoofs echoed.
"If Stuart will only back me!" Rives breathed.
Outside the Cavalry Commander was having trouble with Sweeney, hisminstrel follower, an expert banjo player.
Stuart laughed heartily at his fears.
"Come on, Sweeney. Don\'t be a fool."The minstrel man still held back and Stuart continued to urge.
"Come on in, Sweeney. Don\'t be bashful. I promised you shall see GeneralLee and you shall. Come on!"Taylor and Rives stood in the door of the tent watching the conflict.
"Never be afraid of a great man, Sweeney!" Stuart went on. "The greaterthe man the easier it is to get along with him. General Lee wears noscarlet in his coat, no plume in his hat, no gold braid on his uniform.
He\'s as plain as a gray mouse--"Stuart laughed and whispered:
"He\'s too great to need anything to mark his rank. But he never frownson my gay colors.""He knows," Taylor rejoined, "that it\'s your way of telling the glory ofthe cause.""Sure! He just laughs at my foolishness and gives me an order to lick acrowd that outnumbers me, three to one."He took hold of Sweeney\'s arm.
"Don\'t be afraid, old boy. Marse Robert won\'t frown on your banjo.
He\'ll just smile as he recalls what the cavalry did in our last battle.
Minstrel man, make yourself at home."Sweeney timidly touched the strings, and Stuart wheeled toward Rives.
"Well, Senator, how goes it in Richmond?"Rives answered with eager anxiety. His words were not spoken in despairbut with an undertone of desperate appeal.
"Dark days have come, General Stuart. And great events are pending.
Events of the utmost importance to the army, to the country, to GeneralLee.""Just say General Lee and let it go at that," Stuart laughed. "He _is_the army _and_ the country."He turned to Taylor.
"Where\'s Marse Robert?""Inspecting the lines. He fears a movement to turn our flank atSpottsylvania Court House.""My men are right there, watching like owls. They\'ll catch the firstrustle of a leaf by Sheridan\'s cavalry.""I hope so.""Never fear. Well, Sweeney, while we wait for General Lee, Senator Rivesneeds a little cheer. We\'ve medicine in that box for every ill that manis heir to. Things look black in Richmond, he tells us. All right. Giveus the old familiar tune--_Hard Times and Wuss Er Comin\'!_--Go it!"Sweeney touched his strings sharply.
"You don\'t mind, sir?" he asked Taylor.
"Certainly not. I like it."Sentinels, orderlies, aides and scouts gathered around the door asSweeney played and sang with Stuart. The Cavalryman\'s spirit wascontagious. Before the song had died away, they were all singing thechorus in subdued tones. Sweeney ended with Stuart\'s favorite--_Rock ofAges_.
General John B. Gordon joined the group, followed by General E.P.
Alexander.
Taylor called the generals together.
"Senator Rives, gentlemen, is the bearer of an important message fromthe Confederate Congress to General Lee. I have asked you informally tojoin him in this meeting."Rives entered his appeal.
"I am going to ask you to help me to-night in paying the highest tributeto General Lee in our power."Gordon responded promptly.
"We shall honor ourselves in honoring him, sir.""Always," Alexander agreed.
Rives plunged into the heart of his mission.
"Gentlemen, so desperate is the situation of the South that our onlyhope lies in our great Commander. The Confederate Congress has sent meto offer him the Dictatorship--""You don\'t mean it?" Stuart exploded.
"Will you back me?"The Cavalry leader grasped his hand.
"Yours to count on, sir!""Yes," Gordon joined.
"We\'ll back you!" Alexander cried.
Rives\' face brightened.
"If he will only accept. The question is how to approach him?""It must be done with the utmost care," Alexander warned.
"Exactly." Rives nodded. "Shall I announce to him it once the vote ofCongress conferring on him the supreme power?""Not if you can approach him more carefully," Alexander cautioned.
"I can first propose that as Commanding General he might acceptthe peace proposals which Francis Preston Blair has brought fromWashington--""What kind of peace proposals?" Gorden asked sharply.
"He proposes to end the war immediately by an armistice, and arrange forthe joint invasion of Mexico by the combined armies of the North andSouth under the command of General Lee."Alexander snapped at the suggestion.
"By all means suggest the armistice first. General Lee won his spurs inMexico. The plan might fire his imagination--as it would have fired thesoul of Caesar or Napoleon. If he refuses to go over the head of Davis,you can then announce the vote of Congress giving him supreme power."The general suddenly paused at the familiar sound of Traveler\'shoofbeat.
The officers stood and saluted as Lee entered. He was dressed in hisfull field gray uniform of immaculate cut and without spot. He wore hissword, high boots and spurs and his field glasses were thrown across hisbroad shoulders.
He glanced at the group in slight surprise and drew Stuart aside.
"I sent for you, General Stuart, to say that I am expecting a courier atany moment who may report that General Grant will move on SpottsylvaniaCourt House."He paused in deep thought.
"If so, Sheridan will throw the full force of his cavalry on your lines,to tu............