Colonel Winchester saw from the rapidity and emphasis with which Shepard spoke that his excitement had increased, but knowing the man’s great devotion to the Union he had no rebuke for his plain speech.
“You have done splendid work, Mr. Shepard,” he said, “and the commander- in-chief will recognize what great risks you have run for the cause. I’ve no doubt that the accuracy of your reports will soon be proved.”
Colonel Winchester in truth believed every word that Shepard had said, sinister though they were. He said that Jackson was behind them, that he had done the great destruction at Bristoe Station and he had not the slightest doubt that Jackson was there.
Shepard flushing a little with gratification at Colonel Winchester’s praise quickly recovered his customary self possession. Once more he was the iron-willed, self-contained man who daily dared everything for the cause he served.
“Thank you, Colonel,” he said, “I’ve got to go out and get a little food now. All I say will be proved soon enough.”
The three boys, like Colonel Winchester, did not doubt the truth of Shepard’s news, and they looked northeast for the dust clouds which should mark the approach of Jackson.
“We’ve been outmaneuvered,” said Warner to Dick, “but it’s no reason why we should be outfought.”
“No, George, it isn’t. We’ve eighty thousand men as brave as any in the world, and, from what we hear they haven’t as many. We ought to smash their old trap all to pieces.”
“If our generals will only give us a chance.”
Shepard’s prediction that his news would soon prove true was verified almost at once. General Pope himself returned to his army and dispatch after dispatch arrived stating that Jackson and his whole force had been at Bristoe Station while the Union stores were burning.
“Now is our chance,” said Dick to his comrades, “why doesn’t the general move on Jackson at once, and destroy him before Lee can come to his help?”
“I’m praying for it,” said Warner.
“From what I hear it’s going to be done,” said Pennington.
Their hopes came true. Pope at once took the bold course, and marched on Jackson, but the elusive Stonewall was gone. They tramped about in the heat and dust in search of him. One portion of the army including Colonel Winchester’s regiment turned off in the afternoon toward a place of a few houses called Warrenton. It lay over toward the Gap through which Jackson had gone and while the division ten thousand strong did not expect to find anything there it was nevertheless ordered to look.
Dick rode by the side of his colonel ready for any command, but the mystery, and uncertainty had begun to weigh upon him again. It seemed when they had the first news that Jackson was behind them, that they had a splendid opportunity to turn upon him and annihilate him before Lee could come. But he was gone. They had looked upon the smoldering ruins of their great supply camp, but they had found there no trace of a Confederate soldier. Was Harry Kenton right, when he told them they could not beat Jackson? He asked himself angrily why the man would not stay and fight. He believed, too, that he must be off there somewhere to the right, and he listened eagerly but vainly for the distant throb of guns in the east.
A cloud of dust hovered over the ten thousand as they marched on in the blazing sunshine. The country was well peopled, but all the inhabitants had disappeared save a few, and from not one of these could they obtain a scrap of information.
Dick noticed through the dusty veil a heavy wood on their left extending for a long distance. Then as in a flash, he saw that the whole forest was filled with troops, and he saw also two batteries galloping from it toward the crest of a ridge. It occurred to him instantly that here was the army of Jackson, and others who saw had the same instinctive belief.
There was a flash and roar from the batteries. Shot and shell cut through the clouds of dust and among the ranks of the men in blue. Now came from the forest a vast shout, the defiant rebel yell and nobody in the column doubted that Jackson was there. He had swung away toward the Gap, where Lee could come to him more readily, and he would fight the whole Union army until Lee came up.