He felt confident that the armies of the North
would bring them back into the Union, and when that occurred they must
come as Americans on an equal footing with other Americans. They could
not be in the Union and not of it.
But Shepard's feeling for his official enemies would not keep him from
acting against them with all the skill, courage and daring that he
possessed in such supreme measure. He knew that it was Sherburne's task
to open a way for the Army of Northern Virginia to the Potomac and to
find a ford, or, in cooperation with some other force, to build a bridge.
It was for him to defeat the plan if he could.
While the rain all the day before had brought gloom to the hearts of
Sherburne and his men it had filled his with joy, as he thought of the
innumerable brooks and creeks that were pouring their swollen waters into
the Potomac, already swollen too. He meant now to follow Sherburne's
force, see what plan it would attempt, what point, perhaps, it would
select for the bridge, and then bring the Union brigades in haste to
defeat it.
It is said that men often feel when they are watched, although the
watcher is invisible, but it was not so in Sherburne's case. He did not
in the least suspect the presence of Shepard or of any foe, and the spy,
after he had seen all he wished, withdrew, with the same stealth that had
marked his coming.
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