"See what a disgrace you're bringing upon us," said Dalton. "Delaying
everything. Mrs. Lanham will say that we're two impostors, that such
malingerers cannot possibly belong to the Army of Northern Virginia."
"Lead on," said Harry. "I'm ready, and I'm hungry as every soldier in
the Southern army always is."
They had a warm greeting from their hospitable hosts, followed by an
abundant breakfast. Then at Mrs. Lanham's earnest solicitation they
turned over their dress uniforms to her to be repaired and pressed.
Then they went out into the streets again, and spent the whole day
rambling about, enjoying everything with the keen and intense delight
that can come only to the young, and after long abstinence. Richmond was
not depressed. Far from it. There had been a wonderful transformation
since those dark days when the army of McClellan was near enough to see
the spires of its churches. The flood of battle had rolled far away
since then, and it had never come back. It could never come back.
It was true that the Army of Northern Virginia had failed at Gettysburg,
but it was returning to the South unassailed, and was ready to repeat its
former splendid achievements.
Harry went to the post office, and found there, to his great surprise
and delight, a letter from his father, written three or four days after
Vicksburg.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233