Grant held in his hand all the resources of the North,
and if he could not win no one could.
All through the night the hostile armies marched, and before them went
the spies and scouts.
CHAPTER XIV
THE GHOSTLY RIDE
Harry and Dalton kept close together during the long hours of the ghostly
ride. Just ahead of them were Taylor and Marshall and Peyton, and in
front Lee rode in silence. Now and then they passed regiments, and at
other times they would halt and let regiments pass them. Then the troops,
seeing the man sitting on the white horse, would start to cheer, but
always their officers promptly subdued it, and they marched on feeling
more confident than ever that their general was leading them to victory.
Many hours passed and still the army marched through the forests.
The trees, however, were dwindling in size and even in the night they
saw that the earth was growing red and sterile. Dense thickets grew
everywhere, and the marching became more difficult. Harry felt a sudden
thrill of awe.
"George," he whispered, "do you know the country into which we're riding?"
"I think I do, Harry. It's the Wilderness."
"It can't be anything else, George, because I see the ghosts."
"What are you talking about, Harry? What ghosts?"
"The thousands and thousands who have fallen in that waste.
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