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Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander), 1862-1919

"A Story of Lee's Great Stand"

Put your glasses to your eyes and
look off there."
"Horsemen as sure as we're sitting in our own saddles."
"And Northern horsemen, too. Their uniforms are new enough for me to
tell their color. I take it that Grant's vanguard has moved by our right
flank and has come out of the Wilderness."
"And our surmises that we were to meet it are right. Spottsylvania Court
House is not far away, and maybe we are bound for it."
"And maybe the Yankees are too."
Harry's words were caused by the sound of a distant and scattering fire.
In obedience to an order from Anderson, he and Dalton galloped forward,
and, from a ridge, saw through their glasses a formidable Union column
advancing toward Spottsylvania. As they looked they saw many men fall
and they also saw flashes of flame from bushes and fences not far from
its flank.
"Our sharpshooters are there," said Harry. And he was right. While the
Union force was advancing in the night Stuart had dismounted many of his
men and using them as skirmishers had incessantly harassed the march of
Grant's vanguard led by Warren.
"Each army has been trying to catch the other napping," said Dalton.
"And neither has succeeded," said Harry.
"Now we make a race for the Spottsylvania ridge," said Dalton.


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