His Sombre Rivals

His Sombre Rivals

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Title: His Sombre Rivals
Author: E. P. Roe
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[Illustration: THE OLD MAJOR.]

The Works of E.P. Roe
VOLUME THIRTEEN
HIS SOMBRE RIVALS
ILLUSTRATED
1883

PREFACE
The following story has been taking form in my mind for several years,
and at last I have been able to write it out. With a regret akin to sadness,
I take my leave, this August day, of people who have become very real
to me, whose joys and sorrows I have made my own. Although a
Northern man, I think my Southern readers will feel that I have sought
to do justice to their motives. At this distance from the late Civil War, it
is time that passion and prejudice sank below the horizon, and among
the surviving soldiers who were arrayed against each other I think they
have practically disappeared. Stern and prolonged conflict taught
mutual respect. The men of the Northern armies were convinced,
beyond the shadow of a doubt, that they had fought men and
Americans-- men whose patriotism and devotion to a cause sacred to
them was as pure and lofty as their own. It is time that sane men and
women should be large-minded enough to recognize that, whatever
may have been the original motives of political leaders, the people on
both sides were sincere and honest; that around the camp-fires at their
hearths and in their places of worship they looked for God's blessing on

their efforts with equal freedom from hypocrisy.
I have endeavored to portray the battle of Bull Run as it could appear to
a civilian spectator: to give a suggestive picture and not a general
description. The following war-scenes are imaginary, and colored by
personal reminiscence. I was in the service nearly four years, two of
which were spent with the cavalry. Nevertheless, justly distrustful of
my knowledge of military affairs, I have submitted my proofs to my
friend Colonel H. C. Hasbrouck, Commandant of Cadets at West Point,
and therefore have confidence that as mere sketches of battles and
skirmishes they are not technically defective.
The title of the story will naturally lead the reader to expect that deep
shadows rest upon many of its pages. I know it is scarcely the fashion
of the present time to portray men and women who feel very deeply
about anything, but there certainly was deep feeling at the time of
which I write, as, in truth, there is to-day. The heart of humanity is like
the ocean. There are depths to be stirred when the causes are adequate.
E. P. R.
CORNWALL-ON-THE-HUDSON, August 21, 1883.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
AN EMBODIMENT OF MAY
CHAPTER II
MERE FANCIES
CHAPTER III
THE VERDICT OF A SAGE
CHAPTER IV
WARNING OR INCENTIVE
CHAPTER V
IMPRESSIONS
CHAPTER VI
PHILOSOPHY AT FAULT
CHAPTER VII
WARREN HILLAND
CHAPTER VIII

SUPREME MOMENTS
CHAPTER IX
THE REVELATION
CHAPTER X
THE KINSHIP OF SUFFERING
CHAPTER XI
THE ORDEAL
CHAPTER XII
FLIGHT TO NATURE
CHAPTER XIII
THE FRIENDS
CHAPTER XIV
NOBLE DECEPTION
CHAPTER XV
"I WISH HE HAD KNOWN"
CHAPTER XVI
THE CLOUD IN THE SOUTH
CHAPTER XVII
PREPARATION
CHAPTER XVIII
THE CALL TO ARMS
CHAPTER XIX
THE BLOOD-RED SKY
CHAPTER XX
TWO BATTLES
CHAPTER XXI
THE LOGIC OF EVENTS
CHAPTER XXII
SELF-SENTENCED
CHAPTER XXIII
AN EARLY DREAM FULFILLED
CHAPTER XXIV
UNCHRONICLED CONFLICTS
CHAPTER XXV

A PRESENTIMENT
CHAPTER XXVI
AN IMPROVISED PICTURE GALLERY
CHAPTER XXVII
A DREAM
CHAPTER XXVIII
ITS FULFILMENT
CHAPTER XXIX
A SOUTHERN GIRL
CHAPTER XXX
GUERILLAS
CHAPTER XXXI
JUST