The Tree of Appomattox | Page 8

the
hum of many voices and the restless movements that betokened the
presence of numerous troops. Dick, who had dismounted, walked
forward a little distance with Colonel Winchester, and, in the moonlight,
he was able to see that a large division of the army was gathered near,
resting on its arms. It was obvious that the important movement, of
which he had been hearing so much, was at hand, but the colonel
volunteered nothing concerning its nature.
The troops were allowed to lie down, and, with the calmness that
comes of long experience, they soon fell asleep. But the officers waited
and watched, and Dick saw other regiments arriving. Warner, who had
pushed through some bushes, came back and said in a whisper:
"I've seen a half-dozen great mounds of fresh earth."
"Earth taken out to make a trench, no doubt," said Dick.
But Warner shook his head.
"There's too much of it," he said, "and it's been carried too far to the
rear. In my opinion extensive mining operations have been going on
here."
"For what?" asked Pennington. "Not for silver or gold. We're no
treasure hunters, and besides, there's none here."
Warner shook his head again.
"I don't know," he replied, "but I'm quite sure that it has something to
do, perhaps all to do, with the movement now at hand. To the right of
us, regiments, including several of colored troops, are already forming
in line of battle, and I've no doubt our turn will come before long."
"We must be intending to make an attack," said Dick, "but I don't
suppose we'll move until day."
He had learned long since that night attacks were very risky. Friend

was likely to fire into friend and the dusk and confusion invariably
forbade victory. But the faculties that create anxiety and alarm had
been dulled for the time by immense exertions and dangers, and he
placidly awaited the event, whatever it might be.
"What time is it?" asked Pennington.
"Half past three in the morning," replied Dick, who was able to see the
face of his watch.
"Not such a long wait then. Day comes early this time of the year."
"You lads can sit down and make yourselves comfortable," said
Colonel Winchester. "It's desirable for you to be as fresh as possible
when you're wanted. I'm glad to see the men sleeping. They'll receive a
signal in ample time."
The young officers followed his suggestion, but they kept very wide
awake, talking for a little while in whispers and then sinking away into
silence. The noise from the massed troops near them decreased also and
Dick's curiosity began to grow again. He stood up, but he saw no
movement, nothing to indicate the nature of any coming event. He
looked at his watch again. Dawn was almost at hand. A narrow band of
gray would soon rim the eastern hills. An aide arrived, gave a dispatch
to Colonel Winchester, and quickly passed on.
The men were awakened and stood up, shaking the sleep from their
eyes and then, through habit, looking to their arms and ammunition.
The thread of gray showed in the east.
"Whatever it is, it will come soon," whispered Warner to Dick.
The gray thread broadened and became a ribbon of silver. The silver, as
it widened, was shot through with pink and red and yellow, the colors
of the morning. Dick caught a glimpse of massed bayonets near him,
and of the Southern trenches rising slowly out of the dusk not far away.
Then the earth rocked.

He felt a sudden violent and convulsive movement that nearly threw
him from his feet, and the whole world in front of him blazed with fire,
as if a volcano, after a long silence, had burst suddenly into furious
activity. Black objects, the bodies of men, were borne upon the mass of
shooting flames, and the roar was so tremendous that it was heard thirty
miles away.
Dick had been expecting something, but no such red dawn as this, and
when the fires suddenly sank, and the world-shaking crash turned to
echoes he stood for a few moments appalled. He believed at first that a
magazine had exploded, but, as the dawn was rapidly advancing, he
beheld in front of them, where Southern breastworks had stood, a vast
pit two or three hundred feet long and more than thirty feet deep. At the
bottom of it, although they could not be seen through the smoke, lay
the fragments of Confederate cannon and Confederate soldiers who had
been blown to pieces.
"A mine breaking the rebel line!" cried Warner, "and our men are to
charge through it!"
Trumpets were already sounding their thrilling call, and blue masses,
before the smoke had lifted, were rushing into the pit, intending to
climb