s place. The
condition of the Army of the Center by this time was really frightful
and perilous, and to relieve this situation was the thing to be done,
if possible. To this end all the energy of the Chief was directed. To
do this before an unprovisioned army would be forced by starvation to
surrender was the problem. Gen. Silent telegraphed to Papson to hold
out, and the answer came, 'We will hold out until we starve.'"

"What a noble old Roman," said Dr. Adams.

"Yes," said Col. Bush; "the old man had no superior in the army, either
as a patriot or fighter; he was like a rock when he once took his
position and got his lines formed."

"I knew him well," said Inglesby; "he was a noble man. He would have
starved to death in Chatteraugus before he would have surrendered."

"Uncle Daniel, what has become of Gen. Rosenfelt?" inquired Maj.
Clymer. "He was a kind man, and I liked him very much, barring some
faults."

"Yes. Well, he became soreheaded and got mad at the Administration, and
was exceedingly bitter on Gen. Silent for relieving him, and soon took
shelter under the wing of the anti-war party; but I have not heard of
him for many years. I think he went to some foreign country, then came
back and went to mining. I have no knowledge of his whereabouts now,
however."

CHAPTER XIII.

GEN. SILENT GUIDED BY A SPECTER.--ARMY OF THE CENTER.--
BELEAGUERED AND HALF STARVED IN CHATTERAUGUS.--MIDDLETON'S
RIDGE.--GEN. SILENT'S FORCES SWEEP THE REBELS FROM THE
CREST.

"O thou whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye.
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath
That they may crush down with a heavy fall,
The usurping helmets of our adversaries.
Make us thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise thee in thy victory.
To thee I do commend my watchful soul.
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes,
Sleeping and waking, O, defend me..."
--Shakespeare

"The Army of the Center was now in a most deplorable condition. Gen.
Biggs's lines extended to the river above and below, so that the Union
army inside of Chatteraugus was practically invested, the rebel army
being so situated that every movement of our troops could be watched as
carefully as if they were all of the same army. The enemy persistently
threw shells into our camp and made it very uncomfortable both by day
and night. The rains had so swollen the