less, had serious moments. The news from Tennessee and Georgia
was heavy with import. It was vague in some particulars, but it was
definite enough in others to tell that the armies of Rosecrans and Bragg
were approaching each other. All eyes turned to the West. A great
battle could not be long delayed, and a powerful division of the Army of
Northern Virginia under Longstreet had been sent to help Bragg.

Harry found himself late at night once more in that very room in which
the map had disappeared so mysteriously. The two colonels, St. Clair and
Langdon, and one or two others had drifted in, and the older men were
smoking. Inevitably they talked of the battle which they foresaw with
such certainty, and Harry's anxiety about it was increased, because he
knew his father would be there on one side, and the cousin, for whom he
cared so much, would be on the other.

"If only General Lee were in command there," said Colonel Talbot, "we
might reckon upon a great and decisive victory."

"But Bragg is a good general," said Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire.

"It's not enough to be merely a good general. He must have the soul
of fire that Lee has, and that Jackson had. Bragg is the Southern
McClellan. He is brave enough personally, but he always overrates the
strength of the enemy, and, if he is victorious on the field, he does
not reap the fruits of victory."

"Where were the armies when we last heard from them?" asked a captain.

"Bragg was turning north to attack Rosecrans, who stood somewhere between
him and Chattanooga."

"I'm glad that it's Rosecrans and not Grant who commands the Northern
army there," said Harry.

"Why?" asked Colonel Talbot.

"I've studied the manner in which he took Vicksburg, and I've heard about
him from my father, and others. He won't be whipped. He isn't like the
other Northern generals. He hangs on, whatever happens. I heard some
one quoting him as saying that no matter how badly his army was suffering
in battle, the army of the other fellow might be suffering worse.
It seems to me that a general who is able to think that way is very
dangerous."

"And so he is, Harry," said Colonel Talbot. "I, too, am glad that it's
Rosecrans and not Grant. If there's any news of a battle, we're not in a
bad place to hear it. It's said that Mr. Curtis always knows as soon as
our government what's happened."

The talk drifted on to another subject and then a hum came from the
larger room. A