Hill, the magnificent
Northern artillery seemed to Harry to go mad. The thirty guns of the
heaviest weight that had been left on Stafford Heights, and which had
ceased firing only when the Northern men charged, now reopened in a
perfect excess of fury. Harry believed that they must be throwing
tons of metal every minute.

Nor was Franklin slack. Hovering with his great division in the plain
below and knowing that he was beaten, he nevertheless turned one hundred
and sixteen cannon that he carried with him upon Jackson's front and
swept all the woods and ridges everywhere. The Union army was beaten
because it had undertaken the impossible, but despite its immense losses
it was still superior in numbers to Lee's force, and above all it had
that matchless artillery which in defeat could protect the Union army,
and which in victory helped it to win.

Now all these mighty cannon were turned loose in one huge effort.
Along the vast battle front and from both sides of the river they roared
and crashed defiance. And the Army of the Potomac, which had wasted
so much valor, crept back under the shelter of that thundering line
of fire. It had much to regret, but nothing of which to be ashamed.
Sent against positions impregnable when held by such men as Lee, Jackson
and Longstreet, it had never ceased to attack so long as the faintest
chance remained. Its commander had been unequal to the task, but the
long roll of generals under him had shown unsurpassed courage and daring.

Harry thought once that General Jackson was going to attack in turn,
but after a long look at the roaring plain he shrugged his shoulders and
gave no orders. The beaten Army of the Potomac preserved its order,
it had lost no guns, the brigadiers and the major-generals were full of
courage, and it was too formidable to be attacked. Three hundred cannon
of the first class on either side of the river were roaring and crashing,
and the moment the Southern troops emerged for the charge all would be
sure to pour upon them a fire that no troops could withstand.

General Lee presently appeared riding along the line. The cheers which
always rose where he came rolled far, and he was compelled to lift his
hat more than once. He conferred with Jackson, and the two, going
toward the left, met Longstreet, with whom they also talked. Then they
separated and Jackson returned to his own position. Harry, who had
followed his general at the proper distance, neve