ed presently, and, as I saw you sleeping here, I've awakened you.
Look down there and you'll see something that I think the Northern army
has cause to dread."

Harry and Dalton looked at a little open space in the center of which
Lee and Jackson sat, having met for another talk, each on an empty
cracker box, taken from a heap which the Northern army had left behind
when it withdrew the day before. The generals faced each other and two
or three men were standing by. One of them was a major named Hotchkiss,
whom Harry knew.

Harry and Dalton did not hear the words said, but one of those present
subsequently told them much that was spoken at this last and famous
conference. A man named Welford had recently cut a road toward the
northwest through the Wilderness in order that he might haul wood and
iron ore to a furnace that he had built. He had certainly never dreamed
of the far more important purpose to which this road would be put,
but he had been found at his home by Hotchkiss, the major, and, zealous
for the South, he had given him the information that was of so much
value. He had also volunteered to guide the troops along his road and
he had marked it on a map which the major carried.

"What is your report, Major Hotchkiss?" asked General Lee.

The major took a cracker box from the heap, put it between the two
generals, and spread his map upon it, pointing to Welford's road.
The two generals studied it attentively, and then Lee asked Jackson what
he would suggest. Jackson traced the road with his finger and replied
that he would like to follow it with his whole corps and fall upon the
Northern flank. He suggested that he leave his commander with only a
small force to make a noisy demonstration in the Northern front, while
Jackson was executing his great turning movement.

Lee considered it only a few moments and agreed. Then he wrote brief
and crisp instructions, and when he finished, General Jackson rose
to his feet, his face illumined with eagerness. He was absolutely
confident that he would succeed in the daring deed he was about to
undertake.

"It's over," said Dalton. "Whatever it is, we start on it at once."

Jackson beckoned to all his staff, and soon Harry, Dalton and the others
were busy carrying orders for a great march that Jackson was about to
begin. Many of these orders related to secrecy. The ranks were to
be kept absolutely close and compact. If anybody straggled he was to
receive th