g enemy. Six of the
regiments were composed of men born in Germany, or the sons of Germans,
drawn from the great cities of the North, little used to the forests and
thickets and having the stiffness of Germans on parade. They were at
the first point of exposure, and they were certainly no match for the
formidable foe who was creeping nearer and nearer.

Not all the country here was in forest. There were some fields, a
little wooden cottage on a hill, and in the fields a small house of
worship called the Wilderness Church. It was the little church of
Shiloh and the Dunkard church of Antietam over again.

Harry and Dalton in the front of the lines often saw the gleam of
Northern guns and Northern bayonets through the foliage, but there was
still no sign that anyone in the Northern right flank dreamed of their
presence. Evidently the unconscious thousands there thought that all
chance of battle had passed until the morrow. The sun was already going
down the western heavens, and behind them in the Wilderness the first
shadows were gathering.

Jackson's troops were filled with confidence and exultation. As they
formed for battle among the trees and bushes they too talked, and with
the freedom of republican troops, who fight all the better for it,
they chaffed the young officers, especially the aides, as they passed.
Harry received the full benefit of it.

"Sit up straight in the saddle, sonny. Don't dodge the bullets!"

"You haven't told the Yanks that we're comin'."

"Will me that hoss if you get shot. I always did like a bay boss."

"Tell old Hooker that we jest had to arrange a surprise party for him."

"Tell 'em to make way there in front. We want to git into the fuss
before it's all over."

"Tell Old Jack I'm here and that he can begin the battle."

Harry smiled, and sometimes chaffed back. They were boys together.
Most of the troops in either army were very young. He recognized that
all this talk was the product of exuberant spirits, and officers much
older than he, chaffed in a like manner, took it in the same way.

But as they drew nearer, orders that all noise should cease were given,
and officers were ready to enforce them. But there was little need for
sternness. The soldiers themselves understood and obeyed. They were as
eager as the officers to achieve a splendid triumph, and it remains a
phenomenon of history how a great army came creeping, creeping within
rifle shot of another, and i