ploy of the United States Government. I am commander on board, and you have nothing to do but to steam up and go where you are directed. Otherwise I shall be under the necessity of arresting you."

The captain departed, and began his preparations. But now came the sheriff of Jefferson County with a writ. He wanted the bodies of George, Abraham, John, and Dick, who were with the Twenty-second Wisconsin. They were the runaway property of a fellow named Hogan, who a few days before had figured in a convention held at Frankfort in which he introduced a series of secession resolutions.

"I have a writ for your arrest, but I am willing to waive all action on condition of your giving up the fugitives which you are harboring contrary to the peace and dignity of the State," said the sheriff.

"I have other business to attend to just now. I am under orders from my superiors in command to proceed down the river without any delay, and must get the boat under way," said the colonel, bowing politely.

"But, colonel, you are aware of the consequences of deliberately setting at defiance the laws of a sovereign State?" said the sheriff.

"Are you ready there?" shouted the colonel to the officer in charge of shipping the quartermaster and commissary supplies.

"Yes, sir."

"Then cast off!"

The warp which held the Commercial was thrown loose, the swiftly running current sweeping under the keel lifted the bow, and the boat began to swing from the shore.

The game was finished. Colonel Utley and the Twenty-second Wisconsin had won. If the sheriff had not leaped on shore he would have been compelled to take a trip down the Ohio against his will.

Judge Robertson had lost his slave, but the courts were open to him, and he brought suit against Colonel Utley and obtained judgment, attaching the property of the colonel and compelling him to pay for the abduction of the slave.

Revolutions never go backward. The conflict of ideas was sweeping the nation to a higher and loftier appreciation of the meaning of this government of the people. The past, the old system, the conception that the Government was for white men alone, was giving place to the idea that every man, irrespective of race, lineage, color, or condition, was entitled to equality before the law. Men who had learned their lessons in the publicschools were thinking for themselves upon the great questions which underlie a government of a free people. In the great conflict of ideas free thought, free speech, free action were to win the victory.

IT

CHAPTER XVI.

FREDERICKSBURG.

was an orderly and well-managed retreat which General Lee made from the battle-field of Antietam across the Potomac to the vicinity of Winchester. General McClellan was satisfied with what he had accomplished. He had driven Lee out of Maryland. Two days after the battle he wrote: "Our victory is complete, and the disorganized rebel army has rapidly returned to Virginia, its dream of invading Pennsylvania dissipated forever. I feel some little pride in having, with a beaten and demoralized army, defeated Lee and saved the North."

The people of the Northern States rejoiced that Lee had been defeated at Antietam, but when they read the accounts of the battle they saw that McClellan had missed the chance of utterly crushing the Confederate army. For the future McClellan proposed to remain in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, and rest, recruit, and reclothe the army. This his plan on September 27th: "My present purpose is to hold the army about as it is now, rendering Harper's Ferry secure, and watching the river closely, intending to attack the enemy should he attempt to cross to this side. . . . In the last battles the enemy was undoubtedly greatly superior to us in number, and it was only by very hard fighting that we gained the advantage we did."

He still believed that the Confederates greatly outnumbered the Union troops, and called for reinforcements.

On October 1st President Lincoln visited the army. General McClellan thus writes in regard to the visit: "His ostensible purpose is to see the troops and the battle-field; I incline to think that the real purpose of his visit is to push me into a premature advance into Virginia. I may be mistaken, but I think not. The real truth is that my army is not fit to advance. The old regiments are reduced to mere skeletons, and are completely tired out. They need rest and filling up. The new regiments are not fit for the field.”

General McClellan did not like the Proclamation of Emancipation.

His friend Mr. Aspinwall came to see him. He writes this relative to his coming: "Mr. Aspinwall is decidedly of the opinion that it is my duty to submit to the President's proclamation, and quietly continue to do my duty as a soldier."

66

Finding that General McClellan had no plan, President Lincoln, upon his return to Washington, instructed General Halleck to direct him to cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy or drive him south. Your army must move now while the roads are good. If you cross the river between the enemy and Washington, and cover the latter by your operation, you can be reinforced by thirty thousand men. If you move up the valley of the Shenandoah, not more than twelve or fifteen thousand can be sent you." Though thus directed, the army did not move.

General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, was a very able officer. When McClellan was on the Chickahominy he had‍ridden round the Union army, destroying a railroad train, burning a large amount of supplies. He obtained permission from General Lee to make a very bold and hazardous movement into Pennsylvania. He knew that there was a large amount of clothing and supplies at Chambersburg. He is at Charlestown, his brigades encamped on Mr. Dandridge's farm. He selects eighteen hundred of his best men, and Major Pelham with four cannon. At daylight on the morning of October 10th he crosses the Potomac at McCoy's Ferry. A fog conceals his movements. General Kenly is at Williamsport with a brigade of Union infantry. A messenger informs him at seven o'clock of what Stuart is doing, but Kenly has no cavalry, and Stuart hastens on to Mercersburg, seizing what boots and clothing they can find in that town. Nothing is taken in Maryland, but once in Pennsylvania, the soldiers seize all the horses they can find. General Stuart has issued strict orders against plundering. Were he to permit it, his troops would soon be demoralized and beyond control. On the evening of the 10th the people of Chambersburg are surprised to see a company of Confederates dash into the town, rush to the buildings where the supplies for McClellan's army are stored, and exchange their worn-out suits of gray for the bright-blue clothing worn by the soldiers of the Union. They drink for the first time in many months delicious coffee. A few help themselves to private property, but are instantly arrested and punished by Stuart.

At daylight Stuart is moving south-east towards Gettysburg, setting the railroad buildings on fire as he leaves the town. Rain is falling in torrents, but he cannot wait for clearing skies. He knows that He knows that every effort will be made to prevent his return. No walking of horses now, but