“Then we shall retreat after having gained a great victory?” I asked.

“It would give me great pleasure to be able to tell you.  I am puzzled,” he replied.  “The victory may be regarded as an opportunity to gain time for the South to recuperate, if we make prudent demonstrations; but an actual advance does not appear possible.  General Lee may make a show of advancing; I dare say we could gain time by a pretence of strength.  Does not such manoeuvre meet your view?  But we are fearfully weak, and our enemies know it or should know it.”

I understood well enough that the Captain’s question was but an instance of his unfailing habit of courtesy.

“Then what is there for us to do?  If we ought not to stay here, and ought not to advance on Washington, and ought not to retreat, what other course is possible?”

“There seems but one, sir.  I hear that the best opinion leans to the belief that General Lee will cross the Potomac in order to take Harper’s Ferry and to test the sentiment of the Maryland people.”

“What is at Harper’s Ferry, Captain?”

“I am informed that there is a great quantity of supplies and a considerable garrison.”

“But could such an effort succeed in the face of an army like McClellan’s?”

“If the Federals abandon the place, as they ought to do at once, I should think that there would then be no good reason for this army’s crossing the river.  But military success is said to be obtained, in the majority of cases, from the mistakes of the losers.  It might be that we could take Harper’s Ferry at very little cost; and even if we should fail, we should be prolonging the campaign upon ground that we cannot hope to occupy permanently, and living, in a sense, upon the enemy.  What I fear, however, is that the movement would bring on another general engagement; and I think you will agree with me in believing that we are not prepared for that.”

“Harper’s Ferry is the place John Brown took,” said I.

“You are right, sir; do you remember that?”

“That is the last thing that I remember reading about—­the last experience I can remember at all; but in the light last Friday there happened something which gives me a turn whenever I think of it.”

“May I ask what it was?”

“I saw a spot which I am sure—­almost sure—­I had seen before.”

“Some resemblance, I dare say.  I often pass scenes that are typical.  Near my father’s home I know one spot which I have seen in twenty other places.”

“Yes, sir; I know,” said I.  “But it was not merely the physical features of the place that awoke recognition.”

“Oblige me by telling me all about it,” he said kindly.

“You remember the position to which the four companies advanced as skirmishers?”

“Distinctly.  We did very well to get away from it,” said the Captain.

“And you remember the order to fall back?”