CONTENTS I. IN THE VALLEY II. THE FOOT CAVALRY III. STONEWALL JACKSON'S MARCH IV. WAR AND WAITING V. THE NORTHERN ADVANCE VI. KERNSTOWN VII. ON THE RIDGES VIII. THE MOUNTAIN BATTLE IX. TURNING ON THE FOE X. WINCHESTER XI. THE NIGHT RIDE XII. THE CLOSING CIRCLE XIII. THE SULLEN RETREAT XIV. THE DOUBLE BATTLE XV. THE SEVEN DAYSTHE SCOUTS OF STONEWALLCHAPTER I. IN THE VALLEYA young officer in dingy Confederate gray rode slowly on a powerfulbay horse through a forest of oak. It was a noble woodland, clear ofundergrowth, the fine trees standing in rows, like those of a park. Theywere bare of leaves but the winter had been mild so far, and a carpet ofshort grass, yet green, covered the ground. To the rider's right floweda small river of clear water, one of the beautiful streams of the greatVirginia valleys.Harry Kenton threw his head back a little and drew deep breaths of thecool, crisp air. The light wind had the touch of life in it. As thecool puffs blew upon him and filled his lungs his chest expanded andhis strong pulses beat more strongly. But a boy in years, he had alreadydone a man's work, and he had been through those deeps of passion anddespair which war alone brings.A year spent in the open and with few nights under roof had enlargedHarry Kenton's frame and had colored his face a deep red. His greatancestor, Henry Ware, had been very fair, and Harry, like him, becamescarlet of cheek under the beat of wind and rain.Had anyone with a discerning eye been there, to see, he would havecalled this youth one of the finest types of the South that rode forthso boldly to war. He sat his saddle with the ease and grace that comeonly of long practice, and he controlled his horse with the slightesttouch of the rein. The open, frank face showed hate of nobody, althoughthe soul behind it was devoted without any reserve to the cause forwhich he fought.Harry was on scout duty. Although an officer on the staff of ColonelTalbot, commander of the Invincibles, originally a South Carolinaregiment, he had developed so much skill in forest and field, he hadsuch acuteness of eye and ear, that he was sent often to seek the campsof the enemy or to discover his plans. His friends said that theseforest powers were inherited, that they came from some far-away ancestorwho had spent his life in the wilderness, and Harry knew that what theysaid was true.Despite the peaceful aspect of the forest and the lack of human presencesave his own, he rode now on an errand that was full of danger. TheUnion camp must lie on the other side of that little river, not manymiles farther on, and he might meet, at any moment, the pickets of thefoe. He meant to take the uttermost risk, but he had no notion of beingcaptured. He would suffer anything, any chance, rather than that. He hadlately come into contact with a man who had breathed into him the fireand spirit belonging to legendary heroes. To this man, short of wordsand plain of dress, nothing was impossible, and Harry caught from himnot merely the belief, but the conviction also.