twenty degrees, the air was crystal clear, sharp, a pleasure to breathe. It sent an infectious mood through the men, who were joking, laughing, splashing around in rain-soaked uniforms, boots tied around their necks. For a few minutes they seemed almost like schoolboys again.
He mounted Traveler, staff falling in around him. He waited patiently for President Davis and Secretary Benjamin to come out of the house, the two climbing into an open four-horse carriage that had been 'borrowed' from a wealthy landowner near where they had camped the night before. The owner was furious about the requisitioning until he heard who would be using the carriage, then simply asked for a receipt, along with an affidavit to be given back with the carriage, confirming who had ridden in it. It was obvious he planned to make a commercial venture out of the carriage when it was finally returned.
Lee edged out onto the road, Traveler kicking up muddy splashes. Behind him the lead brigade of Pickett's division, Armistead's men, were forming up. Turning, he headed north, the road clear for several hundred yards ahead. His staff, the headquarters wagon, and the president's carriage followed. With Taylor and his guidon-bearer just behind him, he urged Traveler to a slow canter, enjoying the ride, the cooling breeze, a shower of heavy droplets cascading down around him as he rode under a spread of elm trees that canopied the road. Reaching a gentle crest he saw the village of Leesborough, a small, prosperous community with several stores, a couple of dozen homes, rich farmland surrounding it. The winter wheat had been brought in, but the orchards, especially the peach orchards, had been severely damaged by the passing army, nearly every tree plucked clean. Fences were broken down and gone as well, wet circles of ashes and partially burned wet wood marking where men had camped the night before.
At the intersection with the Rockville Pike in the center of town a regimental band stood, playing patriotic airs. A spotter for the band, having seen the approaching cavalcade of the army headquarters and the president, was running back to the center of town, waving his arms.
Lee slowed, looking over at Walter.
'It's good for morale,' Walter said with a smile.
Lee nodded and waited, letting his staff ride on, then edging back on to the road alongside the presidential carriage.
'It's turned into a lovely day,' Benjamin announced, gesturing to the sparkling blue sky overhead.
'That it has, sir. By evening the roads should dry out a little, and hopefully tomorrow we'll make good time.'
Up ahead the band struck up 'Bonnie Blue Flag,' and a cheer rose, a regiment that had been coming down the road from Rockville stopping, men spilling out of column to swarm behind the band.
Lee said nothing, though this would play havoc with the marching order, stalling the troops farther up the road, but it couldn't be helped now. Besides, Walter was right. They needed a boost after the misery and frustration of the last week.
The reporters traveling with Davis were off their mounts, notebooks out; one of them produced a large sketch pad and, with charcoal stick in hand, began to furiously scratch at his paper.
Lee fell in behind the carriage, Walter at his side, as they rode into the small village. Cheer upon cheer greeted them. From the rear, Armistead's men were splashing through the mud, coming up on the double to take part in the show, slowing at a respectful distance, breaking ranks, holding caps in the air, and yelling.
Davis, obviously pleased, ordered the carriage to stop in the middle of the intersection and stood up. Lee reined in behind him, and troops from the two columns edged closer, yelling and waving. Davis held his hands out and the men fell silent.
'Gallant soldiers of the Confederacy. I salute you!'
Another roar went up, the roads now clogged with men breaking ranks, pushing in closer.
'You, the victors of Union Mills, have crowned your reputation with undying glory. You march now to yet a greater victory. A victory that shall soon end this war. And then, as conquering heroes you can return to your homes and loved ones, where you shall be forever honored for what you did here.'
Yet more cheers greeted this statement. General Longstreet approached the edge of the crowd from the west, coming down the Rockville Road. He pushed his mount through the crowd, falling in alongside of Lee, saying nothing, but his gaze was anything but happy over this disruption. Lee smiled softly and said nothing.
'I have a request of our wonderful band,' Davis cried.
The bandmaster saluted with his staff.
'An honor, sir. What do you request?'
'In honor of our gallant friends, who even now are rallying to the cause of Southern freedom, I would appreciate hearing 'Maryland My Maryland.''
The bandmaster turned with a flourish, passed the command, instruments were raised, and the band began to play. It was obvious after several measures that they were not as well practiced with this tune. Davis stood solemn, listening, ignoring the more than occasional off-key notes. The newspaper artist, standing on a porch, sketched away furiously.
The band finished. Davis was about to continue to speak but Longstreet, with less than the required diplomacy and politeness, loudly cleared his throat. Davis looked out of the corner of his eye toward Old Pete and then Lee.
'Perhaps our gallant General Lee would care to address you,' Davis offered, pointing toward him.
More cheers erupted, and under the cover of the noise Lee moved to the side of the carriage.
'Sir, I think General Longstreet was reminding us that we have an army on the march and this crossroads needs to be cleared if we are to continue.'
Davis flushed slightly but then nodded. Benjamin, obviously enjoying himself, just smiled and said nothing.
Davis extended his hand again; the men fell silent.
'God bless and keep all of you.' He sat back down and told the driver to move on. The driver hesitated and looked at Lee, obviously not sure of what direction to take.
'North,' Walter said, and with a crack of reins the carriage passed through the crossroads, escorts arid guards galloping ahead.
Longstreet turned to a provost guard standing mud-splattered in the middle of the road.
'Clear the rest of this division from Rockville,' Pete said angrily, pointing back to the west. 'Then, have General Pickett file in behind it.'
The provost saluted and started to turn.
'And tell that damn silly band they can play but get the hell off the street, move them out of the way.'
Anxiously, the provost saluted again and ran off, shouting orders.
'Shouldn't be too hard on them today,' Lee said. Longstreet shook his head.
'The roads are still a mess and we're funneling not just my corps, but Hood's as well through here. That little demonstration tied things up for a mile in each direction.'
'Still, the men needed it and so did the president.'
'Sorry, sir. I think once we're clear of here, I'll feel better again.'
'I know. I feel the same way. It was a bitter march to here and a bitter defeat, but now we are moving again, doing what we do best.'
He could again see the movements on the map engraved in his mind's eye. The army was reduced to but six divisions, and all of those were under strength to varying levels. Longstreet, with four divisions, Pickett, who was coming up even now, McLaws, who was behind Pickett, Johnson, and Doles, commanding the division coming down from Rockville, formerly Rhodes's division (Rhodes died in the final moments at Union Mills), were to push on toward Baltimore until twilight Once they had cleared Leesborough, Hood would follow, leading Early's tough veterans and Robertson, who was now in command of Hood's old division. Hood's corps would turn east from here, move to Beltsville astride the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, turn north, then east again to Annapolis.
The shattered remains of Perrin's and Pettigrew's divisions would stay behind just north of Fort Stevens as they were being reorganized into a single division under Scales.
Stuart's command was being split up as well. Half his strength was to shadow Washington, probe, demonstrate. The other half was to sweep north up the two lines of advance, cutting telegraph lines and securing the way clear up to the outskirts of Baltimore and Annapolis.
He looked back up at the sky. If the weather should hold like this, sunny with a dry, cool evening, by
