"General Lee never promotes his sons or allows them on his staff, Sam.
General Custis Lee, General Rooney Lee, and Captain Robbie won their spurs without a word from him. They won by fighting."
"Ya.s.sah! Dey sho"s been some fightin" in dis here wilderness. Hopes ter G.o.d we git outen here pretty quick. Gitten too close tergedder ter suit me."
The clatter of a horse"s hoofs rang out in the little clearing in front of the tent.
Taylor looked up again.
"See if that"s Stuart. General Lee"s expecting him."
Sam peered out the door of the tent.
"Dey ain"t no plume in his hat an" dey ain"t no banjo man wid him.
Nasah. Tain"t Gin"l Stuart."
"All right. Pull up a stool."
"Ya.s.sah!"
Sam unfolded a camp stool and placed it at the table. A sentinel approached and called:
"Senator William C. Rives of the Confederate Congress to see General Lee."
Taylor rose.
"Show him in."
The Senator entered with a quick, nervous excitement he could not conceal.
"Colonel Taylor--"
"Senator."
The men clasped hands and Taylor continued to watch the nervous manner of his caller.
"My coming from Richmond is no doubt a surprise?"
"Naturally. We"re in pretty close quarters with Grant here to-night--"
Rives raised his hand in a gesture of despair.
"No closer than our Government in Richmond is with the end at this moment, in my judgment. I couldn"t wait. I had to come to-night. You have called an informal council as I requested?"
"The moment I got your message an hour ago."
Taylor caught his excitement and bent close.
"What is it, Senator?"
Rives hesitated, glanced at the doors of the tent and answered rapidly.
"The Confederate Congress has just held a secret session without the knowledge of President Davis--"
He drew from his pocket a letter and handed it to the Adjutant.
"You will see from this letter of the presiding officer my credentials.
They have sent me as their agent on an important mission to General Lee."
He paused as Taylor carefully read the letter.
"How soon can I see him?"
"I"m expecting him in a few minutes," Taylor answered. "He"s riding on the front lines trying to feel out Grant"s next move. He is very anxious over it."
"This battle was desperate?" Rives asked nervously.
"Terrific."
"Our losses in the two days?"
"More than ten thousand."
"Merciful G.o.d--"
"Grant"s losses were far greater," Taylor added briskly.
"No matter, Taylor, no matter!" he cried in anguish, springing to his feet. He fought for control of his emotions and hurried on.
"The maws of those cannon now are insatiate! We can"t afford to lose ten thousand men from our thin ranks in two days. If your army suspected for one moment the real situation in Richmond, they"d quit and we"d be lost."
"They only ask for General Lee"s orders, Senator. Their faith in our leader is sublime."
"And that"s our only hope," Rives hastened to add. "General Lee may save us. And he is the only man who can do it."
He stopped and studied Taylor closely. He spoke with some diffidence.
"The faith of his officers in him remains absolutely unshaken?"
"They worship him."
"My appeal will be solely to him. But I may need help."
"I"ve asked Alexander and Gordon to come. General Gordon did great work to-day. It was his command that broke Hanc.o.c.k"s lines and took prisoners. I"ve just slated him for further promotion. Stuart is already on the way here to report the situation on the right where his cavalry is operating."
The ring of two horses" hoofs echoed.
"If Stuart will only back me!" Rives breathed.