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Show 120 ROEBUCK. retnrn from the capital ho infonnecl his pnren~s that he was a quarter-master, with the rank of capta1n; and tha,t 11c had made a satisfactory arrangmne.nt w1th a alave-dealer in the city to sell J\Ir .. Pahner s negroes there at auction. lie had been ass1gnec~ as. quartcr4 111aster to the reg1mr.nt of cavalry w·hwh 1ncluclecl Fitzhugh's company. Young Baxter had been appointed a comrn1ssary with the same rank, and was assigned to the same. regi.n1ent: Mr. Pahner, the elder, expressed n1s sat1sfact1on 'v1th aU that had been done by his son. lie had but consun1matecl plans previously settled in tamily cou~cil. The father had solicited an influence at the cap1tal to procure the av4 pointn1ent ot quarter-master; an a1:pointn:ent com· 111ended by safety and profit; an office 'vhwh would serve to identify Albert 'viLh the Southern 1novcn1ent, and yet would not expose him too conspicuously to N orthcrn vengeance, in the event of adverse fortune. 'Vhen the quarter-tnaster afterwards repaired to his reain1ent he had not forgotten the conduct of Baxter 0 ' . in bjs father's house. Neither did he regard Captam Fitzhugh without resentment. He had watched with jealous eyes s01ne of the intervie·ws betwee~ th.e captain and Julia at Roebuck, and after the reJeCtiOn of his suit he coneluded that he owed his discomfiture ' . to the preference awarded to that rival. As the proJect of 1narriage had been a key to his principal plans with reference to the war and to his future prosperity, he could not forgive the suspected author of his disappointrnent. But these feelings 'vere unknown to Baxter and Fitzhugh, and they gave him a friendly reception. llOEBUCK. 121 CHAPTER XII. IIIANASSA. Tnrs narrative is not de ·igneJ to be a chronicle of military events, nnd it pnsses no'v to the first battle ~f~f:ma~sa, o.nly for the purpof;c of g:tthering up 801110 mmdents wluch ~lfectecl the fortnnes of persons ,vho have appeared to the reader. That battle, it is 1vell k.nown, was fou.(rht on a hot tlny of July, in the year eighteen hundred ancl sixty-one, between t'vo cGnf'ideraLle annies, of \vhich the Fc<leral wn:-~ twice as nnmcrons as the Confederate. In arms nnd aU cgnipmcnts the superiority 'vas also with the larger host. 'I'he skill of the N ortheru general~, as displayed on that day, was not inferior to that of their adversaries. The Federals advanced to the attack, confident of success. After a severe conflict of several hours, victory was achieved by the undisciplined valor of the South4 -e.rn volunteers. Then followed such a rout, disperswn and flight of the Northern anny as 1vould have been ludicrous if so n1uch suffering and terror could ever provoke a sn1ile. During the engagetnent but little use was n1ade of cavalry. Captain I~'jtzhngh's con1pany ,vas for a tin1e posted in a ravine, 'vhere they 'vere son1ewhat sheltered from the direct fire of tho enemy 'vhi](t nwaitin <Y ?rc1 e 1.'s or opportunities for action. In' this posi tion~, mactive au<l HlliLb1o to sec the «onrse of the fi rrht } ' 0 ' w ule the roar of battle ,vas clcaf'<'ning, Doctor J:i aidhx: beeame extremely i1npatieut. lie 'vas eager to be 6 |
