They passed along the bank of the creek, keeping well within the shadow
of the bushes, leaving behind them the last outpost of the Union army,
and then slowly drew near to the fort. They saw before them many lights
burning in the darkness, and at last they discerned dim figures walking
back and forth. Dick knew that these were the Southern sentinels.
The four went a little nearer, and then crouched down in the snow among
some low bushes.
Now they saw the Southern sentinels more distinctly. Some, in fact,
were silhouetted sharply as they passed before the Southern fires.
Northern sharpshooters could have crept up and picked off many of them,
as the Southern sharpshooters in turn might have served many of the
Northern watchers, but in this mighty war there was little of such
useless and merciless enterprise. The men soon ceased to have personal
animosity, and, in the nights between the great battles, when the armies
yet lay face to face, the hostile pickets would often exchange gossip
and tobacco. Even in a conflict waged so long and with such desperation
the essential kindliness of human nature would assert itself.
The four, as they skirted the Southern line, noticed no signs of further
preparations by the Confederates. No men were throwing up earthworks or
digging trenches. As well as they could surmise, the garrison, like the
besieging army, was seeking shelter and rest, and from this fact the
keen mind of Colonel Arthur Winchester divined that the defense was
confused and headless.
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