THE GUNS OF BULL RUN

CONTENTS

I. NEWS FROM CHARLESTON
II. A COURIER TO THE SOUTH
III. THE HEART OF REBELLION
IV. THE FIRST CAPITAL
V. THE NEW PRESIDENT
VI. SUMTER
VII. THE HOMECOMING
VIII. THE FIGHT FOR A STATE
IX. THE RIVER JOURNEY
X. OVER THE MOUNTAINS
XI. IN VIRGINIA
XII. THE FIGHT FOR THE FORT
XIII. THE SEEKER FOR HELP
XIV. IN WASHINGTON
XV. BATTLE'S EVE
XVI. BULL RUN




THE GUNS OF BULL RUN




CHAPTER I

NEWS FROM CHARLESTON


It would soon be Christmas and Harry Kenton, at his desk in the
Pendleton Academy, saw the snow falling heavily outside. The school
stood on the skirt of the town, and the forest came down to the edge of
the playing field. The great trees, oak and ash and elm, were clothed
in white, and they stood out a vast and glittering tracery against the
somber sky.

The desk was of the old kind, intended for two, and Harry's comrade in
it was his cousin, Dick Mason, of his own years and size. They would
graduate in June, and both were large and powerful for their age.
There was a strong family resemblance and yet a difference. Harry's
face was the more sensitive and at times the blood leaped like
quicksilver in his veins. Dick's features indicated a quieter and more
stubborn temper. They were equal favorites with teachers and pupils.

Dick's eyes followed Harry's, and he, too, looked at the falling snow
and the white forest. Both were thinking of Christmas and the holiday
season so near at hand. It was a rich section of Kentucky, and they
were the sons of prosperous parents. The snow was fitting at such a
time, and many joyous hours would be passed before they returned to
school.

The clouds darkened and the snow fell faster. A wind rose and drove it
against the panes. The boys heard the blast roaring outside and the
comfort of the warm room was heightened by the contrast. Harry's eyes
turned reluctantly back to his Tacitus and the customs and manners of
the ancient Germans. The curriculum of the Pendleton Academy was simple,
like most others at that time. After the primary grades it consisted
chiefly of the classics and mathematics. Harry led in the classics and
Dick in the mathematics.

Bob Turner, the free colored man, who was janitor of the academy,
brought in the morning mail, a dozen letters and three or four
newspapers, gave it to Dr. Russell and withdrew on silent feet.

The Doctor was principal of Pendleton Academy, and he always presided
over the room in which sat the larger boys, nearly fifty in number.
His desk and chair were on a low dais and he sat facing the pupils.
He was a large man, with a ruddy face, and thick hair as white as the
snow that was falling outside. He had been a teacher fifty years,
and three generations in Pendleton owed to him most of the learning that
is obtained from books. He opened his letters one by one, and read
them slowly.

Harry moved far away into the German forest with old Tacitus. He was
proud of his Latin and he did not mean to lose his place as first in the
class. The other boys also were absorbed in their books. It was seldom
that all were studious at the same time, but this was one of the rare
moments. There was no shuffling of feet, and fifty heads were bent over
their desks.