"Sir, should we shoot the horses?" someone cried.

Henry shook his head. Merciful God, there had been enough slaughter this day. Sacrificing the poor beasts for no reason other than the failure of their masters was beyond him.

"No," he said gently. "Those that can stand the march, cut them from the traces and ride; the rest, just leave here. "They'll get picked up by some farmer or become the property of the Confederacy. They have served us well, and we can't simply slaughter them because of our failure this day."

The horses were unharnessed, some of the men swinging up on them to ride bareback, a sergeant riding one of them, bearing a battery guidon, which now served as a rallying point

A flash of lightning revealed a wheat field to the right a farmhouse on a low ridge beyond, a road climbing up past the house. It was as good a direction as any to go. "Follow me," he said, and pushing through a break in the fence, he led his ragged command out across the field and into the night

10:00 PM, JULY 4,1863 THE WHITE HOUSE

"General Haupt I am grateful that you are well," Lincoln said, standing up and extending his hand as Haupt came into the office. Herman could see that behind the kind words the president was numb with exhaustion, eyes red rimmed, as if he had been in tears only minutes before.

"I received word, sir, that you wanted to see me before I left Washington." "Yes, General." "What can I do for you, sir?"

Lincoln tried to force a smile, then turned away. "I guess you know the reports are not good."

Haupt said nothing. Rumors had been sweeping the city all day of a battle being fought to the north, near Westminster. A captain, claiming to be on Sedgwick's staff, had ridden into Baltimore, stating he had broken through the

Confederate cordon and that the Army of the Potomac had been soundly defeated and was reeling back in full retreat

Lincoln finally turned to look back at Haupt eyes shiny. '1 wonder how many men we lost this day" Lincoln whispered, "this Fourth of July."

"I have no idea, sir," Haupt replied, not sure what to say.

"For several hours today you could actually feel the bombardment" and Lincoln motioned toward the window, "if you put your hand on the windowpane you could feel it And then silence, nothing but silence."

"We should know tomorrow, sir."

"Yes, tomorrow."

Lincoln nodded and then drew a deep bream. "You know that Halleck was against your wish to go to Harrisburg to establish a new base there. He claims that the army will break through and the supplies and equipment will be needed here."

Herman was aware of the argument; in fact he had threatened to resign if not allowed to go. All his instincts told him that if Meade was rash enough to attack at Union Mills or Taneytown, he would be repulsed. He knew the land. He had lived in Gettysburg for several years, often ridden down to Westminster there to visit friends, and if Lee had indeed taken position along Pipe Creek the result was all but a foregone conclusion. Therefore, Harrisburg would be the new base, for Meade would have to retreat And even if he did not engage, with which all indicators now seemed to agree, Harrisburg would still be the base; but a bridge had to be thrown across that river now, tomorrow, if there was any hope of saving the Army of the Potomac.

Apparently Lincoln had learned of the fight with Halleck and had intervened directly, overriding the General of the Armies.

"I did not wish to cause trouble, sir," Herman finally offered.

Lincoln nodded. "Sir, I think it is all right for me to say that controversy with Halleck shall soon be a thing of the past"

"Sir?’

"Oh, nothing, sir, but that comment stays here please, at least for now."

Herman was startled to realize what the chief executive had just shared with him. Halleck was to be relieved as nominal commander of all forces in the field.

"But that is not the purpose of this meeting. General Haupt, I just want to ask you, if the Army of the Potomac has been defeated, perhaps destroyed…" and his voice trailed off for a moment When he started to speak again, his voice was tight as if near to breaking. "Can we rebuild?"

Herman looked into the man's eyes, shocked by this momentary display of heartfelt anguish. His heart went out to this man who carried the burden, who in fact tomorrow could simply announce that all was over, that the killing would stop… but in so doing the Republic would forever be cut asunder.

"Sir, by the day after tomorrow I will have a bridge across the river at Harrisburg, supplies sufficient for fifty thousand men stockpiled, at least a battalion of fresh artillery brought up to defend the crossing. The rail network from Harrisburg is a good one. I can call in trains from New York, Pittsburgh, Reading, and Philadelphia. That sir, is our strength, the mere fact that I can do that As long as there is the will to fight sir, I will provide the tools to do it"

"As long as I have the will," Lincoln said, turning away to gaze out the window.

All outside was silent The celebration of the Fourth, the firing of the hundred-gun salute in Lafayette Square across from the White House, had been canceled, the troops on alert those guns now deployed around government buildings, two batteries' worth on the grounds of the White House.

Lincoln finally turned and looked back at Haupt "Good luck in Harrisburg, sir, and thank you."

"Thank you, Mr. President" and Herman took the president's hand, Lincoln's grip warm and powerful.

"General Haupt, you provide the material, and I will provide the will."

11:00 PM, JULY 4,1863 LITTLESTOWN

Gen. Robert E. Lee walked into the church, taking off his battered straw hat It was a Lutheran church, simple in its design and appointments. Flashes of light outside briefly illuminated the stained-glass windows. The distant roll of thunder and of gunfire was continuous. He tried to block the noise out of his mind.

Lee turned and looked at Walter, who had walked up to the altar and, after struggling with several damp matches, finally managed to strike a light touching the flame to the two candles.

Lee nodded his thanks. "I'll be along in a few minutes, Walter." "Yes, sir."

The door to the church opened, several staff coming in. Lee said nothing as they approached.

"Sir," one of them cried, "Generals Johnson and Hood beg to report that they can no longer keep track of the number of prisoners. Pickett just sent back a report that he will push on toward Gettysburg as long as one of his men can march with him. He's taken twelve colors and more than a thousand prisoners from the Fifth Corps. General Stuart sends his compliments as well, sir, and will block every road as ordered."

"Any word from General Longstreet yet?" Lee asked. "No, sir. But we can see the flashes of gunfire from his columns. They are pushing the Yankees straight into us." Lee said nothing. "Sir, are there any orders?" Again a moment of silence. "Sir?"

Lee looked at the three with a sense of infinite weariness. They were really nothing more than boys, filled with that strange exuberance that sometimes comes after a battle, exhaustion not yet laying them low.

"Repeat the orders I've already given," Lee said softly.

"Show mercy now. The time for killing is over. Show mercy." "Yes, sir."

Walter stepped between the messengers and Lee, gently turning them about One of the men stopped and came up to Lee, extending his hand. "Please forgive me, sir," the lieutenant gasped, "I just want to be able to one day tell my grandchildren that I shook your hand this day, this most glorious Fourth of July."

Lee nodded and briefly extended his hand, forgiving the boy his bad manners.