Returning the salute, Lee motioned for General Stuart to enter the small room that was now his headquarters. He paused for a moment, looking out the window, across the street to the Lutheran seminary, which was still serving as a hospital. Even now wagons and ambulances were lined up downslope, out of view of the Union position atop the cemetery. Those men who could be moved were being loaded up, to be taken back to Chambersburg, but according to a report just turned in, at least a thousand men would have to be left behind, their wounds too critical to endure the jostling twenty-mile ride. That was one of the reasons he hated to concede a battlefield; abandoning wounded was disturbing and hurtful to morale as well.

He turned to look back at Stuart, who stood expectant, nervous.

"I trust you have managed to get some rest since last night, General Stuart?" Lee asked.

Stuart hesitated. To answer that might imply that he was not seeing to his work, and yet it was obvious he was exhausted.

"A little, sir."

"You will need all your energy today, sir," Lee replied, deliberately pitching his voice low and soft, a hint of reproach in his tone.

"I'm ready for whatever you have for me, sir." "Let me make something quite clear, General," Lee said, and he stepped closer. Stuart gulped and nodded. "I expect to see your best these next few days." "As always, sir."

Lee hesitated, but then pushed ahead. 'That has not always been the case, especially this last week."

Stuart said nothing, but his features reddened

"This army cannot accept that, sir. Too much rests upon you. I assume that you are aware by now that I had no word that the Army of the Potomac was moving. None, sir, none until a hired actor, playing amateur spy, came to General Longstreet four days ago bearing the news. That, sir, should have been intelligence brought in by you."

"General Lee, I was shielding to the east…" He fell silent as Lee held up his hand.

'It will not happen again," Lee said sharply, fixing Stuart with his gaze.

Stuart gulped and stiffened. "No, sir."

"Then we understand each other and can move forward."

"Yes, sir."

Lee waited a moment, wondering if he should press it further, to make it clear that one more lapse would result in dismissal. He could see the anxious look in Stuart's eyes; gone was any of the defensive bluster of last night.

"Fine. Now come over here."

He drew Stuart over to the table covered with Jed Hotchkiss's map of the region and quickly traced out the line of march that Longstreet was now taking.

"Risky without cavalry cover," Stuart offered.

Lee looked up at him with some surprise. Was it an admission of his own failure to provide proper support, or a rebuke for going ahead without the cavalry first coming in?

Stuart saw the look and nodded. "I should have had at least a brigade up here ready to march, sir, at the head of this column. I am sorry."

Lee finally offered a trace of a smile. "I thought of order-

ing Robinson down from the Cumberland Valley" Lee replied, "but decided against it They are still needed to cover our own supply line. General Longstreet has a small detachment of mounted troops, made up of headquarters guard details. What is the position of the Union mounted forces?" Lee asked.

Stuart quickly traced out the latest intelligence. "Scattered in pursuit of my own forces. It looks as if the largest concentration is near Hanover to the east of here."

"And to the south, down toward Taneytown, Westminster?"

"Perhaps a brigade, sir, under Merritt That is all I know."

Lee nodded. "When can I expect the rest of your command to be concentrated here?"

"By mid-afternoon, sir. I have two brigades up ready, deployed, and concealed northeast of town as you ordered, sir."

"Fine then. Once you are concentrated, I expect a sharp demonstration on your part I want General Meade looking in your direction, not to his own rear. I will concede, General Stuart that your opponents fear you."

Stuart offered a smile, but a glance from Lee broke that.

"I want them to think that you are the vanguard of some kind of movement to their right I will temporarily detach one brigade of infantry to you from General Ewell's corps. You will make arrangements with him for that they will be yours to control until dusk. Use them to create the illusion of a solid infantry deployment in that direction.

"If Meade should move forward, do not get drawn into a direct confrontation, but do not shy away either. Demonstrate, probe; if you see some tactical advantage, hit, but don't become too deeply engaged."

"Yes, sir."

"If all goes well, I will move with the army later today, followed this evening by General Ewell. At that point you, sir, will be in sole command here. Maintain the illusion of a possible attack on Meade's right as long as possible. When General Meade does turn about to meet me, you will then be in his rear. Press and harass him, and keep his cavalry occupied; but General Stuart, you must maintain contact at all times with me. I expect efficient communications at all times. Am I clear on that, sir?" 'Yes, sir, perfectly clear."

Lee hesitated then decided he had to do it "No mistakes this time, General Stuart" "No, sir."

Lee gave a curt nod of dismissal.

Stuart saluted and left. Seconds later he and his staff were galloping down the road back into town. Lee watched him go and then let his gaze return to the ambulances swinging out onto the road heading back toward Chambersburg. He watched only for a moment then returned to his work.

"General Longstreet?"

The courier was edging along the side of the road, pushing his way around a battery, standing in his stirrups, and looking toward Pete and his staff. The day was getting hot; the courier's horse was lathered, the animal blowing hard, the lieutenant's face covered with dust, traced with rivulets of sweat streaking his forehead.

Longstreet nodded, motioning the boy over. Excited, the courier drew up alongside the general and saluted. "Message from General Robertson, sir," and the boy handed the paper over.

Pete, swinging one leg up over the pommel of his saddle, opened the message and quickly scanned it.

"Robertson has Emmitsburg. Pete announced, looking back to his staff. "They took the signal station up behind a Catholic convent, St Mary's College," and he paused, looking at the time on the note, "thirty minutes ago."

There were nods of satisfaction.

"Did the signal station get any messages off after we came into view?" Pete asked, looking back at the courier.

"Not sure, sir. They was waving them flags something fierce though as we came through the town. Some mounted boys up front got up there quick and took 'em prisoners."

"Anything else in the town?"

"No, sir, just some stragglers. General Robertson said

that it looked like a whole hell of a lot of Yankees were there yesterday though. Stragglers from First and Eleventh Corps, he said."

Pete nodded, pulled a pencil out of his breast pocket, and flipped the message over.

Secure road south and north of town; push out pickets. Clear your men from the road. Law's brigade will start toward Taneytown.

Signing his name, he handed the message back. "Where is General Hood?"

"Sir, I heard he was reconnoitering east of the town. Moving toward the bridge over Monocacy Creek."

"Get back to Robertson; tell him I'm coming up shortly," and he nodded a dismissal.