Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE. 119 ‘‘Major, stand back,’’ in a low, yet determined — voice. ‘“To war-on wounded boys and women is not the mission of true soldiers of the South. My brother _ will take the field soon, but now he must not be dis- turbed, and his life endangered. Sheridan is ravaging the valley. Why don’t you meet him and drive him trom the country! For shame! that a Southern gen- tleman should stoop to do a mean action. Go, major, and my blessing, and that of all good friends of the South will accompany you to the field of battle. Your place is not here.”’ Major de Banyan realized that she spoke the truth. ‘‘Give me a kiss, me jewel, and Ill let the boy go,’’ he cried, with a laugh; and to the astonishment of Bluff, the girl permitted the major to press a kiss upon her cheek. ‘Then the officer turned away with- out a word. Soon the tramp of his departed troops died away in the distance. Bertha’ McVane had once again saved the life of ‘‘Zoyal Mose,’’ the terror of the Shenandoah Valley. 7 ~ Ora a em rt CHAPTER XXII. ON THE EVE OF BATTLE. Knowing that the Confederates had been severely punished, Sheridan believed it would be safe for him to visit Washington, and, accordingly, he left his army posted on the hills near Middletown’ and re- paired to the capital. Sheridan’s visit to Washington came near proving fatal to his army, as after events proved. Longstreet had been sent to reinforce Karly with twelve thousand men, and the Confederate com- mander began to feel that he was able to take the offensive once more. (e(e) Eomicbooks