Two minutes later the lieutenant was on his way down the mountain
and the Colonel had the men in ranks. His face was as grave
and his manner as quiet as usual, neither more nor less so.
The men were in a state of suppressed excitement. Having put them
in charge of the second sergeant the Colonel returned to the breastwork.
The two officers were slowly ascending the hill, side by side,
the bearer of the flag, now easily distinguishable in his jaunty uniform
as a captain of cavalry, talking, and the lieutenant in faded gray,
faced with yet more faded red, walking beside him with a face white
even at that distance, and lips shut as though they would never open again.
They halted at the big bowlder which the Colonel had indicated,
and the lieutenant, having saluted ceremoniously, turned to come up
to the camp; the Colonel, however, went down to meet him. The two men met,
but there was no spoken question; if the Colonel inquired it was only with
the eyes. The lieutenant spoke, however. "He says," he began and stopped,
then began again -- "he says, General Lee --" again he choked,
then blurted out, "I believe it is all a lie -- a damned lie."
"Not dead? Not killed?" said the Colonel, quickly.
"No, not so bad as that; surrendered: surrendered his entire army
at Appomattox day before yesterday.
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