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With Lee in Virginia
A Story Of The American Civil War
by G。A。 Henty
PREFACE。
My Dear Lads：
The Great War between the Northern and Southern States of
America possesses a peculiar interest for us； not only because it
was a struggle between two sections of a people akin to us in race
and language； but because of the heroic courage with which the
weaker party； with ill…fed； ill…clad； ill…equipped regiments； for four
years sustained the contest with an adversary not only possessed of
immense numerical superiority； but having the command of the
sea； and being able to draw its arms and munitions of war from all
the manufactories of Europe。 Authorities still differ as to the rights
of the case。 The Confederates firmly believed that the States
having voluntarily united； retained the right of withdrawing from
the Union when they considered it for their advantage to do so。
The Northerners took the opposite point of view； and an appeal to
arms became inevitable。 During the first two years of the war the
struggle was conducted without inflicting unnecessary hardship
upon the general population。 But later on the character of the war
changed； and the Federal armies carried wide…spread destruction
wherever they marched。 Upon the other hand； the moment the
struggle was over the conduct of the conquerors was marked by a
clemency and generosity altogether unexampled in history； a
complete amnesty being granted； and none； whether soldiers or
civilians； being made to suffer for their share in the rebellion。 The
credit of this magnanimous conduct was to a great extent due to
Generals Grant and Sherman； the former of whom took upon
himself the responsibility of granting terms which； although they
were finally ratified by his government； were at the time received
with anger and indignation in the North。 It was impossible； in the
course of a single volume； to give even a sketch of the numerous
and complicated operations of the war； and I have therefore
confined myself to the central point of the great strugglethe
attempts of the Northern armies to force their way to Richmond；
the capital of Virginia and the heart of the Confederacy。 Even in
recounting the leading events in these campaigns； I have burdened
my story with as few details as possible； it being my object now； as
always； to amuse as well as to give instruction in the facts of
history。
G。 A。 HENTY。
Contents
Chapter 1。 A Virginian Plantation。
Chapter 2。 Buying a Slave。
Chapter 3。 Aiding a Runaway。
Chapter 4。 Safely Back。
Chapter 5。 Secession。
Chapter 6。 Bull Run。
Chapter 7。 The Merrimac and the Monitor。
Chapter 8。 McClellan's Advance。
Chapter 9。 A Prisoner。
Chapter 10。 The Escape。
Chapter 11。 Fugitives。
Chapter 12。 The Bush…Wackers。
Chapter 13。 Laid Up。
Chapter 14。 Across the Border。
Chapter 15。 Fredericksburg。
Chapter 16。 The Search for Dinah。
Chapter 17。 Chancellorsville。
Chapter 18。 A Perilous Undertaking。
Chapter 19。 Free。
Chapter 20。 The End of the Struggle。
WITH LEE IN VIRGINIA：
A STORY OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
CHAPTER I。 A VIRGINIAN PLANTATION。
〃I WON'T have it； Pearson； so it's no use your talking。 If I had my
way you shouldn't touch any of the field hands。 And when I get
my way…that won't be so very long…I will take good care you sha'n't。
But you sha'n't hit Dan。〃
〃He is not one of the regular house hands；〃 was the reply； 〃and I
shall appeal to Mrs。 Wingfield as to whether I am to be interfered
with in the discharge of my duties。〃
〃You may appeal to my mother if you like； but I don't think that
you will get much by it。 I tell you you are a deal too fond of that
whip； Pearson。 It never was heard of on the estate during my
father's time； and it sha'n't be again when it comes to be mine； I
can tell you。 Come along； Dan； I want you at the stables。〃
So saying； Vincent Wingfield turned on his heel； and followed by
Dan； a negro lad of some eighteen years old； be walked off toward
the house； leaving Jonas Pearson； the overseer of the Orangery
estate； looking after him with an evil expression of face。
Vincent Wingfield was the son of an English officer； who； making
a tour in the States； had fallen in love with and won the hand of
Winifred Cornish； a rich Virginian heiress； and one of the belles of
Richmond。 After the marriage he had taken her home to visit his
family in England； but she had not been there many weeks before
the news arrived of the sudden death of her father。 A month later
she and her husband returned to Virginia； as her presence was
required there in reference to business matters connected with the
estate； of which she was now the mistress。
The Orangery； so called from a large conservatory built by Mrs。
Wingfield's grandfather； was the family seat； and the broad lands
around it were tilled by upward of two hundred slaves。 There were
in addition three other properties lying in different parts of the
State。 Here Vincent； with two sisters； one older and one younger
than himself； had been born。 When he was eight years old Major
and Mrs。 Wingfield had gone over with their children to England；
and had left Vincent there for four years at school； his holidays
being spent at the house of his father's brother； a country
gentleman in Sussex。 Then he had been sent for unexpectedly； his
father saying that his health was not good； and that he should like
his son to be with him。 A year later his father died。
Vincent was now nearly sixteen years old； and would upon coming
of age assume the reins of power at the Orangery； of which his
mother； however； would be the actual mistress as long as she lived。
The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done
much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him； and his
father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of
his life； and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said
upon both sides of the subject。
〃There are good plantations and bad plantations； Vincent； and
there are many more good ones than bad ones。 There are brutes to
be found everywhere。 There are bad masters in the Southern
States just as there are had landlords in every European country。
'But even from self…interest alone； a planter has greater reason for
caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English
farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers。 Slaves are
valuable property； and if they are overworked or badly cared for
they decrease in value。 Whereas if the laborer falls sick or is
unable to do his work the farmer has simply to hire another hand。
It is as much the interest of a planter to keep his slaves in good
health and spirits as it is for a farmer to feed and attend to his
horses properly。
〃Of the two； I consider that the slave with a fairly kind master is to
the full as happy as the ordinary English laborer。 He certainly does
not work so hard； if he is ill he is carefully attended to； he is well
fed； he has no cares or anxieties whatever； and when old and past
work he has no fear of the workhouse staring him in the face。 At
the same time I am quite ready to grant that there are horrible
abuses possible under the laws connected with slavery。
〃The selling of slaves； that is to say； the breaking up of families
and selling them separately； is horrible and abominable。 If an
estate were sold together with all the slaves upon it； there would be
no more hardship in the matter than there is when an estate
changes hands in England； and the laborers upon it work for the
new master instead of the old。 Were I to liberate all the slaves on
this estate to…morrow and to send them North； I do not think that
they would be in any way benefited by the change。 They would
still have to work for their living as they do now； and being
naturally indolent and shiftless would probably fare much worse。
But against the selling of families separately and the use of the
lash I set my face strongly。
〃At the same time； my boy； whatever your sentiments may be on
this subject； you must keep your mouth closed as to them。 Owing
to the attempts of Northern Abolitionists； who have come down
here stirring up the slaves to discontent； it is not advisable； indeed
it is absolutely dangerous； to speak against slavery in the Southern
States。 The institution is here； and we must make the best we can
of it。 People here are very sore at the foul slanders that have been
published by Northern writers。 There have been many atrocities
perpetrated undoubtedly； by brutes who would have been brutes
whenever they bad been born； but to collect a series of such
atrocities； to string them together into a story； and to hold them up；
as Mrs。 Beecher Stowe has； as a picture of slave…life in the
Southern States； is as gross a libel as if any one w
