"Boys!" the soldier cried to a group who were listening at a little distance. "Do any of you know Pete Hall?"
"_Peter_ Hall," the woman corrected, with great dignity.
"Excuse { 124}me, ma'am; _Peter_ Hall, I meant to say."
"Why, certain, I know him," a man answered. "He's in the Second Maryland, and they're over there, on the brow of that hill. Go right over, ma'am. You'll find him, I hope," he added in a lower tone. "Don't be afraid. No one will harm you."
"Me and the children have walked twelve miles since yesterday noon, and we want to see Peter bad. He'd have come out and met us, I know he would, if he'd have thought we were so near," she added, with refreshing simplicity. The idea of Peter's leaving his company, even for so important a matter as meeting her, caused a general laugh, which she did not seem to observe, but continued--"You see, we have moved since Peter went away, and he doesn't know where we live now."
"God bless the woman and her Peter," was the honest invocation sent after her, as she hurried away in the direction pointed out, and they were rewarded a few moments later, by seeing a soldier spring up from the grass where he had been lounging, and hasten forward to receive the greeting of his wife, who sobbed for joy upon his breast, while the little ones could only jump and shout in the fullness of their pleasure at seeing "Pa."
Many a man stood there, and silently wished some of their loved ones could meet and greet them also.
The entrance of the boys in blue into Frederick was a perfect ovation. General Lee had retired from the town only two days before.
This welcome thrilled their hearts. From every door and window the national flag fluttered, and the stores were decorated with the colors. Banners were strung across the streets, from house to house, while crowds of happy men and women with radiant faces, spoke words of welcome.
Good luck seemed to be showered upon them, for General McClellan here captured a copy of the orders of General Lee, which gave him a key to the whole situation. It was of very recent date, and the Confederate commander had mapped out his campaign. The { 125}information contained in these explicit instructions to his generals, enabled General McClellan to see plainly how to thwart General Lee. So he proceeded to send two corps through the two Gaps of South Mountain, with the prospect of being able to cut the enemy's forces to pieces.