He looked over his shoulder. It was Walter, his hat off.

Walter was pointing toward the road that wove past the defensive earthworks of Baltimore. Coming toward them was a carriage, and he could see Judah Benjamin, Jeb Stuart, and Pete Longstreet.

"Thank you, Walter."

Lee saluted Judah as he stepped down, followed by Pete and Jeb.

The three came over to the side of the road to join him.

"I suspect, gentlemen, you bring news," Lee said.

Judah nodded and Lee could see the look in Longstreet's eyes.

"A telegram just came in from Westminster. It's troubling, sir."

"Go on."

"Sir, a report from a captain with the Third Virginia. The same boys who were covering Carlisle. He states that the Yankee infantry moving on the east side of the mountains are nothing but militia. It looks like Grant's main striking force is west of the mountains."

Lee listened in silence. He nodded, saying nothing, taking the information in.

"How reliable?" Lee asked.

"I know the captain of that troop," Jeb said. "A good man, West Point. I was slating him for promotion to a regimental command. He's done excellent scout work in the past."

"How did he get this information?"

"The first telegram just gave the general details, a second one came in a few minutes later. It stated that a patrol had encountered a column of infantry north of Gettysburg and taken prisoners. The sender declared the information to be reliable."

Lee looked over at Jeb.

"I wish we had more to go on," Lee said.

"I know, sir. I do, too. It's taking a devilish long time to get our mounts rested, reshod, and refitted. I've already detailed two regiments up to Westminster with orders to force a probe. Jones and Jenkins, minus about half their men, are moving down the B and O right now, covering that line." 'The B and O," Judah sighed, shaking his head.

"One other thing," Pete said, interrupting Judah before that conversation over the railroad started. "The report from Westminster also stated that an entire brigade, under Custer, is driving hard, is already into Taneytown, heading southwest, apparently pushing toward Frederick."

Lee turned away, going back to lean against the fence.

So it was beginning, the mask starting to slip away. It was all becoming clear now. Grant hoped to hold his attention northward until into position to sprint toward Frederick. Once in Frederick he'd close off the railroad to Harpers Ferry, to a possible crossing at Point of Rocks.

Lee looked back at Longstreet, who stood silent.

"So now we know," Lee said.

Pete merely nodded.

Lee turned his gaze on Stuart.

"I want every one of your men mounted and ready to move before dawn tomorrow."

"Sir, that will be tough to accomplish. I have thousands of men still waiting for shoes for their horses."

Lee shook his head.

"We need your cavalry moving, General Stuart."

"Yes, sir," Jeb replied.

"And then there's the railroad," Judah said.

"It didn't work out, did it?" Lee asked.

"No, sir. Garrett refused."

Lee, in an uncharacteristic gesture, slammed a balled fist against the fence rail.

"General Longstreet, any suggestions?"

"First and foremost, we must secure that bridge over the Monocacy."

"What do we have there now?"

"Just an outpost and telegraphy station."

"I want Jenkins and Jones up there by tomorrow morning to secure the crossing. General Stuart, I want you up there as well. Take a train if you can, otherwise, sir, I think you'll just have to ride."

Stuart nodded, offering no protest.

"Sir, I've been doing some checking," Judah interjected. "We face some real problems using the B and O."

"I'm not certain we really have to use the B and O," Lee said. "We've moved quickly in the past without use of rail."

"I think, sir, it's different this time," Pete said.

"How so?"

"If a fight is brewing at Frederick, and if we can get the bulk of our forces there ahead of Grant, we can bottleneck him. He'll have only one road, the National Road, to bring everything up. It'll be a race, and the railroad can help us tremendously. Fifty trains can bring up an entire division with supplies in just two hours, compared to two days of marching. Plus the men will be fresh.

"There's our artillery reserves as well. We have nearly two hundred and forty guns total. That's over forty batteries. Sixty trains can move those guns, with horses and men. Three days if we move them overland."

"The B and O has some fine locomotives," Judah announced, "capable of pulling twenty cars. It can give us a tremendous advantage."

"But it won't cooperate," Lee replied sharply.

"I've already informed Garrett we are seizing control for the duration of the campaign. I suggest, sir, tonight, that word be put out to every regiment in this army. Any man with railroading experience, especially engineers, mechanics, brakemen, report to the main depot in Baltimore."

Lee said nothing for a moment. If only he had an organized division of military railroad troops, this would not even be a bother.

He looked over at Walter and nodded in agreement. "Get the word out at once. Men to report by dawn.

"Pete, find someone to put in charge."

"Major Cruickshank."

"I thought he was in command of the pontoon bridges."

"He's a hard driver. I think he's our man."

"Promote him to brigadier general, and get him working on it. Now what about the pontoon bridges? Weren't they supposed to already be up at Frederick?"

Pete sighed and shook his head.

"They're still at the depot."

"What?"

"Sir, nearly every yard worker just sat down or took off once word came that Garrett was not cooperating. Cruickshank has apparently struck a deal with the yard boss, though, and we should be moving around midnight. But it's going to cost."

Lee looked at Judah.

"I do have some cash reserves," Judah said. "Silver coinage."

"Fine, then," Lee replied. "Have Cruickshank offer five dollars a day to any man who will come back to work. Jeb, I want you up there when the pontoon train goes forward. Take the bridge at Monocacy and hold it at all cost."

"We definitely need that bridge," Longstreet interjected. "It's not just the bridge, it's the junction just on the other side. There's a water tank there, and also a turntable."

"Aren't there other turntables along the line?"

Judah shook his head.

"I looked at the maps in Garrett's office. There's a turntable at Relay Station, just outside of here, the next one on the line is at Frederick Junction, on the west side of the Monocacy. We don't have that, and every train will have to be backed up. Also, there's a bottleneck. It's double track most of the way, but there's a thirteen-mile stretch between two tunnels, east of the Monocacy, that's single track. Everything will have to route back and forth through that."

Lee sighed. During the winter at Fredericksburg he had sweated out the movement of but half a dozen supply trains a day coming up from Richmond. But one engine breaking down meant short rations for that day. Now they were talking about moving hundreds of trains.

"Gentlemen, we are racing through too many issues at once here. Let us focus on the overall issue, and then all will derive from that."

The group around him fell silent.

"I think it is clear that General Grant will move on Frederick rather than toward Harpers Ferry and crossing into Virginia. It is clear as well that our concern to the north was nothing more than a masterful feint on his part.

"I had hoped for a few more days' rest for our army, that is now finished. Grant's intention in taking Frederick was perhaps to threaten our potential line of retreat if we had planned to withdraw, but we all know that was never our intent. We are here to stay in Maryland."