"General, why have you not taken that town?"

It was obvious to all the staff gathered around General McLaws that Longstreet, who had just ridden up, was about to explode. They edged back from the confrontation.

McLaws stepped down from the entry to a small Dunkard church facing the main road from Taneytown. The sight of the building caused a flash of memory for Pete. A Dunkard church had been the center of fighting at Sharpsburg. They were a pacifist sect. Ironic, we keep bringing battles to their doorstep.

"Sir," McLaws said, obviously taken aback by Longstreet's sudden appearance. "As I tried to tell you last night, my men are exhausted. We had no good maps, there were bands of Yankee cavalry all up and down the road, but we're getting a grip on it now."

"Show me," Pete said coldly.

Together they moved along the edge of the road, which was packed with infantry still in column, the men slowly shuffling forward, the brigade shifting from column to line of battle just back from the top of the hill. Two batteries were atop the crest, hard at work as Pete and McLaws rode into position.

Morning fog and smoke cloaked the open valley. Just beyond the next ridge he could see several church spires and a column of smoke slowly rising straight up in the still morning air. Flashes of gunfire rippled along the next ridge, suddenly counterpointed by nearly a dozen flashes of light Seconds later a deep rumbling thump rolled over them.

Pete cocked his head; the sound was a bit different

"I know," McLaws said. "Looks like two batteries of twenty pounders dug in as tight as ticks on a dog along that ridge."

"Their support?"

"Dismounted cavalry, what's left of Buford's men. There're a knot of them armed with those damn repeating rifles. Playing hell with us. They also have some infantry."

"Infantry? Who?"

"Not sure yet but seem disorganized. Prisoners we picked up during the night; some were from Sixth Corps, some from the First and Second."

"Second? How many?" Pete asked, now anxious.

"Just a few. Said they were part of the wagon guard detail."

"You certain?"

"Just telling you what was reported to me, sir." "Alexander?'

"Here, sir," and his chief of corps artillery came up. "Get the map out."

As Alexander reached into his map case, Pete carefully surveyed the line ahead. A single brigade was advancing, spread out across a quarter mile of front Stalled in front of the guns, beginning to lap around the flanks. But there wasn't enough weight

"You should be hitting him with everything, damn it This is what Heth did two days ago. If he'd gone in all at once, he'd've taken Gettysburg before Reynolds came up."

"Sorry, sir. But like I said, it was damnable confusion on that road. Brigades, regiments all tangled up. It took half the night to straighten everything out"

"It was damnable confusion for them, too!" Pete snapped, pointing toward the town.

"I've got a second brigade deploying now behind us,' Semmes's brigade. That's Kershaw up on the line."

"And the rest of your men?"

"I have Wofford's brigade deploying out to flank the town to the south. He's reporting back that you can barely see what's ahead; it's thick with wagons as far as you can see. And, sir, I ordered Barksdale to swing his brigade around to north of the town. Cut across that road to Baltimore."

"What?"

"The road north of town, sir. I have men moving on it" and McLaws hesitated. "Isn't that what you wanted, sir?"

Pete grunted and nodded even as Alexander unfolded the map and handed it over to him.

"You did something right" Pete offered coolly.

"There're supposed to be thousands of wagons down there, trains, too," McLaws interjected.

"I want that road, I need to find ground we can hold, and I want that damn town. If we get the wagons with the supplies, so much the better."

Don't get diverted the way Stuart did when it comes to supply wagons, he thought Lee wants the supplies, so do I, but getting the defensible ground is the important thing.

He studied the map for a few seconds.

"You have someone who can guide me to the Baltimore Road?’

"That civilian," and McLaws nodded to his staff officers. A lone civilian, middle-aged, prosperous looking, with a good horse, was sitting among them, chatting amiably.

"What do you think about him?" Pete asked.

"Everything he's saying seems to hit center. Described Stuart to perfection, his staff, and willing to wait here till Stuart comes in. Says we can shoot him if he's lying."

Pete studied the man for a moment As if sensing he was being watched, the civilian looked up and nodded.

"Detail off a couple of your staff to ride with us and keep an eye on that man. Give me some of the men from your company of cavalry as well. If he leads us astray, or makes a dash for it" Pete hesitated, "well, I'm not saying shoot him, but make it damn uncomfortable for him."

McLaws went over to his staff, and Pete looked at Alexander and then back at the rest of his staff, who were easing their way through and around the brigade that was forming up behind them.

"I think General McLaws has things in hand here," Pete said, his voice low. "I want to go north and east Look at that road, see the land up by Union Mills. If Hancock is coming down, that might very well be the place to meet him. Not here. This town is flanked by hills. It's a trap."

McLaws came back with several of his staff and the civilian.

"Mr. William Shriver, this is General Longstreet." The civilian bowed slightly, though in the saddle. "I recognized you, sir." "How?"

"Why, from the illustrated papers of course." "The report you gave. About seeing two Union officers around Union Mills two days ago."

"Yes, sir. A General Warren and a General Hunt, I believe, sir."

"Describe them, please."

Shriver offered a quick description and Pete nodded. It seemed close enough.

"Why are you helping us?" Pete asked.

"I have six sons serving with the Confederacy, sir. They're with the First Maryland, Johnson's division, and with the First Maryland Artillery. We of Maryland are behind the Cause, sir."

"Didn't seem that way last time we came up here to Sharpsburg."

"I'm sorry, sir, if some of my neighbors reacted thus. But I can assure you of the truth of my report"

"For your sake, let's hope so."

The man did not seem to be insulted by this questioning of his honesty.

"I understand your need for caution, sir," he replied.

"The quickest way to Union Mills without getting too near this town?"

"I know a way."

"If we wander into Yankees, sir," Alexander interjected sharply, "I will make it a point of holding you responsible." He casually let his hand drift down to his holster.

The civilian laughed, though it was forced and a bit nervous.

"There're Yankees wandering all over here, most of them cowards and running away. The roads east and south of here are supposed to be packed with them. I can't promise you, sir, but if we do meet Yankees, toss me that revolver, and you'll see me make a fight of it as well."

Pete smiled slightly. "Fine then. Now let's move."

Pete looked back at McLaws and motioned him over.

"Next time, General," Pete said softly, so that no one, and especially the civilian, could hear, "when I say I want something taken by dawn, I expect it to be taken by dawn and not two hours later. Do we understand each other?"

McLaws nodded nervously and saluted.

"Now get in there and take that town. Once you do, send another brigade up the road toward Union Mills. I'll most likely be there."

With staff and the small cavalry escort, they now numbered several dozen, and as the cavalcade started off Pete looked back. The Second Brigade, which had been forming up, was sweeping up the slope, battle flags held high, heading straight toward Westminster. McLaws, sword drawn, was out front, urging them on.