As Levi turned to depart, he obtained a glimpse of Noel's face and fled precipitately.
Nor was Noel afterward able to learn the fate of the little sutler. Apparently each side had taken him as friendly to itself, or else the crafty little trader had persuaded both that the charges against him were untrue. Whether he was hanged as a spy, shot as a deserter, or was able to continue his nefarious trading with the soldiers was a mystery which never was made clear.
The husband of Sairy Ann's sister, Noel later discovered among the wounded prisoners, and in return for the help which he himself had received, he was able in many ways to aid the wounded man.
The continually repeated question among the men, "When do we move?" was not answered until a month or more had elapsed. Then, when the army was moved to Harper's Ferry, Noel there learned that his brother Frank had been among the prisoners taken by the Confederates and sent to Libby Prison. Disheartening as the information was, it did not decrease the interest of Noel when late in October his division was ordered to move toward Virginia.
It was plain now that the campaign was to be transferred again to the State in which Noel and Frank had had their first experiences in the army. The enthusiasm of Dennis was great, and in his loudest tones he joined in the song of the men when they departed from Harper's Ferry,—
"John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
His soul is marching on."
The boys in blue were somewhat cast down, but not despairing. The Union army had outnumbered the Confederates nearly two to one in the recent battle of Antietam.
Among the subordinate Union commanders there had been great energy displayed, but no one was able to escape the conclusion that on the Federal side the battle had been badly fought and many great opportunities had been neglected.
In the battle of Antietam the Federals had lost more than twelve thousand men and their enemies ninety-five hundred. All the troops of the latter had been engaged in the fight, but only about two thirds of the Union army had seriously entered into the struggle.
In a measure the friends of the Union were content that Lee's threatening invasion of the North had been thwarted. The great Southern general had fought a pitched battle, but had not destroyed his foe. There was no escape, however, from the conclusion that Lee's plan to invade the North had failed, and that the struggle now was to return to Virginia soil, a fact which Dennis O'Hara and Noel Curtis and his brother soon were to learn.