It was Henry Bradbury who spoke, the crippled veteran who had left an arm at Malvern Hill in ’62, and who had declared that he would gladly have left both arms, or even his life, if only “Little Mac” could have taken Richmond as the climax of that unfortunate Peninsular Campaign. For, somehow, after that campaign, McClellan, whom he, with a hundred thousand other soldiers, had worshiped as the one splendid hero of the war, lost lustre in his eyes, and never regained it to that November night, when, at Warrenton, Virginia, he was relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac. And yet, to this day, Henry Bradbury will not permit any one, in his presence, to speak harshly of McClellan.
“No, thank you, Mr. Bradbury,” replied Bob, very much confused. “I’m not going far. I was just waiting for the stage to come along.”
“Well, if you’re going to Carbon Creek you might just as well jump in and ride with me. I’ve got lots of room and you’ll save your stage fare.”
Bob hesitated for a moment. He did not know what embarrassing questions the veteran might ask. Then, suddenly, he made up his mind to accept the invitation.
“I will go with you, Mr. Bradbury,” he said. “I think I would a good deal rather go with you than in the stage.”
He climbed into the wagon and they started on, the old soldier driving with one hand with great ease and facility.
“I might as well be plain with you, Bob,” he said. “I don’t think much of your father, but I’ve got nothing against you. In fact, if what they tell me about your loyalty is true, you deserve a good deal of credit, and I wouldn’t be the last one to give it to you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bradbury! My father and I don’t quite agree about the war, and about—the draft, but I don’t want to set up my judgment as better than his, and I don’t want to criticise him, and I’d rather not hear anybody else do it.”
“That’s all right, my boy. I’m afraid his obstinacy is going to cost him his neck, but I don’t know as I’ve got any call to try to set his son against him. Let’s change the subject. Going up to the station, are you?”