As Stuart stood awaiting Colonel Lee's arrival, Lieutenant Green, in command of the marines, stepped briskly to the aide's side to report the preliminary work.
As yet no one in the excited town knew the identity of the mysterious commander "John Smith" who led the invasion. No one could guess the number of men he had in his army nor how many he held in reserve on the Maryland hills.
Stuart's blue eyes flashed with excitement.
"The marines have the Arsenal completely surrounded?" he asked.
"A rat couldn't get through, Lieutenant Stuart."
"The bridges leading into Harper's Ferry guarded?"
"Three picked men at each end, sir."
"Any signs of the Abolitionists on the hills at dawn?"
"A shot from a sniper on the Maryland side nipped one of the guards—"
"Then their headquarters and the reserves are back in those hills."