The famous field is too well known to need description. The armies of the North and the South lay in and around the peaceful village of Gettysburg. About it the yellow cornfields basked in the summer sun. The voices of the teachers and the laughter of merry children rose in the harvest-fields. But already the shadow of war was falling over the landscape. As soon as the armies arrived, the shrewder of the farmers suspected that there would be trouble.
General Lee was seated gravely on his horse, looking gravely over the ground before him.
"Major Randolph," said the Confederate chieftain gravely, "you are just in time. We are about to go into action. I need your advice."
Randolph bowed. "Ask me anything you like," he said.
"Do you like the way I have the army placed?" asked Lee.
Our hero directed a searching look over the field. "Frankly, I don't," he said.
"What's the matter with it?" questioned Lee eagerly. "I felt there was something wrong myself. What is it?"
"Your left," said Randolph, "is too far advanced. It sticks out."
"By Heaven!" said Lee, turning to General Longstreet, "the boy is right! Is there anything else?"
"Yes," said Randolph, "your right is crooked. It is all sideways."