. Stories of the Civil War . l life of theirfaces almost as impossible to depict as a wild perfume,or fruit-paste, or a passionate tone of the living voice— and such was Lincolns face, the peculiar color, thelines of it, the eyes, mouth, expression. Of technicalbeauty it had nothing — but to the eye of a great artisit furnished a rare study, a feast and fascination. 62 STORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR XI HOW A BOY HELPED GENERAL MCLELLANWIN A BATTLE Rich Mountain is famous as the scene where the first decisive battle was fought in West Virginia between General McClellan andthe Confederate GeneralGarne
. Stories of the Civil War . l life of theirfaces almost as impossible to depict as a wild perfume,or fruit-paste, or a passionate tone of the living voice— and such was Lincolns face, the peculiar color, thelines of it, the eyes, mouth, expression. Of technicalbeauty it had nothing — but to the eye of a great artisit furnished a rare study, a feast and fascination. 62 STORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR XI HOW A BOY HELPED GENERAL MCLELLANWIN A BATTLE Rich Mountain is famous as the scene where the first decisive battle was fought in West Virginia between General McClellan andthe Confederate GeneralGarnett. Rich MountainRange is long, narrow,and high; and, exceptthe summit, whereon isMr. Harts farm, it is cov-ered with timber densely,save a narrow strip on oneside, which is thickly cov-ered with laurel. TheParkersburg and Staun-ton pike winds round the mountain, and passes, by the heads of ravines, directly over its top. The formation of the mountain-top is admirably adapted for the erection of strong military defences;. GEORGE B. MCLELLAN. HOW A BOY HELPED MCLELLAN 63 and on this account General Garnett had selected it asa stronghold. He had erected formidable fortifications,rendering an attack fatal to the assailing party, on theroad leading up the mountain, which was deemed theonly route by which the enemy could possibly reach hisposition. General McClellan was advancing with anarmy of five thousand men from Clarksburg, on theturnpike, intending to attack Garnett early in the morn-ing where his works crossed the road, not deeming anyother route up the mountain practicable. Had he car-ried his plan into execution, subsequent examinationshowed that no earthly power could have saved him andhis army from certain defeat. The mountain wassteep in front of the fortifications; reconnoissance,except in force, was impossible; and McClellan haddetermined to risk a battle directly on the road, whereGarnett, without McClellans knowledge, had renderedhis defences impervious to any po
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