Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/70

44 them from the invaders. As a result the Union forces moved out of Washington and the neighborhood, eighty-seven thousand strong, marching by five routes, so that the enemy would not have any chance to move around them and thus assault Washington or Baltimore.

With this vast array of soldiers went Company E of the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteers. William McKinley had never before seen such an army, and as he marched along, with musket on his shoulder, doubtless he dreamed of all the possibilities of a soldier's life and wondered if he would ever rise from the ranks to lead a company, a regiment, or a brigade.

A great battle was expected at Frederick, but it failed to materialize, and the Union troops occupied the city with comparatively little resistance.

"They are afraid to meet us," said some of the Union soldiers. "Before long you'll hear of General Lee retreating to the south."

Leaving Frederick, the Confederate army had found its way to South Mountain, and here it held a strong position on the