Rich men, who had never soiled their hands with toil before now, wielded pick and spade by the side of their black slaves.

And it was rumored that Toutant Beauregard, a great engineer officer, now commander at the West Point Military Academy, would speedily resign, and come south to take command of the forces in Charleston.
Strong works were going up along the mainland.

The South Carolina forces had also seized Sullivan's Island, Morris Island, and James Island and were mounting guns upon them all.

Circling batteries would soon threaten Sumter, and, however defiantly the flag there might snap in the breeze, it must come down.
As they were leaving the last of the batteries Harry noticed the broad, strong back and erect figure of a young man who stood with his hands in his pockets.

He knew by his rigid attitude that he was looking intently at the battery and he knew, moreover, that it was Shepard.