The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley CampaignAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
History
The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley Campaign
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
“So you feel that way, too,” he said very seriously. “I got the belief
some time ago. If he says we'll win we'll win. His prediction settles it
in my mind.”
“There's a fog rising from the creek,” said Harry, “and it's growing
heavier. I think Ewell was to march that way with his infantry and it
will hold him back. Chance is against us.”
“His guns have been out of action, but there they come again! I can't
see them, but I can hear them through the mist.”
“And here goes the main force on our left. Stonewall is about to
strike.”
Harry had discovered the movement the moment it was begun. The whole
Stonewall brigade, the Acadians and other regiments making a formidable
force, moved to the left and charged. Gordon, Banks' able assistant,
threw in fresh troops to meet the Southern rush, and they fired almost
point blank in the faces of the men in gray. Harry, riding forward
with the eager Jackson, saw many fall, but the Southern charge was not
checked for a moment. The men, firing their rifles, leaped the stone
fences and charged home with the bayonet. The Northern regiments were
driven back in disorder and their cavalry sweeping down to protect them,
were met by such a sleet of bullets that they, too, were driven back.
Now all the Southern regiments came up. Infantry, cavalry and artillery
crossed the creek and the ridges and formed in a solid line which
nothing could resist. The enemy, carrying away what cannon he could, was
driven swiftly before them. The rebel yell, wild and triumphant, swelled
from ten thousand throats as Jackson's army rushed forward, pursuing the
enemy into Winchester.
Harry was shouting with the rest. He couldn't help it. The sober Dalton
had snatched off his cap, and he, too, was shouting. Then Harry saw
Jackson himself giving way to exultation, for the first time. He was
back at Winchester which he loved so well, he had defeated the enemy
before it, and now he was about to chase him through its streets. He
spurred his horse at full speed down a rocky hill, snatched off his cap,
whirled it around his head and cried at the top of his voice again and
again:
“Chase them to the Potomac! Chase them to the Potomac!”
Harry and Dalton, hearing the cry, took it up and shouted it, too.
Before them was a vast bank of smoke and dust, shot with fire, and the
battle thundered as it rolled swiftly into Winchester. The Northern
officers, still strove to prevent a rout. They performed prodigies of
valor. Many of them fell, but the others, undaunted, still cried to the
men to turn and beat off the foe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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