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
The mellow notes were calling in the eager riflemen, who wished to
continue the pursuit, but the army was not to retire. It held the
battlefield, and now that the twilight was coming the men began to build
their fires, which blazed through the night within sight of those of the
enemy. The sentinels of the two armies were within speaking distance
of one another, and often in the dark, as happened after many another
battle in this war, Yank and Reb passed a friendly word or two. They
met, too, on the field, where they carried away their dead and wounded,
but on such errands there was always peace.
Those hours of the night were precious, but Fremont did not use them.
Defeated, he held back, magnifying the numbers of his enemy, fearing
that Jackson was in front of him with his whole army, and once more out
of touch with his ally, Shields.
But Stonewall Jackson was all activity. The great war-like intellect was
working with the utmost precision and speed. Having beaten back Fremont,
he was making ready for Shields. The first part of the drama, as he
had planned it, had been carried through with brilliant success, and he
meant that the next should be its equal.
Harry was not off his horse that night. He carried message after message
to generals and colonels and captains. He saw the main portion of
Ewell's army withdrawn from Fremont's front, leaving only a single
brigade to hold him, in case he should advance at dawn. But he saw the
fires increased, and he carried orders that the men should build them
high, and see that they did not go down.
When he came back from one of these errands about midnight, just after
the rise of the moon, he found General Jackson standing upon the bank
of the river, giving minute directions to a swarm of officers. His mind
missed nothing. He directed not only the movements of the troops, but he
saw also that the trains of ammunition and food were sent to the proper
points. About half way between midnight and morning he lay down and
slept in a small house near the river bank. Shortly before dawn the
commander of a battery, looking for one of his officers, entered the
house and saw Jackson, dressed for the saddle, sword, boots, spurs and
all, lying on his face upon the bed, asleep. On a small table near him
stood a short piece of tallow candle, sputtering dimly. But the officer
saw that it was Jackson, and he turned on tiptoe to withdraw.
The general awoke instantly, sat up and demanded who was there. When the
officer explained, he said he was glad that he had been awakened, asked
about the disposition of the troops, and gave further commands. He did
not go to sleep again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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