The Scouts of Stonewall: The Story of the Great Valley Campaign — John Shaqi
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
But order was soon restored, and wrapped in warm clothing they feasted
like civilized men, the great fires lighting up the whole town with a
cheerful glow. Harry was summoned to new duties. He was also a new
man. Warmth and food had doubled his vitality, and he was ready for any
errand on which Jackson might send him.
While it was yet snowing, he rode with a half dozen troopers toward
the Potomac. On the other side was a small town which also held a Union
garrison. Scouting warily along the shores, Harry discovered that the
garrison was still there. Evidently the enemy believed in the protection
of the river, or many of their leaders could not yet wholly believe that
Jackson and his army, making a forced march in the dead of winter, were
at hand.
But he had no doubt that his general would attend to these obstinate
men, and he rode back to Bath with the news. Jackson gave his worn
troops a little more rest. They were permitted to spend all that day and
night at Bath, luxuriating and renewing their strength and spirits.
Harry slept, for the first time in many nights, in a house, and he made
the most of it, because he doubted whether he would have another such
chance soon. Dawn found the army up and ready to march away from this
place of delight.
They went up and down the Potomac three or four days, scattering
or capturing small garrisons, taking fresh supplies and spreading
consternation among the Union forces in Northern Virginia and Maryland.
It was all done in the most bitter winter weather and amid storms of
snow and hail. The roads were slippery with sleet, and often the cavalry
were compelled to dismount and lead their horses long distances. There
was little fighting because the Northern enemy was always in numbers
too small to resist, but there was a great deal of hard riding and many
captures.
News of Jackson's swoop began to filter through to both Richmond and
Washington. In Richmond they wondered and rejoiced. In Washington they
wondered, but did not rejoice. They had not expected there any blow to
be struck in the dead of winter, and Lincoln demanded of his generals
why they could not do as well. Distance and the vagueness of the news
magnified Jackson's exploits and doubled his numbers. Eyes were turned
with intense anxiety toward that desolate white expanse of snow and ice,
in the midst of which he was operating.
Jackson finally turned his steps toward Romney, which had been the Union
headquarters, and his men, exhausted and half starved, once more dragged
themselves over the sleety roads. Winter offered a fresh obstacle at
every turn. Even the spirits of Harry, who had borrowed so much from the
courage of Jackson, sank somewhat. As they pulled themselves through the
hills on their last stage toward Romney, he was walking. His horse had
fallen three times that day on the ice, and was now too timid to carry
his owner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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