hero tales from american history-第23章
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ent too high。 He then ordered his men to left oblique。
Just as they were abreast a hill to the right of the barns； Hyde； being some twenty feet ahead； looked over its top and saw several regiments of Confederates； jammed close together and waiting at the ready； so he gave the order left flank； and； still at the double quick； took his column past the barns and buildings toward an orchard on the hither side； hoping that he could get them back before they were cut off； for they were faced by ten times their number。 By going through the orchard he expected to be able to take advantage of a hollow； and partially escape the destructive flank fire on his return。
To hope to keep the barns from which they had driven the sharpshooters was vain； for the single Maine regiment found itself opposed to portions of no less than four Confederate brigades； at least a dozen regiments all told。 When the men got to the orchard fence； Sergeant Benson wrenched apart the tall pickets to let through Hyde's horse。 While he was doing this； a shot struck his haversack； and the men all laughed at the sight of the flying hardtack。
Going into the orchard there was a rise of ground； and the Confederates fired several volleys at the Maine men； and then charged them。 Hyde's horse was twice wounded； but was still able to go on。
No sooner were the men in blue beyond the fence than they got into line and met the Confederates； as they came crowding behind； with a slaughtering fire； and then charged； driving them back。 The color corporal was still carrying the colors； though one of his arms had been broken； but when half way through the orchard； Hyde heard him call out as he fell； and turned back to save the colors； if possible。
The apple…trees were short and thick； and he could not see much； and the Confederates speedily got between him and his men。 Immediately； with the cry of 〃Rally； boys； to save the Major；〃 back surged the regiment； and a volley at arm's length again destroyed all the foremost of their pursuers； so they rescued both their commander and the flag； which was carried off by Corporal Ring。
Hyde then formed the regiment on the colors； sixty…eight men all told； out of two hundred and forty who had begun the charge； and they slowly marched back toward their place in the Union line； while the New Yorkers and Vermonters rose from the ground cheering and waving their hats。 Next day； when the Confederates had retired a little from the field； the color corporal； Campbell； was found in the orchard； dead； propped up against a tree； with his half…smoked pipe beside him。
THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON
Like a servant of the Lord； with his bible and his sword； Our general rode along us； to form us for the fight。 Macaulay。
THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON
The Civil War has left； as all wars of brother against brother must leave； terrible and heartrending memories； but there remains as an offset the glory which has accrued to the nation by the countless deeds of heroism performed by both sides in the struggle。 The captains and the armies that； after long years of dreary campaigning and bloody； stubborn fighting； brought the war to a close； have left us more than a reunited realm。 North and South； all Americans； now have a common fund of glorious memories。 We are the richer for each grim campaign； for each hard…fought battle。 We are the richer for valor displayed alike by those who fought so valiantly for the right； and by those who； no less valiantly； fought for what they deemed the right。 We have in us nobler capacities for what is great and good because of the infinite woe and suffering； and because of the splendid ultimate triumph。 We hold that it was vital to the welfare； not only of our people on this continent； but of the whole human race； that the Union should be preserved and slavery abolished； that one flag should fly from the Great Lakes to the Rio Grande； that we should all be free in fact as well as in name； and that the United States should stand as one nationthe greatest nation on the earth。 But we recognize gladly that； South as well as North； when the fight was once on； the leaders of the armies； and the soldiers whom they led； displayed the same qualities of daring and steadfast courage； of disinterested loyalty and enthusiasm； and of high devotion to an ideal。
The greatest general of the South was Lee； and his greatest lieutenant was Jackson。 Both were Virginians； and both were strongly opposed to disunion。 Lee went so far as to deny the right of secession； while Jackson insisted that the South ought to try to get its rights inside the Union； and not outside。 But when Virginia joined the Southern Confederacy； and the war had actually begun； both men cast their lot with the South。
It is often said that the Civil War was in one sense a repetition of the old struggle between the Puritan and the Cavalier； but Puritan and Cavalier types were common to the two armies。 In dash and light…hearted daring； Custer and Kearney stood as conspicuous as Stuart and Morgan； and； on the other hand； no Northern general approached the Roundhead typethe type of the stern； religious warriors who fought under Cromwellso closely as Stonewall Jackson。 He was a man of intense religious conviction； who carried into every thought and deed of his daily life the precepts of the faith he cherished。 He was a tender and loving husband and father； kindhearted and gentle to all with whom he was brought in contact； yet in the times that tried men's souls； he proved not only a commander of genius； but a fighter of iron will and temper； who joyed in the battle； and always showed at his best when the danger was greatest。 The vein of fanaticism that ran through his character helped to render him a terrible opponent。 He knew no such word as falter； and when he had once put his hand to a piece of work； he did it thoroughly and with all his heart。 It was quite in keeping with his character that this gentle； high…minded； and religious man should； early in the contest； have proposed to hoist the black flag； neither take nor give quarter； and make the war one of extermination。 No such policy was practical in the nineteenth century and in the American Republic； but it would have seemed quite natural and proper to Jackson's ancestors； the grim Scotch…Irish； who defended Londonderry against the forces of the Stuart king； or to their forefathers； the Covenanters of Scotland； and the Puritans who in England rejoiced at the beheading of King Charles I。
In the first battle in which Jackson took part； the confused struggle at Bull Run； he gained his name of Stonewall from the firmness with which he kept his men to their work and repulsed the attack of the Union troops。 From that time until his death； less than two years afterward； his career was one of brilliant and almost uninterrupted success； whether serving with an independent command in the Valley； or acting under Lee as his right arm in the pitched battles with McClellan； Pope； and Burnside。 Few generals as great as Lee have ever had as great a lieutenant as Jackson。 He was a master of strategy and tactics； fearless of responsibility； able to instil into his men。 his own intense ardor in battle； and so quick in his movements； so ready to march as well as fight； that his troops were known to the rest of the army as the 〃foot cavalry。〃
In the spring of 1863 Hooker had command of the Army of the Potomac。 Like McClellan； he was able to perfect the discipline of his forces and to organize them； and as a division commander he was better than McClellan； but he failed even more signally when given a great independent command。 He had under him 120；000 men when； toward the end of April； he prepared to attack Lee's army； which was but half as strong。
The Union army lay opposite Fredericksburg； looking at the fortified heights where they had received so bloody a repulse at the beginning of the winter。 Hooker decided to distract the attention of the Confederates by letting a small portion of his force； under General Sedgwick； attack Fredericksburg； while he himself took the bulk of the army across the river to the right hand so as to crush Lee by an assault on his flank。 All went
