hero tales from american history-第24章
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the army across the river to the right hand so as to crush Lee by an assault on his flank。 All went well at the beginning； and on the first of May Hooker found himself at Chancellorsville； face…to…face with the bulk of Lee's forces； and Sedgwick； crossing the river and charging with the utmost determination； had driven out of Fredericksburg the Confederate division of Early； but when Hooker found himself in front of Lee he hesitated； faltered instead of pushing on； and allowed the consummate general to whom he was opposed to take the initiative。
Lee fully realized his danger； and saw that his only chance was； first to beat back Hooker； and then to turn and overwhelm Sedgwick； who was in his rear。 He consulted with Jackson； and Jackson begged to be allowed to make one of his favorite flank attacks upon the Union army； attacks which could have been successfully delivered only by a skilled and resolute general； and by troops equally able to march and to fight。 Lee consented； and Jackson at once made off。 The country was thickly covered with a forest of rather small growth； for it was a wild region； in which there was still plenty of game。 Shielded by the forest； Jackson marched his gray columns rapidly to the left along the narrow country roads until he was square on the flank of the Union right wing； which was held by the Eleventh Corps； under Howard。 The Union scouts got track of the movement and reported it at headquarters； but the Union generals thought the Confederates were retreating； and when finally the scouts brought word to Howard that he was menaced by a flank attack he paid no heed to the information； and actually let his whole corps be surprised in broad daylight。 Yet all the while the battle was going on elsewhere； and Berdan's sharpshooters had surrounded and captured a Georgia regiment； from which information was received showing definitely that Jackson was not retreating； and must be preparing to strike a heavy blow。
The Eleventh Corps had not the slightest idea that it was about to be assailed。 The men were not even in line。 Many of them had stacked their muskets and were lounging about； some playing cards； others cooking supper； intermingled with the pack…mules and beef cattle。 While they were thus utterly unprepared Jackson's gray…clad veterans pushed straight through the forest and rushed fiercely to the attack。 The first notice the troops of the Eleventh Corps received did not come from the pickets； but from the deer； rabbits and foxes which； fleeing from their coverts at the approach of the Confederates； suddenly came running over and into the Union lines。 In another minute the frightened pickets came tumbling back； and right behind them came the long files of charging； yelling Confederates； With one fierce rush Jackson's men swept over the Union lines； and at a blow the Eleventh Corps became a horde of panicstruck fugitives。 Some of the regiments resisted for a few moments； and then they too were carried away in the flight。
For a while it seemed as if the whole army would be swept off； but Hooker and his subordinates exerted every effort to restore order。 It was imperative to gain time so that the untouched portions of the army could form across the line of the Confederate advance。
Keenan's regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry； but four hundred sabers strong； was accordingly sent full against the front of the ten thousand victorious Confederates。
Keenan himself fell； pierced by bayonets； and the charge was repulsed at once； but a few priceless moments had been saved； and Pleasanton had been given time to post twenty…two guns； loaded with double canister； where they would bear upon the enemy。
The Confederates advanced in a dense mass； yelling and cheering； and the discharge of the guns fairly blew them back across the work's they had just taken。 Again they charged； and again were driven back； and when the battle once more began the Union reinforcements had arrived。
It was about this time that Jackson himself was mortally wounded。 He had been leading and urging on the advance of his men； cheering them with voice and gesture； his pale face flushed with joy and excitement； while from time to time as he sat on his horse he took off his hat and； looking upward； thanked heaven for the victory it had vouchsafed him。 As darkness drew near he was in the front； where friend and foe were mingled in almost inextricable confusion。 He and his staff were fired at； at close range； by the Union troops； and； as they turned； were fired at again； through a mistake； by the Confederates behind them。 Jackson fell； struck in several places。 He was put in a litter and carried back； but he never lost consciousness； and when one of his generals complained of the terrible effect of the Union cannonade he answered：
〃You must hold your ground。〃
For several days he lingered； hearing how Lee beat Hooker； in detail； and forced him back across the river。 Then the old Puritan died。 At the end his mind wandered； and he thought he was again commanding in battle； and his last words were。
〃Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade。〃
Thus perished Stonewall Jackson； one of the ablest of soldiers and one of the most upright of men； in the last of his many triumphs。
THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG
For the Lord On the whirlwind is abroad； In the earthquake he has spoken； He has smitten with his thunder The iron walls asunder； And the gates of brass are broken！ Whittier
With bray of the trumpet； And roll of the drum； And keen ring of bugle The cavalry come： Sharp clank the steel scabbards； The bridle…chains ring； And foam from red nostrils The wild chargers fling！
Tramp； tramp o'er the greensward That quivers below； Scarce held by the curb bit The fierce horses go！ And the grim…visaged colonel； With ear…rending shout； Peals forth to the squadrons The order； 〃Trot Out〃！ Francis A。 Durivage。
THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG
The battle of Chancellorsville marked the zenith of Confederate good fortune。 Immediately afterward； in June； 1863； Lee led the victorious army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania。 The South was now the invader； not the invaded； and its heart beat proudly with hopes of success； but these hopes went down in bloody wreck on July 4； when word was sent to the world that the high valor of Virginia had failed at last on the field of Gettysburg； and that in the far West Vicksburg had been taken by the army of the 〃silent soldier。〃
At Gettysburg Lee had under him some seventy thousand men； and his opponent； Meade； about ninety thousand。 Both armies were composed mainly of seasoned veterans； trained to the highest point by campaign after campaign and battle after battle； and there was nothing to choose between them as to the fighting power of the rank and file。 The Union army was the larger； yet most of the time it stood on the defensive； for the difference between the generals； Lee and Meade； was greater than could be bridged by twenty thousand men。 For three days the battle raged。 No other battle of recent time has been so obstinate and so bloody。 The victorious Union army lost a greater percentage in killed and wounded than the allied armies of England； Germany； and the Netherlands lost at Waterloo。 Four of its seven corps suffered each a greater relative loss than befell the world…renowned British infantry on the day that saw the doom of the French emperor。 The defeated Confederates at Gettysburg lost； relatively； as many men as the defeated French at Waterloo； but whereas the French army became a mere rabble； Lee withdrew his formidable soldiery with their courage unbroken； and their fighting power only diminished by their actual losses in the field。
The decisive moment of the battle； and perhaps of the whole war； was in the afternoon of the third day； when Lee sent forward his choicest troops in a last effort to break the middle of the Union line。 The center of the attacking force was Pickett's division； the flower of the Virginia infantry； but many other brigades took part in the assault； and the column； all told； numbered over fifteen thousand men。 At the same time； the Confederates attacked the Union left to create a diversion。 The attack was
