captains of the civil war-第31章
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near Catlett's Station； to keep another eye on nervous Washington。
In the meantime Stonewall Jackson； still in the Shenandoah； had fought no battles since his tactical defeat at Kernstown on the twenty…third of March had proved such a pregnant strategic victory elsewhere。 But late in April he had a letter from Lee； telling of the general situation and suggesting an attack on Banks。 Banks； however； still had twenty thousand men at Harrisonburg； with twenty…five thousand more in or within call of the Valley。 Jackson's complete grand total was less than eighteen thousand。 The odds against him therefore exceeded five against two； and direct attack was out of the question。 But he now began his maneuvers anew and on a bolder scale than ever。 He had upset the Federal strategy at Kernstown； when there were less than eight thousand Confederates in the Valley。 What might he not do with ten thousand more？ His wonderful Valley Campaign； famous forever in the history of war； gives us the answer。
He had five advantages over Banks。 First； his own expert knowledge and genius for war； backed by a dauntless character。 Banks was a very able man who had worked his way up from factory hand to Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor of Massachusetts。 But he had neither the knowledge； genius； nor character required for high command； and he owed his present position more to his ardor as a politician than to his ability as a general。 Jackson's second advantage was his own and his army's knowledge of the country for which they naturally fought with a loving zeal which no invaders could equal。 The third advantage was in having Turner Ashby's cavalry。 These were horsemen born and bred； who could make their way across country as easily as the 〃footy〃 Federals could along the road。 In answer to a peremptory order a Federal cavalry commander could only explain： 〃I can't catch them。 They leap fences and walls like deer。 Neither our men nor our horses are so trained。〃 The fourth advantage was in discipline。 Jackson habitually spared his men more than his officers； and his officers more than himself； whenever indulgence was possible。 But when discipline had to be sternly maintained he； maintained it sternly； throughout all ranks； knowing that the flower of discipline is selfsacrifice； from the senior general down； and that the root is due subordination； from the junior private up。 After the Conscription Act had come into force a few companies； who were time…expired as volunteers； threw down their arms and told their colonel they wouldn't serve another day。 On hearing this officially Jackson asked： 〃Why does Colonel Grigsby refer to me to learn how to deal with mutineers？ He should shoot them where they stand。〃 The rest of the regiment was then paraded with loaded arms； facing the mutineers； who were given the choice of complete submission or instant death。 They chose submission。 That was the last mutiny under Stonewall Jackson。 Both sides suffered from straggling； the Confederates as much as the Federals。 But Confederate stragglers rejoined the better of the two； and in downright desertion the Federals were the worse； simply because their own peace party was by far the stronger。 The final advantage brings us back to strategy； on which the whole campaign was turning。 Lee and Jackson worked the Confederates together。 Lincoln and Stanton worked the Federals apart。
On the last of April Jackson slipped away from Swift Run Gap while Ewell quietly took his place and Ashby blinded Banks by driving the Federal cavalry back on Harrisonburg。 Jackson's men were thoroughly puzzled and disheartened when they had to leave the Valley in full possession of the enemy while they ploughed through seas of mud towards Richmond。 What was the matter？ Were they off to Richmond？ No； for they presently wheeled round。 〃Old Jack's crazy； sure； this time。〃 Even one of his staff officers thought so himself； and put it on paper； to his own confusion afterwards。 The rain came down in driving sheets。 The roads became mere drains for the oozing woods。 Wheels stuck fast； and Jackson was seen heaving his hardest with an exhausted gun team。 But still the march went onslosh； slosh； squelch； they slogged it through。 CLOSE UP； MEN！CLOSE UP IN REAR！CLOSE UP； THERE； CLOSE UP！
On the fourth of May Jackson got word from Edward Johnson； commanding his detached brigade near Staunton； that Milroy； commanding Fremont's advanced guard； was coming on from West Virginia。 Jackson at once seized the chance of smashing Milroy by railing in to Staunton before Banks or Fremont could interfere。 This would have been suicidal against a great commander with a well…trained force。 But Banks； grossly exaggerating Jackson's numbers； was already marching north to the railhead at New Market； where he would be nearer his friends if Jackson swooped down。 Detraining at Staunton the Confederates picketed the whole neighborhood to stop news getting out before they made their dash against Milroy。 On the seventh they moved off。 The cadets of the Virginia Military Institute； where Jackson had been a professor for so many years； had just joined to gain some experience of the real thing； and as they stepped out in their smart uniforms； with all the exactness of parade…ground drill； they formed a marked contrast to the gaunt soldiers of the Valley； half fed； half clad； but wholly eager for the fray。
That night Milroy got together all the men he could collect at McDowell； a little village just beyond the Valley and on the road to Gauley Bridge in West Virginia。 He sent posthaste for reinforcements。 But Fremont's men were divided too far west； fearing nothing from the Valley； while Banks's were thinking of a concentration too far north。
In the afternoon of the eighth； Milroy attacked Jackson with great determination and much skill。 But after a stern encounter； in which the outnumbered Federals fought very well indeed； the Confederates won a decisive victory。 The numbers actually engagedtwenty…five hundred Federals against four thousand Confederateswere even smaller than at Kernstown。 But this time the Confederates won the tactical victory on the spot as well as the strategic victory all over the Valley； and the news cheered Richmond at what； as we have seen already； was its very darkest hour。 The night of the battle Jackson sent out strong working parties to destroy all bridges and culverts and to block all roads by which Fremont could reach the Valley。 In some places bowlders were rolled down from the hills。 In one the trees were felled athwart the path for a mile。 A week later Jackson was back in the Valley at Lebanon Springs； while Fremont was blocked off from Banks； who was now distractedly groping for safety and news。
The following day； the famous sixteenth； we regain touch with Lee； who； as mentioned already； then wrote to Jackson about attacking Banks in order to threaten Washington。 This dire day at Richmond； the day McClellan reached White House； was also the one appointed by the Southern Government as a day of intercession for God's blessing on the Southern arms。 None kept it more fervently； even in beleaguered Richmond； than pious Jackson in the Valley。 Then； like a giant refreshed； he rose for swift and silent marches and also sudden hammer…strokes at Banks。
Confident that all would now go well； Washington thought nothing of the little skirmish at McDowell； because it apparently disturbed nothing beyond the Shenandoah Valley。 The news from everywhere else was good； and Federals were jubilant。 So were the civilian strategists； particularly Stanton； who； though tied to his desk as Secretary of War； was busy wire…pulling Banks's men about the Valley。 Stanton ordered Banks to take post at Strasburg and to hold the bridges at Front Royal with two detached battalions。 This masterpiece of bungling put the Federals at Front Royal in the air； endangered their communications north to Winchester； and therefore menaced the Valley line toward Washington。 But Banks said nothing； and Stanton would have snubbed him if he had。
On the twenty…third of May a thousand Federals under Colonel Kenly were sweltering in the first hot weather of the year at Stanton's indefensible position of Front Royal when suddenly a
