captains of the civil war-第32章
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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 long gray line of skirmishers emerged from the woods； the Confederate bugles rang out； and Jackson's battle line appeared。 Then came a crashing volley； which drove in the Federal pickets for their lives。 Colonel Kenly did his best。 But he was outflanked and forced back in confusion。 A squadron of New York cavalry came to the rescue； but were themselves outflanked and helpless on the road against the Virginian horsemen； who could ride across country。 Kenly had just made a second stand； when down came the Virginians； led by Colonel Flournoy at racing speed over fence and ditch； scattering the Federal cavalry like chaff before the wind and smashing into the Federal infantry。 Two hundred and fifty really efficient cavalry took two guns （complete with limbers； men； and horses）； killed and wounded a hundred and fifty…four of their opponents； and captured six hundred prisoners as welland all with a loss to themselves of only eleven killed and fifteen wounded。
Ashby's cavalry； several hundreds strong； pushed on and out to the flanks； cutting the wires； destroying bridges； and blocking the roads against reinforcements from beyond the Valley。 Three hours after the attack a dispatchrider dashed up to Banks's headquarters at Strasburg。 But Banks refused to move； saying； when pressed by his staff to make a strategic retreat on Winchester； 〃By God； sir； I will not retreat！ We have more to fear from the opinions of our friends than from the bayonets of our enemies！〃 The Cabinet backed him up next day by actually proposing to reinforce him at Strasburg with troops from Washington and Baltimore。 Nevertheless he was forced to fly for his life to Winchester。 His stores at Strasburg had to be abandoned。 His long train of wagons was checked on the way； with considerable loss。 And some of his cavalry； caught on the road by horsemen who could ride across country； were smashed to pieces。
Jackson pressed on relentlessly to Winchester with every one who could march like 〃foot cavalry；〃 as his Valley men came to be called。 On the twenty…fifth； the third day of unremitting action； he carried the Winchester heights and drove Banks through the town。 Only the Second Massachusetts； which had already distinguished itself during the retreat； preserved its formation。 Ten thousand Confederate bayonets glittered in the morning sun。 The long gray lines swept forward。 The piercing rebel yell rose high。 And the people； wild with joy； rushed out of doors to urge the victors on。
By the twenty…sixth； the first day on which Stanton's reinforcements from Baltimore and Washington could possibly have fought at Strasburg； the Confederates had reached Martinsburg； fifty miles beyond it。 Banks had already crossed the Potomac； farther on still。 The newsboys of the North were crying； DEFEAT OF GENERAL BANKS！ WASHINGTON IN DANGER！ Thirteen Governors were calling for special State militia； for which a million men were volunteering； spare troops were hurrying to Harper's Ferry； a reserve corps was being formed at Washington； the Federal Government was assuming control of all the railroad lines； and McClellan was being warned that he must either take Richmond at once or come back to save the capital。 Nor did the strategic disturbance stop even there； for the Washington authorities ordered McDowell's force at Fredericksburg to the Valley just as it was coming into touch with McClellan。
On the twenty…eighth Jackson might have taken Harper's Ferry。 But the storm was gathering round him。 A great strategist directing the Federal forces could have concentrated fifty thousand men； by sunset on the first of June； against Jackson's Army of the Valley； which could not possibly have mustered one…third of such a number。 McDowell arrived that night at Front Royal。 He had vainly protested against the false strategy imposed by the Government from Washington； and he was not a free agent now。 Yet； even so； his force was at least a menace to Jackson； who had only two chances of getting away to aid in the。 defeat of McClellan and the saving of Richmond。 One was to outmarch the converging Federals； gain interior lines along the Valley； and defeat them there in detail。 The other was to march into friendly Maryland； trusting to her Southern sentiments for help and reinforcements。 He decided on the Valley route and marched straight in between his enemies。
His fortnight's work； from the nineteenth of May to the first of June； inclusive； is worth summing up。 In these fourteen days he had marched 170 miles； routed 12；500 men； threatened an invasion of the North； drawn McDowell off from Fredericksburg； taken or destroyed all Federal stores at Front Royal； Winchester； and Martinsburg； and brought off safely a convoy seven miles long。 Moreover； he had done all this with the loss of only six hundred； though sixty thousand enemies lay on three sides of his own sixteen thousand men。
His remaining problem was harder still。 It was how to mystify； tire out； check short； and then immobilize the converging Federals long enough to let him slip secretly away in time to help Johnston and Lee against McClellan。 Jackson； like his enemies； moved through what has been well called the Fog of Warthat inevitable uncertainty through which all commanders must find their way。 But none of his enemies equaled him in knowledge； genius； or character for war。
The first week in June saw desperate marches in the Valley； with the outnumbering Federals hotfoot on the trail of Jackson； who turned to bay one moment and at the next was off again。 On the sixth the Federals got home against his rear guard。 It began to waver； and Ashby ordered the infantry to charge。 As he gave the order his horse fell dead。 In a flash he was up； waving his sword and shouting： 〃Charge； for God's sake； charge！〃 The Confederate line swept forward gallantly。 But； just as it left the wood； Ashby was shot through the heart。 His men avenged him。 Yet none could fill his place as a born leader of irregular light horse。
Next morning the hounds were hot upon the scent again： Shields and Fremont converging on Jackson； whom they would run to earth somewhere north of Staunton。 But on the eighth and ninth Jackson turned sharply and bit back； first at Fremont close to Cross Keys； then at Shields near Port Republic。 Each was caught alone； just before their point of junction； and each was defeated in detail as well。
Fully to appreciate Jackson's strategy we must compare the strategical and tactical numbers concerned throughout this short but momentous Valley Campaign。 The strategic numbers are those at the disposal of the commander within the theater of operations。 The tactical numbers are those actually present on the field of battle； whether engaged or not。 At McDowell the Federals had 30；000 in strategic strength against 17；000 Confederates； yet the Confederates got 6000 on to the field of battle against no more than 2500。 At Winchester the Federal strategic strength was 60；000 against 16；000； yet the Confederate tactical strength was every man of the 16；000 against 7500only one…eighth of Banks's grand total。 At Cross Keys the strategic strengths were 23；000 Federals against 13；000 Confederates； yet 12；750 Federals were beaten by 8000 Confederates。 Finally； at Port Republic； the Federals； with a strategic strength of 22；000 against the Confederate 12；700； could only bring a tactical strength of 4500 to bear on 6000 Confederates。 The grand aggregate of these four remarkable actions is well worth adding up。 It comes to this in strategic strength： 135；000 Federals against 58；700 Confederates。 Yet in tactical strength the odds are reversed； for they come to this： 36；000 Confederates against only 27；250 Federals。 Therefore Stonewall Jackson； with strategic odds of nearly seven to three against him； managed to fight with tactical odds of four to three in his favor。
While Jackson was fighting in the Valley the Confederates at Richmond were watching the nightly glow of Federal camp fires。 McClellan had 30；000 men north of the Chickahominy； waiting for McDowell to come back fr
