captains of the civil war-第4章
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n public estimation when the war broke out。 A few brother…officers had seen his consummate skill and bravery as a subaltern in Mexico； and still fewer close acquaintances had seen his sterling qualities at Lexington； where； for ten years； he had been a professor at the Virginia Military Institute。 But these few were the only ones who were not surprised when this recluse of peace suddenly became a very thunderbolt of warPuritan in soul； Cavalier in daring： a Cromwell come to life again。
Harper's Ferry was a strategic point in northern Virginia。 It was the gate to the Shenandoah Valley as well as the point where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad crossed the Potomac some sixty miles northwest of Washington。 Harper's Ferry was known by name to North and South through John Brown's raid two years before。 It was now coveted by Virginia for its Arsenal as well as for its command of road； rail； and water routes。 The plan to raid it was arranged at Richmond on the sixteenth of April。 But when the raiders reached it on the eighteenth they found it abandoned and its Arsenal in flames。 The machine shops； however； were saved； as well as the metal parts of twenty thousand stand of arms。 Then the Virginia militiamen and volunteers streamed in； to the number of over four thousand。 They were a mere conglomeration of semi…independent units； mostly composed of raw recruits under officers who themselves knew next to nothing。 As usual with such fledgling troops there was no end to the fuss and feathers among the members of the busybody staffs； who were numerous enough to manage an army but clumsy enough to spoil a platoon。 It was said； and not without good reason； that there was as much gold lace at Harper's Ferry； when the sun was shining； as at a grand review in Paris。
Into this gaudy assemblage rode Thomas Jonathan Jackson； mounted on Little Sorrel； a horse as unpretentious as himself； and dressed in his faded old blue professor's uniform without one gleam of gold。 He had only two staff officers； both dressed as plainly as himself。 He was not a major…general； nor even a brigadier； just a colonel。 He held no trumpeting reviews。 He made no flowery speeches。 He didn't even swear。 The armed mob at Harper's Ferry felt that they would lose caste on Sunday afternoons under a commandant like this。 Their feelings were still more outraged when they heard that every officer above the rank of captain was to lose his higher rank； and that all new reappointments were to be made on military merit and direct from Richmond。 Companies accustomed to elect their officers according to the whim of the moment eagerly joined the higher officers in passing adverse resolutions。 But authorities who were unanimous for Lee were not to be shaken by such absurdities in face of a serious war。 And when the froth had been blown off the top； and the dregs drained out of the bottom； the solid mass between； who really were sound patriots； settled down to work。
There was seven hours' drill every day except Sunday； no light task for a mere armed mob groping its ignorant way； however zealously； towards the organized efficiency of a real army。 The companies had to be formed into workable battalions； the battalions into brigades。 There was a deplorable lack of cavalry； artillery； engineers； commissariat； transport； medical services； and； above all； staff。 Armament was bad； other munitions were worse。 There would have been no chance whatever of holding Harper's Ferry unless the Northern conglomeration had been even less like a fighting army than the Southern was。
Harper's Ferry was not only important in itself but still more important for what it covered： the wonderfully fruitful Shenandoah Valley； running southwest a hundred and forty miles to the neighborhood of Lexington； with an average width of only twenty…four。 Bounded on the west by the Alleghanies and on the east by the long Blue Ridge this valley was a regular covered way by which the Northern invaders might approach； cut Virginia in two （for West Virginia was then a part of the State） and； after devastating the valley itself （thus destroying half the foodbase of Virginia） attack eastern Virginia through whichever gaps might serve the purpose best。 More than this； the only direct line from Richmond to the Mississippi ran just below the southwest end of the valley； while a network of roads radiated from Winchester near the northeast end； thirty miles southwest of Harper's Ferry。
Throughout the month of May Jackson went on working his men into shape and watching the enemy； three thousand strong； at Chambersburg； forty…five miles north of Harper's Ferry； and twelve thousand strong farther north still。 One day he made a magnificent capture of rolling stock on the twenty…seven miles of double track that centered in Harper's Ferry。 This greatly hampered the accumulation of coal at Washington besides helping the railroads of the South。 Destroying the line was out of the question； because it ran through West Virginia and Maryland； both of which he hoped to see on the Confederate side。 He was himself a West Virginian； born at Clarksburg； and it grieved him greatly when West Virginia stood by the Union。
Apart from this he did nothing spectacular。 The rest was all just sheer hard work。 He kept his own counsel so carefully that no one knew anything about what he would do if the enemy advanced。 Even the officers of outposts were forbidden to notice or mention his arrival or departure on his constant tours of inspection； lest a longer look than usual at any point might let an awkward inference be drawn。 He was the sternest of disciplinarians when the good of the service required it。 But no one knew better that the finest discipline springs from self…sacrifice willingly made for a worthy cause； and no one was readier to help all ranks along toward real efficiency in the kindest possible way when he saw they were doing their best。
At the end of May Johnston took over the command of the increasing force at Harper's Ferry； while Jackson was given the First Shenandoah Brigade； a unit soon； like himself； to be raised by service into fame。
On the first and third of May Virginia issued calls for more men； and on the third Lincoln； who quite understood the signs of the times； called for men whose term of service would be three years and not three months。
Just a week later Missouri was saved for the Union by the daring skill of two determined leaders； Francis P。 Blair； a Member of Congress who became a good major…general； and Captain Nathaniel Lyon； an excellent soldier； who commanded the little garrison of regulars at St。 Louis。 When Lincoln called upon Governor Claiborne Jackson to supply Missouri's quota of three…month volunteers the Governor denounced the proposed coercion as 〃illegal； unconstitutional； revolutionary； inhuman； and diabolical〃； and thereafter did his best to make Missouri join the South。 But Blair and Lyon were too quick for him。 Blair organized the Home Guards； whom Lyon armed from the arsenal。 Lyon then sent all the surplus arms and stores across the river into Illinois； while he occupied the most commanding position near the arsenal with his own troops； thus forestalling the Confederates； under Brigadier…General D。 M。 Frost； who was now forced to establish Camp Jackson in a far less favorable place。 So vigorously had Blair and Lyon worked that they had armed thousands while Frost had only armed hundreds。 But when Frost received siege guns and mortars from farther south Lyon felt the time had come for action。
Lyon was a born leader； though Grant and Sherman （then in St。 Louis as junior ex…officers； quite unknown to fame） were almost the only men； apart from Blair； to see any signs of preeminence in this fiery little redheaded； weather…beaten captain； who kept dashing about the arsenal； with his pockets full of papers； making sure of every detail connected with the handful of regulars and the thousands of Home Guards。
On the ninth of May Lyon borrowed an old dress from Blair's mother…in…law； completing the disguise with a thickly veiled sunbonnet； and drove through Camp Jackson。 That night he and Blair attended a council of war； at which； overcoming all opposition； answering all objections； and making all a
