238
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRST BULL RUN.
a fire that delayed the enemy’s movement across Young’s Branch. But forthat, they might have gained the Henry plateau, before Jackson and Hamp-ton came up, and before Bee and Bartow had rallied their disorganized troops.Minutes count as hours under such circumstances, and trifles often turn thescale in great battles.
General Jackson’s wound became very serious when inflammation set in.On hearing, three days after the fight, that he was suffering with it, I rode tohis quarters, a little farm-house near Centreville. Although it was barelysunrise, he was out under the trees, bathing the hand with spring water. Itwas much swollen and very painful, but he bore himself stoically. His wifehad arrived the night before. Of course, the battle was the only topic dis-cussed at breakfast. I remarked, in Mrs. Jackson’s hearing, “ General, howis it that you can keep so cool, and appear so utterly insensible to danger insuch a storm of shell and bullets as rained about you when your hand washit?” He instantly became grave and reverential in his manner, andanswered, in a low tone of great earnestness: “ Captain, my religious beliefteaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time formy death. I do not concern myself about that , but to be always ready,no matter when it may overtake me.” He added, after a pause, looking mefull in the face: “ Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then allwould be equally brave.”
I felt that this last remark was intended as a rebuke for my profanity,when I had complained to him on the field of the apparent abandonment ofmy battery to capture, and I apologized. He heard me, and simply said,“ Nothing can justify profanity.” \
The battle was mainly fought by Johnston’s troops from the Shenandoah.Two-thirds of the killed and wounded w r ere his men and officers. Beau-regard’s troops were strung out for several miles down the valley of BullRun, and did not get up to our aid till near the end of the day. GeneralBeauregard himself, who was in the thickest of the fight, came upon the fieldlong before any of his troops arrived, except those he had posted underEvans to guard the Stone Bridge, and which, with Bee’s troops, bore thebrunt of the first attack.
\ I never knew Jackson to let profanity pass with-out a rebuke but once. The incident was reported tome by the chief actor in it, Major John A. Harman,who was Jackson’s chief quart ermast er. It happenedat Edwards Ferry, on the Potomac , when our armywas crossing into Maryland in the Antietam cam-paign. On the march to the river, for some in-fraction of orders about the manner of marchinghis division, Major-General A. P. Hill had beenordered in arrest by Jackson. This probably hadput Jackson in a ruffled frame of mind. The daywas very hot, and the ford was completely blockedwith a wagon train, either of Hill ’s or some otherdivision. On seeing the state of affairs, Jacksonturned to Major Harman, and ordered him to clearthe ford. Harman dashed in among the wagoners,kicking mules, and apparently inextricable mass
of wagons, and, in the voice of a stentor, pouredout a volume of oaths that would have excited theadmiration of the most scientific mule-driver. Theeffect was electrical. The drivers were frightenedand swore as best they could, but far below themajor’s standard. The mules caught the inspira-tion from a chorus of familiar words, and all atonce made a break for the Maryland shore, and infive minutes the ford was cleared, Jackson wit-nessed and heard it all. Harman rode back tojoin him, expecting a lecture, and, touching hishat, said : “ The ford is clear, general! There’sonly one language that will make mules under-stand on a hot day that they must get out of thewater.” The general smiled, and said: “Thankyou, major,” and dashed into the water at the headof his staff, and rode across.— J. D. I.