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guns and a few men under a green and inefficient officer to the bridge. Theyarrived about the same time as Jackson , but, his troops soon coming up, theFederal officer and his supports made great haste back to the Lewis farm,losing a gun at the bridge.
I reached Port Republic an hour before daybreak of June 9th, and soughtthe house occupied by Jackson ; but not wishing to disturb him so early, Iasked the sentinel what room was occupied by “ Sandy ” Pendleton, Jackson ’sadjutant-general. “ Upstairs, first room on the right,” he replied.
Supposing he meant our right as we faced the house, I went up, softlyopened the door, and discovered General Jackson lying on his face acrossthe bed, fully dressed, with sword, sash, and boots all on. The low-burnttallow candle on the table shed a dim light, yet enough by which to recognizehim. I endeavored to withdraw without waking him. He turned over, satup on the bed, and called out, “ Who is that ? ”
He checked my apology with “ That is all right. It’s time to be up. I amglad to see you. Were the men all up as you came through camp ? ”
“Yes, General, and cooking.”
“ That’s right. We move at daybreak. Sit down. I want to talk to you.”
I had learned never to ask him questions about his plans, for he wouldnever answer such to any one. I therefore waited for him to speak first.He referred very feelingly to Ashby’s death, and spoke of it as an irrepara-ble loss. When he paused I said, “ General, you made a glorious winding-up of your four weeks’ work yesterday.”
He replied, “ Yes, God blessed our army again yesterday, and I hope withhis protection and blessing we shall do still better to-day.”
Then seating himself, for the first time in all my intercourse with him, heoutlined the day’s proposed operations. I remember perfectly his conversa-tion. He said: “Charley Winder[Brigadier-General commanding hisold ‘ Stonewall’ brigade] will cross theriver at daybreak and attack Shieldson the Lewds farm [two miles below].I shall support him with all the othertroops as fast as they can be put inline. General ‘Dick’ Taylor will movethrough the woods on the side of themountain with his Louisiana brigade,and rush upon their left flank by thetime the action becomes general. By10 o’clock we shall get them on the run,and I’ll now tell you what I w T ant withyou. Send the big new rifle-gun youhave [a 12-pounder Parrott] to Poague[commander of the Rockbridge artil-lery] and let your mounted men reportto the cavalry. I want you in person to
BATTLE OF
PORT REPUBLIC
Scale of Miles
l/cnry.Nacef.
... , v VJ
By Major Jed. Hotchkiss,Top. Eng. Valley Dist. A. N. Va.