Z ) 2 A
OUR MARCH AGAINST POPE.
Federal army was then concentrated; had it come on the 29th I would havebeen greatly pleased.
It is proper to state that General Lee , upon hearing my guns on the 30th,sent me word that if I had anything better than reenforcing Jackson to pursueit, and soon afterward rode forward and joined me. Jackson did not respondwith spirit to my move, so my men were subjected to a severe artillery firefrom batteries in front of him. General Lee , seeing this, renewed his ordersfor Jackson to press on to the front. The fire still continued severe, however,
and General Lee , who remained with me,was greatly exposed to it. As we couldnot persuade him to drop back behind it,I finally induced him to ride into a ravinewhich threw a traverse between us andthe fire, which was more annoying thanfire from the front.
On the 31st we were engaged in caringfor our wounded and cleaning up the bat-tle-field. General Lee was quite satisfiedwith the results of the campaign, thoughhe had very little to say. He was notgiven to expressions of pride. Under allcircumstances he was a moderate talker,and in everything was unassuming. Hisheadquarters were exceedingly simple.He had his tents of the same kind as theother officers—perhaps a few more, toaccommodate his larger staff. He madeno display of position or rank. Only whenhe was specially engaged could a sentinel be seen at the door of his tent.On the march he usually had his headquarters near mine.
I was graduated with Pope at West Point. He was a handsome, dashingfellow , and a splendid cavalryman, sitting his horse beautifully. I think hestood at the head for riding. He did not apply himself to his books veryclosely. He studied about as much as I did, but knew his lessons better. Wewere graduated in 1842, but Pope saw little of active service till the openingof the Civil War . When he assumed command of the Army of Virginia hewas in the prime of life, less than forty years old, and had lost little if any ofthe dash and grace of his youth. D. II. Hill, Lafayette McLaws , MansfieldLovell, Gustavus W. Smith, R. H. Anderson, A. P. Stewart, and Earl Van Dorn were among the Confederate commanders who were graduated in the sain®class with me. Of the Federal commanders, there were of that class—besidesPope—Generals John Newton , W. S. Kosecrans, George Sykes, Abner Double-day, and others less prominent. Stonewall Jackson came on four years after myclass. General Lee had preceded us about fourteen years. General Ewell, who washurt in this battle, was in the same class with Tecumseh Sherman and GeorgeH. Thomas . A truer soldier and nobler spirit than Ewell never drew sword.