208

STONEWALL JACKSON ’S LAST BATTLE.

these dispositions were completed. Upon liis stout-built, long-paced littlesorrel, General Jackson sat, with visor low over his eyes and lips compressed,and with his watch in his hand. Upon his right sat General Robert E. Eodes,the very picture of a soldier, and every inch all that he appeared. Upon theright of Rodes sat Major Blackford.

“ Are you ready, General Rodes ? ” said Jackson .

“ Yes, sir ! ” said Rodes, impatient for the advance.

“You can go forward then,” said Jackson .

A nod from Rodes was order enough for Blackford, and then suddenly thewoods rang with the bugle call, and back came the responses from bugles onthe right and left, and the long line of skirmishers, through the wild thicket

of undergrowth, sprangeagerly to their work,followed promptly bythe quick steps of theline of battle. For amoment all the troopsseemed buried in thedepths of the gloomyforest, and then sudden-ly the echoes waked andswept the country formiles, never failing un-til heard at the head-quarters of Hooker atChaTicellorsville — thewild “ rebel yell ” of thelong Confederate lines.

Never was assault de-livered with granderenthusiasm. Fresh fromthe long winter’s waiting, and confident from the preparation of the spring?the troops were in fine condition and in high spirits. The boys were all backfrom home or sick leave. “ Old Jack” was there upon the road in their midst;there could be no mistake and no failure. And there were Rodes and A. P*Hill. Had they not seen and cheered, as long and as loud as they were per-mitted, the gay-hearted Stuart and the long-bearded Fitz Lee on his fierycharger? Was not Crutchfield’s array of brass and iron “dogs ofwar” 8 ^hand, with Poague [Rockbridge Artillery] and Palmer [1st Richmond HoW-itzers, then under McCarthy], and all the rest?

Alas! for Howard and his unformed lines, and his brigades with gun sstacked, and officers at dinner or asleep under the trees, and butchers deepin the blood of beeves! Scattered through field and forest, his men were pi’ e 'paring their evening meal.] A little show of earth-work facing the south wasquickly taken by us in reverse from the west. Flying battalions are not

i But see notes, pp. 108 and 202.— Editors.

STONEWALL JACKSON ’S “OLD SOliKKL.”

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Tliis picture is from a photograph taken at the Maryland State Fair atHagerstown , in 1884. At that time “Old Sorrel” was thought to ho aboutthirty-four years old. At the fair, relic-hunters plucked away much of hismane and tail.— Editors.