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with lee in virginia-第30部分

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〃I will if you wish it; Vincent; but I cannot believe for a moment

that this Jackson or any one else would venture to meddle with any

of my slaves。〃



〃Perhaps not; mother; but it is best to he on the safe side。  Anyhow;

I shall be glad to know that she is with you。  Young Jackson will

be away; for I know he is in one of Stuart's troops of horse; though

I have never happened to run against him since the war began。〃



The firing had hardly ceased before Harrison's Landing; when

General Jackson; with a force of about 15;000 men; composed of

his own division; now commanded by General Winder; General

Ewell's division; and a portion of that of General Hill; started for

the Rapidan to check General Pope; who; plundering and wasting

the country as he advanced; was marching south; his object being

to reach Gordonsville; where he would cut the line of railway

connecting Richmond with Western Virginia。  Vincent was glad

that the regiment to which he had been appointed would he under

Jackson's command; and that he would be campaigning again with

his old division; which consisted largely of Virginian troops and

contained so many of his old friends。



With Jackson; too; he was certain to be engaged in stirring service;

for that general ever kept his troops upon the march; striking blows

where least expected; and traversing such an extent of country by

rapid marches that he and his division seemed to the enemy to be

almost ubiquitous。



It was but a few hours after he received his appointment that

Vincent took train from Richmond to Gordonsville; Dan being in

the horse…box with Wildfire in the rear of the train。  His regiment

was encamped a mile or two away; and he at once rode on and

reported himself to Colonel Jones; who commanded it。



〃I am glad to have you with me; sir;〃 the colonel said。 〃I had the

pleasure of knowing your father; and am an old friend of your

mother's family。  As you were in Ashley's horse and have been

serving on Magruder's staff; you are well up in your duties; and it

is a comfort to me that the vacancy has been filled up by one who

knows his work instead of a raw hand。  We have had a brush or

two already with the enemy; but at present we are watching each

other; waiting on both sides till the generals have got their infantry

to the front in readiness for an advance Jackson is waiting for

Hill's division to come up; and I believe Pope is expecting great

reinforcements from McClellan。〃



A few days later Colonel Jones was ordered to take charge of the

pickets posted on the Rapidan; but before reaching Orange a

gentleman rode up at full speed and informed them that the enemy

were in possession of that town。  Colonel Jones divided his

regiment into two parts; and with one charged the Federal cavalry

in the main street of Orange; while the other portion of the

regiment; under Major Marshall; attacked them on the flank。  After

a sharp fight the enemy were driven from the place; but they

brought up large reinforcements; and; pouring in a heavy fire;

attacked the town on both sides; and the Confederates had to fall

hack。  But they made another stand a little way out of the town;

and drove back the Federal cavalry who were pressing them。



Although the fight had been but a short one the losses in the

cavalry ranks had been serious。  Colonel Jones; while charging at

the head of his men; had received a saber…wound; and Major

Marshall was taken prisoner。



Five days later; on the 7th of August; Jackson received certain

intelligence that General Burnside; with a considerable portion of

McClellan's force; had embarked; and was on the way to join Pope。 

He determined to strike a blow at once; and marched with his

entire force from Gordonsville for Barnett Ford on the Rapidan。



At daybreak next morning the cavalry crossed the river and

attacked and routed a body of Federal cavalry on the road to

Culpepper Courthouse。 On the following day Jackson came up

with his infantry to a point about eight miles from Culpepper;

where Pope's army; 32;000 strong; were stationed upon the crest of

a hill。  General Ewell's division; which was the only one then up; at

once advanced; and; after a severe artillery fight; gained a point on

a hill where his guns could command the enemy's position。



Jackson's division now came up; and as it was moving into

position General Winder was killed by a shell。  For some hours

Jackson did not attempt to advance; as Hill's division had not

come up。  Encouraged by this delay; the enemy at five o'clock in

the afternoon took the offensive and advanced through some

cornfields lying between the two armies and attacked Ewell's

division on the Confederate right; while shortly afterward they fell

with overwhelming strength on Jackson's left; and; attacking it in

front; flank; and rear; drove it back; and pressed upon it with such

force that the day appeared lost。



At this moment Jackson himself rode down among the confused

and wavering troops; and by his voice and example rallied them。 

At the same moment the old Stonewall Brigade came up at a run

and poured their fire into the advancing enemy。  Jackson led the

troops he had rallied forward。  The Stonewall Brigade fell upon the

enemy's flank and drove them back with terrible slaughter。  Other

brigades came up; and there was a general charge along the whole

Confederate line; and the Federals were driven back a mile beyond

the position they had occupied at the commencement of the fight

to the shelter of some thick woods。  Four hundred prisoners were

taken and over 5;000 small …arms。



The battle was known as Cedar Run; and it completely checked

Pope's advance upon Richmond。  The troops were too much

exhausted to follow up their victory; but Jackson urged them to

press forward。  They moved a mile and a half in advance; and then

found themselves so strongly opposed that Jackson; believing that

the enemy must have received reinforcements; halted his men。 

Colonel Jones was sent forward to reconnoiter; and discovered that

a large force had joined the enemy。



For two days Jackson remained on the field he had won; his troops

had been busy in burying the dead; in collecting the wounded and

sending them to the rear; and in gathering the arms thrown away

by the enemy in their flight。 Being assured that the enemy were

now too strong to be attacked by the force under his command;

Jackson fell back to Orange Courthouse。  There was now a few

days' delay; while masses of troops were on both sides moving

toward the new field of action。  McClellan marched his troops

across the James Peninsula from Harrison's Landing to Yorktown;

and there the greater portion were embarked in transports and

taken up the Rappahannock to Aquia Creek; landed there; and

marched to Fredericksburg。



Lee; instead of attacking McClellan on his march across the

peninsula; determined to take his army north at once to join

Jackson and attack Pope before he was joined by McClellan's

army。  But Pope; although already largely reinforced; retired

hastily and took up a new position so strongly fortified that ho

could not he attacked。  General Stuart had come up with Lee; and

was in command of all the cavalry。



〃We shall see some work now;〃 was the remark round the fires of

the 7th Virginian Cavalry。  Hitherto; although they had been

several times engaged with the Federals; they had been forced to

remain for the most part inactive owing to the vast superiority in

force of the enemy's cavalry; but now that Stuart had come up they

felt certain that; whatever the disparity of numbers; there would

soon he some dashing work to be done。



Except when upon actual duty the strict lines of military discipline

were much relaxed among the cavalry; the troopers being almost

all the sons of farmers and planters and of equal social rank with

their officers; many of whom were their personal friends or

relatives。  Several of Vincent's schoolfellows were in the ranks;

two or three of them were fellow officers; and these often gathered

together round a camp fire and chatted over old schooldays and

mutual friends。



Many of these had already fallen; for the Virginian regiments of

Stonewall Jackson's brigade had been terribly thinned; but the loss

of so many friends and the knowledge that their own turn might

come next did not suffice to lessen the high spirits of the young

fellows。  The hard work; the rough life; the exposure and hardship;

had braced and invigorated them all; and they were attaining a far

more vigorous manhood than they would ever have possessed had

they grown lip in the somewhat sluggish and enervating life led by

young planters。



Many of these young men had; until the campaign began; never

done half an hour's hard work in their lives。 They had been waited

upon by slaves; and their only exercise had been riding。  For

months now they had almost lived in the saddle; 
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