Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/11

 10 of both North and South—one an author, to whom I shall have other occasions to refer, and who, himself, took an active part in these operations, and commanded a brigade in Banks' corps of Pope's army,* and who has written, I think, the best account of the campaign published. It tells how every precaution was taken to conceal our march from Pope. "All unnecessary noise," he says, "was suppressed. Every road leading in the direction of the Federal army was watched by the Confederate cavalry. The troops moved as men will move when they are impelled by enthusiasm. Their eyes sparkled, their expression was ardent, and their step elastic. They seemed to have been lifted out of the obscurity of their lives into a higher plane of glorious achievements." He tells of that scene, which, no doubt, all of you who were there will remember, and which has been so well described, too, by

Professor (Rev. Robert Lewis) Dabney in his Life of Jackson, when Jackson stood by the road side to see us all pass as the evening of the first day's march closed in. He says:

"Near the end of the day's march General Jackson rode to the head of his column. There, on a great stone, he stood gazing as his soldiers passed. It was sunset. His face was darkened by exposure; his uniform was soiled and dingy, but his figure was rigid, and his expression, though stern, was radiant with hope. Before him passed in review his faithful men and their devoted leader. * * * And now some of those men of the old Stonewall brigade were before him. Jackson could not repress their enthusiasm. In vain he sent to them to be silent; in vain urged them not to make known their presence to the enemy by their cheers. Such considerations had been urged to the first troops passing, and they had repressed their desires, giving token of their expressions of confidence and admiration for their commander by silently swinging their caps in the air. But the men of the old brigade, now grown into a division, could not repress their shouts. They cheered tumultuously. "It is of no use," said Jackson; "you see," turning to one of his staff, "I can't stop them." Then he added, "who could not conquer with such men as these?" Alas! alas!! alas!!!

We halted, as you well recollect, late on Tuesday evening within a mile or two of Manassas Junction, and lay there for the night, worn and weary, but ready for whatever might happen the next morning. General Trimble, with two regiments of his command, pressed on and secured the depot that night with but little resistance, and happily with but little loss fifteen killed and wounded. By day

.* Major-General George H. Gordon, United States volunteers, first Colonel second regiment Massachusetts infantry, author " History of the Campaign of the Army of Virginia." `