Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/106

92 "General, are you aware that the enemy have crossed at the forks of the river, and are now moving up in the rear of General Ewell, and between him and A. P. Hill's column?"

"No! have they?"

"Yes, sir, I have seen them."

"Are you certain they are the enemy?"

"Yes, sir, I am."

"How close did you get to them?"

"I suppose about 1,000 yards, I could plainly see their blue uniforms and the United States flag which they carried. They shot at me, and cut the ear of my horse, as you see, and then I got away from there as fast as my horse would bring me." I expected that he would now send staff officers in every direction with orders to meet this new movement, but Jackson coolly replied: "1 am very much obliged to you, sir, for the information you have given me, but General Trimble will attend to them. I expected this movement, and ordered Trimble posted there to meet it."

He rode off, seemingly as unconcerned as if nothing had happened. Trimble did "attend to them," and after a severe fight drove them back.

General Lee was prevented by a sudden rise of the river from a severe storm from crossing at Warrenton White Sulphur Springs, but the next day Jackson forded the river higher up, and made his famous movement to Pope's flank and rear.

I have noted other illustrations of this point, but I find I am in danger of making this paper too long, and must omit much that I might say.

Fifth. Jackson was noted for the quickness of his decisions, and his short orders on the battlefield.

At Winchester on the Valley campaign he said to Colonel Patton, who commanded a brigade: "The enemy will presently plant a battery on that hill, when they do you must seize it at once; clamp it immediately, sir !"

During one of the battles around Richmond a staff officer galloped up to him and reported: "General Ewell says, sir, that he cannot well advance until that battery over there is silenced."