Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/299

Rh that of the utmost composure, he was giving General Paxton directions how and where to deploy the Stonewall Brigade. Perhaps never before had Jackson greater cause for confidence in himself and in his men, and better reason for contempt for the boastful Hooker. The last lines of his life to General Lee were written "near 3 P. M.." "The leading division is up, and the next two appear to be well closed." The march had been one of excessive severity, and yet from the first step the men joyously knew that "Old Jack" was bent on coming in at the back door of the enemy. As we rode along the line of march with General Paxton, little encouragement was needed to keep the brigade which brought up the rear of the division well closed up. The men got an exultant swing. Fredericksburg had been to them an unusual exercise. Not since they had encircled Pope had they experienced the animating influence of a well prepared surprise, and they knew that their invincible leader was about to crown their performances with the most brilliant of his movements. "Tell old Jack not to begin the fun until we get there," they would sing out to passing horsemen, and thus with few stragglers, between sunrise, when we looked to the west, and four o'clock, when they completely reversed and looked to the east, this body of 26,000 veterans of Richmond, Cedar Run, Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Fredericksburg was swung by Jackson's mighty will completely behind the unfortunate foe. The story of the tornado which Jackson let loose upon the Eleventh Federal Army Corps, within an hour or two after his review of the situation from Burton's Hill, is now as familiar to persons who read of military performances as are the results of Waterloo. A few years ago, with three Confederate officers who were with Jackson's corps during the Chancellorsville engagement, among them Major Blackford, who commanded the skirmish line of Jackson's first division (Rodes'), and four Federal officers of the Eleventh corps, the writer spent the night and the ensuing day on the field, our headquarters being the Talley farm, the storm centre on the evening of May 2, 1863, now the personification of peace and plenty. We examined the location of the Federal troops with extreme accuracy. Colonel Hamlin, the historian of the Eleventh corps, or more particuarly of its participation in the Battle of Chancellorsville, being at the time