Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/178

 "Nevertheless," he replied, "I'd like to know your opinion."

"Well, if I answer your question at all," said I, "it must be in the negative."

"Why so?" he asked.

"Because," I replied, "if you bring our Valley boys down here at this season among the pestilential swamps of the Chickahominy the change from their pure mountain air to this miasmatic atmosphere will kill them off faster than the Federals have been doing."

"That will depend upon the time they'd have to stay here," said he. "Have you any other reason to offer?"

"Yes," I answered, "and it's that Jackson has been doing so well with an independent command that it seems a pity not to let him have his own way, and then, too," I added, "bringing him here, general, will be—to use a homely phrase—putting all your eggs in one basket."

"I see," said he, with a laugh, "that you appreciate General Jackson as highly as I myself do, and it is because of my appreciation of him that I wish to have him here."

JACKSON'S PLAN NOT FOLLOWED.

Then, changing the conversation, he asked me a number of questions about the condition of the army in the Valley, the recent battles there, crop prospects, etc. So seeing there was no chance of getting his assent to Jackson's proposition and that there were other plans in contemplation, I forebore to press the matter further. When I arose to take leave he inquired how long I expected to be in Richmond; and, on telling him two or three days, he said: "Come and see me again before you go back; I may have a communication to send by you to General Jackson." Having business at the departments, which detained me in town a day longer than I had anticipated, I was not ready to return to Jackson until Thursday morning, June 19, and on the evening before my departure I had another interview with General Lee, in accordance with his request, during which, referring to our former conversation he said: * * *