Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/185

 Rh "Well, what does he say?" I asked.

"He says nothing," was Jackson's answer, but he quietly added: "Don't think I complain of his silence; he doubtless has good reasons for it."

"Then," said I, more for the purpose of soliciting his opinion than to intimate any of my own, "then you don't think that General Lee is slow in making up his mind?"

"Slow!" he exclaimed, with sudden energy, "by no means, colonel; on the contrary, his perception is as quick and unerring as his judgment is infallible. But with the vast responsibilities now resting on him, he is perfectly right in withholding a hasty expression of his opinions and purposes." Then, after a pause, he added: "So great is my confidence in General Lee that I am willing to follow him blindfolded. But I fear he is unable to give me a definite answer now because of influences at Richmond, where, perhaps, the matter has been mentioned by him and may be under consideration. I, therefore, want you to see the President and urge the importance of prompt action."

So it was arranged I should next day go up to Richmond and for the third time represent Jackson's views to the administration in regard to the movement he was so anxious to make.

When early on the following morning I was about to start the general suggested that as Mr. Davis would probably be anxious to know the exact position of the enemy I had better first accompany General Whiting and himself on a reconnoisance they intended to make for that purpose, so as to see for myself where they were and what they were doing.

Accordingly, we three rode off by ourselves toward the Federal outposts, and, leaving our horses hidden in the woods, managed to get behind a fence overgrown with bushes, along which we cautiously crept across a large field, keeping ourselves concealed from the enemy's pickets, whom we could plainly see within hailing distance at the extremity of the adjoining field, until we finally reached a knoll, from which we had a fine view of the Federal encampment.