Chapter 45
HON. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH:
_Dear Sir_,--At the risk of seeming tedious, permit me to say that my impression that you were mistaken last night in your recollection of the extent to which Louis Napoleon used railroads in transporting his army into Sardinia is this morning confirmed by a gentleman who is a most experienced and well-informed railroad officer, and is also the most devoted student of geography and military history, with the most accurate and extraordinary memory for every detail, however minute, of battles and all other military operations that I have ever met with. He is positive in his recollection that not less than 100,000 and probably more, of that army were gradually concentrated at Toulon and sent thence by sea to Genoa, and the rest were during some weeks being concentrated at a little town on the confines of France and Italy, whence they were transferred, partly on foot and partly on a double-track railroad, into Sardinia. The capacity of a double-track railroad, adequately equipped like the European railroads, may be moderately computed at five times that of a single-track road like those of the Confederate States. For the sudden and rapid movement of a vanguard of an army, to hold in check an enemy till reinforced, or of a rear guard to cover a retreat, or of any other portion of an army which must move suddenly and rapidly, and for the transportation of ordnance, ammunition, commissary and other military supplies, railroads are available and invaluable to an army. And when these objects of prime necessity are attained, they can advantageously carry more troops according to the amount of the other transportation required, the distance, their force, and equipment, etc. But to rely on them as a means of transporting any large body of troops beside what is needed to supply and maintain them, is certainly a most dangerous delusion, and must inevitably result in the most grievous disappointments and fatal consequence.
Very respectfully and truly yours, etc.
P. V. DANIEL, JR.
P. S. As a railroad officer, interest would prompt me to advocate the opposite theory about this matter, for troops const.i.tute the most profitable, if not the only profitable, part of any transportation by railroads. But I cannot be less a citizen and patriot because I am a railroad officer.
"Good! good. The next, Jarrow."
"Copy of resolutions declaring the sense of Congress.
"Whereas the United States are waging war against the Confederate States with the avowed purpose of compelling the latter to reunite with them under the same const.i.tution and government, and whereas the waging of war with such an object is in direct opposition to the sound Republican maxim that 'all government rests upon the consent of the governed' and can only tend to consolidation in the general government and the consequent destruction of the rights of the States, and whereas, this result being attained the two sections can only exist together in the relation of the oppressor and the oppressed, because of the great preponderance of power in the Northern section, coupled with dissimilarity of interest; and whereas we, the Representatives of the people of the Confederate States, in Congress a.s.sembled, may be presumed to know the sentiments of said people, having just been elected by them.
Therefore,
"Be it resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America that this Congress do solemnly declare and publish to the world that it is the unalterable determination of the people of the Confederate States, in humble reliance upon Almighty G.o.d, to suffer all the calamities of the most protracted war--"
"Just so. That will do for this packet. Now what have you there?"
"These are genuine soldiers' letters, sir--the usual thing--incidents of battle, wounds, messages, etc. They are all optimistic in tone, but for the rest tell
"Good! good! Let Robinson, there, take a list of the names. Lieutenant Willis, you will see each of the men and tell them they must rewrite their letters. These were lost. Now, Jarrow."
"These are the ones to the point, sir. I had two written this morning, one this afternoon. They are all properly addressed and signed, and dated from this bivouac. The first."
MY DEAR FATHER,--A glorious victory yesterday! Little cost to us and Banks swept from the Valley. We are in high spirits, confident that the tide has turned and that the seat of war will be changed. Of late the army has grown like a rolling s...o...b..ll. Perhaps thirty thousand here--
An aide uttered a startled laugh. "Pray be quiet, gentlemen," said Jackson.
Thirty thousand here, and a large force nearer the mountains.
Recruits are coming in all the time; good, determined men. I truly feel that we are invincible. I write in haste, to get this in the bag we are sending to the nearest railway station. Dear love to all.
Aff'y your son,
JOHN SMITH.
"Good!" said Jackson. "Always deceive, mystify, and mislead the enemy.
You may thereby save your Capital city. The next."
"From one of Ashby's men, sir."
MY DEAR SISTER,--We are now about thirty companies--every man from this region who owns or can beg, borrow, or steal a horse is coming in. I got at Staunton the plume for my hat you sent. It is beautifully long, black, and curling! Imagine me under it, riding through Maryland! Forty thousand of us, and the bands playing "Dixie"! Old Jack may stand like a stone wall, but by the Lord, he moves like a thunderbolt! Best love. Your loving brother,
WILLIAM PATTERSON.
"Scratch out the oath, Jarrow. He is writing to a lady, nor should it be used to a man. The next."
MY DEAR FITZHUGH,--Papers, reports, etc., will give you the details.
Suffice it, that we've had a lovely time. A minie drew some blood from me--not much, and spilt in a good cause. As you see, I am writing with my left hand--the other arm's in a sling. The army's in the highest spirits--South going North on a visit.
All the grey bonnets are over the border!
We hear that all of you in and about Richmond are in excellent health and spirits, and that in the face of the Young Napoleon!
Stronger, too, than he thinks. We hear that McDowell is somewhere between you and Fredericksburg. Just keep him there, will you? We'd rather not have him up here just yet. Give my love to all my cousins. Will write _from the other side of the water_.
Yours as ever,
PETER FRANCISCO.
P. S. Of course this is not official, but the impression is strong in the army that the defensive has been dropped and that the geese in the other Capitol ought to be cackling if they are not.
Jarrow drew the whole together. "I thought the three would be enough, sir. I never like to overdo."
"You have the correct idea, Jarrow. Bring the boy in, Gold. I want the bag captured early to-morrow."
On May the twenty-eighth, fifteen thousand in all, Winder still in advance, they moved by Summit Point toward Harper's Ferry, thirty miles away. Ewell on Rifle led the main column, Jackson and Little Sorrel marched to-day with the rear, Ashby on the black stallion went far ahead with his cavalry. The army moved with vigour, in high spirits and through fine weather, a bright, cool day with round white clouds in an intense blue sky. When halts were made and the generals rode by the resting troops they were loudly cheered. The men were talkative; they indulged in laughter and lifted voice in song. Speculation ran to and fro, but she wore no anxious mien. The army felt a calm confidence, a happy-go-lucky mood. It had come into a childlike trust in its commanding general, and that made all the difference in the world.
"Where are we going? Into Maryland? Don't know and don't care! Old Jack knows. _I_ think we're going to Was.h.i.+ngton--Always did want to see it. I think so, too. Going to take its attention off Richmond, as the Irishman said when he walked away with the widow at the wake. Look at that buzzard up there against that cloud! Kingbird's after him! Right at his eyes!--Say, boys, look at that fight!"
In the afternoon the Stonewall came to Charlestown, eight miles from Harper's Ferry. Here they found, strongly posted in a wood, fifteen hundred Federals with two guns, sent from Harper's Ferry by Saxton. A courier went back to Ewell. Winder, without waiting for reinforcements, attacked. The fight lasted twenty minutes, when the Federal line broke, retreating in considerable disorder. The Stonewall, pressing after, came into view, two miles from the Potomac, of the enemy's guns on Bolivar Heights.
Saxton, now commanding about seven thousand men, had strongly occupied the hills on the southern side of the Potomac. To the north the Maryland Heights were held by several regiments and a naval battery of Dahlgren guns. The brigadier commanding received and sent telegrams.
WAs.h.i.+NGTON.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SAXTON, HARPER'S FERRY.
Copy of Secretary of War's dispatch to Governors of States.
"Send forward all the troops that you can immediately. Banks completely routed. Intelligence from various quarters leaves no doubt that the enemy, in great force, are advancing on Was.h.i.+ngton.
You will please organize and forward immediately all the volunteer and militia force in your state."
In addition, the President has notified General McClellan that his return to Was.h.i.+ngton may be ordered. City in a panic.
X. Y.
HARPER'S FERRY, VIRGINIA, May 31.
The enemy moved up in force last evening about seven o'clock, in a shower of rain, to attack. I opened on them from the position which the troops occupy above the town, and from the Dahlgren battery on the mountains. The enemy then retired. Their pickets attacked ours twice last night within 300 yards of our works. A volley from General Slough's breastworks drove them back. We lost one man killed. Enemy had signal-lights on the mountains in every direction.
Their system of night-signals seems to be perfect. They fire on our pickets in every case. My men are overworked. Stood by their guns all night in the rain. What has become of Generals Fremont and McDowell?
R. SAXTON.
HON. E. M. STANTON, _Secretary of War_.
At Williamsport on the Maryland side, twelve miles above, General Banks likewise sent a telegram to the Government at Was.h.i.+ngton.
WILLIAMSPORT, May 28, 1862.