80. LXXX.
FLANKING POPE.
The long glittering column was drawn up, ready to march.
The clothes of the men were in rags, and their feet bare; but
their faces were laughing and their bayonets bright.
I rode along the column, and heard upon all sides—who can
tell whence the information came?—“Old Jack is goin' to flank
'em!”
That was the exact truth. Jackson left the vicinity of Warrenton
Springs, ascended the left bank of the Rappahannock,
passed Amissville, and, crossing at the narrow, rock-bound, and
forgotten ford at Hinson's Mill, dragged his artillery up the opposite
acclivity, and pushed on to the little village of Orleans.
Stuart's cavalry, except one regiment in front, moved on the
right of this column, between it and the enemy, keeping off their
scouting parties; and, leaving the high road to Barbee's, Jackson
struck into the fields, pressing forward through farm gates,
and along obscure country roads, toward Salem.
The people greeted the sight of the gray coats with perfect
amazement. But it was a joyful surprise. They ran to their
doors, full-handed, to welcome and feed the weary troops—on
all sides were heard joyous exclamations—and so the column
pushed on, weary but laughing, toward Thoroughfare Gap. If
it could only reach and pass through that frowning defile before
the enemy were aware of the intention, the great dépót of stores,
at Manassas, would be at Jackson's mercy.
At sunset Jackson sat his horse, looking at the column as it
defiled before him. He had issued orders that the men were not
to cheer, for fear of attracting the enemy's attention, and the
troops, as they passed before him, only took off their ragged old
hats and waved them round their heads. This silent greeting
seemed to touch Jackson greatly. The setting sun shone on his
face, and the countenance at that moment was resplendent.
There was something proud and yet gentle in the brilliant eye,
the expression of the lips, and the air of the man, as, sitting his
old sorrel in the yellow light, he gazed from beneath his dingy
cap—chin in air—upon his followers.
All at once a single cheer rose; and the effect was electric.
It ran along the line; the air was split by a great shout; the long
pent-up feelings of the troops had burst forth.
Jackson's face glowed; he raised his cap in response, and
the cheers redoubled. The men whirled their old felt hats
around their heads with wild enthusiasm. With sparkling eyes,
and rising in his stirrups as he spoke, Jackson said:
“Who could help being proud of such men as these?”
And, touching his horse with the spur, he galloped on to the
front, still pursued by the tumultuous cheering.
The exhausted troops were now halted near Salem, for food
and sleep; and knowing that the column would move at the earliest
dawn, every man lay down, with his musket at his side,
ready to respond to the order at a moment's warning.
I did not lie down; and now beg that the reader will accompany
me on a short ride I took.
