Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [125]
Longstreet stared down, spoke from under the brim of his hat. “General, we would be cutting ourselves off from our base of supply, from communications. We would be vulnerable from the rear.”
“General Longstreet, you did march with General Scott, into Mexico, did you not?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And did not General Scott cut himself off from his supplies, from all communication, and by doing so, did he not bring a rapid end to that war? And did he not accomplish all of that in a foreign land? Well, this is not a foreign land, and the citizens will see that we do not come to terrorize, as did General Pope. We come to end the war, quickly and without any need to conquer or subdue anyone. We have proven our superiority on the battlefield. The threat of that superiority may be all we need.”
Jackson began to fidget, rocked back and forth on stiff legs. “My men are ready to move on your command, General.”
“General Jackson,” Lee said, “we do have one problem, which I will need you to address.”
Longstreet said, “Harper’s Ferry.”
“Yes, General, you are correct. There are nearly twelve thousand Federal troops quartered there, and they could add to those numbers easily by moving men up the river. That would be the danger to our rear. Harper’s Ferry must be secured. General Jackson, I want you to move your forces down that way, surround the town from the heights and secure it by any method that will ensure success. I will accompany General Longstreet’s forces across the Potomac, masking our movements behind the mountains. We should be well into Maryland before anyone in Washington can do anything to impede us.”
Longstreet said, “General, we are already greatly outnumbered, and by dividing the army . . . there is considerable risk, sir.”
“This plan could end the war, General. Is that not worth risk?”
Jackson looked at Longstreet, said, “General, my troops will move on Harper’s Ferry and reunite with your army in short order.”
Longstreet kicked at the dirt, said, “We need cavalry in the mountain passes, masking our movement, and in our rear, to keep anyone from following us.”
“General Stuart will be so ordered. I will inform President Davis of this plan, and provide both of you with detailed written orders by tonight. It is a slow process. . . .” He held up his hands. “I must dictate everything to my staff.”
Lee turned, began to walk back toward the wagons, and the others followed close behind. They reached the edge of the shade, felt the cooler air, and Lee paused, said, “Gentlemen, you were both on this field a year ago. We won a great victory then, quite possibly could have ended this war, and we did nothing, we did not follow it up. That is why we had to fight here again, on this same ground. It is a lesson learned, gentlemen. It is time to take this war out of Virginia.”
23. CHAMBERLAIN
August 1862
THEY STOOD in groups, sat in small circles. Some were lying on the ground, some slept. He had walked from the train station, through the streets of Portland, had seen other men moving in the same direction. No one noticed him as he made his way into Camp Mason, the first assembly point for the volunteers of the Twentieth Maine.
He saw the faces of the young, the same kind of faces he had seen in the streets of Brunswick, but there were others too, older men, men with rugged, worn faces, big men, log cutters, farmers, and he was surprised, but it made him feel better. This was not, after all, an army of boys.
There were tents lined up in neat rows at the far end of the grounds, and he began to move that way, lugging a heavy cloth bag over his shoulder. He had thought of bringing his usual small trunk, then decided it would be too conspicuous. He did not want to appear to be too green. At least make a good first impression,