Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [152]
Jackson began to smile, and his staff caught the mood. Von Borcke laughed along with the others, who were laughing at him, and he waved to the growing number of men who had moved closer to this odd spectacle.
“General Chackson . . . I am grreatly pleased to bring you this present from General Shtuart. The general has gone to grrreat lengths to secure for you . . . this!”
Von Borcke held out a package wrapped in brown paper, and Jackson stared at it, did not move. Pendleton reached out, took the package, said, “Would you like me to open it, sir?”
Jackson looked up at Von Borcke, then at Pendleton, nodded silently, and Pendleton tore at the paper and held up the neatly folded gray of a new uniform.
“Wowee, General, this is some fine material. Look here, there’s gold braid. . . .”
Jackson stared at the gift, began to reach out a hand, to touch the new cloth, then stopped, withdrew. “Major, you may tell General Stuart that I deeply appreciate his present. Please assure him that I will regard it with the greatest of care, and will see that no harm comes to it. Captain Pendleton, will you kindly place the uniform in my tent, and keep it neatly folded.”
Von Borcke’s expression changed, the smile faded. “No, General, no, you do not understand. General Shtuart vas most insistent that you try it on. He will certainly ask how vas the fit. Please, General. Try it on.”
Jackson looked at Pendleton, who smiled broadly, holding the uniform out to him. Jackson reached out slowly, felt the material, then took it, cradling it with both hands, and without speaking turned and walked to his tent.
In the dark, men began to move closer, and Pendleton turned, motioned for quiet. Officers began to appear and there were questions. They saw Von Borcke, and so the men were kept at a distance, but were allowed to stay.
A few minutes passed, and the impatient Von Borcke walked thunderously over to Jackson’s tent, did not have the staff’s wariness of Jackson’s moods, called out loudly, “General, can I be of assistance?”
There was no sound from the tent. Then the flaps were pushed back and Jackson stepped out into the firelight, stood up straight, placed a large black hat on his head.
“Mein Gott, you are a splendid sight!” Von Borcke made a deep bow, and around the fire his staff began to applaud, weakly at first, uncertain. Then, as Jackson noticed the gathered troops, he raised the hat, held it high above his head, and the men exploded into cheers. He stood still for a long moment, could not hide a smile, then placed the hat back on his head.
He said to Von Borcke, “You may tell General Stuart that I thank him deeply for this gift. The hat . . . my wife sent it to me, and I never thought . . . it was quite right. . . .”
“General, it is perfect . . . perfect! Please, General, allow me to leave. I will report to General Shtuart that his gift is a success.”
“Yes, certainly, you are dismissed, Major.”
Von Borcke hurried heavily to his horse, climbed up with a great grunt, began to move away through the crowd of men. Some of the troops followed after him, calling out, and he waved wildly, nearly falling from the horse.
“Vat ho!” And the men yelled it back to him, none having any idea what he meant.
Pendleton moved closer to Jackson, admired the gold buttons, the gold stars on the collar, the elaborate braiding on the sleeves.
“General Stuart