Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [192]
Lee thought, Flower of cheese? and Longstreet said, “General, please forgive General Pickett, he does not have a gift for French. And as for his taste . . .”
“My taste is quite the envy of Richmond, sir. I assure you, if the other gentlemen in this army would allow themselves to partake of the good life that still abounds, it would make for a much more pleasant if not high-class atmosphere.”
Hood moved slightly, increased the distance between him and Pickett, said, “General, it is not often my good fortune to share such close quarters with you . . . for which I am now grateful . . . but I respectfully point out that there are a great many fine officers in this army who are not gentlemen, and who would not be caught dead smelling like that.”
Pickett looked at Hood with surprise, then frowned. “Pity . . .”
“Gentlemen,” Lee said, interrupting. “We must address matters at hand. I, for one, will accept General Pickett’s . . . adornment. However, it compels me to make this meeting a brief one.”
Hood nodded, said, “Bless you, sir.”
Lee looked at Longstreet, who waited, was not smiling now, had removed the gloves and pulled a short cigar from his coat. “General Longstreet, we are faced with a problem . . . two problems, actually. The first, and most immediate, is the supplying of this army. This is my priority. The second problem concerns the Federal advance along the Virginia coast, below the James River. That is President Davis’s priority. I believe we have a means to deal with both situations. We must begin by dividing this army. . . .”
AS THE first true signs of spring began to spread over the hills and farms of Virginia, the march began. The two divisions under Hood and Pickett would move to the trains, travel south, establish a defensive front below the James River, and unite the efforts of the other commanders there to prevent any further Federal advance. Longstreet was placed in a position of independent command, with two important conditions. One was that he begin immediately to secure supplies for the army from an agricultural area that was still relatively abundant, and send a steady flow of these supplies to northern Virginia. The second condition was that Longstreet be prepared, at quick notice, to make use of the railroads, and return his troops to Lee’s command if Lee required it. Lee was now left with a force of only fifty-five thousand, less than half the size of the Federal Army that sat in winter quarters above the Rappahannock, a Federal Army with a new commander, who had a sharp eye toward the end of the miserable winter.
HE HAD ridden into the town, an invitation from a group of women. It was a brave show of normalcy, a formal and social gathering by citizens crushed by the weight of destruction and rebuilding, and Lee could not refuse them.
The snow was gone now, the wide field beginning to fill with large patches of deep green. There were still signs of the battle, many signs, and he rode past them now without looking down. He looked up to his hill, to the long row of hills, thought, Will they do it again? It was hopeful, but he knew it would not be. The new Federal commander would not follow the same disastrous path of his predecessor.
He began to climb, and the gun crews waved to him, welcoming him back. He stopped the horse, climbed down, had a sudden need to walk, to kick through the new growth. Behind him, his staff was surprised, began to climb down as well, and he turned, waved them on, said, “No, go ahead. I just want to walk.”
Taylor stayed behind, sat on his horse, holding Traveller’s reins, and the others rode on up the hill, between the big guns.
He began to climb, quick short steps, a fresh energy, his boots digging into the soft dirt, and he looked down, saw bees dancing among the first of the new flowers, small yellow circles