Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [195]
Jackson had been invited to stay in the house itself and declined. He’d had the staff tents pitched across the wide yard. On occasion, however, he would allow himself and the staff to enjoy the luxury of a supper on the white linen of the Corbin dining room. Mrs. Corbin was a most courteous hostess, but it was her daughter who brightened the long days of winter quarters.
They stood in the hallway, at the kitchen door, waiting. The request had been made, and Jackson stood at attention, the little girl reaching her hand high to hold his, and together they filled the doorway. The girl’s aunt, Kate Corbin, was busy stirring a pitcher.
“My, General, we do appreciate the gift. Where do you get all these lemons?”
Jackson stared ahead, said, “It is a kind Providence that provides kindness. . . .” He paused, tried to rephrase that.
“Why, General, you are quite the poet!”
He was suddenly embarrassed, said, “No, it is God who provides. . . .”
“Yes, General, I know what you meant. Here, for goodness sakes, enjoy your lemonade.”
She handed a tall glass to him, and a small cup to the little girl, and he stepped away from the door and bent over, a formal bow to bright blue eyes. Jane bowed toward him, then they both drank from their glasses. Afterward, wiping at wet chins, they repeated what had become their ritual, closed their eyes and together said, “Mmmmmmmmmmmm!”
Kate wiped her hands with a small towel, said, “I swear, General, if you spoil your own child like that . . . you will have your hands full.”
He looked at her, and Jane suddenly leapt forward, grabbed his leg and wrapped one arm tight around his knee. “Miss Corbin,” he said, “it will give me great pleasure to spoil my daughter. I intend to give her many opportunities to spoil me as well.” He looked at the small bundle now clinging to his leg, and he drank from the glass again. “How easy it is to forget . . . all that we must do . . . all the horrors that we have seen . . . simply by staring into the face of a small child. There is Providence here . . . in that. The children are blessed.”
He reached down, pulled the little girl up, lifted her onto his shoulder. She still held the small cup, splashed lemonade on his uniform.
Kate said, “Oh goodness, here, General, let me put a damp cloth on that.”
Jackson glanced at her, a gleam of blue mischief in his eyes, said, “Oh, that won’t be necessary, Miss Corbin, because Jane and I . . .” He paused, grinned devilishly at the little girl, and giggles rolled over him. Suddenly, he was running down the hall, out the front of the house, carrying her at all angles. He gently set her down in the green grass and rolled on the ground beside her, and there were gales of laughter from both of them.
A few feet away, Captain Smith was staring in utter amazement, then turned toward the sound of an approaching rider.
THE FEDERAL Army had begun to stir. While there was no clear evidence of a plan, Lee knew that the new commander, Hooker, under the stern eye of Washington, could produce a quick threat, and so he ordered Jackson to move his camp up from Moss Neck, to be closer to the hills behind Fredericksburg. Stuart’s vigilance along the river above the town had given Lee some hint that the Federal Army would again plan a move in that direction, and he took a chance, pulling Jackson’s corps away from Port Royal. He anticipated that Hooker would do what Burnside should have done from the start, cross the river to the northwest, behind the hills, using the convenience of several shallow fords. Below the crossings, the roads ran together, intersecting with the main roads leading westward out of Fredericksburg. The intersection was named for the family that lived there, was called Chancellorsville.
The tents had been struck, the troops moved well up the road, and Jackson rode his horse back along the line of moving men, went toward the house for the last time. Kate Corbin was on the porch, had watched the troops leave. The last of the staff was cleaning up the yard when she saw Jackson and waved sadly. He rode up