Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [202]
“Vat ho! General Lee . . .” Suddenly the mule turned, began to go back down the hill, and Von Borcke jerked the head around, gave a heavy kick to the mule’s side, and it began to climb slowly again.
Jackson moved up close to Lee, and Taylor stepped forward and grabbed the reins of the mule. Abruptly, Von Borcke swung a huge leg over and leapt from the mule in a great awkward flight, landing thunderously on both feet.
“Only vay I can get off the damned thing. He shtill vants to run off to play.” He looked now at Lee, saw no smile, saw the deep glare from Jackson, straightened himself, said, “Forgive me, Herr General, I am not used to riding such animals as you have here. I beg to report on behalf of General Shtuart, that a column of the enemy has crossed the river at Germanna Ford, and is moving south, toward Chancellorsville. General Shtuart has determined it is the Twelfth Corps. He has also observed units of the Eleventh.”
Lee said nothing, looked at Jackson, and Jackson said, “They would not move two corps that far behind us for a feint.”
“No, they would not.” Lee nodded toward the big German, said, “Major, you may return to General Stuart, and request in the strongest terms that General Stuart join me here. Please go now, Major. I regret your difficulty with your mule. We do not have the luxury of thoroughbreds.” It was not a criticism, but Von Borcke suddenly felt foolish, complaining to a man who clearly knew of all the army did not have. He backed away, saluted, and Taylor held the reins tight as Von Borcke struggled up to the mule. Then he moved quickly away.
Lee did not watch him leave, turned again toward the south and the blue stain that spread along the edge of the river.
“General Hooker expects us to stay here, watching them. And that is the trap.”
Jackson nodded, said nothing, understood now that Lee had been right.
Lee motioned to Taylor, said, “Major, my horse please,” and then turned to Jackson. “General, we do not yet know where General Hooker is intending to lead his army. He is either intent on holding us here, assaulting us from behind, or he may move farther south, toward Gordonsville. He could easily cut the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and cut us off from the Shenandoah. If he drives in that direction, we will have to withdraw from here, move down to the South Anna River and make our defense there.”
He felt an anger rising up from deep inside, thought, How much more must we do? All the grand successes, the great bloody efforts to push them out of Virginia, and now they were coming again, unstoppable, into the heart of his home. He suddenly kicked at the ground, sent a spray of dirt flying, was breathing heavily, closed his eyes. No, keep control.
Jackson stared at him, and Lee turned toward him, looked hard into the sharp blue eyes. Jackson did not look away, and Lee said, “General, once again God is challenging us, offering us another opportunity. We must strike the enemy before he can go any farther.” He looked away now, across the open fields, the town, the river. “I had thought . . . we had done enough . . . that He would be pleased. . . .”
Jackson stared at him, at the soft white beard, the face of a man growing old, then he looked up, beyond, said, “General Lee, if it will please God, we will kill them all.”
IT WAS dark when Stuart reached Lee’s camp. He led his troops through lines of marching infantry, Lee’s men withdrawing from the great safety of the long row of hills, moving out now toward the west. Stuart’s route had taken him along the roads that ran below Chancellorsville. He understood the necessity of staying clear of the Federal positions, but had still met a regiment of Federal cavalry, a short and confused fight on a dark road, and so it was becoming clear that Hooker was not passing them by, was not moving away toward Gordonsville, but was spread out around Chancellorsville, had stopped in the vast, thick Wilderness. Lee had not heard the shooting, but Anderson had, knew it was more than nervous skirmishers. He had sent word to