Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [214]
“General Howard, I am Major Montcrief of General Hooker’s staff. The general has sent me to alert you, sir. There is a movement of rebel infantry and wagons on the roads south of this position.”
Howard stared at the man, an unfamiliar face. “General Hooker . . . was just here, not an hour ago. He said nothing—”
“No, sir. The news just came from General Sickles. There is a heavy line of rebel activity moving south and west of General Sickles’s position. General Hooker is most pleased to advise you, sir, to be alert for this activity.”
“Pleased?”
“Why, yes sir. The general has expressed his congratulations to his men for prompting the retreat of the rebel army.”
He thought, Of course, it has to be. They are moving away, probably toward Gordonsville. Stoneman’s cavalry raid likely did serious damage to their supply and communications lines.
“Thank you, Major. You may return to General Hooker and convey to him that we are prepared to pursue the enemy on his command.”
The man jumped down the steps, climbed his horse, and with a quick salute was gone.
Howard sat back in his saddle, thought, Yes, this army is finally moving in the right direction. He thought of going inside, maybe some coffee, but suddenly he felt stronger, awake, and he pulled the horse around, moved back down the turnpike, to once again ride along the strong lines of his men.
HE JOINED the men around the small fire, asked slowly, “Might I enjoy a cup of your coffee?”
They had stood quietly, watching him approach, dismounting from the horse. There were nods, looks between them, and a cup was offered.
“Thank you, it has been a while since I had a cup of real coffee.” He put the cup to his mouth, felt the rush of steam. “Ah, yes. Thank you.”
He looked to the faces that were looking at him, uncertain, curious, and now more men were moving closer, word was spreading, the aloof and hard commander was down with the men.
“Gentlemen, you may not know this yet, but this is a day to remember.” He paused, heard voices, men saying “Sir,” and he looked around, saw General Devens, the commander of the division, moving through the men.
“Ah, Devens, hope you don’t mind my taking the liberty . . . I smelled the coffee, had to stop.”
Devens saluted, glanced at the men, said, “No, General Howard, certainly not.”
“General Devens, do any of your men climb trees?”
There was a pause, and one man said, “I been a good climber since I was a boy. Never seen a tree I couldn’t top.”
There were laughs, small jibes, and Howard said, “Well, that’s mighty fine. I tell you what, soldier. You go over there, across the road, and pick out one of those tall ones, and when you get to the top, you tell me what you see.”
The men were talking and moving now, accepting the challenge, and Devens moved closer to Howard, more curious, but Howard would say nothing, was enjoying the moment. Yes, this was a fine day indeed.
The soldier pulled off his coat, wrapped hard hands around the trunk of a tall, thin tree, began to shin his way up the limbless trunk. Men circled around the tree, cheering him on, and the man reached the first of the small limbs, pulled himself up quicker now, and Howard stood in the middle of the road, looked up through the branches, said, “All right, soldier. Anything to report?”
The man looked around, parted the leaves with his free hand, and then looked down at Howard, shook his head, and Howard raised his hand, pointed to the south, said, “How about that way?”
The man slid around the trunk of the tree, parted more leaves, and suddenly he stood up higher, leaned out away from the tree, said, “Hoooeeee. It’s rebs! A whole army!”
Faces turned to Howard, and now other men began to move up the tree, and other trees, some without success.
Howard rocked on his heels, listened to the sounds of the men, and the excitement spread all along