Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [239]
And there was still a fight. Sedgwick had finally pushed hard into Early’s forces, moving up into Fredericksburg and then out, across the same ground where Burnside’s army had marched into a massacre. But this time Early was too few, and Sedgwick understood that if the men kept running, did not stop in front of the stone wall, did not try to shoot their way across, the wall could be reached and overrun. So now Early was pushed back, withdrawn safely down to the southwest, below the hills, and Sedgwick controlled the heights and was moving out this way.
Lee had turned McLaws around, marched him out the turnpike to meet Sedgwick’s advance head-on. They still held Bank’s Ford, on the river just northwest of the town held by Cadmus Wilcox’s brigade. McLaws would now spread south, in a heavy line, a long, high ridge that ran beside a small brick building, Salem Church. Sedgwick would find that he was not advancing against the vulnerable and unsuspecting rear of Lee’s position, but was moving instead into the teeth of a division full of the good fight, men who had learned that no matter what the enemy sent them, they would turn him around.
Wilcox had used his men to delay Sedgwick as long as he could, withdrawing slowly back toward the church, and Sedgwick found himself strung out in long lines of march, could not organize in the face of Wilcox’s tormenting skirmishers. When McLaws showed himself and the volleys began, Sedgwick’s lead units were run piecemeal into the fight.
Lee could hear the sounds of battle now, from the east. He turned and stared out. Taylor said, “McLaws . . .”
Lee was moving, went quickly toward his horse, climbed up, said, “Major, send a courier to find General Anderson. I do not want General McLaws overrun.”
Taylor moved toward the waiting staff, and a man was quickly out, moving back down the rise. There were more riders now, from the south, a small flag, and they rode toward Taylor and stopped. There were salutes and low voices. Taylor turned, moved toward Lee.
“General, it is Captain Hodges, sir, a message from General Early. He has reformed his division, sir, behind the Fredericksburg hills, and he requests—”
Lee raised his hand, stopped him. “Captain Hodges, you may come closer. Please tell me what you have observed, what General Early has on his front.”
Hodges removed his hat, seemed hesitant, said, “General Lee, sir, the Yankees . . . the enemy has pulled most of its force to the northwest of the heights . . . up near the river. General Early believes, sir, that they are moving now toward . . . here.” He looked around, saw no entrenchments, no defensive lines.
“Captain, you may return to General Early and tell him this: McLaws’s division is in contact with the enemy, between here and the heights, at Salem Church. I am sending reinforcements to assist his efforts. Please request that General Early move northward with all speed. I believe, Captain, that General Early will discover that he has a great advantage in front of him. He may find he can close on the enemy from their flank and rear.”
Hodges looked toward the new sounds of battle, nodded, said, “Thank you, General, it will be done, sir.” He threw up a salute, made a short bow, and led the group of riders away in a gallop.
Taylor was laughing, said, “Pardon me, sir. He rode up here and started whispering, said he didn’t want to disturb you, sir.”
Lee watched the small flag disappear on the road, said nothing. He looked toward the low thunder in the east, growing, spreading, and now he saw Anderson, more riders, and Anderson was moving slowly, a calm procession moving up the turnpike. Lee stared, thought, Was I not clear? There is a fight growing behind you. . .