Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [240]
He heard a loud whoop from the other direction, turned and saw Stuart, another staff and more flags. Stuart reached him first, stayed on the horse.
“Greetings, mon Général! It is a fine day, sir! We have done Old Stonewall proud!”
Lee felt a rush of anger, his hands clenched on the reins of the horse, and Anderson was close now, lifting his hat to the men around them, basking in his own glow. Lee felt his jaw tighten, said, “Gentlemen, if you please. This day is not over. We have a fight on our right flank. Sedgwick’s corps is on the move, has pushed General Early from the hills and is moving to join forces with General Hooker. And, gentlemen, before we engage in celebration, let us be reminded that just north of our position here, we are attempting to contain an army that outnumbers us by three to one.”
Stuart lowered his head, again the scolded child, said, “General Lee, the Second Corps is reforming in a tight arc, sir, and will move against Hooker’s forces at your command, sir!”
“No, General, rest them for now. They cannot continue to press the attack without some replenishment. This is not the cavalry, General, we must make time. Get the smaller units together, determine who is in command. We have lost a great many fine officers.” He paused, took a deep breath.
“It is our objective to drive General Hooker against the river. If we bring a strong line against his forces, we may cause them considerable discomfort. They can no longer withdraw in a slow methodical retreat. They will be very limited in how quickly they can cross the river, and then we will have them. We have an opportunity to destroy them, gentlemen, with their backs to the river. General Anderson, you must take your division back to the east, toward Salem Church, and strengthen General McLaws’s lines. Early’s division will be advancing from the south. If we can tie up Sedgwick until General Early arrives, we may be able to press him hard against the river as well.” He was suddenly very excited, putting it into words. He realized now the magnitude of the opportunity in front of them. Anderson saluted, backed the horse away, and Lee stared out to the north, where the Federal Army was digging in to their last line of defense.
He heard Stuart move up closer, beside him, and Lee said, “God has given us an opportunity. It is very clear now. There is a much greater prize, we can do so much more than merely claim this field. If we can crush the enemy right here, against the river . . . we may force him to surrender. We have paid the price . . . what God has taken . . . is General Jackson. It is a message. He is saying, ‘Here is your opportunity, and here . . . is the cost.’ ” He looked at Stuart, and Stuart was watching him with wide, round eyes, the eyes of a small boy absorbing the words of his father.
“Remember that, General, there is always a price.”
EARLY DID not reach Sedgwick’s position until very late in the day, and Anderson’s lines were slow in spreading, and so by dark Sedgwick had concentrated his forces, made a strong defensive line
backed up against Bank’s Ford. In front of Stuart, Hooker’s army was tightly in place, a sharp U, with its back toward the United States Ford.
All the next day, McLaws, Anderson, and Early pounded hard against Sedgwick’s position, but it was difficult ground, and the numbers were nearly even. Sedgwick was pushed harder into his defensive line, but could not be moved. Around Hooker, the divisions of Jackson’s corps harassed and threw light punches all day. Hooker could have pushed out of his own defenses at any time, but Lee had guessed correctly that Hooker would not attack, that still he was waiting for Sedgwick, had pinned all hopes of any Federal victory on one small separate piece of his army.
The next day, Tuesday, May 5, it began to rain, a hard, soaking storm, and so both armies lay down hard in their muddy positions, waiting. Lee could feel his greatest opportunity to end the war flowing away, like the fresh streams of mud that poured away into the river. That night, with Hooker himself already across,