Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [250]
“Yes. He is healthy again, has a wooden leg now. General Jackson placed great confidence in General Ewell. And General Hill . . . there is no denying that he is a fine commander . . . in the field.”
Longstreet nodded, a small laugh. “Now the only superior officer he can aggravate is you.”
Lee had no humor, was weary of the conflicts with Hill. “That is the new system, General. There will now be three corps. General Stuart will resume command of the cavalry.”
“Have you told him that? He might not be too happy—”
“General Stuart understands that he is better suited for that command. He acquitted himself adequately in General Jackson’s absence, but he is eager to return to the cavalry. And if we are to succeed, we will require General Stuart’s talents.”
Lee stood, the signal that it was over, and Longstreet was up, ducked out through the tent. Taylor moved up, saluted, said, “Sir, the newspaper reporters are waiting . . . they keep asking about the rumors, sir. I don’t know what to tell them.”
“Rumors?” Longstreet looked at Taylor, and Taylor said, “Yes, sir. There’s talk in the North . . . the papers, that General Lee is going to invade Washington, that the capital will be under siege.” He looked at Lee. “Please, sir, will you speak to them? Or . . . please tell me what to say to them. They are mighty persistent, sir.”
Lee looked at Longstreet, smiled slightly, said, “Major, tell them I am too busy at present to speak with them, and that it is . . . imprudent of us to discuss our plans.”
“But, sir, what about the rumors? Do I tell them not to print—”
Lee raised his hand. “Major, I would never tell these men what they should not print. There will always be rumors. Sometimes, that is not all bad.”
June 1863
THEY DID not spend time in Maryland. There were no longer hopes that the neutral state would provide help to their army. So he rode the tall horse, and they moved quickly and with purpose. The papers in the North began to tell of the new invasion, and the Federal Army drew in closer to Washington, but Lee did not move that way, drove north, crossed the border into Pennsylvania. He led a great column of men who understood it would end soon, they were moving up to strike the deciding blow, and there were none among them who doubted they would do it. This was an army that had never been beaten, and that knowledge made them all stronger still.
It was hot now, and even the green hills did not give them relief, but they carried the memory of Jackson, and they knew how he would have pushed them, and so stragglers were few, and the strength of their morale gave them a shield against the hot march.
It was late in the day, long shadows crossed the road, and in front of them was the town of Chambersburg. He had ridden with Longstreet, had sent Ewell and Hill on a parallel route, farther east, and though they had met no opposition, he was beginning to feel concern, to wonder about the movements of the Federal Army.
Longstreet had ridden back, had sent word down the line, Keep a sharp eye, had sent his own scouts away, into the countryside. Now Lee heard him coming, pushing the horse quickly along the edge of the road. Then Longstreet slowed, moved beside him.
“Still nothing from Stuart. Not a sign, not a word!”
Lee heard the anger in his voice, said, “We will hear from him soon. I am certain of that. He understands the importance.”
“He is not where we need him to be.”
Lee stared ahead, did not answer, thought, General Stuart understands his orders. . . .
Far to the east, Stuart’s cavalry raced northward, separated from Lee’s army by the advancing column of Federal troops. He was trying, again, to make the glorious ride, encircle the blue army, reclaim the reputation, now that he was again with his own beloved horse soldiers. But Lincoln had moved again, and the Federal Army now had a new commander, George Gordon Meade, a man who did not suffer from the heavy burden of defeat, whose