Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [69]
Lee smiled at the sharp face, the deep blue eyes watching him carefully, and he nodded quietly at the face of a hero. “Yes, you are Thomas Jackson.”
“Sir.” Jackson gave a crisp salute, which Lee returned, and Lee pointed to a chair, heaped in papers. “Major, please, sit down. Excuse the mess. Things are a bit hectic.”
Jackson went to the chair, set the papers on the floor, sat down, straight, did not touch the back of the chair.
“General, I am reporting with the Corps of Cadets from VMI. The young men are prepared to assist in the training of the new volunteers, sir. I, however . . . I have received orders of a different nature. Please allow me, General . . .”
Lee saw a look on Jackson’s face, discomfort, urgency.
“What is it, Major? Is there a problem?”
“General, the concerns of one officer do not have priority where duty is concerned, however, I feel I may have been . . . I seem to have been made a Major of Engineers. General, I am not an engineer.”
“Who made you an engineer?” Lee was puzzled.
“The Executive War Council, sir. However, I have received a letter from Governor Letcher.” He reached into his pocket, drew out an envelope, handed it to Lee.
Lee felt a small anger at these people who were throwing commissions around the state like prizes at a county fair, with little understanding of the value of experience. He read the letter. “... recommend that General Lee appeal the appointment, and place Major Jackson in field command, at the rank of colonel . . .” At the bottom, he saw the now-familiar signature of John Letcher, Governor.
“This should not be a problem, Major. The council has been somewhat hasty with many of their appointments. In fact . . .” Lee turned and looked at the map on the wall, lines of red X’s marking those places requiring the most troop concentration. “You are familiar with the area around Harper’s Ferry, Major?”
“Yes, sir, quite familiar. My home . . . my family is from the valley area.”
Lee thought, Of course, this is ideal. “Major, you will soon be commissioned colonel in the Virginia Provisional Army, and as such I am placing you here.” He reached out to the map, placed a finger on Harper’s Ferry.
“You will assume command of the volunteer units forming there. Organize them into brigade strength and defend the Arsenal there, until we can remove the equipment to a safer location.”
Jackson stood, went closer to the map, squinted. “Sir, I am honored. I will hold the position as long as necessary.”
“Major, I don’t believe you should concern yourself with digging in there. The area is not defensible. The town sits in a low bowl, if you will, surrounded by high hills. But we need the machinery in the Arsenal. If we can maintain some strength there, just long enough to keep the Federal forces hesitating, we will have accomplished a great deal.”
“I understand, General. I will leave immediately.” Jackson turned, took long noisy steps toward the door, then stopped abruptly, made a neat turn back toward Lee and said, “Excuse me, General. A very good friend of mine, he’s my brother-in-law, actually . . . no, he’s my wife’s brother-in-law. . . .” Jackson stared at the ceiling, spoke to himself, “No . . . well, yes, he’s married to Anna’s sister, so . . .”
Lee winced, No, not this one too, a good soldier who should know better.
“He is nearly my brother-in-law. He is a mathematics professor at the University of North Carolina . . . a very intelligent man, not lacking in a sense of duty. I believe if he were to be asked, he would return to the army.”
“Return . . . ?”
“Yes, sir. He was in Mexico, left the army as a major.”
Lee let out a light breath. At least this brother-in-law had some experience. “What is his name, Major?”
“Daniel Harvey Hill, sir.”
Lee nodded, the name was familiar