Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [72]
“Sir, if I can assist—”
“This is the Confederate Army supply, General. I would imagine your hands are full worrying about your own state.”
“Well, sir, that is precisely why I came to see you. It seems that my duties in command of Virginia’s army are coming to a close. The army has been incorporated into the Confederate Army, and the strategic positions along the northern border have been secured by your generals. It has not been entirely smooth, but the job—”
“The job has been handled, General, handled most efficiently. I thank you. So, you have a run-in with Joe Johnston, eh? I heard he took over your men in Harper’s Ferry, bit of a problem. He is not . . . well, he has his own way. Good man, though, good man.”
Joseph Johnston had been the only high-ranking Virginia officer in the old army to sign up immediately with the new Confederate Army without first joining the Virginia forces. Lee knew Johnston always had a keen eye for politics, and so had secured himself a senior position immediately. Now, he commanded the newly promoted General Jackson and the other forces around Harper’s Ferry, and did not recognize Lee’s authority, would not even correspond with him.
“Sir, permit me to . . . be direct.” Lee was growing more uncomfortable. There should not be this formality, he thought. We have a long history . . . I knew this man when we were at the Point. We were . . . well, not close, but . . . there should not be this wall, this political boundary. This was all too familiar to Lee, the coldness of politics, the lack of recognition, being ignored in favor of the men with louder voices. He felt very alone, very unsure. But as the responsibilities had gradually passed to the other commanders, he had stiffened, vowed to himself he would not allow this to simply slide by.
Davis looked up at Lee, looked into his eyes for the first time. Davis had assumed the role of commander in chief with a fanatical attention to detail. He tried, often at great expense of energy, to control all aspects of his government, and often had no trust for subordinates, and so his aides were usually left with nothing to do, while Davis assumed command of even minute details. It was Lee who seemed to win his confidence, because Lee was the only commander who did not challenge Davis’s authority, who did not confront Davis with a great ego.
“General, you have performed an admirable . . . well, you have proven to me anyway that you were just the man we needed.”
“Thank you, sir.” Patience, Lee thought, be careful.
Davis continued, “Yes, of course. We’re old soldiers, you and me. I understand what you’ve done, what steps had to be taken. There has been some talk, talk that you have been too gentle on our enemy, talk that we should have launched a full-scale attack into Washington, stopped this thing in its tracks. There has been some criticism of your defensive strategy.”
“Sir, do you believe we should have attacked?”
“No, no, of course not. That’s the point. You can’t attack an enemy until you can take the fight to him. We weren’t ready for that, didn’t have the means. Now, however, I believe we do. That’s why I’m glad to have men like Joe Johnston and Beauregard up on those lines. They may not be exactly . . . thinkers. But they will fight.”
“Sir, I do not have a position in the Confederate Army.”
“What? Of course you do, here, wait.” Davis slid papers around on his desk, lifted one tall stack, shoved it aside, sent pieces fluttering away to the floor.
“Yes, right here. Mr. Lee, you have been named one of five brigadier generals commanding Confederate forces. Your Governor Letcher was most insistent, helped me convince the convention. There, that what you wanted?”
Lee thought, No one told me . . . I should feel honored. But he felt hollow, an emptiness.
“Thank you, sir. May I ask, what are my orders? What troops do I command—where do I go?” He scolded himself for being too anxious.
Davis looked through papers again, began to read, absently, and Lee saw distraction.
“Sir, do you have duty for me?”
“What? Duty? Of course, General,