Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara [87]
In the newspapers and among the troops, both North and South, the name of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was becoming legendary.
LEE STOOD as Secretary Randolf entered, the the two men sat across the vast desk from President Davis.
Both men had been given a frantic summons, and Lee could see that Davis was not well. His thin face appeared hollow, his eyes dark and heavy. Davis sat with his hands under his chin, supporting his head only a few inches above the desk.
Randolph had just returned from Norfolk, to see for himself what dangers were threatening the naval yard, and his report to Davis had only added to the President’s anxieties. While at Norfolk, Randolph received a courier from Johnston, ordering the troops there to withdraw from Norfolk. The message contained no other information, did not even advise where they should go. It was plain to Randolph that there was no Federal force threatening the city and there was no need to abandon the equipment at the yard. Randolph furiously issued an order countermanding Johnston’s, so the valuable machinery could be moved before the city was evacuated.
Davis lifted his head, spoke slowly. “Gentlemen, my authority . . . is it plain to the two of you that I am the commander in chief?”
Lee glanced at Randolph, who nodded, said, “Yes, sir, of course.”
“General Lee? Is it plain to you as well?”
“Certainly, Mr. President.”
“Then can either of you explain to me why I am unable to persuade our General Johnston, our commanding general in the field, to inform us what he is doing? Have either of you been able to communicate with the general?”
Randolph said, “No, sir. It is most . . . difficult, sir. We have sent wires, couriers to his headquarters requesting his position . . . his intentions. He does not respond.”
“Gentlemen, as you may know, we have received word that Yorktown has been abandoned. General Lee, do you have some idea where our army might be headed?”
Lee had received only one communication from Johnston, a suggestion for a full-scale invasion of the North by an assembly of all the troops in the East, with a similar invasion of Ohio by the troops of the West. The suggestion had been so irrational, and without serious regard for the actual problems of moving troops, that Lee had not shown the letter to Davis. Lee now saw that regardless of the kind of collapse that was affecting Johnston, Davis was falling apart as well.
“Mr. President, I have not been informed of General Johnston’s plans. We have . . . My staff has spoken with soldiers . . . men who have come from the front. . . . We have tried to put together some information from these stragglers—”
“Stragglers?” Davis’s voice rose, cracked. He looked away, past the two men, spoke to no one. “We rely on the word of stragglers.”
“Sir . . .” Randolph spoke with a gentle tone. “Sir, we must consider that if the general is in a full-scale retreat, the Federal Army could appear at the outskirts of Richmond at any time. This might well throw the city into a panic. It may be prudent for us to consider evacuating the city.”
Lee stiffened. Randolph continued, “The general abandoned Yorktown because he had great fear of the Federal artillery, the guns from their ships. Those same guns will most certainly follow him up the James River. We cannot hope to defend Richmond against that kind of assault. The city could be destroyed.”
Davis stared ahead, then turned to Lee. “General Lee, is it time for us to . . . evacuate?”
“I don’t believe it is necessary quite yet, Mr. President. I agree that we must not make Richmond a battlefield, and it may be that General Johnston feels he is retreating from indefensible positions, but I do not share that view. If he has withdrawn completely from Yorktown, he may have established a defensive line at Williamsburg, using the fortifications constructed