Part 30 (1/2)
”Have you seen d.i.c.k Taylor's beauties--his Creoles and Tigers and Harry Hayes, 7th Louisiana? The Maryland Line, too, and Trimble and Elzey?
d.a.m.ned fine army! How about yours over there?” He indicated the Blue Ridge with a bird-like jerk, and helped himself again to frumenty.
”Your description applies there, too, sir. It's a little rough and ready, but--it's a d.a.m.ned fine army!”
”Kernstown didn't shake it?”
”Kernstown was as much a victory as a defeat, sir. No, it didn't shake it.”
”_Morale_ good?”
”Extraordinarily so. That army is all right, sir.”
”I wish,” said Ewell plaintively, ”that I knew what to make of General Jackson. What do you make of him, major?”
”I make a genius, sir.”
Ewell raised his shoulder and ducked his head, his bright round eyes much like a robin's. ”And he isn't crazy?”
”Not in the very least.”
”Well, I've had my doubts. I am glad to hear you say that. I want to think mighty well of the man who leads me. That Romney trip now?--of course, I only heard Loring's side. He doesn't just wind in and out of mountains for the fun of doing it?”
”I think that, generally speaking, he has some other object in view, sir. I think that acquaintance with General Jackson will show you what I mean. It develops confidence in a very marked fas.h.i.+on.”
Ewell listened bright-eyed. ”I am glad to hear you say that, for d.a.m.n me, confidence is what I want! I want, sir, to be world-without-end-sure that my commanding officer is forever and eternally right, and then I want to be let go ahead!--I want to be let feel just as though I were a captain of fifty dragoons, and nothing to do but to get back to post by the sunset gun and report the work done!--And so you think that when my force and old Jackson's force get together we'll do big things?”
”Fairly big, sir. It is fortunate to expect them. They will arrive the sooner.”
Ewell bobbed his head. ”Yes, yes, that's true! Now, major, I'm going to review the troops this morning, and then I'll write an answer for General Jackson, and you'll take it to him and tell him I'm coming on by Stanardsville, just as he says, and that I'll rest on Sunday. Maybe even we'll find a church--Presbyterian.” He rose. ”You'd better come with me.--I've got some more questions to ask. Better see my troops, too. Old Jackson might as well know what beautiful children I've got. Have you any idea yourself what I'm expected to do at Stanardsville?”
”I don't know what General Jackson expects, sir. But my own idea is that you'll not be long at Stanardsville.”
”He'll whistle again, will he?”
”I think so. But I speak without authority.”
”There's an idea abroad that he means to leave the Valley--come east--cross the mountains himself instead of my crossing them. What do you think of that?”
”I am not in his council, sir. The Valley people would hate to see him go.”
”Well, all that I can say is that I hope Banks is puzzled, too!--Jim, Jim! d.a.m.n you, where's my sword and sash?”
As they went Ewell talked on in his piping voice. ”General Jackson mustn't fling my brigades against windmills or lose them in the mountains! I'm fair to confess I feel anxious. Out on the plains when we chase Apaches we chase 'em! We don't go deviating like a love vine all over creation.--That's Harry Hayes's band--playing some Frenchy thing or other! Cavalry's over there--I know you've got Ashby, but Flournoy and Munford are right wicked, too!”
”The--Virginia is with you, sir?”
”Yes. Fine regiment. You know it?”
”I know one of its officers--Major Stafford.”
”Oh, we all know Maury Stafford! Fine fellow, but d.a.m.ned restless.