The Long Roll
asks only a similar confidence in the future._
_But his chief duty to-day, and that of the army, is to recognize
devoutly the hand of a protecting providence in the brilliant
successes of the last three days, and to make the oblation of our
thanks to God for his mercies to us and to our country, in heartfelt
acts of religious worship. For this purpose the troops will remain
in camp to-day, suspending as far as practicable all military
exercises; and the chaplains of regiments will hold divine service
in their several charges at four o'clock P. M._
At four the general went to church with the 37th Virginia. The doxology
sung, the benediction pronounced, he told the chaplain that he had been
edified exceedingly, and he looked it. There were times when it might be
said quite truly that his appearance was that of an awkward knight of
the Holy Grail.
Headquarters was a farmhouse, a small, cosy place, islanded in a rolling
sea of clover. About dusk Allan Gold, arriving here, found himself
admitted to the farmer's parlour. Here were a round table with lamps, a
clerk or two writing, and several members of Jackson's military family.
The general himself came in presently, and sat down at the table. A
dark, wiry man, with a highly intellectual face, who had been going over
papers by a lamp in the corner of the room, came forward and saluted.
"Very well, Jarrow. Have you got the mail bag?"
"Yes, sir." He laid upon the table a small, old, war-worn leather
pouch. "It won't hold much, but enough. Headquarters' mail. Service over
the mountain, to the Manassas Gap for the first Richmond train. Profound
ignorance on General Jackson's part of McDowell's whereabouts. The
latter's pickets gobble up courier, and information meant for Richmond
goes to Washington."
"Who is the volunteer, Gold?"
"A boy named Billy Maydew, sir. Company A, 65th. A Thunder Run man."
"He understands that he is to be captured?"
"Yes, sir. Both he and the mail bag, especially the mail bag. After it
is safe prisoner, and he has given a straight story, he can get away if
he is able. There's no object in his going North?"
"None at all. Let me see the contents, Jarrow."
Jarrow spread them on the table. "I thought it best, sir, to include a
few of a general nature--"
"I thought of that. Here are copies of various letters received from
Richmond. They are now of no special value. I will return them with a
memorandum on the packet, 'Received on such a date and now returned.'"
He drew out a packet, tied with red tape. "Run them over, Jarrow."
Jarrow read aloud,--
MOBILE, March 1st, 1862.
HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS,
PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA:
_Sir_,--The subject of permitting cotton to leave our Southern ports
clandestinely has had some attention from me, and I have come to the
conclusion that it is a Yankee trick that should have immediate
attention from the Governmental authorities of this country. The
pretence is that we must let it go forward to buy arms and munitions
of war, and I fear the fate of the steamer Calhoun illustrates the
destination of these arms and munitions of war after they are bought
with our cotton. Her commander set her on fire and the Yankees put her
out just in time to secure the prize. This cotton power is a momentous
question--
"Very good. The next, Jarrow."
RICHMOND, VA., February 22d.
HON. J. P. BENJAMIN,
SECRETARY OF WAR:
_Sir_,--I have the honour to state there are now many volunteers from
Maryland who are desirous of organizing themselves as soon as possible
into companies, regiments, and brigades--
"Good! good! The next, Jarrow."
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA.
HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS:
_Sir_,--I have the pleasure to inform you that in response to your
requisition on Georgia for twelve additional regiments of troops she
now tenders you thirteen regiments and three battalions--
"Good! The next."
HAVANA, March 22d, 1862.
HON. J. P. BENJAMIN,
SECRETARY OF WAR, RICHMOND.
_Sir_,--Our recent reverses in Tennessee and on the seacoast,
magnified by the Northern press, have had a tendency to create doubt
in the minds of our foreign friends here as to our ultimate success.
I have resisted with all my power this ridiculous fear of the
timid--
"Lay that aside. It might jeopardize the agent. The next."
"Copy of a proposed General Order.
"WAR DEPARTMENT
"ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE.
No. 1. General officers and officers in command of departments,
districts, and separate posts will make a detail of men from their
commands to work the nitre caves which may be situated within the
limits of their respective commands--"
"Good! The next."
SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE,
RICHMOND, VA.
It is the policy of all Nations at all times, especially such as at
present exist in our Confederacy, to make every effort to develop
its internal resources, and to diminish its tribute to foreigners by
supplying its necessities from the productions of its own soil. This
observation may be considered peculiarly applicable to the
appropriation of our indigenous medicinal substances of the
vegetable kingdom, and with the view of promoting this object the
inclosed pamphlet embracing many of the more important medicinal
plants has been issued for distribution to the medical officers of
the Army of the Confederacy now in the field. You are particularly
instructed to call the attention of those of your corps to the
propriety of collecting and preparing with care such of the within
enumerated remedial agents or others found valuable, as their
respective charges may require during the present summer and coming
winter. Our forests and Savannahs furnish our _materia medica_ with
a moderate number of narcotics and sedatives, and an abundant supply
of tonics, astringents, aromatics and demulcents, while the list of
anodynes, emetics and cathartics remains in a comparative degree
incomplete--
"Very good! The next, Jarrow--"
RICHMOND, FREDERICKSBURG AND POTOMAC RR.
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE.
HON. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH:
_Dear Sir_,--At the risk of seeming tedious, permit me to say that
my impression that you were mistaken last night in your recollection
of the extent to which Louis Napoleon used railroads in transporting
his army into Sardinia is this morning confirmed by a gentleman who
is a most experienced and well-informed railroad officer, and is
also the most devoted student of geography and military history,
with the most accurate and extraordinary memory for every detail,
however minute, of battles and all other military operations that I
have ever met with. He is positive in his recollection that not less
than 100,000 and probably more, of that army were gradually
concentrated at Toulon and sent thence by sea to Genoa, and the rest
were during some weeks being concentrated at a little town on the
confines of France and Italy, whence they were transferred, partly
on foot and partly on a double-track railroad, into Sardinia. The
capacity of a double-track railroad, adequately equipped like the
European railroads, may be moderately computed at five times that of
a single-track road like those of the Confederate States. For the
sudden and rapid movement of a vanguard of an army, to hold in check
an enemy till reinforced, or of a rear guard to cover a retreat, or
of any other portion of an army which must move suddenly and
rapidly, and for the transportation of ordnance, ammunition,
commissary and other military supplies, railroads are available and
invaluable to an army. And when these objects of prime necessity are
attained, they can advantageously carry more troops according to the
amount of the other transportation required, the distance, their
force, and equipment, etc. But to rely on them as a means of
transporting any large body of troops beside what is needed to
supply and maintain them, is certainly a most dangerous delusion,
and must inevitably result in the most grievous disappointments and
fatal consequence.
Very respectfully and truly yours, etc.
P. V. DANIEL, JR.
P. S. As a railroad officer, interest would prompt me to advocate
the opposite theory about this matter, for troops constitute the
most profitable, if not the only profitable, part of any
transportation by railroads. But I cannot be less a citizen and
patriot because I am a railroad officer.
"Good! good. The next, Jarrow."
"Copy of resolutions declaring the sense of Congress.
"Whereas the United States are waging war against the Confederate
States with the avowed purpose of compelling the latter to reunite
with them under the same constitution and government, and whereas
the waging of war with such an object is in direct opposition to the
sound Republican maxim that 'all government rests upon the consent
of the governed' and can only tend to consolidation in the general
government and the consequent destruction of the rights of the
States, and whereas, this result being attained the two sections can
only exist together in the relation of the oppressor and the
oppressed, because of the great preponderance of power in the
Northern section, coupled with dissimilarity of interest; and
whereas we, the Representatives of the people of the Confederate
States, in Congress assembled, may be presumed to know the
sentiments of said people, having just been elected by them.
Therefore,
"Be it resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America
that this Congress do solemnly declare and publish to the world
that it is the unalterable determination of the people of the
Confederate States, in humble reliance upon Almighty God, to suffer
all the calamities of the most protracted war--"
"Just so. That will do for this packet. Now what have you there?"
"These are genuine soldiers' letters, sir--the usual thing--incidents of
battle, wounds, messages, etc. They are all optimistic in tone, but for
the rest tell no news. I have carefully opened, gone over, and reclosed
them."
"Good! good! Let Robinson, there, take a list of the names. Lieutenant
Willis, you will see each of the men and tell them they must rewrite
their letters. These were lost. Now, Jarrow."
"These are the ones to the point, sir. I had two written this morning,
one this afternoon. They are all properly addressed and signed, and
dated from this bivouac. The first."
MY DEAR FATHER,--A glorious victory yesterday! Little cost to us and
Banks swept from the Valley. We are in high spirits, confident that
the tide has turned and that the seat of war will be changed. Of
late the army has grown like a rolling snowball. Perhaps thirty
thousand here--
An aide uttered a startled laugh. "Pray be quiet, gentlemen," said
Jackson.
Thirty thousand here, and a large force nearer the mountains.