It was more than five minutes, but not much more, when the whole army was on the march again, but the foot cavalry forgot to grumble when they came again into their beloved valley, across which, and up and down which, they had marched so much.
They threw back their shoulders, their gait became more jaunty and they burst into cheers, at the sight of the rich rolling country, now so beautiful in spring’s heavy green. Far off the mountains rose, dark and blue, but they were only the setting for the gem and made it more precious.
“It’s ours,” said Sherburne proudly to Harry. “We left it to the Yankees for a little while, but we’ve come back to claim it, and if the unbidden tenant doesn’t get out at once we’ll put him out. Harry, haven’t you got Virginia kinfolks? We want to adopt you and call you a Virginian.”
“Lots of them. My great-grandfather, Governor Ware, was born in Maryland, but all the people on my mother’s side were of Virginia origin.”
“I might have known it. Kentucky is the daughter of Virginia though a large part of Kentucky takes sides with the Yankees. But that’s not your fault. Remember, for the time being you’re a Virginian, one of us by right of blood and deed.”
“Count me among ’em at once,” said Harry. He felt a certain pride in this off-hand but none the less real adoption, because he knew that it was a great army with which he marched, and it might immortalize itself.
“What’s the news, Harry?” asked Sherburne. “You’re always near Old Jack, and if he lets anything come from under that old hat of his, which isn’t often, it’s because he’s willing for it to be known.”
“He’s said this, and he doesn’t mean it to be any secret. Banks is at Strasburg with a big army, but he’s fortified himself there and he doesn’t know just what to do. He doesn’t for the life of him know which way Jackson is coming, nor do I. But I do know that Ewell with his division is going to join us at last and we’ll have a sizable army.”
“And that means bigger things!” exclaimed Sherburne, joyously. “Between you and me, Harry, Banks won’t sleep soundly again for many a night!”
As they marched on the valley people came out joyously to meet them. Even women and girls on horseback, galloping, reined in their horses to tell them where the Union forces lay. Always they had information for Jackson, never any for the North. Here scouts and spies were scarcely needed by the Southern army. Before night Stonewall Jackson knew as much of his enemy as any general needed to know.
They camped at dusk and Langdon, contrary to his prediction, enjoyed another ample meal and plenty of rest. Jackson allowed no tent to be set for himself. The night was warm and beautiful and the songs of birds came from the trees. The general had eaten sparingly, and now he sat on a log in deep thought. Presently he looked up and said:
“Lieutenant Kenton, do you and Lieutenant Dalton ride forward in that direction and meet General Ewell. He is coming, with his staff, to see me. Escort him to the camp.”
He pointed out the direction and in an instant Harry and Dalton, also of the staff, were in the camp, following the line of that pointing finger. They had the password and as they passed a little beyond the pickets they saw a half dozen horsemen riding rapidly toward them in the dusk.
“General Ewell, is it not, sir?” said Harry, as he and Dalton gave the salute.
“I’m General Ewell,” replied the foremost horseman. “Do you come from General Jackson?”
“Yes, sir. His camp is just before you. You can see the lights now. He has directed us to meet you and escort you.”
“Then lead the way.”
The two young lieutenants, guiding General Ewell and his staff, were soon inside Jackson’s camp, but Harry had time to observe Ewell well. He had already heard of him as a man of great vigor and daring. He had made a name for judgment and dash in the Indian wars on the border. Men spoke of him as a soldier, prompt to obey his superior and ready to take responsibility if his superior were not there. Harry knew that Jackson expected much of him.