For this purpose, a general suspension of military exercises, as far as practicable, was commanded. The chaplains of the regiments held divine service, the general attending.

But though intent on affording his troops all needful rest, for he was ever a most considerate commander, Jackson was not the man to lose anything by inaction. Immediately after the battle of Winchester, he despatched a messenger to Richmond for orders. These were that he should press the enemy at Harper's Ferry, threaten an invasion of Maryland, and an attack upon Washington. After two days' halt, therefore, his army was again on the move in the direction of Charlestown, eight miles distant from Harper's Ferry; General Winder's brigade being again in advance. Arrived within five miles from Charlestown, Winder ascertained that the Federals held it strongly in possession. Though promised succours, he resolved to attack them without delay, and succeeded in driving them from their position with considerable loss.

Meanwhile, other Federal movements were arresting the attention of Jackson. On arriving at Winchester, he ascertained that the approach of the enemy to Strasbourg was so imminent as to necessitate his reaching that place without delay, to avoid being cut off from his other detachments. In obedience to his orders the Stonewall brigade effected a most extraordinary march, accomplishing forty miles of it without halting for food. Arrived at Strasbourg,

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they found Ewell face to face with Fremont, offering him battle. The latter, however, declined the challenge, and withdrew into the gorge from which he had issued. Jackson, seeing how matters stood, resumed a deliberate retreat, seeking some position in the interior where he could confront his foes without danger to his flanks.

His humanity to the vanquished at this time deserves special mention. Finding a large hospital at Winchester filled with seven hundred Federal invalids, he forbade the removal of any of their stores or medicines, ministering to the sufferers with the tenderest assiduity.

His official narrative of these brilliant achievements closed with the following:

"Whilst I have had to speak of some of our troops in disparaging terms, it is my gratifying privilege to say of the main body of the army that its officers and men acted in a manner worthy of the great cause for which they were contending.

To Mrs Jackson, he wrote as follows:

"Winchester, May 26, 1862.-An ever kind Providence blessed us with success at Fort Royal on Friday; between Strasbourg and Winchester on Saturday; and herewith a successful engagement yesterday..

Winchester was nearly frantic with

joy. Our entrance into the town was one of the most stirring scenes of my life."

A few days after, while threatening Harper's Ferry, he sent a messenger to the Confederate Government,

applying for reinforcements. "Tell them," he said, "that I have now but fifteen thousand effective men. If this present opening is to be improved as it should be, I must have forty thousand."

But they were unable to comply with his request. His aid in the deliverance of Richmond was to be effected in another way. He had calculated in accomplishing it by effecting a diversion among the Federal troops. He was to gain his end by more direct means.

In closing this eventful page in his history, we can scarcely refrain from referring to the qualities he exhibited. Foresight in calculating on the most unimportant of the enemy's tactics, and ready judgment as to the means to be taken with reference to them. In conflict, the courage of a lion, with a stern regardlessness of personal risk. In command, such energetic promptitude and force of will as carried everything before it. In victory, an eagerness to divert all praise from himself to those who fought under him. Towards friend and foe, when the chances of war threw the latter disabled at his feet, the tender ministry of a thoughtful woman. In the endurance of hardship, a readiness not only to take his part, scorning the exception his high rank might have obtained for him,not only a repudiation of his personal comfort, at the expense of his officers and soldiers; but more than this, as is witnessed by many a night-watch, sustained by himself alone, while his troops were bivouacking -a desire to transfer all possible burden from their

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shoulders to his own. So deeply had he drunk into the spirit of his Divine Master, who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. Loving remembrance of his wife and home in the midst of the stir of the campaign; and, to crown all, rising sublimely over all, and glorifying all with its ever conspicuous light-a piety serene and sincere, humility unaffected by success, an unvarying repose in the tender mercy of his Heavenly Father, and a constant thanksgiving

to

"The God of war, from whom all glories are."

Verily he was a Christian soldier !

K

CHAPTER XI.

AN ANXIOUS CRISIS.

THE task now forced upon Jackson's attention was the rescue of his army from immediate danger by retreating up the Valley. So far he had carried out his schemes. M'Dowell had been thwarted in his designs upon Richmond; Banks had been driven from Winchester; while the Federals could not free themselves from the apprehension of a possible attack upon Washington. Such was the respect his name inspired, that the President refused to listen to a proposition from M'Clellan, urging that M'Dowell should be allowed to join him in the investment of Richmond, on the ground that if he did so Jackson might be down upon the Capitol at a moment's notice. Moreover, M'Clellan was ordered to burn the bridges by which his reinforcements should have joined him, lest the Confederates should use them to march upon Washington.

Thus it was that Jackson's successes in the Valley saved Virginia and its capital. But more remains behind; and it has yet to be shown how he extricated himself from a critical position, and assisted in securing further triumph to his cause, near Richmond.