Such was Robert Edward Lee, and Harry thought him the most impressive human being upon whom he had ever looked.
“General Jackson,” said General Lee, “this is a fortunate meeting. You have saved the Confederacy.”
General Jackson made a gesture of dissent, but General Lee took him by the arm and they went into the house. General Jackson turned a moment at the door and motioned to Harry to follow. The boy went in, and found himself in a large room. Three men had risen from cane chairs to meet the visitor. One, broad of shoulders, middle-aged and sturdy, was Longstreet. The others more slender of figure were the two Hills.
The major generals came forward eagerly to meet Jackson, and they also had friendly greetings for his young aide. Lee handed them glasses of milk which they drank thirstily.
“You'll find an aide of mine in the next room,” said General Lee to Harry. “He's a little older than you are but you should get along together.”
Harry bowed and withdrew, and the aide, Charlie Gordon, gave him a hearty welcome. He was three or four years Harry's senior, something of a scholar, but frank and open. When they had exchanged names, Gordon said:
“Stretch out a bit on this old sofa. You look tired. You've been riding a long distance. How many miles have you come?”
“I don't know,” replied Harry, as he lay luxuriously on the sofa, “but we started at one o'clock this morning and it is now three o'clock in the afternoon.”
“Fourteen hours. It's like what we've been hearing of Stonewall Jackson. I took a peep at him from the window as you rode up.”
“I suppose you didn't see much but dust.”