Tell about— General Johnston’s army at Winchester. Colonel Jackson’s first battle in the Civil War. The march to Manassas. The first battle of Manassas. Jackson’s farewell to the Stonewall Brigade.
Jackson’s military cap, sword, and buttons.
CHAPTER VII.
A Major-General.
When the year 1862 opened, General Jackson was at Winchester with ten thousand men, Generals Loring and Henry Jackson having come from Western Virginia to join his command.
At the head of Jackson’s cavalry was Lieutenant-Colonel Ashby, a gallant, brave, and watchful officer. At the sound of his well-known shout and the cry of “Ashby,” from his men, the Federal soldiers would turn and flee as if from a host. Ever guarding the outposts of the army, he was Jackson’s “eyes and ears.”
Lieut.-Col. Ashby.
There were now three great armies threatening Jackson, and he well knew that they would crush him if he did not meet each one singly before they could unite.
Jackson’s little army was the guard to Johnston’s flank. The latter general, with forty thousand men, was still at Manassas facing McClellan, who was at the head of an army of fifty thousand men, and preparing, as soon as spring opened, to “walk over Johnston.”