The Lost Army

by Thomas Wallace Knox

The seed was sown on good ground. There was great alarm through the rebel ranks at the new terrors in store for them, and in spite of all the vigilance of the commanders, there were numerous desertions daily. The more intelligent among the officers had a suspicion that the eavesdroppers had been hoaxed, but they were powerless to stop the spreading of the reports, which grew in horror as they passed from mouth to mouth. The wonderful shells which could sweep off so many men “as though they had been struck by lightning” disturbed the dreams of many a soldier of Arkansas or Texas, and were not often out of his thoughts in his waking hours.

Very soon after this event the rebels abandoned Des Arc, and concentrated in the capital or around it. Earthworks were thrown up to defend the city against the threatened attack, and so much attention was paid to Little Rock that all other parts of the state were practically deserted.

And those wonderful shells are yet resting in the brain of the man who invented them. Perhaps they will be developed in some future war.

It is well to remark at this point that the trick which was played on the flag-of-truce bearers is by no means a new one, though it was new enough on that occasion. It was played several times by both sides during the war; but its most successful performance was by Stonewall Jackson in one of his campaigns in the Shenandoah valley.

Several captured union officers were under guard in a house in Winchester, and expected to be sent to Richmond and locked up in Libby prison. General Jackson had a council of war with his division commanders in a room adjoining the one where the officers were confined, he gave his orders with great exactness, told where each division was to march, and sent the commanders away one after another to get his force in readiness. They were to advance on the union position and give battle, and everything was prepared with the utmost care.

Then he asked his adjutant-general when he had sent the prisoners to Richmond.

“They have n't been sent off yet, General,” was the reply. “But we 'll start them soon after daylight. General Stuart said his cavalry must rest till then.”

“If they have n't gone now,” said the general, “you'd better parole them and send them down the valley. Let them start immediately, so that they 'll be well out of the way before we begin our advance.”

With this the general went out and was soon followed by the adjutant. In fifteen minutes an officer came to take their paroles, and they were escorted to the union lines by a flag-of-truce party. As they passed through the town they saw that preparations were going on for a movement, and when they got within their own camp they of course told what they had heard.

Of course their information was valuable, and preparations were at once made to resist the advance. Hour after hour passed away waiting for Stonewall Jackson, but he did n't come. All those hours he was marching the other way as fast as possible, and executing one of those movements for which he was famous. He suddenly appeared at a point where he was least expected, and then it was realized that his talk in hearing of the prisoners was all a ruse.