“What do you propose to make this movement with?”
“With my whole corps.”
“What will you leave me?” Lee asked.
“The divisions of Anderson and McLaws,” answered Jackson. Lee paused and then said: “Well, go on.”
Jackson saluted, saying: “My troops will move at once, sir.”
Everything was ready, every order was given, when Jackson looked at his watch. It was six o’clock in the evening,—“You may go forward, sir.”
This whole Southern force moved like an avalanche on the unsuspecting Federals, who received a deadly fire from behind.
They ran before the advancing foe. Here and there they took a stand to resist the attack, then on again. Jackson followed them with his pounding artillery. “Press right ahead, press them, press them,” cried Jackson, as he rode by his men.
“You should not expose yourself so much,” said a staff officer as he grabbed his rein.
“There is no danger, sir,” he replied; “the enemy is routed. Go back and tell General Hill to press on.” But Hooker appeared before the right of his men, ordered a stand to be taken, and Jackson was obliged to stop and collect his scattered troops.