按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
second line and drove the enemy back with great slaughter until
his advance was checked by the fire of the Northern artillery。
All day the fight went on； the Federals attempting to crush the
Confederate artillery by the weight of their fire in order that their
infantry columns might again advance。 But although outnumbered
by more than two to one the Confederate guns were worked with
great resolution； and the day passed and darkness begun to fall
without their retiring from the positions they had taken up。' Just at
sunset General Stuart ordered all the batteries on the right to
advance。 This they did and opened their fire on the Northern
infantry with such effect that these fell back to the position near
the town that they had occupied in the morning。
On the left an equally terrible battle had raged all day； but here the
Northern troops were compelled to cross open ground between the
town and the base of the hill； and suffered so terribly from the fire
that they never succeeded in reaching the Confederate front。
Throughout the day the Confederates held their position with such
ease that General Lee considered the affair as nothing more than a
demonstration of force to feel his position； and expected an even
sterner battle on the following day。 Jackson's first and second
lines； composed of less than 15；000 men； had repulsed without
difficulty the divisions of Franklin and Hooker； 55；000 strong；
while Longstreet with about the same force had never been really
pressed by the enemy； although on that side they had a force of
over 50；000 men。
In the morning the Northern army was seen drawn up in battle
array as if to advance for fresh assault； but no movement was
made。 General Burnside was in favor of a fresh attack； but the
generals commanding the various divisions felt that their troops；
after the repulse the day before； were not equal to the work； and
were unanimously of opinion that a second assault should not be
attempted。 After remaining for some hours in order of battle they
fell back into the town and two days later the whole army
recrossed the Rappahannook River。 The loss of the Confederates
was 1；800 men； who were for the most part killed or wounded by
the enemy's artillery； while the Federal loss was no less than
13；771。 General Burnside soon afterward resigned his command；
and General Hooker； an officer of the same politics as the
president and his advisers； was appointed to succeed him。
The cavalry had not been called upon to act during the day； and
Vincent's duties were confined to carrying orders to the
commanders of the various batteries of artillery posted in that part
of the field； as these had all been placed under General Stuart's
orders。 He had many narrow escapes by shot and fragments of
shells； but passed through the day uninjured。
General Lee has been blamed for not taking advantage of his
victory and falling upon the Federals on the morning after the
battle； but although such an assault might possibly have been
successful he was conscious of his immense inferiority in force；
and his troops would have been compelled to have advanced to the
attack across ground completely swept by the fire of the
magnificently served Northern artillery posted upon their
commanding heights。 He was moreover ignorant of the full extent
of the loss he had inflicted upon the enemy； and expected a
renewed attack by them。 He was therefore； doubtless； unwilling to
risk the results of the victory he had gained and of the victory he
expected to gain should the enemy renew their attack； by a
movement which might not be successful； and which would at any
rate have cost him a tremendous loss of men； and men were
already becoming scarce in the Confederacy。
As soon as the enemy had fon back across the river and it was
certain that there was little chance of another forward movement
on their part for a considerable time； Vincent showed to General
Stuart the permit he had received to return home until the spring
on leave； and at once received the general's permission to retire
from the staff for a time。
He had not been accompanied by Dan on his railway journey to the
front； having left him behind with instructions to endeavor by
every means to find some clew as to the direction in which Dinah
had been carried off。 He telegraphed on his way home the news of
his coming； and found Dan at the station waiting for him。
〃Well； Dan； have you obtained any news？〃 he asked as soon as his
horse had been removed from its box； and he had mounted and at a
foot…pace left the station； with Dan walking beside him。
〃No； sah； I hab done my best； but I cannot find out anyting。 The
niggers at Jackson's all say dat no strangers hab been there wid do
old man for a long time before de day dat Dinah was carried off。 I
have been over dar； massa； and hab talked wid the hands at do
house。 Dey all say dat no one been dere for a month。 Me sure dat
doy no tell a lie about it； because doy all hate Massa Jackson like
pison。 Den de lawyer； he am put do advertisement you told him in
the papers： Five hundred dollars to whoever would give
information about do carrying off of a female slave from Missy
Wingfiold； or dat would lead to de discovery of her hiding…place。
But no answer come。 Me heard Missy Wingfield say so last
night。〃
〃That's bad； Dan； but I hardly expected anything better。 I felt sure
the old fox would have taken every precaution； knowing what a
serious business it would be for him if it were found out。 Now I
am back I will take the matter up myself； and we will see what we
can do。 I wish I could have set about it the day after she was
carried away。 It is more than a fortnight ago now； and that will
make it much more difficult than it would have been bad it been
begun at once。〃
〃Well； Vincent； so you have come back to us undamaged this
time；〃 his mother said after the first greeting。 〃We wore very
anxious when the news came that a great battle had been fought
last Friday； but when we heard the next morning the enemy had
been repulsed so easily we wore not so anxious； although it was
not until this morning that the list of killed and wounded was
published； and our minds set at rest〃
〃No； mother； it was a tremendous artillery battle； but it was a little
more than that…at least on our side。 But I have never heard
anything at all like it from sunrise to sunset。 But； after all； an
artillery fire is more frightening than dangerous； except at
comparatively close quarters。 The enemy must have fired at least
fifty shots for every man that was hit。 I counted several times； and
there wore fully a hundred shots a minute； and I don't think it
lessened much the whole day。 I should think they must have fired
two or three hundred rounds at least from each gun。 The roar was
incessant； and what with the din they made； and the replies of our
own artillery； and the bursting of shells； and the