And Lee, seeing the indecision of
the Federal leader, was nothing loath. He had grown bold even to
rashness in proportion as Hooker had grown cautious.
"What exactly do you propose to do?" asked Lee, as he studied the
map.
"Go around here," replied Jackson, as with his finger he traced a
line on the map which encircled the whole right wing of the Federal
army.
"With what force do you propose to make this movement?" asked Lee.
"With my whole corps," answered Jackson.
General Lee thought for a few minutes in silence. Then he spoke.
"Well, go on," he said.
He knew that it was a great gamble. The Federal army was twice as
large as his own and yet Jackson proposed to cut it in two, and
place the whole Federal army between the two halves. If the movement
failed it would be a terrible failure. If it succeeded it would be
a great success. It was worth the risk. So he said, "Go on."
As for Jackson he had no doubts. At Lee's words he rose, smiling,
and eager.
"My troops will move at once, sir," he said, and with a salute he
was gone.
Soon in the cool and lovely May morning Jackson's men were marching
through what was known as the Wilderness. It was a forest of smallish
trees, so thickly set that a man could hardly march through it
gun on shoulder. The Federals saw the great column of men move off
without misgivings, imagining them to be retreating.
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