ugh the head. During my service
west of the Mississippi River, I sent for the colonel of a mounted
regiment from western Texas, a land of herdsmen, and asked him if he
could furnish men to hunt and drive in cattle. "Why! bless you, sir, I
have men who can find cattle where there _aint any_," was his reply.
Whatever were poor Davis's abilities as to non-existent supplies, he
could find all the country afforded, and had a wonderful way of cajoling
old women out of potatoes, cabbages, onions, and other garden stuff,
giving variety to camp rations, and of no small importance in preserving
the health of troops. We buried him in a field near the place of his
fall. He was much beloved by the command, and many gathered quietly
around the grave. As there was no chaplain at hand, I repeated such
portions of the service for the dead as a long neglect of pious things
enabled me to recall.

Late in the night Jackson came out of the darkness and seated himself by
my camp fire. He mentioned that I would move with him in the morning,
then relapsed into silence. I fancied he looked at me kindly, and
interpreted it into an approval of the conduct of the brigade. The
events of the day, anticipations of the morrow, the death of Davis,
drove away sleep, and I watched Jackson. For hours he sat silent and
motionless, with eyes fixed on the fire. I took up the idea that he was
inwardly praying, and he remained throughout the night.

Off in the morning, Jackson leading the way, my brigade, a small body of
horse, and a section of the Rockbridge (Virginia) artillery forming the
column. Major Wheat, with his battalion of "Tigers," was directed to
keep close to the guns. Sturdy marchers, they trotted along with the
horse and artillery at Jackson's heels, and after several hours were
some distance in advance of the brigade, with which I remained.

A volley in front, followed by wild cheers, stirred us up to a
"double," and we speedily came upon a moving spectacle. Jackson had
struck the Valley pike at Middletown, twelve miles south of Winchester,
along which a large body of Federal horse, with many wagons, was
hastening north. He had attacked at once with his handful of men,
overwhelmed resistance, and captured prisoners and wagons. The gentle
Tigers were looting right merrily, diving in and out of wagons with the
activity of rabbits in a warren; but this occupation was abandoned on my
approach, and in a moment they were in line, looking as solemn