d I had concluded that it was about time for some of you
young idlers to come and tell me what it was all about. Go back to
General Jackson, Mr. Dalton, and tell him that I send him no orders now.
He knows as well what to do in the face of the enemy as I do.' I
brought this message, word for word, just as General Lee delivered it to
me, and General Jackson smiled a little, just as General Lee had done.
It's my opinion, Harry, that Lee and Old Jack haven't the slightest fear
of the enemy."

Harry was convinced of it, too, but he felt also the steadily hardening
quality of the Army of the Potomac. Whatever Hooker might be he was
neither dilatory nor afraid. He and his comrades saw the corps of
Sedgwick entrenching on the Confederate side of the river, and they also
saw the great batteries still frowning from Stafford Heights, ready to
protect their men on the plain near Fredericksburg.

But Jackson made no movement. He watched the enemy calmly, and
meanwhile messengers passed between him and Lee. Both were waiting
to see what their enemy, who was displaying unusual energy, would do.
In the evening they received news that the Union troops had crossed the
river at two more points. They still remained stationary, waiting,
and without alarm.

Cavalrymen on both sides were active, ranging over a wide area. Stuart
came the next morning, having taken prisoners from whom he learned that
three more Union corps led by Meade, Slocum and Howard, all famous names,
had crossed the river and were advancing toward a little place called
Chancellorsville on the edge of a region known as the Wilderness.
The Southern general, Anderson, with a much smaller force, was falling
back before them.

The Northern leaders had now shown the energy and celerity which
hitherto had so often marked the Southern. Hooker, with seventy
thousand splendid troops, had gone behind Lee and now three divisions
were united in the forest close to Chancellorsville. Sedgwick, with his
formidable corps, lay in the plain of Fredericksburg, facing Jackson,
and thousands of Northern cavalry rode on the Southern flanks.

Harry was bewildered, and so were many officers of much higher rank than
he. It seemed that the Confederate army, surrounded by overwhelming
numbers, was about to be crushed. The exultation of Hooker at the
success of his movements against such able foes was justified for the
moment. He issued to his army a general order, which said: