t for?_--_What's it for?_

May the second was of a piece with May the first. On the morning of May
the third the clouds broke and the sun came out. It found the troops
bivouacked just east of the village of Port Republic, and it put into
them life and cheer. Something else helped, and that was the fact that
before them, clear and shining in the morning light, stretched, not the
neglected mountain road they had been travelling, but a fair Valley
road, the road to Staunton.

Jackson and his staff had their quarters at the neighbouring house of
General Lewis. At breakfast one of the ladies remarked that the Staunton
road was in good condition, and asked the guest of honour how long it
would take the army to march the eighteen miles.

"Is that the exact distance?" asked the general. "Eighteen miles?"

"Yes, sir; just about eighteen. You should get there, should you not, by
night?"

"You are fortunate," said the general, "in having a great natural
curiosity at your very doors. I have long wanted to see Weyers's Cave. A
vast cavern like that, hollowed out by God's finger, hung with
stalactites, with shells and banners of stone, filled with sounding
aisles, run through by dark rivers in which swim blind fish--how
wonderful a piece of His handiwork! I have always wished to see it--the
more so that my wife has viewed it and told me of its marvels. I always
wish, madam, to rest my eyes where my wife's have rested."

The bugles ringing "Fall in!" were positively sweet to the ears of the
soldiers of the Valley. "Fall in? with pleasure, sir! Eighteen miles?
What's eighteen miles when you're going home? It's a fine old road
anyhow, with more butterflies on it! We'll double-quick it all the way
if Old Jack wants us!"

"That man back there says Staunton's awfully anxious. Says people all
think we've gone to reinforce Richmond without caring a damn what
becomes of the Valley. Says Milroy is within ten miles of Staunton, and
Banks's just waiting a little longer before he pulls up stakes at
Harrisonburg and comes down the pike to join him. Says Edward Johnson
ain't got but a handful, and that the Staunton women are hiding their
silver. Says--Here's Old Jack, boys! going to lead us himself back to
Goshen! One cheer ain't enough--_three cheers for General Jackson!_"

Jackson, stiffly lifting the old forage cap, galloped by upon Little
Sorrel. His staff behind him, he came to the head of the column where it
was drawn up on the fair