in a disastrous
retreat of the Northern army.

Johnston was severely wounded during the first days of the battle, which
lasted seven days, and Gen. Robert E. Lee assumed command of the army
now known as the army of Northern Virginia, and held the position to the
end of the war. Lee also became commander-in-chief of all the
Confederate armies.

When McClellan fully realized that it was Jackson's army from the valley
that "was goring his side like the horns of an angry bull," it is said
that the scene at his headquarters was intensely dramatic. From
information received from Washington, McClellan had every reason to
believe that Jackson and his entire army were either prisoners or cooped
up somewhere in the valley north of Harrisonburg, but as the sound of
Jackson's guns grew louder and nearer, and couriers with panting steeds
came dashing in confirming the truth, he was forced to believe that the
noise was Jackson's "cannon's opening roar." "Then there was hurrying to
and fro and mounting in hot haste." Never did human brain work quicker
than did McClellan's when he realized his position. Who but a Napoleon
could provide so quickly for such an emergency? The masterly manner in
which McClellan changed his base and saved his army, with three such
strategists as Jackson, Lee and Johnston to reckon with, showed military
skill of the highest order.

Someone in conversation with Gen. Lee after the war asked who was the
greatest soldier on the side of the North. Lee replied, "McClellan, by
all odds." The fact is, the Government at Washington never gave
McClellan a fair chance. Gen. Lee came to Richmond from West Virginia,
where his campaign had been a failure, and was elevated at once to the
most important post in the Confederate army, while McClellan was
humiliated by being relieved of his command just at a time when he was
prepared by experience to put into use his great talent. History is
bound to record him a place among the famous generals.

The battle lasted seven full days. The Confederate victory was complete.
Millions of dollars' worth of supplies were captured or destroyed, and
McClellan was compelled to beat a hasty retreat to Washington to defend
the city.

The spoils of this battle that fell into the hands of the Confederates
were 10,000 prisoners, 35,000 rifles, 55 cannon, ammunition, provision
stores of every kind, almost beyond computation. The losses of the two
armies in killed and wounded were nearly eq