ised of the
order. Our position was near a pike leading south of west to
Harrisonburg, whence, to gain Newmarket, the great Valley pike ran due
north. All roads near our camp had been examined and sketched, and among
them was a road running northwest over the southern foot-hills of
Massanutten, and joining the Valley pike some distance to the north of
Harrisonburg. It was called the Keazletown road, from a little German
village on the flank of Massanutten; and as it was the hypothenuse of
the triangle, and reported good except at two points, I decided to take
it. That night a pioneer party was sent forward to light fires and
repair the road for artillery and trains. Early dawn saw us in motion,
with lovely weather, a fairish road, and men in high health and spirits.

Later in the day a mounted officer was dispatched to report our approach
and select a camp, which proved to be beyond Jackson's forces, then
lying in the fields on both sides of the pike. Over three thousand
strong, neat in fresh clothing of gray with white gaiters, bands playing
at the head of their regiments, not a straggler, but every man in his
place, stepping jauntily as on parade, though it had marched twenty
miles and more, in open column with arms at "right shoulder shift," and
rays of the declining sun flaming on polished bayonets, the brigade
moved down the broad, smooth pike, and wheeled on to its camping ground.
Jackson's men, by thousands, had gathered on either side of the road to
see us pass. Indeed, it was a martial sight, and no man with a spark of
sacred fire in his heart but would have striven hard to prove worthy of
such a command.

After attending to necessary camp details, I sought Jackson, whom I had
never met. And here it may be remarked that he then by no means held the
place in public estimation which he subsequently attained. His Manassas
reputation was much impaired by operations in the Valley, to which he
had been sent after that action. The winter march on Romney had resulted
in little except to freeze and discontent his troops; which discontent
was shared and expressed by the authorities at Richmond, and Jackson
resigned. The influence of Colonel Alek Boteler, seconded by that of the
Governor of Virginia, induced him to withdraw the resignation. At
Kernstown, three miles south of Winchester, he was roughly handled by
the Federal General Shields, and only saved from serious disaster by the
failure of that officer to push his a