n with these friends of his, and they
showed an anxiety not less than his own. It had become evident to the
two veteran West Pointers that Jackson was the man. Close contact with
him had enabled them to read his character and immense determination.

"I hope that our government at Richmond will decline this resignation
and give him a free hand," said Colonel Talbot to Harry. "It would be a
terrible loss if he were permitted to drop out of the army. I tell you
for your own private ear that I have taken it upon me to Write a letter
of protest to President Davis himself. I felt that I could do so,
because Mr. Davis and myself were associated closely in the Mexican
War."

The answer came in time from Richmond. Stonewall Jackson was retained
and a freer hand was given to him. Harry and all his comrades felt an
immense relief, but he did not know until long afterward how near the
Confederacy had come to losing the great Jackson.

Benjamin, the Secretary of War, and President Davis both were disposed
to let him go, but the powerful intervention of Governor Letcher of
Virginia induced them to change their minds. Moreover, hundreds of
letters from leading Virginians who knew Jackson well poured in upon
him, asking him to withdraw the resignation. So it was arranged and
Jackson remained, biding his time for the while at Winchester, until he
could launch the thunderbolt.

A pleasant month for Harry, and all the young staff officers passed at
Winchester. The winter of intense cold had now become one of tremendous
rain. It poured and it poured, and it never ceased to pour. Between
Winchester and Washington and McClellan's great army was one vast
flooded area, save where the hills and mountains stood.

But in Winchester the Southern troops were warm and comfortable. It was
a snug town within its half circle of mountains. Its brick and wooden
houses were solid and good. The young officers when they went on errands
trod on pavements of red brick, and oaks and elms and maples shaded them
nearly all the way.

When Harry, who went oftenest on such missions, returned to his general
with the answers, he walked up a narrow street, where the silver maples,
which would soon begin to bud under the continuous rain, grew thickest,
and came to a small building in which other officers like himself wrote
at little tables or waited in full uniform to be sent upon like errands.
If it were yet early he would find Jackson there, but if it were late