ost of it. It would have
been easier for him were strangers instead of friends to see their
retreat.

"Captain Sherburne, you will go to your quarters and sleep. It is
obvious that you need rest," said Jackson. "Mr. Kenton, you will wait
and take the orders that I am going to write."

Sherburne saluted and withdrew promptly. Jackson turned to a shelf of
the library on which lay pen, ink and paper, and standing before it
rapidly wrote several notes. It was his favorite attitude--habit of his
West Point days--to write or read standing.

It took him less than five minutes to write the notes, and he handed
them to Harry to deliver without delay to the brigade commanders. His
tones were incisive and charged with energy. Harry felt the electric
thrill pass to himself, and with a quick salute he was once more out in
the rain.

Some of the brigadiers were asleep, and grumbled when Harry awoke them,
but the orders soon sent the last remnants of sleep flying. The boy did
not linger, but returned quickly to the manse, where General Jackson met
him at the door. Other aides were coming or going, but all save one or
two windows of the house were dark now, and the merrymaking was over.

"You have delivered the orders?" asked Jackson.

"Yes, sir, all of them."

Harry also told then of the face that he had seen at the window and his
belief concerning its identity.

"Very likely," said Jackson, "but we cannot pursue him now. Now go to
headquarters and sleep, but I shall want you at dawn."

Harry was ready before the first sunlight, and that day consternation
spread through Winchester. The enemy was about to advance in
overwhelming force, and Jackson was going to leave them. Johnston was
retreating before McClellan, and Jackson in the valley must retreat
before Banks.

There could be no doubt about the withdrawal of Jackson. The
preparations were hurried forward with the utmost vigor. A train took
the sick to Staunton, and in one of the coaches went Mrs. Jackson to her
father's home. Town and camp were filled with talk of march and battle,
and the younger rejoiced. They felt that a month of waiting had made
them rusty.

Amid all the bustle Jackson found time to attend religious services,
and also ordered every wagon that reached the camp with supplies to be
searched. If liquor were found it was thrown at once upon the ground.
The soldiers, even the recruits, knew that they were to follow a
God-fearing man. Oliver Cromwell h