ing the activity of the cavalry never
ceased. These men, riding over the country in which most of them were
born, missed no movement of the enemy, and maintained the illusion that
their numbers were four or five times the fact. Harry, trying to fathom
Jackson's purpose, gave it up after that comparatively long stay beside
the Shenandoah. He did not know that it was a part of a complicated
plan, that Lee and Jackson, although yet apart, were now beginning their
celebrated work together. Near Richmond, Northern prisoners saw long
lines of trains moving north and apparently crowded with soldiers.
For Jackson, of course! And intended to help him in his great march on
Washington! But Jackson hung a complete veil about his own movements.
His highest officers told one another in confidence things that they
believed to be true, but which were not. It was the general opinion
among them that Jackson would soon leave in pursuit of Fremont.

The pleasant camp by the Shenandoah was broken up suddenly, and the men
began to march--they knew not where. Officers rode among them with stern
orders, carried out sternly. In front, and on either flank, rode lines
of cavalry who allowed not a soul to pass either in or out. An equally
strong line of cavalry in the rear drove in front of it every straggler
or camp follower. There was not a single person inside the whole army of
Jackson who could get outside it except Jackson himself.

An extraordinary ban of ignorance was also placed upon them, and it was
enforced to the letter. No soldier should give the name of a village or
a farm through which he passed, although the farm might be his father's,
or the village might be the one in which he was born. If a man were
asked a question, no matter what, he must answer, "I don't know."

The young Southern soldiers, indignant at first, enjoyed it as their
natural humor rose to the surface.

"Young fellow," said Happy Tom to St. Clair, "what's your name?"

"I don't know."

"Don't know your own name. Why, you must be feeble minded! Are you?"

"I don't know."

"Well, you may not know, but you look it. Do you think Old Jack is a
good general?"

"I don't know."

"Do you think he's feeble-minded like yourself?"

"I don't know."

"What! You dare to intimate that Stonewall Jackson, the greatest general
the world has ever known, is feeble-minded! You have insulted him, and
in his name I challenge you to fight me, sir. Do you accept?"

"I don't k