crossing would be slow, and
there may be an accident, but cross we certainly can."

Jackson, still seated on the fallen pine, sat as though he had been
there through eternity, and would remain through eternity. The gun
thundered, the minies sang. One of the latter struck a tree above his
head and severed a leafy twig. It came floating down, touched his
shoulder like an accolade and rested on the pine needles by his foot. He
gave it no attention, sitting like a graven image with clasped hands,
listening to the South Carolinian's report. Hampton ceased to speak and
waited. It was the height of the afternoon. He stood three minutes in
silence, perhaps, then glanced toward the man on the log. Jackson's eyes
were closed, his head slightly lifted. "Praying?" thought the South
Carolinian. "Well, there's a time for everything--" Jackson opened his
eyes, drew the forage cap far down over them, and rose from the pine.
The other looked for him to speak, but he said nothing. He walked a
little way down the road and stood among the whistling minies, looking
at the slowly, slowly building bridge.

Hampton did as Wright and Munford had done before him--went back to his
men. D. H. Hill, after an interview of his own, had retired to the
artillery. "Yes, yes, Rhett, go ahead! Do something--make a noise--do
something! Infantry's kept home from school to-day--measles, I reckon,
or maybe it's lockjaw!"

About three o'clock there was caught from the southward, between the
loud wrangling of the batteries above White Oak, another sound,--first
two or three detonations occurring singly, then a prolonged and
continuous roar. The batteries above White Oak Swamp, the sharpshooters
and skirmishers, the grey chafing cavalry, the grey masses of unemployed
infantry, all held breath and listened. The sound was not three miles
away, and it was the sound of the crash of long battle-lines. There was
a curious movement among the men nearest the grey general-commanding.
With their bodies bent forward, they looked his way, expecting short,
quick orders. He rested immobile, his eyes just gleaming beneath the
down-drawn cap, Little Sorrel cropping the marsh grass beside him.
Munford, coming up, ventured a remark. "General Longstreet or General A.
P. Hill has joined with their centre, I suppose, general? The firing is
very heavy."

"Yes. The troops that have been lying before Richmond. General Lee will
see that they do what is right."

Stafford, near him,