in eeriness in the hush in which the column was formed--the
grey column in the grey dawn, in the Wilderness where the birds were
cheeping, and the mist hung faint and cold. By the roadside, on a little
knoll set round with flowering dogwood, sat General Lee on grey
Traveller. A swirl of mist below the two detached them from the wide
earth and marching troops, made them like a piece of sculpture seen
against the morning sky. Below them moved the column, noiseless as might
be, enwound with mist. In the van were Fitzhugh Lee and the First
Virginia Cavalry. They saluted; the commander-in-chief lifted his hat;
they vanished by the Furnace road into the heart of the Wilderness.
Rodes's Division came next, Alabama troops. Rodes, a tall and handsome
man, saluted; Alabama saluted. Regiment by regiment they passed into the
flowering woods. Now came the Light Division beneath skies with a coral
tinge. Ambrose Powell Hill saluted, and all his brigades, Virginia and
South Carolina. The guns began to pass, quiet as was constitutionally
possible. The very battery horses looked as though they understood that
people who were going to turn the flank of a gigantic army in a strong
position proceed upon the business without noise. Up rose the sun while
the iron fighting men were yet going by. The level rays gilded all
metal, gilded Traveller's bit and bridle clasps, gilded the spur of Lee
and his sword hilt and the stars upon his collar. The sun began to drink
up the mist and all the birds sang loudly. The sky was cloudless, the
low thick woodland divinely cool and sweet. Violet and bloodroot,
dogwood and purple Judas tree were all bespangled, bespangled with dew.

While the guns were yet quietly rumbling by Stonewall Jackson appeared
upon the rising ground. He saluted. Lee put out his hand and clasped the
other's. "General, I feel every confidence! I am sure that you are going
forth to victory."

"Yes, sir. I think that I am.--I will send a courier back every half
hour."

"Yes, that is wise.--As soon as your wagons are by I will make
disposition of the twelve thousand left with me. I propose a certain
display of artillery and a line of battle so formed as to deceive--and
deceive greatly--as to its strength. If necessary we will skirmish hotly
throughout the day. I will create the impression that we are about to
assault. It is imperative that they do not come between us and cut the
army in two."

"I will march as rapidly as may be, sir