made last year."

Lee returned. "Yes, the next ten days will write a page in blood." He
sighed. "I do not like war, gentlemen. Now, to begin again! We are
agreed that to defend Richmond is imperative. When Richmond falls the
Confederacy falls. It is our capital and seat of government. Here only
have we railroad communications with the far South. Here are our
arsenals and military manufactories, our depots of supply, our treasury,
our hospitals, our refugee women and children. The place is our heart,
and arm and brain must guard it. Leave Richmond and we must withdraw
from Virginia. Abandon Virginia, and we can on our part no longer
threaten the northern capital. Then General Jackson cannot create a
panic every other day, nor will Stanton then withdraw on every fresh
alarm a division from McClellan."

He leaned his head on his hand, while with the firm fingers of the other
he measured the edge of the table. "No! It is the game of the two
capitals, and the board is the stretch of country between. To the end
they will attempt to reach Richmond. To the end we must prevent that
mate. Let us see their possible roads. Last year McDowell tried it by
Manassas, and he failed. It is a strategic point,--Manassas. There may
well be fighting there again. The road by Fredericksburg ... they have
not tried that yet, and yet it has a value. Now the road that McClellan
has taken,--by sea to Fortress Monroe, and so here before us by the
York, seeing that the Merrimac kept him from the James. It is the best
way yet, though with a modification it would be better! There is a key
position which I trust he'll not discover--"

"He won't," said D. H. Hill succinctly. "The fairies at his cradle
didn't give him intuition, and they made him extremely cautious. He's a
good fellow, though!"

Lee nodded. "I have very genuine respect for General McClellan. He is a
gentleman, a gallant soldier, and a good general." He pushed the map
before him away, and took another. "Of late Richmond's strongest defence
has been General Jackson in the Valley. Well! McDowell and Fremont and
Banks may be left awhile to guard that capital which is so very certain
it is in danger. I propose now to bring General Jackson suddenly upon
McClellan's right--"

Jackson, who had been holding himself with the rigidity of a warrior on
a tomb, slightly shifted the sabre and drew his chair an inch nearer the
commander-in-chief. "His right is on the north bank of the
Chickahominy