Responding to the frenzy of outrage in the North, on the fifteenth, the president called for seventy-five thousand volunteers to subdue the rebellious South. This resulted in a fury of patriotism in the Confederate states.
On April 17, Virginia seceded from the Union. Within three weeks, three other states of the Upper South had seceded: Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The eleven states of the Confederate States of America was complete.
Major Thomas Jackson was in his element, for a Presbyterian synod was meeting in Lexington. It was Saturday, April 20, and the Jackson home was packed with ministers. The sound of their voices speaking and laughing was meat to Jackson.
Anna came to him once and whispered, “You’re in your element, Thomas. You love nothing more than to argue over the Bible with ministers.”
“We’re not arguing. We’re discussing. It is edifying. You know, esposita, at one point in my life I wished desperately that God would call me to be a minister, but the call never came. So here I am a poor soldier. I can at least give comfort and hospitality to those who are.”
Anna smiled. She put her hand on Thomas’s arm and said, “In your own way, my dear, you are a minister of the Word, too. Remember one of my favorite chapters in the scripture?”
“Second Corinthians, chapter five,” Jackson answered.
“Verse twenty: ‘Now then we are ambassadors for Christ….’ ” Anna said confidently. “You are not only an ambassador, you are a minister. Not only do you teach your cadets, you minister to them, too. Now, please excuse me and I’ll go to the kitchen to see about my ministry—providing enough coffee and tea to these gentlemen. It’s like trying to keep a battalion supplied,” she said with a smile.
In the hot kitchen, Hetty was boiling two big pots of water when Yancy came in the door with three pounds of coffee, a pound of Indian tea, and a pound of chamomile tea. “Hello, Mrs. Jackson. More coffee and tea for the gentlemen.” Sometimes on weekends he still helped Anna at the house with her garden and with repairs and with the horses.
“And just in time, too,” she sighed. “I think both the coffee samovar and the teapots are empty. Yancy, you look splendid in your uniform. And let me see…” She stepped up to him and looked up into his face. “You have, I think, grown another inch or two.”
“Guess so, ma’am,” he agreed. “I’m a couple of inches taller than my father now, and he’s right at six feet.”
“And is he as handsome as you are?” Anna asked innocently.
At the stove, Hetty’s broad face broke out in a smile.
Yancy replied, “Yes, ma’am—I mean, no, ma’am—wait, that’s not right—”
Anna took pity at the woeful confusion on Yancy’s face. “I’m sorry, Yancy, that was not a fair question, and I didn’t mean to trick you. Well, perhaps I did, but anyway, I was going to ask you to go into the parlor and bring in the samovar and the tea wagon. It’s too hot in this kitchen, and I don’t want you to wilt in your uniform. It looks so very crisp and clean and fresh.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you ma’am,” Yancy said, still with some confusion, and hurried out of the kitchen.
Indeed, the house was buzzing with activity. Ministers gathered in groups of two or three in spirited discussions; sometimes one man would hold forth to a large group of men in the parlor, sitting and standing—and all of them sipping coffee or tea. Yancy counted them; there were twenty-three men crowded into the Jacksons’ modest home. He was kept busy refreshing the coffee samovar and the teapots.
Once, on one of his countless trips from the kitchen to the parlor, he heard the knocker at the front door. He answered it to see a tall man, distinguished looking, wearing a somber black suit and a tall top hat. “Good afternooon, sir, may I help you?” Yancy asked, thinking that he was another minister.
The man looked him up and down in an assessing way.
Yancy was not in full uniform dress with his crossbelts and sword, but he was wearing his gray tunic, and his white trousers were—as Anna had noticed—spotless and flawlessly pressed with a knife-edge crease.
Yancy must have passed muster, because the man removed his hat and made a slight bow. “You are, I believe, one of our excellent cadets from Virginia Military Institute.”
Yancy, having learned much etiquette from Peyton Stevens, returned his own cool bow. “Yes, sir. I am Cadet Tremayne, sir.”
“My name is Evans, Henry Evans. I am from Governor Letcher’s office.” Solemnly they shook hands. “May I have an audience with Major Jackson, Cadet Tremayne? It is a matter of some importance and of a private nature.” His glance wandered toward the parlor, where the spirited discussions and some laughter sounded.
Yancy stepped back and extended his white-gloved hand for Mr. Evans to come in. “Please wait here, Mr. Evans. I’ll tell Major Jackson that you’re here.”
Yancy found Jackson listening to a minister who was holding forth to a group of six men concerning dispensations. Discreetly he went up to Jackson and whispered, “Sir, there is a Mr. Henry Evans who would like a private word with you. He’s from Governor Letcher’s office.”
A shadow passed over Jackson’s face, and he nodded. He had told Yancy he had been expecting a summons of some kind ever since the seventeenth when Virginia had seceded. “Very well. Where is he?”
“In the foyer, sir.”
“Good, good,” Jackson said absently, and slipped out of the parlor.
Major Jackson and Evans made their introductions and niceties. Then Evans commented, “It sounds as if you’re having a party, Major.”
“No, it is a group of Presbyterian ministers.”
“A group of ministers? They sound like men at a prize fight.”
Jackson smiled briefly. “Perhaps so, but I can assure you we are much less inclined to hostility than just honest debate.”
Evans nodded. “There is a sad lack of honest debate these days, sir. Which brings me to the governor’s business with you.” Evans reached into his inner pocket and brought out an envelope. “Orders for you, Major.”
Jackson took the envelope and read it, then nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Evans. Am I to understand that these orders are effective immediately?”
“Yes, sir. You’ll go into active duty at once.”
“Sir, please tell Governor Letcher that his orders will be obeyed to the letter.”
“God bless you, sir.” After a few more polite words, Evans took his leave.
Jackson went back into the house. Anna wasn’t in the parlor or the dining room where the ministers were, so he went into the kitchen where he found her there with Hetty, still boiling water and making more coffee and tea. He went to her and said softly, “Let’s go out in the garden for a few minutes.”
She looked surprised. “With all our guests?”
“Yes, my dearest.”
Anna grew sober. She followed him out to a stone bench in her garden, and they sat down together.
He put his arm around her. “I just got my orders from Governor Letcher, esposa.”
She stiffened slightly, but her voice was calm and even. “And what are your orders, Thomas?”
“The best cadets from the institute are called to duty in Richmond. I am to command them.”
She nodded. “When are you to go?”
Somewhat sadly he replied, “Tomorrow, I’m afraid. I had hoped to have the Sabbath for church affairs and some rest, but Governor Letcher has ordered us to muster and go to Richmond immediately.”
She leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder.
He lightly kissed her cheek and whispered, “I hate to leave you! God knows I do!”
Anna couldn’t answer. His arms tightened on her and they rested together in silence for a few moments.
Finally he said, “I must go dismiss our guests. There is much to do. I’m going to send Yancy to the institute to alert the cadets, and then I’ll go talk to them.”
Yancy rode to the institute, and for an hour rousted everybody out. Most of them
were wearing their uniforms, but the ones who weren’t started to change. “Don’t bother with uniforms right now. The major just wants to talk to you.”
Finally all the cadets were turned out on the parade ground, and Major Jackson walked up. He spoke loudly, “Attention!” and the line stiffened and fell silent.
Yancy kept his eyes on Jackson’s face, and he could see that there was some sort of a portent in the major’s expression. His features were usually mild and benign, but not now. There was something hard, almost harsh in it.
He stopped in front of the cadets and said, “I have received orders from Governor Letcher. All of the cadets seventeen and older will march to Richmond tomorrow to serve with the Army of Virginia. I’ll be your commanding officer. I want you to be ready to march at 1:00. You know what field packs are. Be sure and bring your rifles and plenty of ammunition. Write letters to your families tonight, and I’ll arrange a special mail pickup tomorrow. I’ll be back early in the morning to see how you’re proceeding, and all of our institute officers will be available to help you in any way we can. That’s all for now. Dismissed.”
Yancy went up to Jackson and said, “Sir, since my family is so close, may I go tonight and tell them good-bye? I’ll be back in plenty of time to make up my field pack and for muster tomorrow.”
“You may, Cadet Tremayne,” Jackson answered. “Give them my best wishes.”
It was almost nine o’clock at night before Yancy got to the farm. He was afraid that everyone might be asleep, and waking them up to tell them his news would make it seem so much more melodramatic than it really was. After all, it wasn’t as if Richmond was a battle zone. The capital of the Confederate States of America had been moved from Montgomery to Richmond, and so it was the center of the government. Yancy was a little unclear as to what exactly the cadets would be doing, but it seemed unlikely that they would be marching to war.
For now, at least.
As he rode up he was relieved to see the lamps lit in the parlor. Someone was up, at least. He dismounted and tied Midnight to the hitching post. “I’m not going to unsaddle you, boy,” he said, rubbing his nose. “We can’t stay long.”
He went up on the veranda and knocked lightly on the door then stuck his head in. Hank gave one long bay then came galloping out to meet him. “It’s just me,” he called. “Yancy.” He gave Hank a friendly ear rub then went into the parlor.
His father had risen, but Becky and Zemira were still sitting on the settees by a small friendly fire.
“Of course we knew it was you,” Zemira said drily. “Who else would it be gallivanting around in the middle of a Saturday night?”
“Not me…not for a long time anyway,” Yancy replied, kissing her on one smooth cheek. “And I’m not gallivanting. I came out because I have some news.”
Slowly Daniel sat back down. All three of them suddenly looked grave.
Yancy sat down by Zemira. He knew there was no way to soften it or sugarcoat it, so he just said it. “The top cadets at VMI have been detached to Richmond to serve with the Army of Northern Virginia. Major Jackson is our commander.”
There was a long heavy silence, finally broken by Becky. “I suppose we all knew something like this would happen, considering what’s been going on in the last few months. I just suppose we didn’t expect it quite so soon. And somehow I thought that maybe the cadets at the institute might be spared unless it was some kind of last resort.”
Yancy merely looked at her, a tinge of regret shadowing his feelings.
Daniel said in a low voice, “You would volunteer, wouldn’t you? If you hadn’t been called up?”
“Yes, sir,” he answered without hesitation. “And depending on the nature of our duty in Richmond—and what Major Jackson does—I still may.”
Zemira sighed heavily, almost a moan. “I could see it in you, Yancy. I knew. I saw that you’d decided to be a soldier. And we always told you that we would respect your decisions, and we do. But I have to tell you that it grieves me, it truly does.”
“I’m sorry,” Yancy said lamely.
“Don’t be sorry,” Becky said, though she sounded sad. “Of course no one wants loved ones in a war. But as your grandmother said, Yancy, we respect your decisions. And I for one am very proud of you. You’ve grown to be a strong man this last year. You made a promise to us and yourself and you’ve kept it. The Lord honors those who keep their word and turn from their mistakes. I’ll pray that He will bless you, watch over you, protect you, and bring you back to us safe and sound.”
“Please, all of you pray for me, every day,” Yancy said slowly. “I know I’m going to need it.”
“We will, son,” Daniel said. “Always.”
Yancy nodded and rose. “I can’t stay. We all have a lot to do. We’re moving out tomorrow afternoon. Can I go say good night to Callie Jo and David? I won’t wake them.”
“Of course, you must,” Becky said. “Go on up.”
Quietly Yancy went up to the nursery. Callie Jo looked like a little doll as she slept with her thumb stuck in her mouth. He bent over and kissed her forehead. She stirred just a little but didn’t wake up.
David had turned one last Christmas Eve. Yancy took one of his tiny fists, and in his sleep David wrapped his hand around one finger. “Be good, brother,” Yancy whispered.
Then he hesitated, because he realized that what he had really been doing was telling his brother and sister good-bye. It hit him then that he may not see them again, and he drew in a sharp breath. For a moment he felt a deep searing fear. But then he bowed his head and prayed silently. Lord, help me overcome this fear. Please help me to know the right thing to do. Help me find courage. And help me find You.
Major Jackson went to the institute before dawn to help with the preparations, to prepare his cadets for their first march. It was still early morning when he rode back home, but he stopped at First Presbyterian Church and sent his pastor, Dr. White, to the barracks to pray for his young soldiers. Then he went home and had a late breakfast with Anna.
After breakfast he and Anna went into the parlor and sat close together on the settee. “Let’s read the fifth chapter of Second Corinthians,” he said.
It was one of Anna’s favorite passages. Together, from memory, they said in unison, “ ‘For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’ ”
Thomas read the entire chapter aloud, and then he prayed. Humbly he entreated God for peace, for his country and countrymen and cadets, for Anna and their home and the servants.
And then, as soldiers must do, he left to go to war.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jackson led his cadets into Richmond. Wearing his old dusty blue uniform, he rode into town on his shambling gray gelding, Cerro Gordo. Following him as color bearers, Yancy rode Midnight and Peyton Stevens rode his showy palomino, Senator. The contrast between Jackson’s humble appearance and his sharp-dressed and trim cadets was striking, but as always, Jackson had a marshal air of authority and competence, so there was no doubt who was in command.
Jackson installed the cadets into a small camp at the fairgrounds, about a mile from the center of the city. Then he called Yancy and Peyton aside. “Until we get settled in and find out exactly what is required of us here, I want you two to be my aides-de-camp and couriers. Right now I’m going to the capitol to speak with Governor Letcher, and you’ll accompany me.”
“Yes, sir!” they answered, at stiff attention.
They rode back into town, to the Virgina State capitol, situated on Shockoe Hill, overlooking the James River. It was a graceful building, said to be designed by Thomas Jefferson. Modeled after a simplified Roman temple, with soaring columns and an airy porch, it was dignified and stately.
But on this day it more resembled a kicked-over anthill than a peaceful temple. Horses and carriages surrounded the building on all sides. Men, some dressed as gentlemen and some dressed as soldiers
and some dressed as laborers, hurried in and out. More groups of men crowded the front in groups of threes and fours and more, and the timbre of their loud conversations could be said to be almost frantic. Young boys, presumably couriers, ran to and fro, weaving nimbly among the crowds, their piping voices calling for their addressees.
The milling crowd of wagons, carriages, and horses around the building made it impossible for them to tether the horses anywhere. Jackson dismounted and told Yancy, “Just stay out of the way as much as you can. I’m going to try to wade through all this to-do and see if I can get an audience with Governor Letcher. Wait here, and try not to get stampeded.”
Yancy’s Midnight and Peyton’s Senator were big, spirited horses and could easily make their own way through a crowd, because other horses shied away from their high-stepping, aggressive gaits. “Let’s put old Gordo between them,” Yancy said, almost shouting at Peyton in the din of the throng. “Then I think we can get them to crowd out those two carts and those saddle horses and get them hitched up there by the watering trough.”
Peyton didn’t even try to answer. He just nodded.
They maneuvered the horses around with some trouble, but once Midnight and Senator picked up the scent of the water, they practically shoved everyone and everything aside to get to the trough. They were thirsty, and all three horses had good, long drinks. There was about one foot left of a hitching post, and they tethered the horses. Then Peyton and Yancy went to stand in the shade of the capitol, keeping in sight of the horses.
Though it was April, the sun was hot and bright, and they were very warm in their formal uniforms. They watched the crowds coming and going. All of the streets of Richmond had been just as busy and buzzing.
Peyton finally commented, “This city looks like bedlam.”
Yancy agreed. “So far everywhere we’ve seen has been like everyone’s gone mad. The only difference here at the capitol is that there’s no ladies. I couldn’t believe the way the ladies were crowding the streets talking. I’ve never seen that before.” It was extremely rare to see Southern women gathered together on the streets.
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