. Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War . the oppositebank of the Chickahominy. It is not impossible thathe thought the sound of his cannon would bring Jackson tohis aid. That it would have been wiser to establish com-munication, and to make certain of that aid before attacking,there can be no question. It was too late to defeat Porterthe same evening. Nothing was to be gained by immediateattack, and much would be risked. The last assault, inwhich the heaviest losses were incurred, was made just asnight fell. It was a sacrifice of life as unnecessary as that ofthe Prussian Guard before
. Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War . the oppositebank of the Chickahominy. It is not impossible thathe thought the sound of his cannon would bring Jackson tohis aid. That it would have been wiser to establish com-munication, and to make certain of that aid before attacking,there can be no question. It was too late to defeat Porterthe same evening. Nothing was to be gained by immediateattack, and much would be risked. The last assault, inwhich the heaviest losses were incurred, was made just asnight fell. It was a sacrifice of life as unnecessary as that ofthe Prussian Guard before St. Privat. At the same time,that General Hill did wrong in crossing the Chickahominybefore he heard of his colleagues approach is not a fair Longstreet, on p. 124 of his Fro7n Manassas to Appomnttox, declaresthat Jackson marched by the fight without giving attention, and wentinto camp at Hundleys Corner, Imlf a mile in rear of the enemys reference to the map is sufiGicient to expose the inaccuraoy of this statement. B«Tnu3a Hundred. THE FEDERALS RETREAT 26 accusation. To have lingered on the south bank would havebeen to leave Jackson to the tender mercies of the Federalsshould they turn against him in the forest. Moreover,it was Hills task to open a passage for the remainingdivisions, and if that passage had been deferred to a laterhour, it is improbable that the Confederate army wouldhave been concentrated on the north bank of the Chicka-hominy until the next morning. Lt must be admitted,too, that the situation in which Hill found himself,after crossing the river, was an exceedingly severetest of his self-control. His troops had driven in theFederal outposts; infantry, cavalry, and artillery wereretiring before his skirmishers. The noise of battle filledthe air. From across the Chickahominy thundered theheavy guns, and his regiments were pressing forward withthe impetuous ardour of young soldiers. If he yielded to theexcitement of the moment, if eagerness for batt
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