But Stuart, although he had joked with Jackson, never took any liberties
with Lee. He instantly swept the ground with his plumed hat and said in
his most respectful manner:
"General, will you honor us by dining with us? We've just returned from
a long ride northward and we've made some captures."
Lee caught a twinkle in his eye, and he smiled.
"I see no prisoners, General Stuart," he replied, "and I take it that
your captures do not mean human beings."
"No, sir, there are other things just now more valuable to us than
prisoners. We raided a little Yankee outpost. Nobody was hurt, but, sir,
we've captured some provisions, the like of which the Army of Northern
Virginia has not tasted in a long time. Would you mind coming with me
and taking a look? And bring Kenton and Dalton with you, if you don't
mind, sir."
"This indeed sounds tempting," said the commander-in-chief of the Army of
Northern Virginia. "I accept your invitation, General Stuart, in behalf
of myself and my two young aides."
He dismounted, giving the reins of Traveller to an orderly, and walked
toward Stuart's tent, which was pitched near the river. The "captures"
were heaped in a grassy place.
"Here, sir," said General Stuart, "are twenty dozen boxes of the finest
French sardines.
Pages:
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292