A glance
told me that the enemy's position was much the stronger of the two.
Would Lee attack it?
From the landscape I turned to look at the army. Never had I seen them
so joyous. It would be impossible to convey any idea of the afflatus
which buoyed them up. Every man's veins seemed to run with quicksilver,
instead of blood. Every cheek was glowing. Every eye flashed with
superb joy and defiance. You would have supposed, indeed, that the
troops were under the effect of champagne or laughing gas. "I never
even imagined such courage," said a Federal officer afterward; "your
men seemed to be drunk with victory when they charged us!"
That was scarce an exaggeration. Already on the morning of battle they
presented this appearance. Lying down in line of battle, they laughed,
jested, sang, and resembled children enjoying a holiday. On the faces
of bearded veterans and boy-soldiers alike was a splendid pride. The
victories of Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville had electrified the
troops. They thought little of a foe who could be so easily driven;
they looked forward to victory as a foregone conclusion--alas! they did
not remember that they held the heights at Fredericksburg; and that
Meade on Cemetery Hill was an adversary very different from Hooker in
the Spottsylvania Wilderness!
Such was the spectacle which I witnessed, when after delivering my
message to General Lee, I rode along the Southern line.
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