CHAPTER XL

The early months of the war were but skirmishes. The real work ofkilling and maiming the flower of the race had not begun.
The defeat had given the sad-eyed President unlimited¹ power to drawon the resources of the nation for men and money. His call for halfa million soldiers met with instant response. The fighting spirit oftwenty-two million Northern people had been roused. They felt thedisgrace of Bull Run and determined² to wipe it out in blood.
Three Northern armies were hurled³ on the South in a well-planned,concerted movement to take Richmond. McDowell marched straight down toFredericksburg with forty thousand. Fermont, with Milroy, Banks andShields, was sweeping⁴ through the Shenandoah Valley. McClellan, withhis grand army of one hundred and twenty thousand men, had moved upthe Peninsula in resistless force until he lay on the banks of theChickahominy within sight of the spires⁵ of Richmond.
To meet these three armies aggregating⁶ a quarter of a million men, theSouth could marshall barely seventy thousand. Jackson was despatchedwith eighteen thousand to baffle the armies of McDowell, Fremont,Milroy, Shields and Banks in the Valley and prevent their union withMcClellan.
The war really began on Sunday, the second of June, 1862, when RobertE. Lee was sent to the front to take command of the combined army ofseventy thousand men of the South.
The new commander with consummate⁷ genius planned his attack and flunghis gray lines on McClellan with savage⁸ power. The two armies fought indense thickets⁹ often less than fifty yards apart. Their muskets¹⁰ flashedsheets of yellow flame. The sound of ripping canvas, the fire of smallarms in volleys, could no longer be distinguished¹¹. The sullen¹² roar wasendless, deafening¹³, appalling¹⁴. Over the tops of oak, pine, beech¹⁵, ashand tangled¹⁶ undergrowth came the flaming thunder of two great armiesequally fearless, the flower of American manhood in their front ranks,daring, scorning death, fighting hand to hand, man to man.
The people in the churches of Richmond as they prayed could hear theawful roar. They turned their startled faces toward the battle. It rangabove the sob¹⁷ of organ and the chant of choir¹⁸.
The hosts in blue and gray charged again and again through the tangleof mud and muck and blood and smoke and death. Bayonet rang on bayonet.
They fought hand to hand, as naked savages¹⁹ once fought with bare hands.
The roar died slowly with the shadows of the night, until only the crackof a rifle here and there broke the stillness.
And then above the low moans of the wounded and dying came the distantnotes of the church bells in Richmond calling men and women again to thehouse of God.
There was no shout of triumph--no cheering hosts--only the low moan ofdeath and the sharp cry of a boy in pain. The men in blue could havemoved in and bivouaced on the ground they had lost. The men in gray hadno strength left.
The dead and the dying were everywhere. The wounded were crawlingthrough the mud and brush, like stricken animals; some with their legsbroken; some with arms dangling²⁰ by a thread; some with hideous²¹ holestorn in their faces.
The front was lighted with the unclouded splendor²² of a full Southernmoon. Down every dim aisle²³ of the woods they lay in awful, dark heaps.
In the fields they lay with faces buried in the dirt or eyes staring upat the stars, twisted, torn, mangled²⁴. The blue and the gray lay sideby side in death, as they had fought in life. The pride and glory of amighty race of freemen.
The shadows of the details moved in the moonlight. They were opening thefirst of those long, deep trenches²⁵. They were careful in these earlydays of war. They turned each face downward as they packed them in. Thegrave diggers could not then throw the wet dirt into their eyes andmouths. Aching hearts in far-off homes couldn't see; but these boysstill had hearts within their breasts.
The fog-rimmed lanterns flickered²⁶ over the fields peering into the faceson the ground.
The ambulance corps²⁷ did its best at the new trade. It was utterlyinadequate on either side. It's always so in war. The work of war is tomaim, to murder--not to heal or save.
The long line of creaking wagons²⁸ began to move into Richmond over themud-cut roads. Every hospital was filled. The empty wagons rolled backin haste over the cobble stones and out on the muddy roads to the frontagain.
At the hospital doors the women stood in huddled²⁹ groups--wives,sweethearts, mothers, sisters, praying, hoping, fearing, shivering. Faraway in the field hospitals, the young doctors with bare, bloody³⁰ armswere busy with saw and knife. Boys who had faced death in battle withouta tremor³¹ stood waiting their turn trembling, crying, cursing. They couldsee the piles of legs and arms rising higher as the doctors hurledthem from the quivering bodies. They stretched out their hands in thedarkness to feel the touch of loved ones. They must face this horroralone, and then battle through life, maimed wrecks³². They peered throughthe shadows under the trees where the dead were piled and envied themtheir sleep.
The armies paused next day to gird their loins for the crucial test.
Jackson was still in the Shenandoah Valley holding three armies at bay,defeating them in detail. His swift marches had so paralyzed his enemiesthat McDowell's forty thousand men lay at Fredericksburg unable to move.
Lee summoned Stuart.
When the conference ended the young Cavalry³³ Commander threw himself intothe saddle and started Northward³⁴ with a song. Determined to learn thestrength of McClellan's right wing and confuse his opponent, Lee hadsent Stuart on the most daring adventure in the history of cavalrywarfare. Stuart had told him that he could ride around McClellan's wholearmy, cut his communications and strike terror in his rear.
With twelve hundred picked horsemen, fighting, singing, dare-devilriders, Stuart slipped from Lee's lines and started towardFredericksburg.
On the second day he surprised and captured the Federal pickets³⁵ withouta shot. He dreaded³⁶ a meeting with the Cavalry. His father-in-law,General Cooke, was in command of a brigade of blue riders. He thoughtwith a moment's pang³⁷ of the little wife at home praying that they shouldnever meet. Let her pray. God would help her. He couldn't let such athing happen.
He suddenly confronted a squadron of Federal Cavalry. With a yell histroops charged and cleared the field. They must ride now with swifterhoofbeat than ever. The news would spread and avengers would be on theirheels. They were now far in the rear of McClellan's grand army. They hadfelt out his right wing and knew to a mile where its lines ended.
They dashed toward the York River Railroad which supplied the Northernarmy, surprised the company holding Tunstall's Station, took themprisoners, cut the wires and tore up the tracks.
On his turn toward Richmond when he reached the Chickahominy River, itswaters were swollen³⁸ and he couldn't cross. He built a bridge out of thetimbers of a barn, took his last horse over and destroyed it, as theshout of a division of Federal Cavalry was heard in the distance.
With twelve hundred men he had made a raid which added a new rule tocavalry tactics. He had ridden around a great army, covering ninetymiles in fifty-six hours with the loss of but one man. He hadestablished the position of the enemy, destroyed enormous quantitiesof war material, captured a hundred and sixty-five prisoners and twohundred horses. He had struck terror to the hearts of a sturdy foe³⁹, andthrilled the South with new courage.
Jackson's victorious⁴⁰ little army joined Lee at Gaines' Mill on thetwenty-seventh of June, and on the following day McClellan was in fullretreat.
On the first of July it ended at Malvern Hill on the banks of the James.
Of the one hundred and ten thousand men who marched in battle line onRichmond, eighty-six thousand only reached the shelter of his gunboats.
The first great battle of the war had raged from the first of June untilthe first of July. Fifty thousand brave boys were killed or mangled onthe red fields of death. Washington was in gloom. The Grand Army of morethan two hundred thousand had gone down in defeat. It was incredible.
Richmond had been saved. The glory of Lee, Jackson and Stuart filled theSouth with a new radiance. But the celebration of victory was in minorkey. Every home was in mourning.
Six days later Stuart once more clasped his wife to his heart. It hadbeen a month since he had seen her. The thunder of guns she had heardwithout pause. She knew that both her father and her lover weresomewhere in the roaring hell below the city. Stuart never told her howclose they had come to a charge and counter charge at the battle ofGaines' Mill.
The old, tremulous question she couldn't keep back:
"You didn't see my daddy, did you, dear?"Stuart shouted in derision at the idea.
"Of course not, honey girl. It's not written in the book of life. Forgetthe silly old fear.""And they didn't even scratch my soldier man?""Never a scratch!"She kissed him again.
"You know I've a little woman praying for me every day. I lead a charmedlife!"She gazed at his handsome, bronzed face.
"I believe you do, dearest!"

1 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

5 spires   

n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her masts leveled with the spires of churches. 船的桅杆和教堂的塔尖一样高。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• White church spires lift above green valleys. 教堂的白色尖顶耸立在绿色山谷中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 aggregating   

总计达…( aggregate的现在分词 )； 聚集，集合； （使）聚集

参考例句：

• The thesis first promotes based Object Oriented Modeling method-Aggregating & Deriving Mothod. 本文首先提出了基于面向对象思想的建模方法——聚合派生法。
• Multidimensional data cubes are composed of base cube and other cubes aggregating on base cube. 多维立方体由基本立方体和基本立方体的聚集产生的立方体组成。

7 consummate   

adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle

参考例句：

• The restored jade burial suit fully reveals the consummate skill of the labouring people of ancient China.复原后的金缕玉衣充分显示出中国古代劳动人民的精湛工艺。
• The actor's acting is consummate and he is loved by the audience.这位演员技艺精湛，深受观众喜爱。

8 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

9 thickets   

n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物

参考例句：

• Small trees became thinly scattered among less dense thickets. 小树稀稀朗朗地立在树林里。 来自辞典例句
• The entire surface is covered with dense thickets. 所有的地面盖满了密密层层的灌木丛。 来自辞典例句

10 muskets   

n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The watch below, all hands to load muskets. 另一组人都来帮着给枪装火药。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight at towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. 深深的壕堑，单吊桥，厚重的石壁，八座巨大的塔楼。大炮、毛瑟枪、火焰与烟雾。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

11 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

12 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

13 deafening   

adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The noise of the siren was deafening her. 汽笛声震得她耳朵都快聋了。
• The noise of the machine was deafening. 机器的轰鸣声震耳欲聋。

14 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

15 beech   

n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的

参考例句：

• Autumn is the time to see the beech woods in all their glory.秋天是观赏山毛榉林的最佳时期。
• Exasperated,he leaped the stream,and strode towards beech clump.他满腔恼怒，跳过小河，大踏步向毛榉林子走去。

16 tangled   

adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了，我梳不动。
• A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。

17 sob   

n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣

参考例句：

• The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
• The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。

18 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

19 savages   

未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
• That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。

20 dangling   

悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果，那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
• The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上，摇晃着他们的双腿。

21 hideous   

adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的

参考例句：

• The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
• They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。

22 splendor   

n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌

参考例句：

• Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor.他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
• All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。

23 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

24 mangled   

vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• His hand was mangled in the machine. 他的手卷到机器里轧烂了。
• He was off work because he'd mangled his hand in a machine. 他没上班，因为他的手给机器严重压伤了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 trenches   

深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕

参考例句：

• life in the trenches 第一次世界大战期间的战壕生活
• The troops stormed the enemy's trenches and fanned out across the fields. 部队猛攻敌人的战壕，并在田野上呈扇形散开。

26 flickered   

（通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
• These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。

27 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

28 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

29 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

30 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

31 tremor   

n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震

参考例句：

• There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
• A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。

32 wrecks   

n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉

参考例句：

• The shores are strewn with wrecks. 海岸上满布失事船只的残骸。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• My next care was to get together the wrecks of my fortune. 第二件我所关心的事就是集聚破产后的余财。 来自辞典例句

33 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
• The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。

34 northward   

adv.向北；n.北方的地区

参考例句：

• He pointed his boat northward.他将船驶向北方。
• I would have a chance to head northward quickly.我就很快有机会去北方了。

35 pickets   

罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Five pickets were arrested by police. 五名纠察队员被警方逮捕。
• We could hear the chanting of the pickets. 我们可以听到罢工纠察员有节奏的喊叫声。

36 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

37 pang   

n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷

参考例句：

• She experienced a sharp pang of disappointment.她经历了失望的巨大痛苦。
• She was beginning to know the pang of disappointed love.她开始尝到了失恋的痛苦。

38 swollen   

adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀

参考例句：

• Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着，她的双腿已经肿了。
• A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她，她的手臂肿起来了。

39 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

40 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。