but he did not disapprove of the reverse upon General Stuart.

"You are very welcome, General Stuart," he said.

"I thank you, sir. I have come to report to you, sir, that General
Burnside's army is gathering in great force on the other side of the
Rappahannock, and that we are massed along the river and back of
Fredericksburg."

"General Burnside will cross, will he not?"

"So we think. He can lay a pontoon bridge, and he has a great artillery
to protect it. The river, as you know, sir, has a width of about two
hundred yards at Fredericksburg, and the Northern batteries can sweep
the farther shore."

"I'm sorry that we've elected to fight at Fredericksburg," said General
Jackson thoughtfully. "The Rappahannock will protect General Burnside's
army."

Stuart gazed at him in astonishment.

"I don't understand you, sir," he said. "You say that the Rappahannock
will protect General Burnside when it seems to be our defense."

"My meaning is perfectly clear. When we defeat General Burnside at
Fredericksburg he will retreat across the river over his bridge or
bridges and we shall not be able to get at him. We will win a great
victory, but we will not gather the fruits of it, because of our
inability to reach him."