Shortly before their departure the troops received a reminder that their leader brooked no trifling with orders.  Intoxicating liquors were forbidden in the Confederate lines.  But the regulation was systematically evaded, and the friends of the soldiers smuggled in supplies.  When this breach of discipline was discovered, Jackson put a stop to the traffic by an order which put the punishment on the right shoulders.  “Every waggon that came into camp was to be searched, and if any liquor were found it was to be spilled out, and the waggon horses turned over to the quartermaster for the public service.”  Nevertheless, when they left Winchester, so Jackson wrote to his wife, the troops were in excellent spirits, and their somewhat hypochondriacal general had never for years enjoyed more perfect health—­a blessing for which he had more reason to be thankful than the Federals.

(Map.  The valley.  Showing:  West:  Monterey, North:  Hancock, South:  Charlottesville and East:  Manassas Junction.)

Note.

The evils of civilian control.

It is well worth noticing that the interference of both the Union and Confederate Cabinets was not confined to the movements and location of the troops.  The organisation of the armies was very largely the work of the civilian authorities, and the advice of the soldiers was very generally disregarded.  The results, it need hardly be said, were deplorable.  The Northern wiseacres considered cavalry an encumbrance and a staff a mere ornamental appendage.  McClellan, in consequence, was always in difficulties for the want of mounted regiments; and while many regular officers were retained in the command of batteries and companies, the important duties of the staff had sometimes to be assigned to volunteers.  The men too, at first, were asked to serve for three months only; that is, they were permitted to take their discharge directly they had learned the rudiments of their work.  Again, instead of the ranks of the old regiments being filled up as casualties occurred, the armies, despite McClellan’s protests, were recruited by raw regiments, commanded by untrained officers.  Mr. Davis, knowing something of war, certainly showed more wisdom.  The organisation of the army of Northern Virginia was left, in great measure, to General Lee; so from the very first the Southerners had sufficient cavalry and as good a staff as could be got together.  The soldiers, however, were only enlisted at first for twelve months; yet “Lee,” says Lord Wolseley, “pleaded in favour of the engagement being for the duration of the war, but he pleaded in vain;” and it was not for many months that the politicians could be induced to cancel the regulation under which the men elected their officers.  The President, too, while the markets of Europe were still open, neglected to lay in a store of munitions of war:  it was not till May that an order was sent