When the soldiers reached the field of battle, spitting cotton and stumbling from fatigue, Jackson flung them into combat and never gave thought to casualties until he had exploited every chance for gain. Credit for all accomplishments went to God. All the men got for their fighting and bravery and suffering was victory after victory. But that was enough. They were Jackson’s foot cavalry: unmatched for speed on the march and a proven fighting force a cut above other volunteers in that civil war between citizen-soldiers.

On May 11, 1864, the Battle of Yellow Tavern took place in Virginia.