Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-06-09
HENRY WARD BEECHEk'S OPINION
UF STONEN ALL JACKSON.

Under the heading, ssThe Death of Gen Jack
son. the last number of the New York stInde-
pent'' contains the following:
"A brave and honest Zoe has fallen Thomas
j. Jackson has died OF wonnls received in the
confusion of the battle Of charlottesville az the
hands Of his own men, There is not left anoth
man III the South to ii | his place. Richmond
papers scarcely exaggerate when they say that
the Confederacy had better lost fifty thousand
men Good in couns9 |, his peculiar excellence
was in the field. We know of no man either
side that surpassed, it any equalled, in handling
army
ssWe are in some respects better judges of his
military talents than Southern men, since VIZ
felt the blows which they only saw dealt. 1t is
certain that oiher man has IMPRESSED the i'm
aginatlon of our soldiers and the whole commu-
nifty SO much he. An unknown name at the
beginning OF the war, save TO his brother Off
GERS, and to his classes in the military school at
Lexington, Va, his footsteps were earliest in
the field from which now death has Withdrawn
them. But i'll two years he has made his name
familiar in every civilized land OH the globe as
general of rare skill, resource and energy.
ssNo other general of the South could develop
so much power out of the siencer and precarioG S
means, by the fervd inspirations of his own MIND
as jackson. He had absolute control of his men,
seeming almost TO facinate them. He drove
them through marches long and difficult, with
cut resources, feeding them best he could; he
delivered battles thunder-ciOud discharges
bolts, and, if the fortunes We're against him,
then, with even more remarkable skill than IN
advancing, he held his men together in retreat,
and with extraordinary address aud courage, C.
lud5d pursuit, sometimes fighting, sometimes
fleeing till he brought off his forces safely
Then almost before the dust was laid upon the
war-path. his face was again towards bis enemies,
and he was ready for renewed conflict. His
whole soul was in his work. He had no doubts
IL.
force of his being into his blows for the worst
cause man ever fought for, as few of our generals
have ever learned to do for the best cause for
which trumpet ever sounded. Henceforth We
know him no more after the flesh. He is no
longer foe. We think of him now as noble
minded gentleman, rare and eminent Christian
For years he has been an active member of the
Pre- esbvterian Church, of which he was ruling
elder. He never, in all the occupations of camp,
or temptations of campaigns, lost the feryor OF
his piety, or rem:tted his Christian duties.
'sWe know that before every important move
he spent much time in prayer. He had so put
his soul IN the keeping of his Master that he was
relieved from all thought of self, and had the
whole power of his life ready for his work. Off
GERS of Frelnont's army who pursued him in his
famous retreat from the Shenandoah. Valley found
him to be greatly beloved by the common peo
pie, among whom in former times, he had labor
ed, in prayer meetiGgs, and III every Christian
word and work. No wonder he fouget we'll "a
long region whose topography he had mapped
down with prayers .exhOrtations and Christian la
bor.
ssHe was unselhsh. He fought neither for rep
utation now, nor for future personal advance
ment He therefore did not fall into the ruinous
habits OF our generals, who always neglect
ing to do the things that can be done, because
tney are small, but squander time and men ana
patience il getting ready for great battles which
q Ia mr. dafH ham He inca Y
the right and OH the left, and kept alive the fire
in the hearts OF the ilclad poorly fed and ovel
worked men by the excitement OF enterprise and
the constant relish OF victories, small in detail,
but WHOSE sum WAS ail-impoItant.
.sLet no man suppose that the North will tr-
umlsh over a fallen son with insulting gratula.
tlons Nowhere e,se viii the name of jackson
be more hOnored. Not for the adhesion to- the
cause of slavery but Tor his untarnished person
al character, for his devout piety, and for his
military genus
81 ayaS