The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-10-16
Gen. VIM. r.. Jones.


1t will be source Of qualification to many of
our readers to, learn, that Gen. VIM. E. Jones,
by the recommendation Of Gen. r. E. Lee, has
been assigned by the Secretary of War. to the
command of the cavalry forces in Southwestern
Virginia and East Tennessee.
Gen. jones is Graduate of West Point, was
formerly an officer in the United States Army,
has been almost constantly in service from the
time of his graduation to the present, and all
the time connected with the cavalrys He entered
the Confederate service among the first at the
first call, and led the first company 1.-THE Wash
ington Mounted Rihes) that. left Southwestern
Virginia for the field. In short time he was
elected Colonel of the 1st Va. Cavalry, in Gen.
Stuart's command, and was with Gen. Johnston
in all his Valley operations, at Manassas, on
the Peninsula and at Seven Pines. Subsequent
ly he was promoted to the rank of Brig. Gene
raj, in which capacity he has distinguished him.
self in several hard fought battles, particularly
during the battle of Gettysburg, when he en-
countered and routed the best Yankee Cavalry
Brigade on the. field, and at Brandy Station,
when Stuart's Division, as was thought by some
was saved by his forethought and skill, and the
bravery ana endurance of his men.
Many Of our readers will doubtless remember
an account published in these columns of his ex-
petition to Northwestern Va, last Spring, one
Of the most hazardous, toilsome and successful
raids that has been performed during the war;
In the space of 80 days he marched 700 miles,
through rough hostile and sterile country,
gathering subsistence for man and beast by the
way, killed from 25to 80 of the enemy, wound
ed three times as many, captured about 700 pri-
soners, with their small arms and one piece of
artillery, two trains of cars on the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad, destroyed l6 railroad bridges
and tunnel, 100, 900 barrels of coal oil, many
engines and large number of boats, tanks, &c.,
and brought out 600 head of cattle, and 1900
horses, with loss of only 10 killed, AZ wound
ed, and II or Is missing.
Gen. Jones, although he has been in great
many tight places, and fought number of hard
contested battles, has never met with reverse
or any kind of mishap. This rebounds the more
to his honor and gallantry. when it is remember
ed that, as General, he was assigned to the
command of wild, undisciplined and supposed
unmanagable men. As disciplinarian, he has,
perhaps, no superior of his age and experince,
if at all. Hence we are the more gratifed that
he has been assigned to this department. With
the splendid but crude material that he will
here have to work upon, he will mould and fash
ion it into body terrible to raiders and Yam
KEGS in general. After he gets under way, and
it is to be hoped he will Immediately, we will
hear of no more squads of stragglers, no more
complaints of depredations, no more wild and
unframed cavalrymen rowing and foraging at
will He will bring them up to. order and dis
cipline, which is all they need to make them as
effective soldiers as there are in the service.
With all his strictness, Gen. Jones is exceed
ingly popular with his men-particularly. so
with such as are anxious to perform their duty
He knows that. strict discipline is the best pro-
lection to both the life and comfort of the SOL
cier, and that a. good soldier loves and values
discipline.
We have not penned these hasty lines for the
purpose Of eulogising Gen. Jones or undervalu-
ing the services of his brave and worthy prede-
cessors, but for the purpose of leading his men
to knowledge of what they may expect His
command, therefore, may take our; word for it,
he will require soldierlyorder and sodierly duty,
and that they will cheerfully follow him where
ever he may choose to lead In word, no net
ter selection could have been made for these
mountains, and raiders will always find him
wide awake and ready for any emergency.