The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-30

minutes II one OF his own brigades had not been or
dered to fall back. A man less open to the conviction
that he was whipped could not be imagined. His in
domitable combativeness, it. might have been said,
made him set his teeth against fate, and endeayor to
place his heel upon destiny itself.
1t may be said Of him with truth, that he deserved
victory, No man WAS more careful in the use of every
precaution to ensure success. The idea that he blnn-
dered on without prudence or system. and achieved
hiB successes only by some mysterious good fortune. is
q mere fancy. No soldier was ever less indebted tn
luck no one proceeded in military matters upon
profonnder logic. He knew his strength and his
weakness, but the difference between hin and Others
was, that, he made his estimates more correctly. He
dld not look to numbers only, but to morale, the stu
alton, the spirits Of his troops.
ne would not permit his men to inquire the names
OF the towns through which they passed, aud on tie
march against Gen. Mcclellan al Richmond issued a
general order directing the troops to reply 4 don't
know, to every question. Meeting man struggling
toward a cherry-tree he said, where are you going ?"
! don't know, was the reply. ITO what regiment
do you belong p Il don't know" "What do YOU
meanS' Il don't know" jackson laughed quietly
and passed on. He said that ii his coat knew what he
designed, he would take it Off and burn it. He would
encamp Tor the night at cross roads, and the quidnuncs
we're in despair at their inability to determine toward
what point Of the compass he would march on the
morrow. About to abandon the valley, he publicly
directed careful maps to be made of the region, as
though intending a campaign therein. When one of
his Sldu GlEdgtu ullHti u IIilSS h1Edu VI his du-
vancing column, be admoniseed him Of his error
How did he know that the column would pass that
point?
He had the faculty of waiting for his adversary -
No man was ever more determined not to be forced to
fight before he was ready. His retreats apppeared
panic-stricken, but were in reality the deliberate move
ments of a master of the art OF war He was never
more dangerous than when flying. From dreams Of
success, and visions OF complete victory, his opponent
was apt to be rudely awakened.
Until all his arrangements were made, no adversary
could draw him into action. When the moment came,
he saved the officer opposed to him all trouble on that
score. lie Initiated the matter by attacking with all
his strength. If one assault failed he made a second.
lfhis first line gave way, he brought up his second
Ii the second had bad fortune, his reserve was led into
actlon-and if these did not at once retrieve the for
tunes of the day, he placed himself in front of sthem
and led them in person, iully determined to conquer
or die.
There were few who failed him at such moments
The sight OF jackson upon these occasions seemed to
turn the heads of the troops. They forgot all else,
and grew reckless; and when men become reckless.
they 60 far. Cedar Run furnished an instance of this.
The left wing, formed OF Jacksons veterans, was bro
ken, AID in ten minutes The battle would have been
lost. There were no reserves to put in, and jackson
rallied the troops in person. Tue result was such as
we have described. A single shout OF 'Stonewall
jackson Stonewali jackson y ran along the line, aud
it was reformed IN a moment. In front of them they
saw a sword shining through the smoke OF action, aud
recognized the old faded cap, and piercing eyes Of
their chief. The result was a new assault, and one Of
the most important OF Jackson's victories.
His tenacity and strength of will seemed to have no
limit. Nothing appeared TO affect that supreme reso-
luton. His intellect, in all military matters, was re-
~markably clear, vigorous and practical. He was OPP
posed to halfway measures, and in favor of decisive
bloWs. Subtiety and dialectlcal hair-sDlttiug found
lttle favor with him. He knew what he wanted. aud
had a perfectly clear idea of the means BY which he
could secure his object. Reinements of strategy oc-
cupied but little Of his attention. lie was for results,
and saw how to attain them. Alone, Of all the south
ern generals, he was in favor OF attacking the federal
army, on the evening Of the battle OF Fredericksburg;
and at the council OF war, held on that occasion, is
said TO have started from a doze, when called upon for
Zig opinion, exclailniug, only half awake, drive 'em
into the river" All his views we're aggressive, and
looked to attack, not defence. Alter Port Republic.
he said, III the president will give me 81 1000 men, |
will be in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in two aeeks. |
will undertake it with 400 o." After Cold Harbor.
as we have seen, he again wished to advance, exclaim-
ing, 1.-THE Scipio Afrcanus policy is the best On
the evening of the first battle of Manassas, hi clear
military intellect, unclouded by subtleties, hesitations,
or those pros and cons which paralyze action, saw the
whole field before bin; aud he said, in his briet, curt
voice, Give me 10000 meu and | will be ia Wash
ington tonight"
He was an intense and Commemorative thinker, his
piercing eyes ran far and deep. Without the power,
as we have seen, TO utter, write or perform any nota-
BILE thing in the ordinary commerce'of human affairs,
ne brought to the great game Of war immense powers
Of analysis and combination. Success was an equation
which he worked out with mathematical precision.
But it is difficult to discard the idea, after a full
Of his career, chat he was guided in his
arduous campaigns by something resembling a spteies
OF intuition. Many Of his followers openly stated
their belief that he was inspired, and the military
critic will fnd, after all, in his career 4 certain intui-
ZION Of genius which cannot be classified or described. '
He seemed to possess the faculty OF seeing what was
tile right thing to do at the right time; not to come to
his conclusion by any train OF logic, but at a bound.
Others exhibited supreme talent, trained to the high
est perfection; but J%acksons military movements
everywhere betrayed that subtle thing called genius.
His glance was like the lightning when reveals the en-
tire landscape before the benighted Traveller, and shows
him his road.
From the characteristics of Jackson, the soldier, We
may find some points Of interest in the personal traits
of Jackson, the man. 1t is Interesting to know how
such men look and speak; how they carry themselves
under good or bad fortune; in what manner they live
and move, and have their being" JacksonS deme4 nor
upon the field was quite absorbed, and at times absent
minded, as though he we're engaged in some profound
calculation, or following some subtle train OF thought.
When spoken TO at such moments, his head turned
quickly, bis eye glittered, and he listened with atten-
ton, replying in the fewest words possible. His tone
curt, bnt not discOuTtcous. His bcarirg, hisSmile,
the ready hand to his cap, on the contrary, were
m ,rkedIy courteous, nor has the present writer ever
known him, under TIE most exciting circumstances, 10
this simple and modest air of kindly good breed
He was the most approactable Of corps com
manders, and ANY private soldier might be sure OF "A
friendly reply to any question which ne asked. There
no air Of authority, official stiffness, hauteur, as
sumption or ~coldnes% in his demeanor- ii: looked
work, " was unmoved BY vanity, regarded his troops
as his children, and when he fell, it was not the heart
of wife and friend alone that felt the blow, but thou
sands who no longer lelt the old enthusiasm %preluding
victory.
The trait Of character which conciliated most the
and respect Of his enemies was the profound
sincerity and earnestness OF his nature. There was nc
doubt about Jackson's utter truth aud honesty.
We do not venture, here, to state the exact religious
views of this eminent man. He has been called q IA
taIist, from his ultra indifference to danger; but fatal