Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-16
Jackson as Soldier and strategist.
From Gen. ColstOn's Lecture.l

u
The lecturer then went on to the Sec
ond part of his subject = Jackson as a
soldier and strategist. He laid down
with great clearness the elementary prin-
ciples of strategy and tactics, distinguish
ing between the two, and propounded the
question, whether Jackson was to be
classed with those second-rate command
ers whose victories had been achieved by
skillful tactical dispositions, hard fight
ing and often accident, or those masters
both of tactics and strategy, such as
Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar and Napo-
leon, whose successes were achieved in
the face of tremendous odds ? He then
gave mastery analysis of Napoleon s
great Italian campaign in 1896, and con-
trasted with it Jackson's campaign in
the Shenandoah Valley, showing the sim
ilarity of the strategy in each, and the
mastery use which jackson, like Napo-
leon, had made of the advantage position
afforded him of acting on interior lines
of communication and applying that
grand principle of strategy which con-
sists in bringing his masses to bear upon
the fragments of the enemy. He also
gave an account of the campaign against
Pope, and claimed for jackson that his
movements and fighting entitled him at
least to be ranked among the first class of
leaders. The lecturer then gave graphic
description of the circumstan ces attend
ing Jackson's death, of the mournful
manner in which he fell by the hands of
his own friends, and of the terrible scenes
which succeeded his fall. Jackson was
a born leader, and though all his move
ments exhibited the utmost strategic abil-
ity, the lecturer believed that he had
never read work on grand tactics in his
life; it was in him the natural genius and
instinct of war. One of the remarks
made at his death was sadly prophetic:
He is taken away from the evil to come,
and we shall never have any luck any
more.
He was beloved by his soldiers, ad-
mired by his enemies and the world.
Jackson's name was honored all the
world over, by friends and foes alike,
and it was reserved for one who calls
himself Governor of Virginia to say that
he felt no sort of pride in Jackson, and
could see nothing for admiration in his
character Hisses.] But the soldiers
of the Federal army always respected
him and appreciated him. The soldiers
of both armies had not been unmindful
of the generous spirit exhibited by both
of their great leaders; it was only the
demagogues who kept ont of the battle
that kept bowling for blood and con6sca-
tion. Loud cheers.
Before his death, Jackson exclaimed
" Bu+y me in the Valley of Virginia, at
Lexington and there his remains were
carried, and though no tablet
marks the spot it is consecrated by the
love and affection of the whole people,
while above it now towers the flagstaff
that once bore the flag for which he
fought so well.
At the conclusion of the address there
were loud calls for Governor Wise, to
which the Governor responded in few
saying that no one was so well
qualified to write the life of Jackson as
General Colston, and he hoped that, as
the highest compliment the meeting could
pay him, they would request him to re-
peat his lecture at his own convenience,
but in as short a time as possible
On this being put to the vote, it was
carried unanimously, and the meeting
adjourned.