The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-11-08

ended two years aitcrward with the
surrender of his life. Into these two
years were crowded enough of gallant
achievement and heroic adventure to
make the immortal fame Of mt least
score Of men.
Commencing in the Valley Of the
Shenandoah, rushing in at the critical
point at the first battle Of Manassas, and
! by almost superhuman endcavors, turn
ing threatened route iHtOan uncxpcrt-
ed victory, and there gaining his title
of r'tOnrWuil, which was over afterwards
/ used to distinguish himself a- well aS
! the brigade which he commanded Vi
bra'ing back and forth between Ilar-
| per's Ferry and Cedar Creek: crossing
and reCro--ing the mountains, now to
attack Banks and now to deceive Ere
mont; driven from Winchester and
soon again welcomed bacl; through the
prowess of his arms; hearing the call Of
his general, who was looking from
Richmond upon the one hundred thou
/ sand men which General Mcclellan had
and New Kent, aud posting across the
country with marvellous rapidity, until
he, too, was ready to share in the terri
BILE tragedies 20 be enacted upon the
Chickahominy thenceforward the
thunder-eloud which poured out blood
ard slaughter all the way from New
Kent to Malvern Hill and Cold HarbOr;
again sounding his war call upon the
plains Of Manassas, to the diSnay OF
puInpouS Pope; and, finally, sweeping
around from Fredericksburg to Cham
cullor,vii.o with unprecedented rapidi-
ty, and pouncing down upon the MT
/ tiOu0l forces ut an unexpected moment,
bringing terrible slaughter to both sides
and Il dcath-wound to himself. In these
brief years of inGessant campaigning
hc was the leading actor in Il WOndruus
tragedy, the details of which are a5 yet
| but partially recorded. twice during
the ol,hcrn people, and once 80 bitter
were the charges against him that he
gave up his commission in disgust. But
all that had been heard against him wa-
afterwards completely overwhelmed in
! the universal praise bestowed upon
| him by the people and the army. Very
many times he fell out by the way with
fellow-o officers, and once or twice with
those who were his seniors. For long
time Ashby looked upon him az his
personal enemy, and Stuart did not al-
ways feel kindly disposed towards him.
And 50 we find Mt the outset that h is
sodicr-lifc was not all Il pleasant tri-
umph. He was in constant trouble,
and always anxious 10 do more than hi.
supcrors had planned. 1t chafed hin
exceedingly that he was not permitted
to advance upon Washington from tn,
first Manassas, or upon Pennsylvania
from Winchester. Ills life WAS Il tenn
pest Of great desire and heroic endcav.
OrS.
The general impression received from
the rcrusal Of this biography may h'
that its subject was not many remove
from species of insanity. He seems II
have entered upon the cause through
sheer love Of war. There Is not tn,
sliphtp-; intimati0n anywhere III tht
volume that any desire 20 aid the south
eru movement inspired him to accep'
General Lees offer of Il gcneralship
Not that he may not haze been 50 in
spircd, but there is 10 Suggestion Of i
on the par, of the hiographPr, From
the FIRST sound Of conflict at Bull Rul
he seemed to enjoy the struggle, ant
was never so happy rs when standing
exposed in the heat OF battle. But ht
was always thir,ting for something great
er, and died believing that h might
have accomplished vastly more if he
could have invaded thc"enemy's coun
try" He was brave beyond all com
mon interpretations of bravery, and WA
reckless up TO the fullest point of TIN
common conception of rcckleSsncss. |
is Il wonder that he lived unhaImcd s,
long as hc did. The biographor Offer
speaks Of his TRANCE Gpaticulations anI
not infrCuuint mental distractions du
ring times of great peril and great cN
citcment He is represented a. havin;
bpen ..hcsidc HIMSELF upon hi re.entr,
of Winchester. and. upon arriving a
the scene ofimpending conflict on tn,
Chickahominy. he sat on his horse lill,
q marble statue appnrcntlv unmindfl
of all thot wosobout to trun,pira. To tn,
reader there seems to be something un
rotuoI in ollthis.but our own opinion it
the matter is, that his intense religion
dovotion hos led many tothiuk him in
Sane \yn knew thai he never entered
uuon .truq-Ie without implorn,
helm rrom ohnyr. and IL was his custom
to render thanks TO God for all that wa
accumulated. His very bravery unc