Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-19
StonewaII Jackson---Thc PecuIiarities
of his Genius.

+ stonewaIl Jackson---Thc Peculiarities
..of his Genius.
"A late correspondent of the N. 7. World
has furnished the readers Of that journal with
some graphic remarks upon the genius, in
strategy and military resources, of Stonewafi
Jackson. We make few interesting ex'
tracts:
Jackson's military movements were always
based upon close calculation, and he was GER
tainly not wanting in foresight and caution.
BE seems to have known perfectly well what
it was IN his power to achieve, and as tho
roughly what was beyond his strength. he
risked Much; upon rlany occasions, but ap'
pears to have been justified in his calculations
of the ultimate result
1t will be objected to him, by military men,
that he hazarded too much, at times, and was
only. extricated.by good fortune. There ap-
Pears to be some justice ip this; but the re-
sources Of lis geniu, were enormous, apd
doubled his numbers. Some of his ideas
seem absurd when coolly looked at. When
asked what he would have done it. after the
battle of Winchester, the converging columns
of the enemy had cut him OF at Strasburs,
be replied, 81 would have fallen back upon
MARYLAND for reinforcamen.s." Such move
ment must. it wonld appear, haye terminated
in his destruction; bat it would be dithcult
to find man in his old command who would
have doubted his ultimate triumph even
then.
His genius was for great movements and
decisive blows; and, -hus his services became
more and more valuable as hrs rank increas-
ed. He was better an Brigadier than as Col
onel; better still asa .iajor General; and as
LIEUTENANT General was best of all. 1t is
useless to ask what ne would have been as
Commander in Chief, without q superior at
Richmond. But the brain which conceived
and executed the campaign of the valley must
have been equal to any position.
He kept open. generally, his line OF retreat,
and provided for di.asterS-1hough 1t was
hard to realize that future ever entered into
his calculations. He had the soldiers. eye
for position, and chosa bis ground both Tor
infantry and artillery with tho exacluess CT
genius; but if all bis arrangements were
made, and his plans required battle, would
give it on any ground He depe de5 most
upon his infantry, but loved artillery from bis
early association with that branch "t the ser
vice. never appearing SO we'll pleased as wheE
directing in person tue fire Of his cannon,
amid shower of shot and she'll. When once
engaged, he seemed 10 discard all idea Of dc
feat, and to regard the issue as assured. Aud,
what vas more important, his men seemed 20
share bis conviction \ man less open 10 the
conviction that he was whipped, could not be
Imagined. His indomitable combativeLesS,
! it might have been sid, made him set his
teeth against Fate, ard cndea7cr 10 place LIS
heel upon Destiny Itself.
1t may be said of lin with truth, that ne
deserved victory. No man was more carelGl
in the use of every precau:ion to insure sue
cess. The idea tnat he bluEdered on without
prudence or system, ard achieved his success
only by some mysterious good fortune. is 4
mere fancy. Nosoldier was ever less indcbt-
ed to lucii''; no one ever proceeded In mn
itary matters upon protoua':cr logic lie
knew his strength and lis weakness, but the
difference between Lin AID Others was this,
that he made his estimates more correctly.
| he did not look 10 numbers onig. bui 10
morale, the situation. the spirit OF his troops.
with the three hundred OF Leoniaas lie wonld
have attempted great things; with the lily
thousand survivors Of Napoleon GIand ar
ME, crushed in moral by Waterloo, nc would
lave attempted no;bing.
In every point of view, as we have said, ne
deserved success. No General ever made q
greater use Of mystery. lie saw from tie
| first that he commaned men of education,
thought, speculation-;he most inqui>itiYc OF
private soldiers Without due prtcaution
taken tLey were certain to know What it vas
inexpediel.t for the private soldier to Know /;
his designs would be pei c,ated, ard be nois
ed abroad. Hence his inscruteblc mystery.
He would not permit his ,ncn TO Inquire he
names of the towns through which they pass
ed. and on the march against General Nc.
Clellan at Richmond issued u general orcer
directing the troops 10 reniy " don's Nno""
to every question.
Meeting man strasslipg towar,' q CHERRY
tree he said.
"Wbere are yon go:rg?'
81 don't know" was the veily.
"Jo what regiment do you belong?'
81 don't know
".What do you mean q
{: / don't know"
Jackson laughed quietly and passed on.
He said that ii his coat knew .wbaahe design
ed be would take 1t off and burn it. lie
would cncanp for Tie night at cross reads,
and the uuidnuncs were il despair ut their
inability 10 determine toward what point of
the compass he would march on the morrow.
About to abandon the valley, bc publicly di-
rected careful maps to be made OF the region,
as though intending campaign therein.
When Que oil his staff engaged dinner few
miles ahead Of his advancing column, be adj
lnonished him Of error. How did he know
that the column would pass that point?
There were few who failed him at such mo-
ments. The sight OF Jackson upon tbese &C.
casions seemed to turn the heads ofthe troops.
They forgot oil else and grew reckless; and
when men be came reckless they go far. Ce-
dar Run furnished an instance OF this. Tie
left wing, formed Of Jackson's veterans. was
broken, and in ten minutes tie battle would
have been lost. There .weri no reserves to
put in and jackson rallied the troops in per
SON. The result Was such as we have de-
scribed. A single shout OF Z" Stonewal Jack
son,r ran along tile line, and i, was reform
ed in moment. In font Of them they saw
a,sword shining through thesmokc of action,
and recognized the Old faded cap, aud the
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 10 at
feet that supreme resolution. Such man
is the master of fat, and, with his iron hand,
directs events. Napoleon trusted TO his star,
aud Jackson it is said, believed in his desti
ny-a word which lie construed, apparently,
to mean success against his enemies wherever
he encountered them.