The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-27
STONEW.ILL JACKSON.
His Alleged Proposal for Night At
tack with Bowie Knives-The Foun-
dation for the story.

writer over the signature OF IA Virgin
ian," in the Savannah Morning News, comes
to the rescue of Mr.. Pollard as historian in
the matter of Stonewall Jackson's proposed
night attack upon the Federal army with
Bowie knives ard in q state of nudity. The
correspondents statement, however, varies
very materially from that of MIR. Poll rd, and
in fact changes the whole nature of the trans
action into one entirely legitimate and con-
sistent with the rules of civilized warfar,. He
says:
The occasion referred towas Immediately af-
ter the battle OF Fredericksburg, Virginia. On
the 1lth OF December, 1862 the Federals occu-
pying the northern bank of the Rappahan-
neck River, upon the southern side OF which
Fredericksburg is situated, opened fire upon
the town with one hundred and forty nine
pieces of artillery. A majority of the 1nhabi-
tants left town when the lombard ment COM
meneed. Early in the morning the enemy, un-
der cover of their fire, attempted to swing a
pontoon bridge laden with soldiers across the
river. few we'll directed shots from our ar
tillery broke the bridge, and the boats foated
down the river, the men to be drowned or to
be killed by the deadly rifles of Barksdale's
Mississppians At night another and successful
attempt to cross was made below the city at
town was occupied by the enemy. The 18th
was spent in making preparations for the
battle on the 18th, the result of which is too
well known to be detailed here; suffice it to
say, that by dark on that day the enemys
troops, to the number OF sixty thousand, torn,
bleeding and thoroughly disorganized. were
crowded in town. While thus situated, the
Confederate chiefs held q council of war. AS
ha5 been frequently asserted, and never, until
lately contradicted, General Lee stated that he
thought the enemy would make another attack,
not believing that they had suffered so severe
ly and we're so broken up as was afterward
ascertained. 10 this opinion General Jackson
disagreed, and suggested that the artillery of
the first and second corps, his and Longstreet's,
should be collected upon the hills directly in
front OF the town, AMI o heavy fire be opened
upon it, and that the men ofhis corps be stripped
to the waist to distinguish them from the enc
N.Y. and under the cover OF our artillery tire force
their way into the town and bayonet all who
were not similarly attlred. His corps was on
the right and Longstreeps on the left. The
men Of the latter corps we're not to be stripped
nor to participate in the attack, but were to
protect tho artillery and prevent the enemy
from escaping up the river and crossing at the
fords, which doubtless they would have
attempted had an attack been made, for there
wac only one pontoon at the Tn, which would
not have afforded egress for one. fifth OF the
multitude, and the bridges at Deep nun WOulu
have been secured and all communication with
them and the town cut of at the first dash
made by our troops.
It has been asserted by officers high in au-
thority that the suggestion above mentioned
was made and adopted, and that Jackson es-
pecially stipulated that his troops should not
be allo we'd to fire, but should only use the
bayonet. 1t is well-authenticated fact that
an attack upon tho town was contemplated by
our chief, aud in furtherance Of the plan the
artillery was PLACED upon the heights IN front
o. the breastworks behind which they had
fought during the days battle, with instruc-
tions to await signal and then to open fire
upon the town, and continue the fire until fur
ther orders, or until the yells OF our troops
would show that thoy were in town-in posi-
ton to be endangered by our fire.
Tho infantry OF tho hrst corps were posted
to defend the artillery lit was afterward told by
men OF the second corps that they had rcceiy-
ed orders TO strip 10 their waists), but the sig.
nal for the bombardment was never given and
orders came to retire within the breastworks,
as The proposed attack had been given up by
Gen. Lee, who feared that the numerous inhabl-
tants remaining in the town would suffer alike
with the enemy.