Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-05

the exception of his two aids, was afterwards
my own staff for considerable period and
never heard an intimation from any member OF
it that the proposal had been made. Burn:
sides army was in such condition that he did
propose renewal of the attack next day, and
| WAS only induced to desist from it by the earn
| est protest of his oficers-not because OF the
| decentralization Of the army, but because of the
strength of our position. TO have abandoned
that position would have been to yield our ad-
vantage.
There is another reason, which to me is a
most potent one, and that is because | know
that the boldest man in his strategic move
ments and his tactics on the field Of battle in
all the Army Of Northern Virginia, Stonewall
jackson not excepted, was General Robert b.
Lee. Yes, under that calm and dignifed eXte-
rior there beat one Of the boldest hearts and
dwelt one of the most daring minds that ever
inspired the commander Of an army. He re-
quired 60 council of war to urge him to deeds
Of boldness, and | never heard of council of
war during the whole history of that army un
der his command. 1t is true that he often
conferred with his corps commanders, and
sometimes with subordinates entrusted with
special duties, but it was not to catch inspira>
ton from their councils, but to instil into them
portion of his own daring spirit. General
Jackson had his confidence in preeminent de-
gree UecauSt ue was always Icduy W SCCVuO
with alacrity the plans of the commanding
General;
To satisfy any one of what [ say in regard to
General Lee it is only necessary for him to ex-
anime the yet unwritten history of that unpar-
alleled campaign from the Rapidan to the
James, of the operations on the line of defences
around Richmond and Petersburg, and of the
retreat for more than hundred miles to Appo-
mattox Court house-a place that will remain
forever famous not as the scene Of triumph for
the invader with his untold legions, but as the
scene of the struggle Of that great heart and
that great mind which so reluctantly surrender
ed the small remnant of less than nine thousand
of the Army Of Northern Virginia with arms in
their hands.
General Jackson did enough to establish his
reputation on an enduring foundation as one of
the greatest soldiers, heroes, patriots, and
Christians, ever produced by any country Or
age. Let his fame, therefore, rest on his deeds,
and let not his pure name be connected with
wild and absurd propositions aud schemes, Ell
ther for the purpose of adding to his glory or
obscurlng that of any of his compeers. Who
is it that claims to have known his secret
thoughts and purposes? If he had any fault as
commander it was his extreme reticence, that
often left his immediate subordinates in igno
rance of his purposes until they were called up
on to act. Was it likely that strangers to him
personally should know more of his views than
those who Immediately surrounded him? The
wild schemes with which his name is sometimes
identified are calculated to do as much damage
to his character as soldier, as some of the ex
aggerated accounts in regard to his religious
devotlons and opinions are calculated to do to
the earnest, truthful, and spotless nature OF his
Christian character
j. A EARLf.