The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-29

of May following put an end to his connect
tioaI with that imp orf ant cump6igna II nave
no comment to tnake upon the conduct
md management OF that disastrous march, !
NOR will j ndertake even to express the
opinion that If General jackson had been in
command OF that expedite nathat any dh-
ferent result would have taken place. God
forbid that / should utter one word OF dis
paragement Of those gallant officers who led
the flower OF our army in that worse. than
Flodden field Of blood and disaster. But this
I think ] may undertake TO say that Jack.
sons incompatible genius and energy bad
always been found equal to any emergency
in which he was placed and we may fond
ly imagine that it required just such an ex-.
pedition as that-penetrating into the heartof
one Of the most powerful States OF the North
supported by such aa army as the South
then sent forth, facing such forces and such
accomplished generals as were there resist
ing the invasion, with the fate OF the Con-
federaey suspended upon the issue-t0 have
tdeveloped to their highest and fullest eX-
tent those extraordinary qualities TOR offen-
EsiYe warfare which so eminently. distin-
guished that remarkable man.: -
General Jackson's military perceptions
seemed to me! more there's uit Of intuition
than Of any previous process of analysis or
ratiocination.3 However stunning the blow
and crushing the effect sof any movement
against his adyersary,I doubt il, at the mo-
ment, he was conscious OF the course OF rea-
soningwhich led himto his rapid conclusion.
When prepared the earlier reports OF his
battles, and surveying, as I was able to do,
the whole field Of operations by the light
of subsequent results, Iwould undertake
to incorporate into the reports the reasons
| for the strategic movements there de-
scribed: but when these were read to the
General he would ask me to strike them
out, with the remark "these are very admi-
rable reasons for the movements you de-
scribe, but l would rather have those rea-
sons omitted" OF course conformed to
his wishes; and meeting Colonel Preston,
OF the Virginia Military Institute, one day
gentleman who had been for many years
on the most intimate terms with Generai
Jackson-I asked him If he could explain
why it was that General Jackson never
would permit the reasons Of his, military
movements to be stated in the report OF
| his battles " Sir,"> said he, sit springs
from his love Of truth. General jackson
reaches instaneous conclusions In, his mill
tary operations, and he is himself uncon-
scious OF the process by which he attains
the result; and il he were afterwards, when
|
reasons to be ascribed to him which were
not present to his mind when the order was
given, however satisfactory they might be
to his Judgment, he would feel as ii hewere
guilty of an untruth If he claimed the ben-
eft OF reasoning OF which he was not con-
scieus at the moment OF executing the
movement" .....,-r.,. ..,-,,.-FE
There was one point which, so far as my
observation extended, distinguished Gene
raj Jackson from all other officers, OF equal
grade at least, in the Confederate army, and
that was the absolute absorption OF his mind
in the duties of his command. He was q
stranger to recreation or amusement OF any
kind. Save the few moments that he de-
voted to silent prayer on his knees every
morning and evening, there was not one
minute from the time he rose in the morning
until he retired to bed at night that his mind
was not dwelling upon the duties which his
nosition demanded Of him. Even. during
! those winter months when the fierce conflict
of battle was suspended by the severity OF the
weather, if prudent regard for his health
required him, to take some exercise on horse
back, it was always done in visiting some
most, in examining some work then in pro-
! gress, OF in assuring himself OF the com19tr-
I able encampment OF his troops. His was
an absolute dedication OF himself, body and
soul, So to his. country. The tenderest ties OF
nature-and no one ever possessed a
| warmer, trller, and more sympathetic heart
were ali merged in his Roman devotion to
duty. remember upon one occasion 1 re-
ceiyed telegram Of the extreme illness OF O
daughter in Appomattox county, and com.
municating q message from her that she
wished to make some request OF me in per.
4 SON before she died. took the telegram to
/ General Jackson, and asked for a leave Of abb
sence for q few days. He read it, and ]
observed a tear tricklipg down his cheek,
and after pausing for q few moments he said :
"Colonel, I shall not refuse your, request,
! for there is nothing now requiring your
nresence absolutely at headquarters; but
viii announce to you the rule that governs
! nv conduct. When / entered the army l
gave myself up to my country, and however
| / might deplore my separation from those
love, andespecially under the cir rcumstances
mentioned in this telegram, yet would not
! feel myself at liberty to leave my post here.
I have left all that are dear to me IN the
hands Of my country and OF my God.n
General Jackson was an; intense admirer
of the military genius Of the. great Napo-
ieon. and often during our long winter
nights he would dwell with an intelligent
| criticism and with the deepest interest upon
/ his achievements, and especially upon his
| early Italian campaigns. It was natural
that he should have felt this sentiment Of
admiration for that great master OF the art
OF war; for General Jackson was NOT unlike
7 Napoeon in some OF his most remarkable
characteristics. In promptitude OF move
ment, in fertility OF resource, in briliiancy
/ az execution, in surprises Of the enemy, In
rapid marches, and in the concentration OF
bis force upon particular points sof attack,
there; was striking similarity In the Inlil-
tary movements OF the two men. Z, = sf1s |
Courage, or indifference to death, was one
OF the least: OF General Jacksons virtues
In truth, he valued life too little to make lts
exposure q merit. Earth was not ms
abiding place. His soul was IN constant
communion with his God, and his Thoughts
were perpetually dwelling. upon the felic1T
ties of better life. My intercourse Win
him enables me to state that he habltualy
I looked forward with the deepest satisfac-
tion to the moment when it would be the
pleasure OF God to transfer him from this
scene OF earthly probation to the reverend
ing Joys of better world. ),
General Jackson had improved upon the
education which he received at West Point
by extensive reading. History was one OF
his fayorite studies. He was not fluent in
conversation, nor ready in; ;comp ition but
|, he understood the English language
thoroughly, and spoke and WroteMitn great
correctness. His mind had become liberal
ICED byatravel in Europe, and the objects
| which seemed to make the most impression
ttupon his mind were the military nTchieec-I
ture OF the forts, and sarsenals and the civic