Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-08-04

well-known to his troops. lie often attended
their services and prayer-meeting night or day,
and kneelng in the midst of some Scared
veterans he had led in so many battles, be led
them in prayer to the Lord Of Hosts. When
he was thus in camp all noise was hushed /;
dropping their cards and al other amusement',
old men and young gathered around him.
standing and kneeing with uncovered heads
in sacred silence. A thousand hands would
have been raised TO smite the impious wretch
/ who dared to scoe when Stonewall jackson
prayed. ~,
MS MILITARY CAREER.
1t is not practicable to attempt Eere any
discussion of the campaigns Of General Jack
son. True, his career was very short. On
May 9, 1861, he took command at Harper's
Ferry as Colonel in the Virginia service On
May ., 1863 he fell at Charlottesville, as
Lieutenant General in the Confederate army.
For these two years he monopolized the ad-
miraton of the continent; never blundered,
never failed, and perished in the execution of
his greatest achievement. No wonder his sue
cess bewilders criticism. Where in all history
was great renown so quickly won?
|, is an interesting study To follow the suc-
cessive steps of Jacksons military career and
watch his development as occasion required
There is no more exciting page in the annals
of modern warfare than his campaign of thir-
ty days in the Shenandoah Valley. Its stret-
egy, battles aud results Justify the tribute paid
to it by Colonel Crozet, who served under Ma
pOeon, and pronounced il Extra Napoleonc."
In Jackson's military life there was
no dangerous precociousness. He never sought
promotion, but never expressed doubt Of his
ability to manage any command given him
He put forth no useless strength What was
in him we shall never know, for he went TO
the grave with the richness Of the mine unex-
plored. lie was equal to each new occasion
as it arose, and in his movements there was no
monotony, except in success. Had he suryiv-
ed Charlottesville a new field of trial awaited
/ him. Whether il be true or not as stated that
! the order had been written assigning him 10
the command OF the Army of Tennessee. it is
more than probable he would have been sept
/ to take command Of that unfortunate army
/ Had be gone there, with the prestige he had
gained aud tho hopes re would have inspired,
/ who can say 10 what end the war would have
! been prolonged. Thus the shot which struck
jackson crippled both armies Of the ConfeG-
eracy, and from That day Il tottcred 20 It's fall
/ can only refer to the resignation of Gene
raj Jackson in January. 1862, by which the
Confederacy nearly lost bis services. This step
was caused by the insubordination Of General
Lorng, who now holds a command under the
Khedve of Egypt. General Loring had serv-
ell in Mexico as General Jackson's senior in
rank and he was impatient at being bis su-
bordinate in Virginia. Being ordered to Rom
ney by General Jackson after the "Giih trip"
he prevailed on the War Department to couG-
termand the order General Jackson prompt
Z ly resigned, and there was at once a Storm
+ The army became excited, the people Of the
valley indignant Jackson WAS cool and i'm
movable. The Governor Of Virginia inter
posed and the Secretary Of War Yielded
Loring was sent elsewhere, and Jackson re-
sumed his command, and this was the last
time the War Department ever undertook to
interfere with his proper authority.
THE SURRENDER or HARPER's FERRY.
There are one or two incidents connected
with the campaigns Of General jackson, which
press upon me for recognition. ought not
to omit TO say a word in justice 10 the memory
Of Colonel Miles, who fell just before the sur
render Of Harper's Ferry to General jackson
in September, 1862 Indignant and chagrin-
ed as the North Justly was at the capitulaton
of 1000 troops, and the surrender Of such
immense stores, without decent defence, il
sought to make a holocaust of Col. Miles, and
charged him with both cowardice aud treach-
cry. That officer died with bis face TO the
foe, and he should be man Of many scars
who calls him a coward. Baser still was the
charge Of treschery, FOR baser would have been
the crime. 1t was said he had communicated
with General Jackson, aud had surrendered
according to their agreement To make such
a charge without proof is like stoning the
dead. Having been very closely associated
with General Jackson in this movement il Is
more than improbable that any serious COM
municaton could have passed between him
and Colonel Miles without my knowledge (;
almost impossible it could have been held
without the knowledge of some one Of the
staff. And yet 90 one at headquarters ever
heard of it; no one in our army ever believed
it, The ungrateful charge cannot be true
Colonel Miles was incompetent, bnt he was no
traitor. He was too feeble for the response
blity which fell upon him, bat he vas too
true to bis commission 20 betray bis army
The surrender Of llarper's Ferry was deep
modification to the North. II the charges
were true, it ought TO be greater
Scarcely in the same connection but as H.
Illustrative of the credulity Of people during
the war. recall attention to the beautiful le-
gend Of Barbara Frtchie. There are few
things among Whittiers poems more touching
than this story Of the war. Il is as tender a.
the ballad Of Maud Muller-and about as true.
II seems like iconoclasm 20 break the poetic
image which Mr.. Whittier has carved, and If be
had not thrown bic clippings over Jackson 5
grave | would not care TO look beyond the
beauty Of bis work The facts are few. Cen
eral Jackson's headquarters 10 Maryland were
three miles short Of Frederick, and except
when he passed through il 10 leave it, he went
into the city but once-on Sunday night to
church On the morning be left rode with him
through the town. lie did not pass tie house
Of Barbara FriicLie nothing like the fiction
Of Mr.. Whittier ever occurred, and Stonewsl
jackson aud that historic old lady never saw
each other. | understand Mr. Whittier has
said that II the story, as be has told it, is not
trne, it will 20 down 10 posterity as such until
it gets beyond the reach Of correction. E1cp
monuneatuhi-psrdonablc loyalty, question
able ambition. Il may be suggested with
diffidence that the name Of Stouewsll jackson
will live as long as that Of Mr. Whittier and
his poems, and history will teach The poets
children that the army Of Virginia did not
make war upon flags when waved by old wo-
men.
THE DEATH or JACKSON.
The death Of General Jackson was charac-
terisiic in its singularity. At night, when the
battle bad ended, Just az be bad achieved what