National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-27

the Army for Each Manifested ltsclf-Jack-
son or n Rabblt-The Conspicuous New Uni
form and Its Disastrous Eject.
The difference in the manner In which
Gems. II. Il. Leo and II. J. jackson were
regarded by the confederate army Of
northern Virginia is one Of the curious
features of the war. Both generals were
recognized as men Of genius, ofpiety, and
Of kindliness of heart; both were courto-
Gus and dignifed in their intercourse with
others, although Jackson was very abrupt
and curt in speech and action, and yet
they were looked upon and treated by
the troops in directly contrary manner.
For Gen. Lee tho men had on explicit
faltered from the time he took command
Of tho army until they crowded around
him in fearful silence to bid him
o last farewell on tho hill near Apo
mattox court house, where tho battle-
flags were unfurled for the last time bo-
fore being piled upon tho surrendered
stacks Of arms. To tell the truth, ho was
half defed in the thoughts Of his troops,
and they never doubted the issue Of
campaign under his leadership, not even
In the beginning Of the campaign of
1865, when defeat was pressing all other
Ieotions of tho confederacy. and had not
'the bottom OF the bucket so suddenly
fallen OUT IL is more than likely that a
dictatorship would have boon thrust
upon him as last resort to beat back
the overwhelming numbers Of the fed
erals.
Gen. Lee was q fine 6guro when
mounted on his iron gray horse Traveller,
and even whom on hot and dusty march
looked always neat. Ills dress then was
simple gray sack coat, with the star Of
general on the turn-down collar, dark
SLOUGH hat Topped up ON tho loft side,
gray pants, and long riding boots. l
never saw him with either sword or
pistol buckled on him. As he rode along
beside the marching ranks, ut tho head
of his staff, he always had his hat pulled
down over his brow, with his chin lifted
as if gazing intently into the distance. He
was always considerable for the health and
comfort of his meu. One of the most
provoking things to a regiment of infan-
try on q hot, dusty, and wearisome march
was for some mounted officer or man to
come dashing along kicking up more
more dust, or attempting to mako way
along the road which the infantry always
claimed as their right of way. Some
generals and their staff INDUCED in this
practice, but Gen. Lee never. He
always took to the fields. %.ss A gain,
1t was currently reported and believed
that when the army was in straits for
rations he utterly refused TO make use Of
the delicacies which the farmers were
eager to send to his headquarters, but
ordered them to be turned over to the
field hospital. When occasion offered he
visited the sick and wounded, and many
poor fellow was revived by his cheering
words and sympathy. All these things, and
others that might be enumerated, en-
deared him to his troops. On the march
the generals presence among the columns
was scarcely noticed except that the
tired limbs were braced up and the
spirits raised for further effort; but when
he passed along the roads leading among
the bivouacs and camps, the men invari-
ably crowded to the roadside and greeted
him with O reverent silence that was
more eloquent. perhaps, than the widest
cheering. He no doubt was pleased and
encouraged at this silent homage, yet he
always responded by gravely lifting his
hat without change of countenance.
The writer mover recollects to have seen
Gen. Leo's face otherwise than serious
and preoccupied.
Two examples may be given to show
the estimation in which Gen. Leo was
held and to illustrate the belief that the
success of the cause was absolutely de.
tietam, late in tho afternoon, Gen. Burn
side forced passage of the bridge and
assailed fiercely the thin confederate line
on the ridge This was before A. p. Hills
division had come up from Harper't
Ferry. Finally, the Holcombe legion OF
South Csrolinians, after fighting bravely
gave way in confusion, leaving a danger.
Gus gap in the lines, and the day seemed
about lost on the right. At this critical
juncture Gen. Lee rode up to them, and
seizing their flag, shouted: What my
men, are you going to desert your country
in its hour of peril? Come on; your gem
eral will lead You p The legion rallied
Immediately and reformed the line, bul
refused to charge until Gen. Lee had re.
tired. He consented, and they gamely
plunged into the fight and held their own
until A. p. Hill came up.
Again, at Spottsylvania court hous,
when Hanoock's men had swept over the
salient, capturing tho entire division and
guns of Gen. Edward johnson, and
threatening to break the confederate army
IN two, and when the battle seemed lost
% the confederates, Gen. Lee, who never
aesitated to expose himself at the point OF
LANCER, dashed up to Gen. j. Is. Gordon'i
division and announced his intention L
lead them personally to the rescue. When
he placed himself in front instantly cries
arose from the ranks, Lee to the rear =
Lee to the " Gen. Gordon seized the
bride rem of Gen. Lee, and assuring him
that the division would not bulge if ht
did not retire, Lee reluctantly rode back,
whereupOn the division swept forward III
gallant style and re-established tn,
broken lines.
venture to assert that no such regard
would have been shown for the safety
of any other confederate commander
whether Johnston, or Beauregard, or even
Jackson himself. If this deep veneration
was not inspired by elevation of character
and by what is indefinitely styled per.
Bonal magnetism" then | am at loss tC
account for the fact in the case.
And now AZ to Gen. jackson. Before the
war he had been plodding professor at the
Virginia Military Institute, and had been
noted for nothing except close attention
to his professional duties, strict OBJ.
servanco of his religious tenets, and a
general diIlidence and awkwardness OF
manner that amounted to eccentricity
and which made him at times the butt OF
the lively cadets. The firm stand of his
brigade at Manassas brought him respect
in the army and gave to him the historic
soubriquet "Stonewal." The campaign
In tho valley recalled tho tactics Of
Bonsparte in tho Italian quadri,
lateral and Jackson lost nothing
by the comparison. From that time on.
ward ho was tho idol of the army. For
faculty of combination. for power OF
concentration, for rapidity of calculation,
for tierceness of execution, Gen. jackson
in his valley campaign had shown himself
to be head aud shoulders above any sub
ordinate commander of the confederate
armies, east or west. His name was in
every mouth, and nothing but praises
went with IL. Vino mnssns of his cnnn.