Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-04-27
A WAR STORY.

On the nght'o of the battle of Fredericks
burg, when Burnside was trying to get his
army back to the Stafford side of the river
over the one pontcon bridge that was left,
Leo called council Of war Jackson rad
been holding position some three miles
down the river from Marye's Heights, where
the fercest fighting had taken place, but had
moved his command up closer late in the az
ternoon. The night was feariully dark, and
d drizZlng rain had set in. Jackson came
into the council, saluted the officers present
und took seat off in u corner. Gen. Lee
stated the purpose for which the council had
been called, and asked one Of the senior OF.
Gcers for his opinion, and then another, and
another, until all had spoken save Stone
wall. Lee then turned and asked his opin-
ion, but received no response All turned
to hear what he would say, and there sat
Jackson, bolt upright in his chair, fast
asleep "Why, bless me-, said Lee, "the old
fellow is asleep" and going to him he shook
his arm and called bis name, which awak-
ened him. "Gen. Jackson, will you give US
YOUR opinion as to what should be done?"
Gentlemen" he said, II am sorry that |
have not heard all that has been said; but
nv plan is, if the council will agree to it, 10
20 back to my corps and march itiuto Fred
ericksburg at once The enemy has met
with severe reverse, and is in all probabil-
ity demoralized. They have only one bridge
over which to escape. One corps is suit-
cieut TO do this work to destroy what re-
mains of the army on this side Of the river,
and that being done the campaign will be
over"
'But, General" said Lee, consider the
fact that these meu have only the one bridge
over which to escape they will fight despe.
rately."
"What if they do? My corps is accus-
toned to desperate fighting. But the very
fact that they have only one avenue Of es-
cape, in their demoralized condition, will
cause them to make every effort to use the
bridge. They will not fight as desperately
as you think"
''But consider the darkness of the night.
Our men will not be able to distinguish
their own comrades"
81 have thought of ali that. will make
MY men pull their shirt-tails out and march
10; they will know one another then"
Gen. Lee walked back aud forth for some
time deeply engaged in thought Finally
be said: Gen. Jackson, do not agree 10
your propositions: the slaughter would be
horrible, and my conscience cannot approve
of it."
my conscience approves Of it thorough
ly," said Jackson. War is war; the slaugh-
ter to- day has been horrible, and would
have been worse had the enemy gained
those heights. The enem: is in y trap, and
we should take advantage Of it. If the
tables were turned they would march in
on u.s."
sand at this very tislo," said Union
officer to me last April, I'VE were getting
out OF that place as fast as men could he
got over one bridge. We were looking
every minute for The Confederate troops 10
rush in upon us, and if they had doue SO
we would have been utterly ruined. Pope's
army, when Jackson got behind him, was
at Il picuic compared to our situation that
night" And when told him of Jackson's
plan for enabling his troops to know their
comrades, he said: "Fabius Maximus is
the only other man who ever lived who
would have thought of such Il thing, and
his soldiers didn't have the materials. y
Chicago Tribune.