The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-31
SToNEWALL JAcKsoN's WAY.
Asleep mt IA Council Of war-Noyel Plau
for q Night Attack.

for . Night Attack.
I.'w q. T." in Chicago Times
Could an accurate diary OF every impor
tant council Of war held during our late mis-
understanding have been kept, IL would af'
ford great deal OF interesting reading. The
grit, tho backbon the resources, aud the
mental fertility of leaders wers shown quite
as forcibly in these councils as on the battle
field Who does not know Of the council Of
Confederate generals called on the night OF
the first Manassas. and of Jackson's Give
me ~, 900 II on and will 60 TO Washington
to-mOrrowr jackson was always unwill-
ing 10 speak first in a council of war; and
when the council was called by Lse he was
never called upon until tho older men and
odd soldier, had expressed their opinion<
On the night 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 pontoon bridge that was left,
Lee called a council Of war. jackson had
been holding position about three miles
down the river from Marve's heights, where
the fercest lighting had taken place, but
had moved his command up closer late In
the afternoon. The night was fearfully
dark, and a drizzling rain had set In. Jack.
son came into the council, saluted the Off
Gers present, and took a seat off in q corner.
Gen Lee stated the purpose for which
the council Lai been called, and
asked one of the senior officers for his
opinion; and then another, and another,
until all had spoken save Stonewall Lee
then turned and asked his opinion. but re-
ceived no response. All turned to hear
what he would say, and there sat Jackson
holt upright in his chair fast asleep. "Why,
bless me-" said Lee. "the old fellow is
asleep" aud going TO him no shook his arm
and called his name, which awakened him.
"Gen. jackson, viii you give Us your opin'
ion as 10 what should los dOner
"Gentlemcn," he said. II am sorry that !
have not heard all That has been said, but
nay plan ~, il the council will ngree to it, t.
60 back t. my corps an march it into Fred.
ericksburg at once. The enemy has met
with a severe reverse, and IL is In all proba.
bility demoralized They have only one
sufficient ~ do this work. 10 destroy what re-
mains Of that army on this side Of the river,
and that Icing done the campaign will lie
over.
"But, general, said Lee. consider the fact
that those men have only the one bridge
over which TO escape; they will fight des-
perately"
what II they doa My corps is accustomed
10 desperate fighting. But the very fact
that they have only one avenue Of escape,
In their demoralized condition, will cause
them TO make every effort to use the bridge.
They will not fight SO desperately AS you
think"
"But consider the darkness Of the night
Your men will not DO able TO distinguish
their own comrades"
II have thought Of all that. ! will make
my men pull their shirt-tails out and march
In; they will know one another then"
Gen Lee walked back and forth for some
time, deeply engaged in thought Finally he
said: "Gen. jackson, can not agree to
your proposition; the slaughter would be
horrible, and my conscience can not approve
OF It,"
"My conscience approves OF 1t thor
oughly," said jackson. "War Is war; the
slaughter TO day has been horrible, and
would have been worse had the enemy
gained those heights. Tho enemy Is in a
trap and we should take advantage OF 1t.
II the tables were turned they would march
In on u.s."
"And at this very time" said q Union Of
fcer to me last April, ave were getting out
of that place as fast as men could be got
over one bridge We were looking every
minute for the Confederate troops to rush in
upon US; and il they had done so we would
have been utterly ruined. Popes army,
when jackson got behind him, was at
picnic 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 a thing, and his soldiers
didn't have the materialsp