Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-05-23
STONeWAuL JAcKSON'S WAY.
Asleep at Council OF War Novel Plar
for "A Night Attack.

NV. e. E." in Chicago Times
Could an accurate diary Of every imp1r.
tant council Of war leid during our late mis-.
unierstan ling have been kept. it would af.
ford a great deal of intere sting reading The
grit. the backbone, the resources, and the
mental fertility of leaders were shown quite
as fOrcibly in these councils as on the battle
field. Who does not know of the council OF
Confederate generals callei on the night OF
the first Manassas. and of JacksOn's Give
me 10000 men and will go 10 Washington
tomorrow" jackson was always unwill-
ing TO speak first in council of war; and
when the council was called by Lee he was
never called upon until the older men and
old soldiers had expressed their opinions
On the night Of the battle of Fredericks-
burg. when Burnside was trying to get his
army back 10 the Stafford side of the river
over the one pontoon bridge that was left
Lee called council of war. jackson had
been holding position about three miles
down the river from Marve's heights, where
the fiercest lighting hal taken place, but
had moved his command up closer late in
the afternoon. The night was fearfully
dark, and drilling ram had set in. Jack
son came into the council, salutei the Off
GERS present, and took a seat off in a corner.
Gen. Lee stated the purpose for which
the council had 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. 1.-THE old fellow is
asleep, and going 10 him he shook his arm
and called his name. which awakened him
Gen. jackson, will You give us your opin-
ion as to what should be done!'
"Gentlemen,' he said, Il am sorry that |
have not heard all that has been said but
my plan is, if the council Will agree to it, TO
go back 70 my corps and march 1t into Fred
ericksburS at once. The enemy has met
with n severe reverse. and it is in all proba-
bility demoralized. They have only one
bridge over which In escape. One corps is
sufficient Ia do this work. to destroy what re-
mains Of that army this SIDE of the river.
and that teing done the campaign will be
over
But, general. said Lee. consider the fact
that those men have only the one bridge
over which t. escape; they will fight des-
perately.'
What il they do, Ny corps is accustomed
10 desperate fighting. But the very fact
that they have only one avenue of escape,
III their demoralized condition. will cause
them 10 make every effort u Use the bridge
They viii not fight 50 desperately as you
think"
But consider the darkness Of tie night
Your men will not be able to distinguish
their own comrades"
Il have thought o: all that l will make
L. and
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, l can not agree TO
your proposition: the slaughter would b.
horrible and nv conscience can not approve
of il.
My conscience approves o: it thor
oushly,r said Jackson. War Is war. the
slaughter 10 day has been horrible. and
would have been worse had the enemy
gained those heights The enemy is in a
trap and We should take advantage Of it
II the tables were turnsi they would march
in on us.
And at this very time. said a Union Of
ficer 10 me last April. we were getting out
of that place as fast as men could be got
over one bridge We were locking every
minute for the Confederate troops 10 rush in
upon Us; and if they had done 50 We would
have been utterly ruined. Pope's army,
when jackson got behind him, was at .
picnic compared 10 our situation that night
And when | told him of Jackson's plan for
enabling his troops 20 know their comrades,
he said: "FabIus Maximus is the only other
man who ever lived who would have
thought of such a thing. ani his soldiers
didn't have the materials