Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-08-30


ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS DIsAP'
PEARANCE.
Then came another mysterious /
disappearance. Again with su-
perior numbers be struck Front |
Royal, surprised it, scattered the
force opposed to him, and then
"never let up in tho pursuit" as
long as his men had strength to
follow. lie then passed round the
rear of Banks intrenchments at
Strasburg and struck hlm in flank
as he retreated, capturing 5000
men and enormous quantities OF
stores, and creating the widest
alarm at Washington, which in
calculably multiplied the effect OF
his action. Mcdowell, then on
the march to join Mcclellan, was
ordered back and told to detach
10000 men to the Shenandoah
Valley. 1t was impossible Tor
Jackson to maintain himself long
in the field with such greatly SUI
perior forces opposed to him.
These brilliant successes, however,
appear to me models of their kind,
both IN conception and in execu-
ton. They should be closely stud
led by all officers who wish to
learn the ant and science of war.
His action at Cross Keys against
Fremont, by which he kept him
apart from Shields, contriving first
to fight Fremont's 10000 men with
5000 in a favorable position aud
then to crush Shields with 5000
men. was an operation which
stamped Inn as military genius
of very high order. 1t must be
remarked that Mcclellan was not
taken IN by these operations. lio
saw through them and understood
their object not so, however, those
who ruled at Washington.
THE EFFECT AT WASHINGTON
Brilliant as these operations
we're they would have missed their
point and climax without the sud.
den transfer OF Jackson's whole
force. at the end OF them, to join
in tho attack on the right wing OF
McClellan's army at Gaines's Mill.
These operations IN the Shenan'
doah Valley not only reduced to
quiescence and Inactivity the
greatly superior Federal forces in
that region, but made Mr.. Lincoln
feel anxious lest the capital should
be attacked from that quarter.
To cover the heavy blows hestruck
within the Valley, jackson had
already so often spread false rn-
mors of an immediate transfer of
his force to Richmond thai now,
when really about to move there,
the common rumOr OF his intention
was not believed. The manner in
which he thus mystlfed his enemy
regarding this most important
movement was amasterplece. The
one thing necessary was 10 disap-
pear from all knowledge Of the en-
envy Immediately after he had de-
livered his last stunning blows IN
the Valley. For some time he left
his cavalry watching the defeated
enqmy, whose ignorance Of his
whereabouts greatly increased
! the alarm at Washington. The
effect Of his aDly.advised and skill
fully executed moves is fully ac-
knOwledgod by Colonel Irwin, WHO
admits that they were the cause OF
/ McDOwell's forward movement to
Join Mcclellan being stopped. 1t
will thus be seen that Jackson 3
/ 14,O00 men had actually paralyzed
the 10000 Federal troops who were
vailable in the theatre OF his Op'
erltions for u march upon Rich
mold.
WAITING TO STRIKE.
Far her on IN his article Gene
raj Wulseley says: Next comes
one of those periods when Jackson
rnder circumstances most trying
TO an energetic man, strictly adj
hered to his own principles. Dis
patcbed to the north to meet the
forces which were gathering under
Popc. he had, in consequence Of