Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-24
The Black Flag.

The Black Flag
Prof. r. l.. Dabney, of the University Of
Texas, who was General Stonewal Jackson's
chief OF staf, in a letter to the Baltimore Sun,
says:
On the 18th day of May, 1852, between
the battles of Mcdowell and Winchester),
was riding alone with the general along the
valley of Mossy creek in Augusta county, to
Aist the bivouao of the famous Twelfth
Georgia regiment, in our front. He was,
what was rare with him, in the mood of con.
verse with me- Our thoughts travelled nat.
urally upon the prospect of our struggle.
Encouraged by him, expressed my own
conclusions with the unreserve (perhaps the
ndiscretion) of one of those citiyen-soldiers
whom Gen. Jackson thought 30 we'll Of l
said that the manner adopted by the Con.
federate government for conducting the war
filed me with apprehensions. The govern
meBt, dominated by the technicalities of
West Point and of professional soldering,
seemed to forget what was needed in reVo-
lutionary war such as ours. They were re.
lying upon the routine methods, good for
mercenary standing armies, but insppro-
pirate to our circumstances. In this species
of tactics the enemy's superior numbers and
riches, backed by Europe, would in the end
beat us. The longer the catastrophe of the
war was delayed the more We should lose of
that splendid advantage we now possessed
in the martial spirit of our gentry and yeo.
manry, for mere drill carried to COM
pleteness would replace their elan
that defensive war would be sure to
wear US out and crush US In the
end. The supineness of the authori.
ties in falling to reach out after the fruits of
our victory at First Manassas had especially
discouraged me. I seemed to hear the voice
Of history aud of God at once demanding, in
view of that fatal omission, "How can ye
escape who neglect SO great salvation 2"
This inaction at First Manassas the general
pronounced "a terrible blunder," emphasiz.
ing the phrase with a stern frown and a
forcibls gesture
But he replied to me By reminding me of
how much had been done by the confederate
government in the first year In creating re-
j Il ces and armies He spoke of the victo.
ries already gained hopefully and of the
kindness of the good Providence In which
he believed. l proceeded further to argue
my apprehensions, when be turned himself
toward me in the saddle and said, with n
smile more sad than cheerful. stop, Major
Dabney; you make me low-spirited." l,
of course, ceased to speak, with an apology
for my iusistence. After riding in silence
for twenty PAGES he said with an air and
tone of profound seriousness: well, do
not profess any romantic sentiments as to
the vanity of life. Certainly, no man has
more that should make life dear to him than
have 10 the relations and affections of my
home But 1 do not desire to survive the
independence OF my country"
Tbo xUho
upon some recent threat of bloody retalia-
tion which Mr.. Davis had been compelled to
make by some one of the numerous outrages.
The General said, in words to this effect,
that such an emergency would not now ap-
pear had the war been begun on that plan
which commended itself to his judgment. l
exclaimed, with much interest, that rumor
had fitted through his army that he would
have begun the war under the black flag,
and that was curious to know from him
whether it had any foundation, or what.
He replied very squarely Yes, he believed
we should have not begun to take any pris-
oners in this war, and that he should have
adopted this plan distinctly In the interest
of humanity. Because be felt sure the war
would have been thus ended with far less
effusion of blood. He added that this could
not be, like other diplomatic wars, struggle
for boundar7 or province, but for our
people struggle for life and death, and 1t
would have been best for the people to have
its true character unmasked TO them from
the first. This war, before it's end, will cer-
tainly disclose its piratical character. Thus
Mr.. Lincoln is reported as now declaring
that it is not war of abolition. But wheth-
er be knows it or not, it is surely des.
tined to become such. Then they will
proceed to arm our Own slaves against us.
Then, said he. when these outrages are per-
petrated, Of course, it will be absurd and
impossible for US to treat that war as civil.
lied war. To do go will be perdition to our
cause. 1t will be the practical admission of
claims damnable to our pretentions OF rignt
and ruinous to the morale and self respect
of our people. Thus, before this war is end
ed. MIR. Davis is going to find himself IN
this dilemma: The enemy will adopt means
such that he will be obliged to meet them
with extensive bloody retaliations or be
ruined. But then these enemies will have
In their hands, it may be, thousands OF our
friends, so that it will be attended with the
fearful consequence of thereby consigniDg
our soldiers to massacre. Now, he added,
foreseeing these things, / would have ad.
vised taking no prisoners, and teaching our
volunteers at the outset that when they
went into action it must be victory
or death literally for them, as it is going to
be for their country. Since the sdministre.
tion had adopted other ideas he obeyed.
He had all along been as careful and scru.
pulous to preserve the lives and health OF
his prisoners as Mr.. Davis himself could
have been.
Such were unquestionably General Jack.
sons thoughts at that time. How prophet
ic they were any well.informed man must
judge for himself.