Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-03

the war. The details given are full of in
terest. am forced to believe that the
types here played trick upon Gen. Bar
ringer in describing Gen. Jackson as plan
| ming four or more Eight columns" Of 3d..
600 men each. Gen. Jackson was certainly
aware that Gen. Lees heaviest masses would
hardly exceed 50, 900 men, aud would usual.
| ly be under that number, as Gen. John
ston's always were. Such beipg the real
size of the two grand armies Of the Confed-
eracy, four or more eight columns" of so,
600 men appear entirely improbable; the
numbers should have been probably 5000.
Upon the other point-Gen. Jackson's
view of taking prisoners-he probably
spoke as fully to me as to my one. If am
asked why, then, did not explicate these
views in the biography, the simple answer
is that Gen. jackson gave them to me in q
confidential conversation, the privacy OF
which he did not give me the right to dis.
close. Now that the Charlotte Chronicle
asserts the authority Of his family for re-
vealing this point, may do 80 without i'm.
propriety.
On the 18th day of May, 1862, (between
the battles of Mcdowell and Winchester, J
was riding alone with the General along
the Valley Of Messy Greek, in Augusta
county, to visit the bivouao Of the famous
Twelfth Georgia Regiment, in our front.
He was, what was rare with him, in the
mood of converse with me. Our thoughts
travelled naturally upon the prospect of our
struggle. Encouraged by him, expressed
my own conclusions with the unregerve
(perhaps the indiscretion) of one of those
citizen soldiers whom Gen. jackson thought
so well of. I said that the manner adopted
oy the Confederate government for conduct
ing the war filled me with apprehensions.
The government, dominated by the techni-
calties of West Point and of professional
soldering, seemed to forget what was need
ed in revolutionary war such as ours.
They were relying upon the routine meth
DDS, good for mercenary standing armies,
but inappropriate to our circumstances. In
this species of tactics the enemy's superior
numbers aud 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 ad-
vantage we now possessed in the martial
spirit of our gentry and yeomanry, for mere
drill carried to completeness would replace
their elan; that defensive war would be
sure to wear US out and crush rs in the end.
The supineness of the authorities in failing
to reach out after the fruits of our victory
at First Manassas had especially discourage
ed me. l seemed to hear the voice of his
tory and of God at once demanding, in viaw
of that fatal omission, "How can ye escape
who neglect so great salYation?" This
inaction at First Manassas the General pro-
nounced "a terrible blunder," emphasizing
the phrase with stern frown and torcible
gesture.)
But he replied to me by reminding me of
how much had been done by the Confeder.
ate government in the first year in creating
resources and armies. He spoke OF the VIC
tories already gained hopefully, and of the
kindness of tho good Providence in which
he believed. 1 proceeded further to argue
my apprehensions, when he turned himself
towards me in the saddle and said, with a
smile more sad than cheerful: "Stop, Major
Dabney; you make me low-spirited" l, of
course, ceased to speak, with an apology
for my insistsnce. 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 in the relations and affections
of my home. But I do not desire to suruiUe
the independence of my country"
The conversation, when resumed, turned
upon some recent threat of bloody retalia-
ton which MIR. Davis had been compelled
to make by some one of the numerous out
RACES. The General said, in words to this
effect, that such an emergency would not
now appear had the war been begun on that
plan which commended itself to his judg-
ment. I exclaimed, with much interest,
that a 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 founda-
ton, or what. He replied, very squareiy:
Yes, he believed we should have not begun
to take any prisoners in this war, and that
he should have adopted this plan distinctly,
in the interest Of humanity. Because he
| felt sure the war would have been thus
ended with far less effusion of blood. He
added that this could not be, like other dip
lomatio wars, a struggle for boundary or
province, but for our people, a struggle
| for life and DEATH and it would have been
best for the people to have it's true charac-
ter unmasked to them from the first. This
war, before its end, will certainty disclose
it's piratical character. Thus Mr.. Lincoln
is reported as now declaring that it ia not a
war of abolition. But whether he knows it
OF not, it is surely destined to become SUCH
Then they will proceed to arm our own
slaves against US. Then, said he, when
these outrages are perpetrated of course it
will be absurd and impossible foI US to treat
that war as civilized war! To do 30 will
be perdition TO our cause. 1t will be the
practical admission of claims damnable to
our preteDsions of right and ruinous to the
morale and selfrespect of our people. Thus,
before this war is ended, Mr.. Davis is going
to find himself in this dilemma: The enemy
will adopt means such that he will be oblig-
ed to meet them with extensive bloody re-
taliatiops 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 consigning our soldiers to mas
sacre. Now, he added, foreseeipg these
things, I would have advised 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 administration had adopted other
ideas he obeyed. He had all along been as
careful AID scrupulous 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 pro-
phetic they were any well.informed man
must judge for himself.
r. L. DABNEY,
Prof. of Philos. University of Texas.
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