Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-16

ENeae'e4sss.1
In the Former part OF this letter, l spoke
OF the marvellous success of StoneWall
jackson IN his famous Valley Campaign
"A saecess &ae IN great part TO his rapidi-
IN OF movement With almost any other
leader, this incoSsailt motion would only
have brought on a speedy catastrophe; for
ii would have set his brain in such whirl,
that he would strike at random-lncer-
talnlN. and therefore unSucceSSful1y. But
in these rapid marches and counter-marcll-
eS, with constant fighting, he never lost
his head. Instead of his mind being con-
fused by the incidents of battle, it was
quickened to the utmost intensity of ac-
ton. As long before as the Mexican war,
when conversing with his brother officers
as to the effect of the danger of battle
upon their spirits, he said that to him sit
was always eXalting, and that he was
conscious OF more perfect command of
all his faculties, and OF their more clear
and rapid action when under fire, than at
any other time
Some who are disposed to be critical of
great military achievements, aScribe this
marvellous success, not to the genius of
jackson, so much as to the weakness of
those opposed to him; and indeed it is hard
ly probable that he would have 'careered"
up and down the Valley so triumphantly,
if instead of Banks and Fremont, he had
struck Sheridan But with all attachments,
III UltlSu D6 confessed UudU ne showed q won
derful capacity and vigor.
Of course, his success could not have
been obtained without rigid military dis
cipline. While kind to his men, he would
tolerate no disobedience. Once on a march,
fearing that his men might stray from the
ranks and commit acts of pillage, he had
issued an order that the soldiers should
not enter private dwellings. Designating
the order, soldier entered house, and
even used insulting language to the women
OF the family. This was reported to jack
son, who had the man arrested, tried by
drum-head court-martial, and shot in 20
minutes
Again, three men had deserted, and were
retaken and sentenced to death. Their old
companions made every effort to save them,
but Jackson was memorable. To an officer
who petitiOned for their pardon, he an
swered sharply, ''Y gu ought to be ashamed
of yourself Here are my brave men ex-
posing their lives, and these towards run
away and leave their comrades to fight the
battle alone" Then the chaplain tried a
religious appeal, telling the General that
eff those men were shot, they would GER
tainly go to hell!' 'That is my business"
said jackson as he turned upon him with
disgust, and Selling him by the shoulders,
literally whirled him out of his presence.
The men were shot the next morning.
Indeed jackson was perhaps little too
ready in these matters, presenting in this
respect contrast to Lee, who was always
disposed to leniency. Once they were III
ding together, when some case of trespaSs
was reported, at which Lee said, ''We shall
have to shoot some of these fellows yet. %
Instantly jackson caught at the word, and
said 81 will have them shot tomorrow"
to (Which his commander answered in way
that showed he did not mean to be taken in
such grim earnest as to order his soldiers
to immediate execution.
But the most remarkable thing in this
extraordinary man, was the union of the
soldier and the saint. 1t was no ordinary
faith that had possession of his mind he
lived and moved and had his being in God
No Roundhead of Cromwell, no ancient
crusader, had more absolute assurance that
he was simply an agent of the Divine will.
Ii one had broken in upon his tent before
he went into battle, he might have found
him on his knees in an agony of prayer
that God would give him the victory and
when the battle was won, he always re-
cognized it as not by his own wisdom or
valor, but by the favor of that Almighty
Ruler to whom he bowed again in humble
thanksgiving.
AS he was so strict in his own religious
habits, this Modern R0undhead kept Sun
day in the camp as if he had been at home
10 be sure he had sometimes to fight bat
tie on that day, but in that case he made it
up by keeping another day in its stead.
keep two or three Sundays running to
make up for lost time, SO as to balance the
account
In the afternoon of the day that we were
riding up the valley, we passed a beauti-
full grove which recalled some reminiscent
ces tony companion I'm this very grove, -
he said, 1--WE spent a Sabbath in the Sum
mer of 1862. We had divine service, and
all was as still as in any Sabbath keeping
village of New England The tents were
pitched under the trees; and the soldiers
were stretched on the ground resting after
the fatigues of their long marches and
hard BATTLES" The next day the General
sat apart, brooding over something in his
mind, but what it was he communicated to
no one; for he never told his plans to any
body. Not word did he whisper to me,
though | shared his confidence as much as
any one, and we often slept under the same
blanket. Towards eveninghe sent for me,
towards StauntOn, which brought and he
pored over them good while, and then
said carelessly, BY the way, they are hav-
ing some fighting towards Richmand; have
you any maps of the country there?'
brought them. and he looked at them, but
peculiar interest. About ten that night he
called me and said, please mount your
horse and ride to such point in the val
ley, and tell Colonel M to 90 ahead 2
1t was pitch dark; but l picked my way
over the blind roads, till about midnight /
reached the place and delivered the order
| did not return till the next morning.
About nine o'clock reached the grove in
which we had been encamped the day be-
fore, but not soldier was to be seen! Ev-
cry tent had been struck; there was not an
army-wagon, not single piece of artille-
ry, not man, nor a gun. An army of
10000 men had vanished as completely as
the host of Sennacherib when
"The might Of the GENTLE, unsmote by the
sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the
Lord"
1t was all a riddle and mystery, till,
when it was explained, twas seen to be
marvel of military genius and execution.
The errand of my friend was to carry an
order to the Colonel who was left in COM
mand in the Valley, to make demonstra-
ton towards Winchester, to keep up the
impression that the Valley was still to be
the scene of important military operations,
while Jackson executed one of his aston
ishing marches. through gap in the noun
tains, and when next heard from was
striking the right wing Of McClellan's ar
my advancing towards Richmond That
flank attack was the blow that decided the