Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-22
s1oNEwALL JAcKsoN's WAY.
Professor Dabncy's Statement OF the views
ofJackSon on the Conduct OF the War
,o,..-...,,, .o.r,.c Of tho Raltiunore Suu1

=
ofJackSon on the Conduct of the War.
tCorresponfence Of the Baltimore SUM-
was greatly pleased 70 learn that Mrs
Anna Jackson proposes TO give the pun
lie biography Of her husband General 1.
j. Jackson. This estlmable and accom-
rlished lady VIII doubtless give portrait
IRE Of that good mans private character
and life OF thS greatest cOTrec tntiSS ana
valne. We hope that her readers Will be
numerous. -.
The Clrmrc'e. of Charlotte, n. C., init
mates. on the aUt bOYity of General huIuS
Barrineer. that one cause neceSsltailnG an
other biography Is the obscurlty or Isn0-
rance or miScoIcepuOn of my lite OF jack
son upon two important poiniS-CTeperal
Jscks0r's Tgeferycd plan for the war and
hrs views concerning prisoners OF war 10
the Ciss'otlcsk and IL ttre public have a few
words ~ sly On these two points.
During the Valley campaign and that
around Richmond, in 1862, / was General
Jqrkson's chief of staff. His prudent re-
serve was noted: il was such that he never
disclosed ANYTHING of his Own military de-
signs. except the necessary orders 10 ms
chief OF staff. or even TO his maJor-Seneral
rext II command. and he was chary OF tx
pressing 10 them his thoughts on the
general conduct Of the war. Colonel Alex
ander t. BOteler. an accomplished scholar
and statesman and honorary aid TO the Cen
erql was the foremost clVlc representa-
tive of the people IN General Jackson's
military district. He seems to have en-
ployed him as such Occasionally as me-
dIum of communication win the bONefn-
nent The statement OF his views Tor the
euhsetyucnf campaign Of ls62 chapter ID,
Cedar Mountain. was given on the express
authority of Colonel Boteler. and, indeed,
almost IN his words. 1 believe he Is yet
alive and viii attest his own iacia- Ihey
may ht relied on as perfectly accurate ana
intelligent as far rs they 20.
was selected not by myself-not having
taken up the faintest idea of such an at
tompt-but bv General Jackson's family %
write his biography / sought che help OF
all suitable documents winch the family
possessed. All which We're allowed NE l
emDloved diligently and faithfully. II
scarcely need be SAID that J WAS not re-
spOnsihle for such IA were withheld
General Barringcr shows that JAG kSou
WAS thinking out. In addition 10 an ulrne-
diate threat upon Washington with 0O.OuO
men, permanent plan Tor the Iutlre con
duct OF the war. The detail, gwen are full
OF interest am forced TO believe that
the types here plaFeda trick upon General
Barringer in describing General Jackson
as planning four or mare = night columns
of 5000 men each General Jackson WAS
certainly aware that General Lees l@actSt
masses would hardly exceed $1,000 men. and
would usually Dee under that number. ~
General JohnstOu's Away We're. Such bo-
inc the real SIZE of the two grand armies
Of the COnfederacy, four or more light
columns" OF 5000 men appear entirely
improbable: the numberssLoUdh have been
probably 300.
Upon the other poiDt-G General Jackvon's
view of taking prsoner~-he probably
spoke az fully TO me as to any one. II am
asked why, then, 1 did not eXphcate these
views in she biography, the sample answer
is that General jackson gave them 70 me
IN confidential conversation, the privacy
Of which he did not give me the right to
disclose Now that The Charlotte Chronicle
asserts tins authority OF ms family tor re-
vealing this point. may do SO without I'M
prOpriety.
ON the 18th day of May. 1852, Cbetween
the battles N Mcdowell and Winchester
was riding ahUDe with the General along
the Valley of Messy creek. IN Augusta
county. to visit the bivouac of the famous
Twelfth Georgia regiment III our front.
He was, what was rare with him, III the
mood of converse with me. Our thoughts
travelled naturally upon the prospect
OF our struggle. Encouraged by nm,
] expressed my own conclusions with
the unTeseFye (perhaps the lnolscre-
tion) of one of those citizen-sOldier.
whom General Jackson thought so well OF.
sad that the manner adopted by the Con
federate Government for conducting the
war filed me with apprehenslons. Inc
Government, dominated 10y the TECHNICAL.
ties of West Point and OF professional
soldering, seemed 10 forget what waS
needed ia "a Revolutionary war such a.
ours. They were relying upon the routine
methods. good for msercenary standing
armies, but Inappropriate ~ our ercuIn
stances In this species Of tactics tint
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 O
that splendid advantage we now possessed
IN the martial splrit of orr gentry and yeo
nanny for mere dTill earned 70 complete
nose would replace their elGn, that "a de
fenSiye war would be sure 20 wear US on
and crush US m the END. The supxneneS.
Of the aus horItIes III failing 10 reach on
after the fruits Of our victory at First Ma
naasas had especially discouraged me.
seemed 20 hear the voice OF history and O
God al once demanding, IN view Of tina
fatal omission, How can We escape VIII,
neglect so great salvationI" (Ihls mac
tion al First Manassas the General pro
nounced " aterrible blunder." emphasizing
the phrase with = stern hoVn and torSibl
gesture)
But he replied 10 me by reminding me o
bow much had been dome by tho Confede
rate Government IN the first year IN cTe
ating resources and armies. He spoke o
~ tjlc NACNpi4Ha o0tasIf S4lutU NOptluilN, am
Of the kindness Of the good Providence Il
which be believed proceeded further L
argue my apprehensiOns. when be tuTnei
himself towards me Ia the saddle and SAID
with smile more sad than cheerful
Stop, MAJOR Dabney; you make me low
spirited" / of course ceased TO speak
with An apology for my insistence. Afte
riding ia silence tor twenty pacrS he SAID
with an air and tone OF profound serious
ness well. do not profess any romantic
sentiments as a. the vanity VI life. Ger
tainly no man has more that should mAk
life dear t0 him than have III the relation
aud affections Of my home. BIZ do 40
d.stre 10 sarcsUe the independence Of N.
country"
The conversation, when resumed. turne'
upon some recent threat of bloody retalla
ton which Mr. Davis had been compelled
To make by some one Of the numerous out
RACES. The General said, Ia words 10 thus
eject, that such an emergency would not
now appear had the war been begun on
that plan which commended itself 70 his
judgment. i exclaimed. with much mite
rest. that a rumor had fitted throughshis
army that he would have begun the wal
under the black flag. and that was curious
10 know from him whether II had any
foundation, or what. lie replied very
squarely, Yes. be believed We should have