Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-27
STONEWALLJACKS0N
INTERESTING SKETCH or THE IA
NOUS SOLDIER BY Or. FIELD.
His Letters TO His wife and His Strong
Religious Character-Ths Iron In HIS
Biood-His Peaceful Passing Away.
,Barper's Magnzine.l

a scene IN the MOUNTAINS ol Virgins th"s
recalled the events OF past generation.
The 2lst Of July was the thirtieth ami
versary of Bull Run. where North ana
South met in the first real battle OF the
war, for the engagements in West Virginia,
near the Ohio, hardly rose to the dignity
of battles. But Bull Run was conflict OF
armies. in which both sides took their
first lessons in war, and out OF when
came at least one great soldier, who
stood SO firmly while the battle ragged
around him that Others who were
broken and dismayed took courage as
they saw his mistaken column standing
like a stone wall" from which he re-
ceiyed the name of StOnewall Jackson.
This was the hero to whom a monument
was now TO be unveiled in Lexington,
where he il buried. Of those who stood
beside him on. that bloody day thirty years
ago. almost all had followed him to the
grave: but the survivors. the shattered
wrecks of war. came from far and near to
do honor to him who once led them to
battle and wept with overpoweriug emo
ton at the grave of their beloved COM
mgnder.
gion for a northerner to give his opinion
of this extraordinary man. The years that
have passed have removed us so far from
the great tragedy of the war. and from the
passions it aroused, that we can do Justice
even to those who were IN arms against
US: and no one can read the history OF
Stonewall jackson without recognizing In
HIM all the qualities that go TO make
popular hero. As q soldier, some compe-
tent critics rank him as the first that the
war produced on either side. Not that he
was at the head of the largest army, or un-
dertook the most extensive military ope-
rations. but that with the means that he
had he accomplished more t1an any other
commander.
AFTER making some neat and compli-
mentary references to Mrs. Jackson's forth
coming work on the life of her illustrious
husband, from which DR.. Field obtains in
large part his information, he continues: j
LEAVING his HOME.
When Virginia voted TO secede the ca
diets of the Institute. having been already
trained to arms, were quickly formed into
a company. with Jackson as its command
err, and awaited only the order from Rich
mond to march. II came on Sunday
morning, and they were drawn up on the
parade ground. When all was completed,
Jackson returned to his home for last
farewell, and taking the old family Bible,
opened to this word OF promise: For we
know that If our earthly house OF this
tabernacle be dissolved we have building
of God. a house not made with hands,
eternal In the heavens y; and then, IN q
voice choked with emotion. prayed for her
whom he left behind, and for the country
that il might yet be spared the horrors of
war. Then. rising from his knees, he cross
ed the threshold which he was never to
cross again.
And now came in swift succession the
great and awful scenes OF battle. at which
the very heart of the nation stood still.
The present narrative, though 1t continues
TO the middle of the war, when Jackson
fell, throws but little light on the war IL
self, of which the writer could have no
personal knowledge; though she paid
visits to her husband in camp. she never
saw O battle, for as soon as one was I'M
pending, with his usual tender care he
sent her away to place of safety, so that
all she knows of the issue she has learned
from others who were eye-witnesses: or
course she must give some account OF the
campaigns nnd battles which were the
great events of her hero's life; but these.
however interesting in themselves, cannot
claim TO be an original and independent
contribution to history.
THE BLACK NAG.
One chapter, however, furnished by an
other pen, is new and startling-that
which ascribes to Jackson of one moment
a proposal to raise the black flag! This is
the last extremity of war, and its most
horrible barbarity. The very word sug-
gests slaughter without mercy. The black
flag floats only at the masthead OF pirate
ships, telling by Oign that cannot be mis-
understood that quarter will neither be
aoEaH Oh In warfQra land
it would be understood as massacre OF
prisoners. q thing unknown among nations
of the present day. and that would bring
upon any man or any government That
should attempt il the execratlon of the
whole civilized world. The very idea
of such thing is so alien to the character
of Stonewall Jackson that statement or
this kind must be received with great re-
serve. Ii would not be deemed worthy
of O moments attention were IL not that
it is given on the authority of his own
brother -in-law, General Rufus Barringer,
of the Confederate army, who details at
considerable length remarkable inter-
view that took place after the Seven Days
battles while the army was still encamped
near: Richmond. But the statement is
explicit. and leaves no doubt that Jackson
believed in the Cromwellian way OF
carrying on war; that if war must be, the
mOTG ITtutuuOuS Lllt Alp cOOhtA
will il come to an end and he would push
the war into the North, and make 1t felt
in all its severity. But re would never
have dealt with prisoners as Cromwell did
with the Irish garrison of Drogheda, or
Napoleon with the Turks at Jaffa.
The best proof of what he ,coud do is in
WHAT HE DID DO
when the fortune of war threw q whole
garrison into his hands. At Harper's
Ferrv he captured IL 900 men, and instead
of treating them with great severity he
paroled them all; by which, instead OF
being sent TO southern prisons, they were
transported to camp noar Chicago,
where they were kept in comparative CON-
fort till they were exchanged. OF course
if they violated their parole they would be
exposed to the utmost penalty of war.
But the policy, instead of being cruel, was
the mildes st that could have been adopted
IL was not. however. on the ground of hui
mainly, but to disencumber his army, that
he might move IL rapidly, which he could
not not do with thousands of prisoners drag
ging on its heels. If at Harper's Ferry he
had stopped TO look after them, it would
have delayed his march to join Lee for the
approaching battle. When he declared,
therefore. that he would keep no prison
ers," it was for military reason. He had
laid out plan of campaign, which he be-
lieved if vigorously pursued, would end
the war. II was to form three or four
great movable columns of 10000 men
each, which should be literally stripped for
battle, leaving behind not only prisoners
but even fortified posts. that the whole
fighting force might be concentrated into
a few compact bodies, which could be
moved with great rapidity into the north
ern States and against northern cities.
That this grand strategy would have sue
ceeded we do not believe, for the best of
all reasons, that il was twice attempted
and failed-at Antietam and Gettys-
burg-iu the first of which Jackson him
self took part. But at the time of the in
terview this had not been attempted, and
he was very sanguine of success, even pic
turing to himself how be would plant his
guns within Smelling distance of Philadel-
phla and New York.
But of this midnight council and plan
ming of great campaigns not q whisper
came to the heart that trusted in him
so safely that she was content not to
know.
HE REVEALED NOTHING.
II might be supposed that letters from
great commander to his wife, written
amid the scenes of war, would contain
some private information which could
not then be communicated to the public,
- lafa Iav 10 tho rat