The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-25
FoNEWALL JACKSON AND QUARTER.
he Believed in Raisisg the Black Flag.
Meaning Death to Every Prisoner.


One chapter of Jacksou's life is new and
startiing-that which ascribes to him at
one moment proposal TO raise the black
flagi This is the last extremity OF war
and its most horrible barbarity The very
word suggests slaughter without mercy.
The black flag floats only mt the masthead
of pirate ships. telling by a sign that can
not be misunderstood that quarter will
neither be asked nor given. In warfare on
land it would be understood rs a massacre
of prisoners, thing unknown among ma
tions at the present day, and that would
bring upon any man or any government
that should attempt il the execration OF
the whole civilized world. The very idea
OF such thing is so alien TO the character
of Stouewall Jackson that statement Of
this kind must be received with great re-
serve.
1t would not be deemed worthy Of & mo-
ment's attention were it not that 10 Is
given on the authority Of his own brother
in-law, General Rufus Barringer, of the
Confederate army who details at consider
able length remarkable interview that
took place after the seven days battles,
while the army was still encamped near
Richmond. But the statement is explicit,
in the Cromwellian way Of carrying on
war; that if war must be, the more ire
mendous the blows the sooner will IL come
to an end; and he would push the war into
the north and make it felt in all its sever
fly. But he 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 would do Is
in what he did do when the fortune Of war
threw a whole garrison into his hands
AT Harper's Ferry 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 neal
Chicago, where they were kept Ia com
parative comfort till they were exchanged.
OF course, II they violated their parole
they would be exposed 20 the utmost
penalty of war. But the policy, instead
Of being cruel, was the mildest that could
have been adopted.
II was not however on the ground of
humanity. but 10 disencumber his army,
that lac might move it rapidly. which 10
could not do with thousands Of prisoners
dragging on its heels IL at Harpers Ferry
ne nan stopper 10 iuok hlAfE bAeAls II Wo6s1
have delayed bis march 10 join Lee for the
approaching battle. When he declared
therefore, that he would keep no priscn4
ers, it was for military reason.
He had laid out a plan Of campaign
which he believed II vigorously pursued
would end the war. IL was TO form thres
or four great "movabls columns Of f0oo1
men each, which should be literally strip
ped for battle, leaving behind cot oDiY
prisoners, but even fortified posts. that zee
whole lighting force might be conoentrase6
into few compact bodies, which could 10
moved with great rapidity into the north
ern states and against northern cities.
That this grand strategy would hRvs
succeeded We DO not believe. for the best q
all reasons, that 10 Was twice attempted
aud failed-at AutIetam and Gettysburg
in the first Of which Jackson himself took
part But a. the time Of the interview
this had not been attempted, and be WIS
very sauguins Of success, even picturing
10 himself how be would plant his guns
within Smelling distance II Philadslphia
and New York}-RsY. Henry ". Field.
DID, IN Harper's.