The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-27
THE BLACK FLAG.
A Startling Proposal Attributed
to StOnewall Jackson.

One chapter, however, furnished by an
other pen, Is new and startling-that which
nscribes to Jackson at one moment pr0po-
sal 10 raise the black flag, This is the
last extremity Of war; and its most hor-
rible barbarity. The very word suggests
slaughter without mercy. The black flag
floats only at the masthead of pirate
ships, telling by siga that canuot
be misunderstood that quarter viii
neither be asked nor given. 10 warfare
on land it would be understood as
massacre OF prisoners, thing unknown
among nations at the present day, and that
would bring upon any man or any Govern
ment that should attempt it the eXecration
of the whole civilized world. The very idea
of such thing is SO alien TO the character
of St0newall Jackson that statement OF
this kind must be received with great re-
serve. II would not be deemed worthy OF
moments attention were II OtthatltlS given
on the authority Of his own brOther-in-law.
General Rufus BarTinger of the Confederate
army, who details at considerable length
remarkable interview that took place after
the seven days battles, while the army was
still encamped near Richmond. Bat the
statement is explicit and leaves no doubt
that Jackson believed in the Cromwellian
way OF carrying on war-thAt, II war NUT
be, the more tremendous the blows the
sooner Will II come 10 an end-and he would
push the war into the North and make ii
felt in all Its severity. But lie would never
have dealt with prisoners as Cromwell
did with the Irish garrison at DIOg-
heda or Napoleon with the Turks at
Jnffa. The best proof OF what he would 10
is in what he did do when the fortune
OF war threw whole garrison into his
hands. At Harpers Ferry he captured
1900 men, and, instead of treating them
with great severity, he paroled them all; by
which, Instead OF being sent 10 Southern
prisons. they were transported to a camp
near Chicago, where they were kent in COM
parative comfort till they were exchanged.
of course If they violated their parole they
would be exposed 10 the utmost penalty of
war. But the policy instead OF being
cruel, was the mildest that could have
been adopted 1t was not, however, on
the ground OF humanity, but to Gisen-
cumOer his army, that he might move it
rapidly, which he could not do with thou
sands OF prisoners dragging on its heels. If
al HaTpeTS 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 ne would
keep no prisoners" il was for a military
reason. lie had laid out plan OF campaign
which he believed if vigorously pursued
would eud the war 1t was to form three OF
four great movable columns" Of 10000 men
each, which should be literally stripped
for battle, leaving behind not only
prisoners, but even fortified posts,
so that the whole fighting force
might be concentrated into few compact
bodies, which could be moved with great
rapidly into the Northern States and
against Northern cities. That this grand
strategy would have succeeded We do not
believe, for the best OF all reasons, that it
was twice attempted and fated-at Ante
tam and Grttysburg-in the first Of which
Jackson himself took part Bat at the
time Of the interview this had not been at
tempted. and he was very sanguine of sue
cess, even picturing 10 himself how lie
would plant his guns while within shelhug
distance of Philadelphia and New York. =
Ii. NJ. Field, D. D., in Harper'5 Magazine.