Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-03-06
STONEWAlL JACKSON.
HIS DARING STRATEGY IN THE sHEN
ANDOAH VALLEY IN 1862.

ANDOAH VALLEY IN 1862.
While vet "A novice in war Jackson
held two theories about military ope
rations which he afterward practiced
with success. The first was, Always
mystify, mislead and surprise the en-
emy if possible, and when you strike
and overcome him never let up in the
pursuit so long as your men have
strength to follow : the second,
Never fight against heavy odds If by
any possible maneuvering you can
hurl your own force on only part OF
your enemy and crush it.
The field of Jackson's earliest eX-
ploits was well suited for trial Of his
policy. The Shenandoah Valley, be-
tween the head at Staunton and the
Potomac river, is over a hundred
miles long. Staunton was strong
base for the Confederates in the valley
because it had railway connections
with the main Confederate armies
south. The Union forces were strong
on the Potomac, and if not opposed
would advance up the valley on
Staunton and so cooperate with the
army threatening Richmond. Jack
sons duty. when figured down to just
what his government expected OF him,
was to keep up n scare III the valley,
threaten to cross the Potomac, and in
this way compel the Union govern
ment TO maintain large force in the
vicinity. In other words, jackson
was to furnish occupation in the val
ley for Union troops that otherwise
would be sent to aid Mcclellan in
front of Richmond.
In May, 1869, McClelland was ad-
vancing up the Peninsula against the
Confederate capital. \ good sized
Union army, under Gen. Mcdowell,
was lying in the region just east OF
the Shenandoah Valley another, un-
der Fremont, was in the mountains
west Of it, and another, under Banks,
was fortified at Strasburg, e point
about one-thlrd OF the way up the
valley from the Potomac. Jackson
was at Staunton. In the combined
armies of Gens. Mcdowell, Fremont
and Banks there were about $4,000
men that could have been moved to-
ward Richmond but for Confederate
activity in the valley. Jackson's force
was about 10000 men. On May s the
first battle Of the campaign was
fought at the village of Mcdowell, in
the mountains west Of the valley, be-
tween a division OF Jackson's com
mand and one Of Fremont's, under
Schenck. Schenck led Fremont ad-
vance and was cooperating with
Banks. who was intending to advance
up the valley from Strasburg toward
Staunton. Schelck was defeated in
the battle of MAY s, and Jackson
turned his attention at once TO Banks
at Strasburg.
Gen McDowelrs forces were all at
distance, east of the Blue Ridge, and
Banks was practically without sup
ports.
From the battle Of May 8 Jackson
returned to the Shenandoah Valley
proper, and maintaining a cavalry
mask in front OF Banks he crossed
over to Luray valley on the east, and
on the 23d OF May struck flank posi-
ton Of Banks at Front Royal. cap
tured 1t, and thus opened the road to
the Shenandoah Valley again in
Banks rear. 'Stonewall's" purpose
was to destroy Banks completely, and
a part of his cavalry was sent on
down the valley toward Winchester
TO get into Banks line of retreat,
should he attempt 10 move from
Strasburg toward the Potomac. An
other portion Of cavalry with the In
fantry, all under Jackson's immediate
command, pushed into Banks route
at Middletown. few miles north OF
Strasburg, aud cut Banks moving
column in two. Three spirited en-
gagements:resulted-on the 23d, 24th
and a5tb of May-and Banks crossed
the Potomac after losing heavily in
prisoners, equipments and stores.
True to his theory, Jackson never let
up in the pursuit, but his cavalry
failed him for once and paid more at
tention TO securing personal booty