Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-26
CHOW HISTORY IS WRlTIEN@
Reply of General Taliaferro to Rev. DIR.
Whitehead's Criticism.
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To he Editor If he Dispatch:
have seen in your issue of the 10th in
slant a communication from my friend,
Rev. DR.. Paul Whitehead, IN which he
comments on a statement of nine made in
a sort Of lecture (uot address, on General
Stonewall Jackson, delivered by me before
the Lee Camp, of which organization /
have the honor 10 be a member. He cha
racterizes the statement as a striking in
stance of the way in which history gets
itself written The quotation from your
paper TO which he refers is as follows
describing Jackson's narrow escape from
capture at the battle OF Cross Keys the
General said he had no reason to doubt that
Jackson had with his characteristic cool
ness personated Federal officer and COM
mAnded the gunners who had the piece on
tho bridge not to fire, and he (Dr White
head goes on to say, | had the account of
this thrilling incident given below from
the lips Of the chief actor not long after
the occurrence, DC, &c.
EsrRN COOKE THE AUTHOR.
I can have, Mr.. Editor, no controversy
with DR.. Whitehead or any one else about
this matter. / simply stated that l had
no reason TO doubt the correctness of the
story so often repeated. | never con-
yersed with General jackson on the sub
iect. ] was not with him at the moment,
but more than half mile away hurrying
my regiments to march to the sound of
the guns and know nothing of my own
knowledge. The incident Is described by
Major John Esten Cooke in his life of Jack
son. page 179, and IS in the following words:
jackson and his staff had not recrossed
the river and were completely cut OF. HIS
army was on the north side of the Shenan-
doah. its general and his staff on the
south side, with the enemy's cavalry and
artillery holding the only avenue of re-
turn to the northern bank. The emer-
gency served TO display JacksOn's nerve
and presence of mind. He rode towards
the bridge and. rising in his stirrups, called
sternly to the Federal officer commanding
the artillery placed TO sweep it, Who or
dered you to post that gun there, sir
Bring it over here.' The tone of these
words were so assured and commanding
that the officer did not imagine that they
could be uttered by any other than one Of
the Federal generals, and bowling, he Inn
bered up the piece and prepared TO move.
Jackson lost no time in taking advantage
of the opportunity" &c, &c.
LIEUTENANT TDmEBLAKE.
The issue, therefore. as to the correct
ness of the statement IS referred by me 10
DIR. Whitehead and the literary executor
and friends of Major Cooke to settle
among themselves. With regard 20
the part performed by Lieutenant Timber
lake, in Port Republic on the flmous
morning of the battle of Gross Keys" as
described by DR.. Whitehead, permit me TO
say that / respect and honor DIR. White
head for paying tribute to the gallantry
of his friend, but think he goes a little
too far. He should not pluck a laurel from
the wreath that adorns the brows of Others.
] have never heard or read Of the circum-
stances he relates. What was done on
Al = a.. ar,1 h. h,v
was done, is perhaps best shown by the
official reports, which have remained un-
contradicted for more than twenty-nine
years, and | hope you will permit me. IN
Justice TO the brave men | commanded on
that occasion, who represented every Sec
ton of our Commonwealth, TO give ex-
tracts from them.
TALIAFERRo's BRIGADE.
/. From my own report which was read
and forwarded by General jackson 10 Gen
eral Lee and by him to the War Depart
ment. See report No. s.. Union and Con-
federate Armies, Volume XII, pages 773 and
TIA:
ION the morning Of the sth Dune. 1884,
my camp on the north side of the Shenan-
doah was disturbed by the sound of artil-
lery close under the hills below us and APP
parently in the town of Port Republic. |
Immediately ordered the brigade 10 be
formed, and as it was about to be formed
for inspection the regiments were speedily
in line, received orders to move the regi-
ments as they were formed down to the
bridge, which was done.
On reaching the crest of the hill over
looking the town and river l perceived
that party of the enemy, consisting of
some cavalry and two field pieces, had
penetrated the town and that piece was
planted at the mouth of the bridge, CON-
handing its entrance and the whole dis
lance through IT, | found Maior-General
Jackson on the hill in person directing the
fire of some of our pieces, and he ordered
me to charge across the bridge, capture
the piece, and occupy the town.
FULKERsoN's CHARGE.
"We were exposed TO considerable fire
from the enemy guns in crossing the
hill, and the Thirty regiment lost
three men. but that regiment Colonel
FulkeTson), with the utmost gallantry
after delivering its fire charged across the
bridge, captured the piece, and chased the
enemy from the village, killing and cap
turing several of them. Had known the
topography we could have captured most
of the enemy, but we made first for the
lower fork, which / supposed was the only
one leading into the town. Lieutenant
Duncan, Thirty-seyenth (now Judge Dun |
cam, perceiylng the enemy crossing ut an |
upper ford. promptly detached part Of |
the regiment and fred upon the retreating |
enemy at that point. but not in time to |
cut them of. threw the Tenth Colonel |
Warren) into the town. and occupied with |
that and the Thirty-seventh the fords |
near the town, placed battery Caring |
tons. of which Lieutenant Timberlake !
was an officer ON the hill on the west side, |
which commanded the upper fords, and |
sent the Twenty-thifd regiment 10 protect |
the ford near Meyers cave. In the mean |
time the enemyis infantry. which had AL /