Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-16
stonewan Jackson's Escape at Port Re-
pubiic.
TO ne Eiiior Of he Dispdlch'

To he Editor Of he Dispatch
your Manor of this morning contains an
account Of General Taliaterro's address 70
the Lee Camp last night. =, ~
In n he is reported as follows: De-
scribine Jackson's narrow escape from
canture at tho battle of Cross Keys, the
General said he had no reason To doubt
tbot jackson with his characteristic cool
ness personated Federal officer and CON-
manded the gunners who had the piece on
the bridge not 10 fire"
This is a striking instance OF the way IN
which history gets itself written.
dent given below from.,he lips of the chief
actor not long after the occurrence, and at
intervals afterwards when allusion was
INT In tho no Life and Campaign of Stonewall
Jackson" DR.. r.. Il. Dabney writes as fol-
lows:
stood beside the commander OF the Federal
advance some of his troopers returned %
him and pointed out the long train OF
WAGONS hurrying away, apparently without
armed escort. lust beyond the outskirts OF
the village. He Immediately ordered q
strong body Of cavalry in pursuit and the
hearts of the Confsderates sank within
them for they knew that this was Jackson's
ordnance train, containing the reserve
ammunition of the whole army; and
| that all ITS other baggage was equally
nj the mercy of the enemy. But as
tba eaoer Federals reached the head
OF the village they were met by a
yolley of musketry which sent them
scampering back. and when they returned
| TO the charge two pieces of artillery opened
upon them to the equal surprise and
| delight of their anxious captlyes, and
| speedily cleared the streets with showers
| of canister. The explanation was that one
| of the officers, separated from the General
suite. seeing the imposslblllty OF joining
him, had addressed himself TO rally ing
handful OF the fugitive picket guards, and
| with these ana a section of raw artillerists
from the reserves had boldly attacked the
enemy" Life and Campaigns of Jackson,
THE truth of the case is that the sec.
| ton of raw artillcrists" was part of Car
rington's battery from Charlottesville
commanded by Lieutenant John Henry
| Timberlake. with two guns. They had
| been with the army OF JACKSON Tor some
weeksand were comparatively well-drllled
| though not veterans. The Lieutenant,
cousin of Colonel Hilary p. Jones, wa,
| TWENTY-FIVE years old, and had been elect
ed at i,renfV to be colonel of the Albsmarlf
militia regiment, having received military
| training at the school of Colonel John
| Bowie Strange. another cousin. lie had
remarkable military aptitude tor his years.
The Federal cavalry made. as described
| by Dabney, dash up the street OF Port
| ReuubEc after crossing the river from the
north side. to capture aud destroy all they
could. They probably didn't notice Jack
! son specially. When Lieutenant Timber
| lake saw them, and had seen them Just be
| fore Jackson's hurried escape towards the
| bridge. he saw their true relation to Oul
| forces. and ,rihOm orders trmn any
| b9du or hint or suggestion, save the
| instinct of true fighter, dpeno
| fire upon than ,5ih grape and canister
and kept up such a damaging cannonade
| that they were checked, driven back, ano
| compelled 10 give up their design. lie
| dismounted one of their pieces, which DIT
| Dabney states was left behind" IL was
| left " because the raw artillerists bad
! disabled IT. Meanwhile Jackson, who
might otherwise have been pursued anc
overtaken. got over safely and made the
| dispositions described by DR.. Dqbney, IN
1 Gliding thu advance OF FulkersOu's in
| fantry acr,ts into Port Republic. The
| enemy forded the river and returned a.
| they came TO Shields's force, which Jack
| son defeated when he had gotten all Rls
troops to the north side, and burned the
| bridge behind him.
Timberlake died in 1891. He was brave
as a lion, thoroughly truthful, modest anc
| unpretentious, and made no attempt e
| give publicity 10 his share in this incident
| He simply did his duty, and he and hi
men are entitled TO all the credit anybody
ought to have for driving back that cavalry
detachment, which Dabney says might
| have captured all the reserve ammunI
| ton" Of Jackson, If not the great here
| himself PAUL WHITEHEAD.
| C1tlrCi11J June 18Th.