Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-08-05

ty retreat of the Federal army followed
and Jackson SO skilfully map9uvered hi
forces, used his cavalry as curtain acros
the Valley, and so secretly conducted hi
march to Richmond, that at the very tim
that he was laundering on Mcclellan
flank at Cold Harbor, Banks was fortifyinl
at Strasburg against an expected attac
| from him.
I we'll remember how profoundly iguo.
rant the men, and even the higher officers
on the march were as to our destination. a
Charlottesville we expected to march init
Madison county to meet reported NOV
of Banks across the mountains. At Cor
donsville the Presbyterian pastor, Rev. Or
Ewing, told me as a profound secret whict
he had "gotten from headquarters" thai
we would ''move at daylight next morning
towards Orange Courthouse and Cu)pepel
to threaten ssWashington."
We did ''move at daylight" 1--WE general
ly did), but it was towards Louisa Court
house. There and at Ffederick's Hall and
at Hanover Junction we expected to move
on to Fredericksburg to meet Mcdowell
and it was really only when we heard A. t.
Hill's guns at Mechanicsville on the evening
of June 26tb, that we took in the full situa'
tion, and there rang along our moving col
umns for miles shouts of anticipated victo-
ry, as the "Foot Cavalry" hurried forward
''to take their place in the picture near the
flashing of the guns"
The evening that Jackson spent at Fred
erick's Hall, Mrs. Harris sent him an invi-
tation to take breakfast with her the next
morning, and he courteously thanked her
and said, eff can will be happy to do
So" But when the good lady sent to sum-
mon him to breakfast, his famous body
servant Jim met the messenger with look
of astonishment and said, "Lor, you surely
didn't spec to find the General here at dis
hour, did you? You don't know him den.
Why he left here at O'Clock dis morning,
and spec he is whipping the Yankees in
de Valley agin by now" The truth is, he
had ridden into Richmond, distance OF
fifty miles, to have an interview with Pres
ident Davis and General Lee, and receive
bis final instructions as to the part he was
to take in the great battle that was impend-
ing, and he did it so secretly that the army
knew nothing of his absence, and Rich
mond nothing of his presence within her
walls.
Itwas on this ride that characteristic
incident occurred. Before day Mr.. Mathew
Hope, respected citizen living in the low
or part of Louisa county, was awakened
BY the clatter of horses hoofs in front of
his house. Asking, "WhO is there?' he
received for an answer: 1.-TWO Confederate
officers who are on important business, and
want two fresh horses to ride into Rich-
mond. Have you two good horses"
tYes, always keep good horses" was
Mr.. Hopes reply, s'but cannot lend them
to every straggler who claims to be Con-
federate officer on important busines. You
cannot have my horses"
"But our business is very urgent. We
must and will have them, and yon had as
well saddle them at once. We will leave
our horses in their place." 81 do not sad
die my own horses" was the indignant re-
ply; 81 keep negroes for that purpose, and
shall certainly not saddle them for you,
especially as have no assurance that you
will ever bring them back" The officers
soon got the horses and galloped off with
them, and Mr.. Hope was very much aston
ished when several days afterwards they
were returned in good condition "with
thanks and compliments of General jack
sou," and exclaimed, "Why did he not tell
me that he was Stonewall jackson? If
had known who he was l would have cheer
fully given him all of the horses on the
place and have saddled them for him too"
This worthy gentleman doubtless felt
very much like the old citizen near Rich
mond, who, seeing struggling cavalryman
(as he supposedly riding across his field, rush.
ed out with something of the vim of Miss
Betsy Trotwood when donkeys appeared
on her green, and exclaimed: sCOme back
here, sir! Come back! How dare you ride
over my grass? What is your name? I'll
report you to the General" "My name is
Jackson" was the meek reply. "What
Jackson, sip want your full name and
that of your company, that l may report
you," was the sharp retort OF the iratc
farmer.
"My name is T. j. jackson, sir, and l
am in command of the Second corps" !"
"What! Stonewall Jackson? My sakes
alive! Why didn't you tell me who you
were? Please go back and ride through
my wheat field! Ride through my yard !!
Ride through my house!!l All that have
is at your service, and beg you will show
that you forgive my rudeness by using it, !"
said tie now thoroughly excited old Con-
federate.
1t is related that it was on this march
that Jackson met one of Hoods Texans
struggling from his command, and the fol-
lOWluS COlv6lSdblOu OCCuLIOu.
"Where are you going, sil?"
II don't know"
"What command do you belong to?''
"Don't know, SIR"
"What State are you from?"
IL cannot tell"
"What do you know, then, sir?''
"Nothing at all, sir, at this time" re-
piled the Texan. sold Stonewall says that
we are to be know-nothiugs unit after the
next fight, and you shall not make me VIC
late his orders.'
Jackson smiled and passed on. jack
sons staff and his higher officers were fire.
quently in as profound ignorance of his
plans as the private soldiers.
l remember that General Ewell, second
in command, remarked to his chief of staff
in my hearing several days before we start
ed from Port Republic on the march to
Richmond. "We are being largely rein
forced, and after resting here for few
days we will proceed to beat up Banks
quarters again down about Strasburg and
Winchester.
remember that one day in the summer
of 1862 General Ewell rode up to the house
of DR.. J. L. Jones, near Gordonsvile, and
asked 'Doctor; will you please tell me
where we are going to?" ''No, General -
was the reply, "but 1 should like to ask
you that, if it were proper question: y
SIT is perfectly proper question to ask, u
replied the grim old soldier, "but I should
like to see you get an answer. l pledge
you my word that do not know whether
we are to march north, south, east or west
or whether we are to march at all or not
General jackson ordered me to have my
division ready to march at early dawn
they have been lying in the turnpike there
ever since, and have had no further Or
ders. And that is about as much as eve
know about General Jackson's move
ments."
If I had the space might illustrate thi
point at great length, but it must suffic
now to say that Jackson kept his move.
ments 80 secret from his own people tha
the enemy could not detect his plans, ant
that in some of his most brilliant and sue
cessful movements-such as his marc
against Fremont, and then against BANKS
his:march to Seven Days Around Richmond
to Pope's rear at Second Manassas, and t
Hooker's flank and rear at Chancellors
ville-.he element of secrecy entered large
ly into his success.