Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-13
"Ths TRuTh OF HISTORY
DIR. j. william Jones's Reply TO the open
Letter" OF Rev. DIR. X. l.. Dabney.
tn fbe Jll;foy If Ie DisD0fch,

To he Editor Of Ae Dispatch;
ATLANTA, Ga, January 3. 1892.
Re-. Or. r.. l.. Dabney:
Ny Dear Brother,--I have just seen your
"open letter" TO me, published IN 1HE
RICHMOND DISPATCH of the I'd instant. and
/ hasten to assure you OF my deep regret
that have connected your name with an
anecdote which you pronounce without
foundation, and especially that you regard
il Tor at least the version of il you have
heard) as rejecting upon you and placing
you IN o false aud discreditable light.
Let me assure you that nothing was
further from my purpose than TO publish
an incident of even doubtful authenticity
or 10 publish even what seemed to me at-
thentic II il should wound you or seem to
YOU or TO any one to reflect upon you in
the least degree.
The facts in the case are simply these:
had heard this anecdote told number
of times in the camp and since the war,
and had seen IL in print probably five or six
times. had never heard IL denied, or seen
ITS authenticity questioned and Ireally be-
lieved until | saw your open letter "
that IL was entirely authentic. Your
statement of course. settled the matter.
and / shall never repeat the anecdote
again shall ask my publishers TO suppress
il in future editions Of my book. and shall
do everything IN my power 10 correct 1T.
But when | used II TO illustrate point in
my Christ in the Camp" it was in the
full assurance of Its authenticity.
Yet i would never have used even WELL
authenticated anecdote had l supposed
for "a moment that it either placed you - in
the attitude of skulker," or that any one
would so regard it, OF that IT would in any
way wound you but respectfully submit
that the friend who told you of 1t has. un-
Intentionally. of course, misrepresented
the tone and spirit of nv publication. and
made it mean what the language does not
imply.
And in order that this may be seen,
feel constrained to quote the passage from
Christ in the Camp" in full, although l
am 10th to do so, as the anecdote proved
to be baseless canard.n
In speaking of the faithful workers. who
preached TO the soldiers under the most
adverse circumstances. / say:
"Rev. DIR. r. l.. Dabney was gallant and efi-
cient officer on Jacksons stall, and often
preached 10 the men at headquarters and In
their camps and biyouacs as opportunity offered.
On this march he preached very able sermon
on Special Providence, In the course OF which
he used this emphatic language: Men, you
need not be- trying TO dodge shot, or shell or min-
ME. Every one of these strikes Just wheTe the
Lord permits T. 10 strike, and nowhere else, ana
you perfectly safe whore the missiles OF death
ny thickest until Jehovah permits you TO be
stricken
maj n Nelson, OF General Ewell's staff, one Of
the brayest Of the brave and an humble Chris
tian and deyout churchInan. heard that sermon
aud did not fully endorse what no called lis ex-
IRENE Calvinism.'
"Dur.ng the battle OF Malvern Hill General
jackson rode, was his wont, into the very hot
test Are, and for some time he and his stan sat
on their horses al point at which there was a
cOnverging fire. but old StOneWall seemed 20 be
entirely obliyious Of 1t until one of his couriers
was killed, when he turned TO his staff and told
them TO dismOunt and shelter themselves. DIR.
DRbney CHANGED 10 be near a very large, thick
oak gate-pOst and he very wisely got behind
that sitting bolt upright with his back against
1t. Soon after he had assumed this position
Major Nelson rode up 10 bring some message
from General Ewell 60 General jackson, and
with a soldiers keen eye at once took IN the
situation. Delivering his message he at once
rode straight to DR.. Dabney, and, with "a grace
full military salute. said: Major Dabney, every
shot aud shell and minnie strikes Just ,chere the
Lord permits, and you must excuse me, sir, for
expressing my surprise that you are seeking 10
put an OAK gate-poa bet~ee'' you ana Special FRO
oldeHce
but the great theologian was fully equal to the
occasion, and AT once replied: why, Major, you
do not understand the doctrine OF Especial Pro-
videncer believe and teach IL with all my
heart. and 1 look upon this thick gGte-p0st as a
rerv Special Providence" Just al this iunctTe.'
1t will thus be seen that l alluded to
you as "a gallant and efficient officer
on General Jackson's staff"; that say
that General Jackson ordered his staff Ito
dismount and shelter themselves; that
say that DR.. Dabney CHANGED to be near
very large. thick oak gate-post. and he
very wisely got behind that, sitting bolt
upright, with his back against it,; and
that say that 1.-The great theologian was
fully equal TO the OCCASION" and report
him as getting decidedly the best of the
repartee between two gallant soldiers under
terrific fire.
Pardon me for adding just this : In
writing great deal. US / have done, to
vindicate at the bar OF history the name
and fame of the Confederate soldier have
never knowingly penned sentence which
did injustice to the humblest private in the
ranks. Far less am capable of intention
ally wronging one whose devoted and life
long service to our evangelical Chris
tIanity-whose gallant and efficient service
on the staff OF Stonewall jackson. and
whose admirable biography of his chief
and able and unanswerable "Nindication
of Virginia and the South have won my
highest respect and warmest admiration.
Again expressing my profound regret
that have inadvertently wounded one
whom for many years / have counted my
personal friend. with sincere sympathy for
YOU in your affection. and with the earnest
PRAYER that God may long spare you TOR
the noble work you are now doing. L am
yours fraternally, j. WILLIAM JONES.