The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-17
A CRANK IN RELIGION, POLITICS
AND WAR.

The recently published "Life and Letters
of General Thomas ]. Jackson (Stonewall
Jackson)," prepared by his wife. contains
good deal of evidence that the famous
Confederate soldier was narrow-minded
bigot in both religion and politics. In an
interview with his brother-in-law, Colonel
Barringer. of North Carolina, which Mrs.
Jackson Incorporates in her memoir,
Jackson is represented "a utterlng the fol-
lowing barbarous speech: ~ myself see
in this war, if the North triumphs. dis
solution of all society. 1t is not alone the
destruction of our property (Which both
the nation and the states are bound to
protect), but il is the prelude to anarchy,
infidelity and the ultimate loss of our re.
sponsible government on this continent.
With these convictions l always thought
we ought to meet the federal invaders
on the outer verge OF just right and de-
Tense and raise at once the black flag,
namely: No quarter to the violators Of
our houses and iresides.' The Bible is
full of such wars, and it is the only policy
that would bring the North 10 its senses"
OF course "the Bible is full of such
wars; the Hebrews believed in human
slavery, as did General Jackson; the He
brews believed in polygamy and concubin-
age, which General Jackson rejected, and
yet he was religious and political crank
enough to defend the policy of slaughter
ing surrendered prisoners, even as Samuel
did Agag. The speech we have quoted is
a melancholy Illustration how a naturally
tender. humane and pious man could be
led by religious and political fanaticism 10
advocate the adoption of 1.-The black flag"
in the nineteenth century agains. 8 civil
lied foe. Such sentiments would have
been repudiated with horror by Lee, Long
street, Johnston. Beauregard, Bragg.
Hood, Hill. Heth. Stuart. or even Early.
The truth is, General Jackson was not a
level-headed man. He was eccentric to
the point OF insanity in his cadet days at
West Point. He was a sincere. pure
minded man. but unquestionably a re-
ligious and political crank, and when not
under the direct eye and orders of Lee he
was q military crank. If anybody doubts
this conclusion we refer them 70 passage
in Mrs. Jackson's memoir giving Jack
sons ideas Of a plan Of campaign, which
consisted in organizing the whole avail
able lighting force into several "lish.
movable columns" lie would "hurl these
thunderbolts of war against the rich cities
and teeming regions" Of the North, ope-
rating upon points possibly hundreds Of
miles away, sill the way 70
Kansas" These counter-lnvasions would
be the main feature of my policy"
This scheme of invasion of the North BY
subdivisions of forces into scattered and
distant raids will be pronounced insane by
! any intelligent, experienced soldier. These
/ movable columns of Coniederates in the
! heart of 4 Northern state would be travel
| ing upon foot without communications,
/ while the national armies would have the
! benefit OF railways and telegraphs in con-
/ centrsting.
! The fate OF such movable columns
would be the same as that which met Ohm
! Morgan's dying column Of horsemen when
/ they cut Loose from their communications
| and undertook 10 raid Southern Ohio.
| Longstreet points out that Jackson in the
| second Bull Run campaign against Pope
executed raid Of this sort thai against an