Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-01-05
sTOIEHlLL nlzsoH
Ns'o York World.

.Ess---al~aj lAs. apon cIoss ca..
fculation, and he was certainly NOT
wanting in foresight and canton.
He seems to have known perfectly
well what it was in his power to
achieve, and thoroughly what was
beyond his strength. lie risked
much upon many occasions, but
appears to have been justified in
his calculations of the ultimate re-
suit.
1t will be objected by many mill
tary men that he hazarded too
much, at times, and was only ex-
tricated by good fortune. There
appears to be some justice in this;
but the resources of his genius were
enormous and doubled his num-
bers. Some of his ideas seem alb
surd. when coolly looked at. When
asked what he would have done, if,
after the battle of Winchester, the
converging column of the enemy
had cut him at Strasburg, he re-
piled, 4 would have fallen back
upon Maryland for reinforcements. ,
Such a movement must, it would
appear, have terminated il his des-
truction; but it wonld be difficult
to find man in his old command
who would have doubted his ulti-
mate triumph then.
His genius was for great move
ments and decisive blows; and his
services became more and more val
liable as his rank increased. He
was better as a Brigadier than as
Colonel, better still rs Major Cen
eral. and as Lieutenant-General
was best of all. 1t is useless to ask
what he would have been as Com
mander-in-Chief, without superb
or at Richmond; but the brain
which conceived and executed the
campaign of the Valley must have
been equal to any position.
HIS LINES ALWAYS OPEN TO RE-
TREAT.
He kept open, generally, his line
of retreat, and provided for desert
ers-though it was hard to realize
that failure ever entered into his
calculations. He had the soldiers s
eye for position, and chose his
ground both for artillery aud infan-
try with the exactness of genius;
but if all his arrangements were not
made, and his plans required bat
tie, he would fight on any ground.
He depended most upon his infan-
try, but loved artillery from his
early association with that branch
OF service, never appearing so well
pleased as when directing in person
the fire of his cannon. amid a show
er of shot and shell. When once
engaged he seemed to discard all
idea of defeat, and to regard the
issue as assured. And, what was
more important, his men seemed
to share his conviction. Even at
Kernstown, he believed the Federal
forces would have retired in ten
minutes If one of his own brigades
had not been ordered to fall back.
A man less open to the conviction
that he was whipped could not bt
imagined. His indomitable com.
bativeness, it might have been said,
made him set his teeth against fate.
and endeavor to place his heel upon
destiny itself.
He NEVER TRUSTED TO LUCK.
1t may be said of him with truth
that he deserved victory. No mar
was more careful in the use of eve
ry precaution to insure success
The idea that ne blundered on with
out prudence or system, and achiev
ed his success only by some myste
rious good fortune, is mere fan
cy. "No soldier was ever less in
debted to luck;;" no one ever pro
ceeded in military matters upoI
profounder logic. He knew hi
strength and weakness, but the diff
ference between him aud others wa
this, that he made his estimate