Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-09-07

from his accidentally overhearing jackson
pray for guidance in the prosecution of the
campaign when it had short time before
been confessed by all the Confederate Gene
rails, Jackson included, that they knew not
what to advise-then the brilliant movement
through Thoronghfare Gap, etc. My infor-
maDt got the account from minister of the
Presbyterian church, who was present as one
of the session i'll examining Gen. Ewell (who
had been very profane man and skeptical)
and hearing him give his experience and what
led him to desire membership in the church.
Gen. Ewell had been wounded in the series
of battles that occurred just after the incident
to which reference is about to be made, and
he had time for deep reflection. Gen. Ewell
did not have high opinion OF Gen. Jackson's
natural ability. Indeed, as he often remark
I'd in the hearing of his staff, he knew Jack
son we'll, and knew he did not have good
common sense, and therefore the victory
which jackson had won had been an accident.
And so the staff used to join in with him in de-
riding the claim Of Jackson'S friends to his
beinga great General.
But somehow, Jackson kept on winning
victories, so that the staff, one after another
ceased talking in the strain they had been in
duIging in and Ewell was left alone in re-
affirming his oft.repeated convictions. This
went on until the time when Pope had assum-
ed command of the Federal troops, aud at
jancture OF that campaign when everything
seemed dark and ineXtricably mixed up; and
IA council OF war was held at which Gems.
Jackson and EWell were present. Each Gen
eral was asked what he would advise, and
one after another said he had nothing to sug-
gest, and Jackson also said the same thing, but
added that as they seemed to think he ought to
know what to do, if they would agree to meet
again next morning, before daylight, he
might have something to offer for their con-
sideration. They all then separated.
Gen. Ewell had not gone very far when he
discovered that he had left his gauntlets.
which he valued very much, in Jackson's
tent. Upon returning, he found the flap OF the
tent down and tied, and heard the voice of
jackson within engaged in prayer. He con-
cluded that he was ''just saying his prayers"
before going to bed, and he would wait until
he got through, and then would go in and get
his gloves, but jackson continued to pray
long and fervently, and he could not help
talking to his father. He told his Heavenly
Father that he did not know what to do; that
everything seemed to be involved in perfect
darkness, and that the other Generals seemed
to expect that he would be able to tell them
what the army ought to do; would he not gra-
cious1y reveal to him what was best to be
done? This was the substance of the prayer
which he continued to utter as he urged his
suit with God, which he did with the utmost
humility and reverence, and yet with the hum
BILE boldness of little child. Jackson con
| tinued praying so very long that Ewell con
cluded he would leave.
When they assembled next morning, and
jackson laid before them what he would now
| suggest, they all instantly perceived that il
was the very thing that ought to be done; and
SO the movement through Thoroughfare Gar
was decided upon. and the series of battles
followed with the results SO we'll known BY
| all. Ewell was wounded, but he still helC
the opinion as to Jackson's natural ability
and there was therefore no other way, to his
mind, to explain Jackson's success excep
that prayer with God, and that this fact car
ried with it practically all the rest that the
New Testament taught and if this was Tho
case he was most assuredly Oh the wrong side
and the quicker he got over to the right sidt
the better for him, and that he had been try
ing to get there ever since he had come to thai
conclusion; and it was in carrying out this
determination that he now asked admission
| to church membership