The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-05
GREAT !: RESERVE POWER

a man Of
GREAT RESERVE POWER
whom some strong influence might arouse
to heroic action. He was intense in his
Southern sympathies and convictions; a
firm believer in the legitimate character
of slavery and in the doctrine of State
rights, a strong supporter for Breckenridge
for the Presidecny in the great contest Of
1860. Whatever donbts Lee and other
prominent statesmen may have had in re-
gard to their future. course'at the begin
ming of the contest, there was no waver-
ing on his part. He unhesitatingly and
with the flrmness and enth usiasm of con-
viction cast his lot with the South. The
first clash of arms excited him to instant
and energetic activity. He it was that
CAPTURED the United States arsenal at
Harper's Ferry in May, 1861 He COM
manded brigade at Bull Run, and Sc
infexible will upon his hitherto untried
troops that they stood inmovable as a
"Stonewall" and made an imperishable
name for themselves and their great lead
er.
What misnomer "Stonewall seems
for this uncomely, gentle man seated
upon his sorrel horse, shutting along be-
side this troops on the march-quiet, alb
stracted, with no outward marks of the
heroic soul within. But when the ln-
spiration of battle was on him, with his
thin lips compressed or moving in prayer
AS was often his won't in the midst OF the
fight he sat lmmovable amid
THE SHIFTING SCENES OF THE
ACTION
no more appropriate and characteristic
name could have been given him. If we
wish to get correct idea of his military
skill and genius and give him his appro-
pirate place among the great military
leaders of modern times, we must study
what is termed the "Valley Campaign"
for here he was in independent COM
mand, and while his operations were con-
Quoted with armies small in number,
they covered a large extent OF country
and a country too with conditions favor
able to the display of military genius.
In little more than month Jackson
army had marched more than two hun
dred and fifty miles, fought four pitched
battles, in which The had captured more
than 1900 prisoners, guns, wagons, and
The features of this campaign which
mark jackson as a military genius are
first: rapidity of movement. Some of
the marches of his troops have never been
surpassed by organized bodies of men.
The march of two brigades May 31st,
from the vicinity of Harper's Ferry to
Strasburg, distance of over fifty miles
was never eoualled by the troops Of either
army in Virginia at least. The sixth
corps of the Union army covered thirty
three miles from daybreak to sunset. on
it's march to Gettysburg July snd.
Jackson's infantry were called
"FOOT CAVALRY
so rapid were their movements. The
Southern soldier does not seem to have
had more endurance than the Northern,
but in the case of Jackson's infantry,
their celebrity was due to the energy and
restless activity of the commander him
self. The rapid movement of his troops
in the valley contributed largely to his
success. Before the opposing general
could get reports of his whereabouts, he
was threatening an attack at some point
so distant from his last known position
as to create surprise and even panic, as
was the case in his rapid movement down
the Luray Valley against Banks.
Second: Secrecy of movement. There
was always mystery enveloping his
army and its movements The most con-
Trajectory reports of his numbers move
ments and plans were continually being
carried to headquarters. 1t was part
of HIS tactics to
DECEIVE AND MYSTIFY THE
ENEMY.
His circuitous march when Emoving
AGAINST Fremont's forces at Mcdowell
was only for the purpose of giving Banks
the impression that he had begun the
movement to reinforce the army of John
ston at Richmond. There was nothing