Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-05-01
StoneWall JackSon'S Way.

[Frem the Christian Observer
A story never before published, as related
by an ex-Confederate officer, who is now a
resident of Norfolk, Va, is as follows:
About daylight of the day before the second
battle of Manassas l was ordered to report to
General L. j. jackson, with detail of one
hundred men, for special duty. Upon arrival
at the headquarters, and making myself
known by presenting the order of General j.
e. B. Stuart, General jackson told me to
come with him, and rode some fifty or one
hundred yards from his staff, turned towards
me and halted. Then he said;
Captain. do you ever use liquors?"
Ireplied, "No, Sir
He then said: 81 sent to General Stuart to
send me a special detail of one hundred men
under command of an officer who never used
spirituous liquors. Are you that man?'
| said, Eyes, Sir, was detailed on that &C.
count
"Well, Sir have an order to give, upon the
full and exact execution of which depends the
success of the present movement and the re-
suit of the battle soon to be fought. Can l
trust you to execute that order?"
replied that if to keep sober was all that
was needful he could rely upon my obedi-
ence.
Hesaid: "No, that is not all. but unless
YOU can resist. temptation to drink you can
not carry out my orders; but will explain. !"
He then pointed to a large frame depot or
warehouse and said:
take your command up to that warehouse,
have large number of barrels of bread rolled
+ho 70
about five hundred yards from the warehouse,
so that my men can get all the bread they
want as they pass, and then take some picked
men into the building and spill all the liquors
there; don't spare drop, nor let any man
taste it under any circumstances. [ expect
you to execute this order at any cost"
He pulled down his cap and was about to
ride back to his staff. when | said to him:
general, suppose an officer of superior
rank should order me under arrest and then
gain possession of the warehouses;"
He said, with an air of solemnity l shall
never forget coming close to me, and looking
as if he would look me through: until L
relieve you in person you re exempt from ar
rest except upon my order in writing He
then said, 81 fear that liquor more than Gen.
Pope's army" and rode off.
took my men to the warehouse, now so
important in my eyes, and threw guard
around it, placing five men at each entrance,
with orders to neither allow any one to enter
nor to enter themselves. l then put some
prisoners under guard to roll out the bread
nearest the DOORS In little while this was
done, and to guard it was apparently all that
was required. But in little while ] was
called to one entrance, to find general Off.
Ger, with his staff, demanding that the guards
should either allow him to enter or bring out
some liquor. Upon my refusal to comply
With his request he ordered his adiutant to
place me under arrest. ~ r,...i-
told him that was put there by General
Jackson in person and exempted from liabil-
ity of arrest. He gave his staff an order to
dismount and enter the warehouse, and gave
my men the order to level their guns and
make ready This made the thirsty gener-
al halt and hold a consultation with his off
GERS, who concluded to try persuation. But
they soon found that no liquor could be had.
They then asked my name and to what COM
mand belong and threatened to report me
for disobedience of orders of a superior Off
Ger.
just then General A. P. Hill came gallop-
ing up with his staff. explained the posi-
ton to him, and soon saw that he took in the