The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-23

H''" HoN tntlr fOnuuEt was itb"t"NN
by an unpreiudiced foe
The last paper. by Mai. r. F. Hunting
ton, on Operations In the Shenandoah
Valley. March l0-June .. 1862, Is the ono
that the writer would take most interest
in reviewing. for IL covers campaign III
which he served from beginning 10 emu
which brought Stonewall jackson "of,u-
wide fame, but the remark must 10
brief. Maj. Huntington was then Sap
tain of battery in Shields o'ision'
and his paper is more an itinerary. In.e
spersed with humorous personal 'e'lli l,s.,
cences, than a narrative OF the cainPa'e"
with military criticism Of its results:
For these we must go 10 Col. Allsh
"Jackson's Valley Campaign, the pest
work on the subject. The humor auus
10 the interest Of the paper. AS iiiusld-
tons. | would refer 10 the doose stoiy
o. 3of). too long 20 quote, ana 10 such
remarks as the following: we were
conducted to this position by foreign
officer OF Banks staff. VINO SPOKE Hhe
fish so wen that one eouia Almost -.
derstand him. Ii was IN reference
these European adventurers as Grass,
some of whom set I'D for experienced
cavalry officers on the strength OF na'i"e
kept a livery stable in Germany, elc'
Speaking Of his artillery duel with one
OF Ashbys batteries near EdinDurg' nc
remark: "They fairly improved tnenl-
selves in gunnery by pitching sheils at us
OF various descriptions: In, return we
furnished them specimens OF MI Sneh-
kle's invention. Just then the latest thing
In rifle proiecties." Old aruiierists VIII
recollect "Mr. Shenkes invention, Tor
We too had some experience with them.
lie says further. II imagine we did
them just about as much harm as they
did us, which was just none AT all'
though we had some very close calls.
This immunity was due not so much 10
want Of skill on the part OF the enemy
gunners as 10 the poor quality OF thelr
ammunition, as they made good ilne-
shots Their powder was doubtless OF I'M
certain value, condition fatal 10 ac-
curary in firing beyond point-blank RANG,
Their percussion shell very oIteh ialleu
to explode: many Of them were 80 poorly
balanced as 10 come end over end, stilk-
ing butt first. We built quite a niue
pyramid Of their unexploded pFoJecliiea,
Then follows the story OF one OF AShoS
shells Smashing a poor woman CUM
ing-stove into remarkably small pieces.
This IS corroborative testimony to what
we knew before, the inferior quality OF
our cannon ammunition In the early part
OF the war We could not help II then.
UlI We lIlIfUAtu ldlfis II Nfi' 4''N s|'-f'f
however, before We rcplenished our sup
plies on this campaign from Gen. Banks
stock in Winchester. An outline OF the
campaign is given in the successive move
ments OF the authors battery, ana IN an
account OF Shields march TO frederlchs-
burg to Join Mcdowell in his "On 10
Richmond" which was fixed for Monday,
May 2sth. But Jackson's capture OF WIN
chester on Sunday, May 18th, upset an
these calculations. soon there hasheu
over the wires the fatal order suspendlhs
the advance on Richmond, ana dlfecuhs
Mcdowell TO attempt the futile task OF
heading off and baggins Jackson. ! say
fatal order because DO not believe that
any single order issued during the war
with the possible exception or that ap-
pointing Halleck Cher, III us
Immediate and remote results was pro
ductive OF greater injury to the Union
cause" This is very true, but as MAJ
Huntington continues, General Pahic
was at the head Of the military sdNiseis
OF the president: who can NUMBER me
lives. who can estimate the money .ho
rule Of that commander ultimately cos,
the country" He does not THINK inns
ENTERPRISE Of Jackson's merits the en-
comiums lavished on IL by his admirers.
put the writer should remember that
II was not the comparatively easy ieat OF
running over Banks troops with super
for forces that deserves the encoHlluins,
hut the conduct Of the campaign tse',
beeinning with the deff@ OF SchehcA anu
Nfilrov at Mcdowell O. May sth' ana
ending with the defeas OF 1yler AT foie
Refublic on June 9Th. FORESTS strategic
rule of getting there first with the most
men" was the one that Jackson observed
Where. in the whole history or the war
on either side. can similar results or one
months marching ana lighting he shown,
taking into consideration the forces en-
ployed? Just after getting TO Fredericks-
burg Shields division was ordered back
The writer says: Il trust the Recording
Angel was too much occupied TO make
a note Of the language used In Shields.
division when We learned, with mingled
feelings OF rage and modification, mat
we were 10 return 20 the Valley 10y forced
marches" on the way back they met
Gearys men, retreating panisBstrcken
from ThOroughfare Gap "On reaching
the scene of Geary's last stand Cthere
had not been Confederate soldier within
twenty miles OF them'D, We found fresh
evidence Of n cowardly and disgracetui
manic ia the shape OF commissary anu
quarter-master property burnt or ADAM
doned. personal baggage OF officers leit
I'm tents still standing. IL was, as General
Kimball remarked in telegram 10
Shields. The all-hredest scene l ever
heard Of"
We all know the efforts OF Fremont
and Mcdowell 10 bag Jackson" at Stras-
burg. and how they were fooled. As Mai.
Huntington remarks: THE failacy IN the
plan of the War Department strategists
lay In the assumption that Jackson would
sit quiet while superior forces were col
Letting in his rear" Ii was. however. "a
close call" As COL Allan rightly states:
"Gen. Winder. late in the day Saturday
May 3lsO passed through Winchester to
the neighborhOOd or NewtOwn, where he
went into camp. some parts Of his com
mand having marched thrty-hve, and all
of IL tWenty-eight miles, j. g., from be-
low CharestOwn. "The present writer
spent that night in Winchester with
friends. occupying comfortable bed for
the first time I'm several months, few
cavalry pickets alone being thrown out
towards the enemy lie rejOined Gen.
Winder on the march next morning. and
wen remembers that. when we met Ashby
with some of his cavalry. at Middletown,
Ashby remarked TO Winder: Il am glad
to see you. i was beginning 10 think that
we should have TO take il through Ashby's
Gap TO the other side of the mountains
owing 10 Frcmonts supineness and Nc
Bowelrs failure 20 push on 10 Strasburg
instead of stopping at Front Royal. Jack
sons whole command got through. ana
as "a stern chase is always far chase"
we had no further apprehension Inc
burning Of the bridges over the Shenan-
doah I'm the Luray Valley prevented
Shields from crossing the Massanutten
range and we reached Port Republic
ahead OF him. Shields sent forward there
hut two hltgades, stopping at White