The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-09
JACKSON AND LEE.
STORIES OF TWO Of THE coNFEo-
ERAcY's esEAr GENERALS.

FIapjacks Saved the Union at Gettysburg.
Strange, In it not, that jackson, like
Sherman, should have been considered
"crazy" the first year Of the war? Indeed,
before the war so eccentric was he that he
was called "Crazy Jack" at the Virginia
Military institute. Nobody seemed to un.
derstand him. But 80 1t has ever been
and ever will be--when we ordinary NOR
tails can't comprehend q genius we get
even with him by calling him crazy.
remember we'll how uneasy some of the
Confederate generals were when placed
under Jackson's command In early 1862.
Ewell didn't like it and Dick Taylor
didn't like It, They were afraid jackson
would lead them into some awful scrape
or other. And when Ewell with his divi-
sion, was lying near Gordonsville In late
April, 1869. but subject to Jackson's or
ders, Ewell aud Taylor were very anxious
20 get from under him-either to go down
to Joe Johnston at Yorktown, or to have
some general sent to the valley who would
rank with Jackson. So. at Taylor's in
stance, he was cent to Richmond by Ewell
to see Mr. ravis, his brother-in- law, and
Mr.. Benjamin, then secretary Of state, but
recently secretary Of war, about getting
away from jackson. But while Taylor
was gone Jackson ordered Ewell to "cone
a-running" to the valley! The camp he
had left In the morning at Swift River
Gap, on the northwest side of the Blue
Ridge, Eweil occupied that night Jack
son was gone, he knew not where. The
valley campaign had opened. He was max
ing his strategic detour back southwest
over the Blue Ridge toward Cbarlottes-
vile, hence west by rail past Staunton
to Buffalo Gap and thence northward by
long marches to Mcdowell, where he
struck Milroy. But there we were for q
few days at Swift Run Gap without hear
Ing a thing of jackson. General Ewell
may have known where he was, but
doubt it.
Meanwhile Taylor returned from Rich.
mond to the old camp near Gordonsville
to find that Ewell had gone to Jackson in
the valley. Taylor was thunderstruck.
One of his commands happened to be a lit.
tie way out from camp on the road toward
Gordonsvillc, when Taylor came rattlng
down the mountain side in his ambulance.
He asked me what meant General Ewells
being ordered to the valley. l told him
did not know. He then asked me where
General Jackson was. again had to con.
fcss my ignorance and could only say that
he had broken camp ON q certain morning,
going with his own division southwest, no
one seemed to know where, and that Gen
eral Ewell occupied his camp that night
and had been there ever since
We'll" said Taylor, "this is strange.
Nobody at Richmond knows anything
about it. But" he added, There is one
consolation. We won't be under this
id old crazy fool longer. General
Longstreet is coming up here to take com.
msnd."
It was too late, however, to change CON-
manders. jackson was then fighting Mil
roy far to the west of us. He probably
never knew how near he came to missing
his great fame In the valley, and that In
that campaign he not only defeated four
Federal commanders, but "outflanked"
two of his own best generals and the
folks" back at Richmond.
jackson disturbed his immediate subor-
dinates by never telling them his plans or
consulting them. They had simply to fol
low him blindly. He never explained any
proposed campaign to subordinate or
called a council Of war or asked advice.
Soon after Ewell joined him in the valley
/ remember riding with General Taylor
and coming upon General Ewell. Taylor
asked him what the movement meant. In
his curt, half distracted way Ewell re
piled: II don't know. II General Jackson
were shot down, wouldn't know thing
of his plans. What" said Taylor. "You
second in command and don't know II
were second in command, would know. :"
"You would, would your" smiled Ewell
in his odd way. holding his head to Que
side like sap sucker pceping around u
tree. mo, you wouldn't know any more
than 1 do now. You don't yet know the
man" But Ewell and Taylor found their
"crazy," reticent commander to have more
war sense than all of them put together.
So they ever pinned their faith to him. ad
mired him and loved him.
Our great General Lee was the victim of
an indigestion, and 1t cost the south dear.
1t lost us the battle Of Gettysburg. The
battle of Gettysburg is singular excep.
tion to General Lees battles. IL wasn't
General Lee who fought it. 1t shouldn't
count against him. His usual skill Is
wanting at Gettysburg There must be .
cause for it. He was sick, and not in pos.
session of his usual equanimity and fine
mental powers. Those near him at the
tiIuc teit US tnis, anu IrOln some Ol tnetli
the story Of how il came about has leaked
out.
General Lee was very fond Of old Vir.
ginia fiapjacks-wondrous cakes Of African
invention-thin as wafer and big nearly
as q cart wheel. and when made of new
-four and served hot. with fresh butter
ard maple molasses and folded and folded,
layers thick, are a feast for the gods, But
General Lee, the best and tenderest Of men
as well az the greatest. hadn't IL In his
heart to fare well-much as his ample
means would have allowed-when his men
were suffering for food. and il one wanted
. poor dinner he had only to drop In on
General Lee at that hour. He lived but
little better than his men. This greatly
disturbed his darky cook, and when the
army advanced into Pennsylvania, flowing
with milk and honey and other good things
edible, he said, "Well, Ize gwine to git
something good for Marse Robert for once,
II he never gifts none no mo-" So. skir.
mishing around, he got up the necessary
ingredients for the generals favorits cake
The darky, in his pride as chef and zeal
ous love for his master, outdid himself on
that 80th of June. The cakes were too