The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-22
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
Jackson Let 1t Pass and Washington Pun
Out Of Danger.

EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: While not
desiring to appear too much in evidence in
these columns, would like q little space
to answer Comrade J. M. Watson, 41st Pa.
Cav. who in your issue of March 18th
questions the claim of the Kanawha regi-
ments to having saved Washington, and
try to set him straight as to the facts
Gen. Porter's Corps had already joined
Pope's army before the Kanawha Division
made its attempt 10 reach it, and on the
morning of the 27th of August, when the
two Kauawhs regiments were fighting jack
sons army at the bridge where the Orange
81 Alexandria Railroad crosses Bull Run,
Porter's Corps was at Wsrrenton junction.
Jackson's army on that morning had pos
session of that railroad from Bristoe Station
to the bridge ever Bull Run. Whenever
and by whatever route Porter's Corps
reached Pope's army, it is certain that on
the morning of the 9th it was at Warren
ton Junction, and was ordered by Pope to
attack Jackson at Bristoe Station.
Now, if Comrade Watson will examine his
map, and look up his history, he will see
that Jackson's army was on that morning
directly between Pope's army and Washing
ton, and / think he will have trouble in
finding at that time any other obstacle in
his path to the Capital than the two
Kanawha regiments that were SO obstinately
opposing him.
| Gen. Porter's Corps may have been at
| Centerville on the Doth, as Comrade Watson
| saws. but between the 9th and the 29th, in
| Pope's effort TO crush Jackson, many import
ant moves had been made on that chessboard
of war He must remember that before the
Goth, Jackson, having eluded all of these
movements, had rapidly marched back
around Pope's right flank, and was on the
morning of the 18th directly in his front ;
and not only Porters Corps, but the whole
| of Pope's army was on the 29th between
| Jackson's army and Washington.
The theory of Comrade Watson seems TO
be that because Porter was at Centerville on
the 29th he must have been nearer Wash
ington on the 9th; but his being at War
renton Junction on the 9th entirely upsets
that theory.
Briefly to restate the facts that enter into
the question as to whether two regiments of
the Kanawha Division saved Washington,
Jackson on the morning of the 9th of Au-
gust was one days march in Pope's rear, and
within one days march OF the empty de-
lenses of Washington, with only those two
regiments, providentially interposed, stand
ing obstinately, and Ill blind obedience to
orders, in his path.
In half an hour he might have walked
over them and crushed them out of existence
But reasoning from this bold stand against
overwhelming odds that the main body OF
McClellan's army (then at sea- was immedi-
ately at hand, Jackson hesiated, and the
golden hours of his opportunity had slipped
away before he finally IN the late afternoon,
pushed his columns across Bull Run and
brushed them aside.
1t was 100 late for him to move on panic
stricken Washington, for Popes army, NOV
ing down upon him during those hours of
hesitation, was then near at hand, and it
hehooyed him. as he promptly did that
night, to retreat as best he could
In conclusion, | leave 10 the less biased
Judgment of Comrade Watson, the readers of
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and the world in
general the question as 10 whether the 18th
and 10Th Ohio, standing as "A forl0rn hope in
the breech of disaster through the long hours
of that to them memorable day, were or
were not the humble, and, humanity speak
ing, inadequate Instruments III the hands OF
Providence nsed to avert great calamity
| to the Nation.-R B. WILSON, Co. +, 18th
| Ohio