The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-23


Lincoln said, to protect the Federal
Capital while another superior force
operated against Lee and Richmond.
Il cannot give you any instances or il
lurtratiorss of the mental action by which
he reached his conclusions or devised the
combinations which defeated his enemy;
for Jackson took no counsel save with his
familiar the Genius of war, and his
God. He did hold one, and only one
council of war. In March, 1862, at Win
chester. jackson had in his small army
less tran 5000 men. General Banks
who was advancing upon Winchester
from 1arper'S Ferry and CharlcstOwn'
had 10000 soldiers. Gen. Jackson repeated
w offered General Banks battle. but the
lattpr declined and on the night of me
11th of March went into camp four mleS
from Winchester. Gen. Jackson sent Tor
his officers and proposed to MAKE Il
night attack. but the plan was not dp-
proved by the council. He sent for the
officers a second time, some hours lau,r'
and again urged them to agree no IilaNc
the night assault. but they again dlSlp-
proved of the attempt. so late IN me
afternoon, we withdrew from Winchcs-
fer and marched to Newton. Il rode WITH
the General as we left the place, and
as we reached high point overlooking
thn town wr both turned to look at Win
chester inst evacuated and now left to
the mercy of the Federal soldiers. !
think that a man may sometimes yIehd
10 overwhelming emotion, and ! was Ut
ttrly overcome by the fact that l was
leaving all that held dear on earth. But
my emotion was arrested by one look al
jackson. His face was fairly blazing
with fire that was burning in MIN. ana
| felt awed before him. Presently ne
cried out with a manner almost savage,
That is the last council of war l VIII
ever hold And it was-his first ami
Inst. Thereafter he held council in the
secret chamber of his own heart, ami
acted. instantaneous decision, absolute
self-reliance. every action, every Wori
displayed. His voice displayed it IN bat
tie. 1t was not the peal of the trumpet.
hut tin, sharp crack of the riiie-sudGcn'
imperative, resOlute.
jackson always expected to hold ms
liner. but was always most dangerously
aggressive. / heard him once say, we
sometimes fail TO drive the enemy from
his position. lie always fails to drive
us But he was never content Wlth the
defensive however, successful or now
ever cxhausting. In the terribly de-
sltructivc battle of Sharlsburg he was
looking all Of that day for chance to
make tlp counter stroke.
"IIe was always calm and self-controil-
ed. lie never lost his balance for one
moment At the First Manassas, when
we reached the field and found our men
under Bee and Barlow falling back
when the confusion was greatest, ana
Bee i'm despair cried out, They are driy-
ing rS back there was not the slightest
emotion apparent about him. His thin
lips were compressed and his eyes We're
ablazc when he CURLY said Then, sir
we will give them the bayOnCt.'
I'm the very severe engagement at
Chantilly, fought during heavy thun-
der storm. when the voice of the artiI-
lpry of heaven could scarcely be dlStln-
guished from that of the enemy, an aldc
came up with Il message from \. +. Hlll
that his ammunition was wet and that he
asked leave to retire. Give my compl.-
ments to Gen. Hill and tell him that the
Yankee ammunition is as wet as his; to
STAY where he is. There was always
danger and blood when he began his
terse sentences with Give my compIi-
ments.'
ern volunteer better and sooner, CAS- l be-
lievc) than amy other of our great lead
crs. On this subject, | once heard him
say. 1.-THE patriot volunteer fighting for
country and his rights makes the most
reliable soldier ON earth
'''The first time | was under fire, the
attempt to diagnose my feelings did not
discover to me anything that | recOgn-
lied as positive enjoyment. j told General
Jackson frankly what my feelings were,
and asked him how he felt the first time
he experienced it. Afraid the fire would
not be- hot enough for me to distinguish
myself he promptly replied.
II have seen General Jackson stop
while the army was on the march to
help a poor simple woman find her son,
when she only knew that this son was III
Jackson's company. There rs no medsur-
ing the intensity with which the very
soul of Jackson burned in battle. Out of
il he was very gentle. After the battle
of the Second Manassas we were sitting
bv the fire drinking the coffee out of Our
tin cups when | said, We have won this
battle by the hardest kind of fighting
And he answered very gently and softly
no. no: we have won it by the blessing
of Almighty God
1.-The story of Jackson's death is SC
familiar to You ALL that, though intimate
ly associated with its scenes, | will not
narrate it. | will only declare that he
met this great enemy ms he had met nj
others, calmly and steadily, expecting rs
always to conquer"
There were repeated cheers at the
more fervid periods of the doctors eIo-
0ucnt euIogy, but the widest cnthu
s;asm OF the night occurred when he
said. pointing to the Rev. DIR. Smith:
This clergyman threw himself in
front of JacksOn's body to receive the
| hullet aimed at the leader"
Former Governor Thompsmon, also
spoke.
$1,000 FIRE IN MT AIRY.