The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-01

His Soldier Life the Subject of q
Speech by DIR. Hunter Mcclure at
the Annua Banquet Of the Con-
federate Veterans Camp, of New
York.
New York, January 1.-TWO hun
dred white haired soldiers who fought
for the confederate cause under Lee
and Jackson, met tonight for the eighth
time to toast the memory OF their dead
comrades and renew associations. The
banquet was held at the St. Denis
hotel.
Colonel c.. E. Thorburn, commander
Of the confederate veteran camp, the
official title Of the gathering, presided.
Grouped around him at the centre table
We're Colonel "A. r. Chisholm, Major s.
Ellis Briggs, Ex-Governor Hugh s.
Thompson, Augustus w. Peters, DR..
Hunter Mcclure, of Suonewall Jack
sons staff; Major Jed Hotchkiss and
Rev. DR.. James P. Smith, both of
whom served with Jackson through the
war, Rev. G.. S. Baker, and Rev. w. F.
Jenkins.
The dinner was given in memory of
S~tonewall Jackson, and the portrait
of the famous confederate leader look
ed down upon the gathering. Above
this was a portrait of General Lee,
both framed in the flags of the union
and the confederate camp.
The toast of the night was that
| which carried General Jackson's name,
and to this Dr.. Mcclure, who extracted
the bullet from the confederate leader,
as he lay dying, replied.
There were repeated cheers at the
more fervid periods of the doctors elo-
quent eulogy, but the widest enthus-
iasm of the night occurred when he
said, pointing to the Rev. J. p. Smith:
This clergyman threw himself in front
of Jackson's body to receive the bullet
aimed at h leader"
DR.. Mcclure said in part:
II am tx speak of Stonewall Jack
son, not in the formative years of his
life, nor in the quiet of peaceful avo-
cation, but as men knew him when
The fire from heaven Tell upon him in
| the battlefield as it did upon Arthur
the fire by which Sir Launcelot knew
him for his kfng-the fire that, like
the live coal from off the altar, touch
| ed the lips Of Jackson andbrOught from
them that kingly voice which the eagle
of victory knew and Obeyed. For a
king was Stonewall Jackson, if ever
royalty annoited as by fire appeared
| among men.
"In seeking to define Jackson's place
in history, I accept Lord Wolseley's
definition Of a great commander. He
| declares, in effect, that the marks of
this are character are: FIRST of all, the
| power-the instinct, the inSpiration-to
| define the condition and the
of your enemy. Secondly, the genius
| that in strategy instantly devises the
combinations most likely to defeat
those purposes. Thirdly, the physical
| and moral courage-the absolute self
| reliance-that takes the risk of de-
| cision, and the skill that promptly and
| properly delivers tine Dlow that shat
ters the hostile plans-so managing
ones own forces, even when small, as
to nave the greater. number at the
| point Of attack. Fourthly, the, cool
judgment that is unshanen by the
lash and clamor of emergencies, and
last, but not least, the p~rovision-the
~caution-that cares for the lives and
well-being of the private soldiers, and
the personal magnetism that rouses
the enthusiasm and affection that
make the commanders presence ON the
battlefield the incentive to all that hui
man beings dare, and the unques-
toned hope and sure promise of vic
tory.
MANY incidents of Jackson's career
prove that he possessed the Instructive
power TO know the plight and to fore
tell the purposes of the federal army
and its commanders"
Dr.. Mcclure then went on to tell
many incidents of General jackson on
the battlefield, THE most interesting
and dramatic of which were h follow
ing:
cat Malvern Hell, when a portion ot
our army was beaten and to some ex-
tent demoTalized, Hill and Dwell and
Early came to tell him that they could
make no resistance if Mcclellan at
tackled them in the morning. Tt was
difficult to wake General Jackson, as
he was exhausted and very SOUND
asleep. I tried it myself and after
many efforts nartly succeeded. Whe1
he was made to understand what wa
wanted, he said, Mcclellan and hi:
army will be gon by daylight ant
went to asleep again. The generals
Thought him mad, but the prediction
was true.
"A Fredericksburg, after Burnside's
repulse, he asked me how many ban.
dages 1 had. I told him and asket
why he wanted to know. He said thai
he wanted to have a piece of wthitt
cloth to tie on each mans arm, 50 tina.
his soldiers might recognize each othe-
in a night attack; and he asked to b.
allowed to- make such an attack AM
drive his foe into the swollen river o,
capture him. Subsequent emit dem.
Onstrated that he knew the state o.
things within the hostile lines, ans
would have accomplished his purpose
General Lee withheld his consent, for
h reason that so often restr ainet
him in like cases; he could not put a.
so great risk an army which the south
could not replace.
That Jackson possessed the second
n third requirements-the genius t.
devise and the skill n courage to de-
liver the blow needed to defeat ri:
foes-is it not amply proved by ths
general fact hat his " force in tn,
Valley campaign was never over IL.
J DOC, and generally less, and that for Z
time he was keeping at bay $4,000 fed.
eral soldiers in or near the great val.