The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-02-03

restrained him in like cases; he could
not put at So grea, risk an army which
the South could not replace.
THAT Jackson possessed the second
and third requlremen,s-the genius TO
devise and the skill and courage 10 de
liver the blow needed to defeat his
foes-ls 1t not amply proved by the
general fact that his own force in the
Valley campaign was never over IL,
900, and generally less, and that for
a tins he was keeping at bay 10000
Federal soldiers in or near the great
valley, and 10000 at Fredericksburg
-soundly ,hrashing in The field from
time to time large portions of this
great army ? Or taking a wider view,
Jackson and his small force SO lnfiu
enced the whole campaign as TO keep
100000 Federal troops away from
Richmond, and compel the Federal
government to employ a larger force
than the entire Confederate army in
Virginia, in order, as Lincoln SAID, to
protect the Federal CAPITOL while an
other superior force operated against
Lee and Richmond.
81 cannot give you any Instances or
illustrations of the mental action by
which he reached his conclusions or
devised the combinations which de
feated his enemy; for ackson took no
counsel save with his familiar the
Genius of War, and his God. He did
hold one, and only one, council ofwar
In March, 1892, at Winchester, Jack
son had in his small army less than
5000 men. General Banks, who was
advancing upon Winchester from Har
per's Ferry anG Charlstown, had 5o,-
900 soldiers. General Jackson repeat
edly offered General Bank. battle, but
the latter declined, and on the night
Of the nth Of March went into camp
four miles from Winchester. General
Jackson sent for his officers and pro
posed to make nigh, attack, but the
plan was not approved by the council.
He sent for the officer, a second time,
some hours later, and again urged
them to agree to make the night as
sault, but they again dlsapproved of
the attempt. 50 lat. in the afternoon, we
withdrew from Winchester and march
ed to Newton. Irode with the gener-
al as we left the place, and as we
reached high point overlooking the
town, We both turned to look at Win
chester, ju-t evacuated and now left to
the mercy Of the Federal soldiers. |
think that a man may sometimes yield
to overwhelming emotlln, and | was
utterly overcome by the fact that | was
leaving all that held dear on earth.
But my emotion was arrested by one
look at Jackson. His face was fairly
blazing with the fire that was burning
in him, and felt awed before him.
Presently he cried out with a manner
almost savage: That is the last council
of war l will ever hold. And it was
his first and last. Thereafter he
held council in the seCre, chamber of
his own heart, and acted. Instant
aneous decision, absolute self-reliance,
every action, every word displayed
His voice displayed the sharp crack OF
the rlfle-sudden, imperative, resolute.
"Jackson always expected TO hold
his lines, but was always most danger
ously aggressive. | heard him once
say: 1--WE sometimes fail 10 drive the
enemy from his position. He always
fails to drive US But he was never
content with the defensive, however
successful or however exhausting. In
the terribly destructive battle oi
Sharpsburg he was looking all Of tha,
day for a chance to make the counter
stroke.
"He was always calm and self-con-
,rolled. He never lost his balance
for one moment. At the First Man
assas, when we reached the field and
found our men under Bee and Barlow
falling back-when the confusion wa:
greatest-and Bee, in despair, cried
out: They are driving US back
there was not the slightest emotion ap
parent about him. His thin lips were
compressed and his eyes were ablaze
when he CURLY said, Then, sir, We
will give them the bayonet.'
"In the very severe engagement al
Chantilly, fought during heavy ,hun
der storm, when the voice of the artl-
lery Of heaven could scarcely be dis
tinguished from that of the enemy, an
aide came up with message from A
. P. Hill tina, his ammunition was we
and that he asked leave TO retire
: Give my compliments 10 General H
! and tell him that the yankee ammuni
S ton is as wet as his; 10 stay where h,
S is There was always danger AM
blood when he began his terse sen
r ,ences with Give my Compliments.
, "Jackson knew the value of Tn
S Southern volunteer better and soone
5 (as belIeve) than any other Of ou
! great leaders. On this subject, | ono
S heard him say, The patriot voluntee
1 fighting for country and his rlgh,
makes the most reliable soldier o.
S earth
: "The frs, time / was under fire, IN
1 attempt TO diagnose my feelings dl
t not discover to me anything that rec
e ognnized as positive enjoyment.
0 told General Jackson frankly what III
h feelings were, and asked him how :
d felt the first time he experienced /
k afraid the fire would not be hc
n enough for me 10 distinguish myself
It he promptly replied.
c 81 have seen General Jackson sic