Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-01-23
sToNEwALL JACKsoN's WAY

MAJOR JeuHaOlCnBlSs, VINO reCeUty
died in Staunton, once told the follow
ing story to friend with whom he was
driving from S aunton to Weyer'S Cave;
"After our defeat of General Banks, u
said the major, Eve halted iu the woods
where we stopped a minute or SO to
rest our men, who had been overwork-
ed in the hard valley campaign. We
went into camp with the intention, l
supposed, ofremsiuing for several days
About eleven o'clock on the second
night of the encampment General Jack
son sent for me. The rain was falling
in torrents. l found him in his tent
bending over set of maps and intent
ly studying the roads which led up the
valley to Winchester and Harper's Fer
~, over which we had just journeyed
and fought, too. He asked me minute
ly about the roads, formation of the
country, and other details, and while |
was giving the desired information be
interrupted me by saying:
by the way, major, | wish you
would take short ride for me tonight
l know it is dark and disagreeable, but
YOU will not mind that. You can see
10 the darkness down here. | want
you to get on your horse and ride to an
inn On The pike few miles above
Stauuton. There you will see a lone
horsemsn, clad in rubber cost. Greet
him aud say:
"'General Jackson says it is all
right
"'After delivering this message you
may go to your home in Staunton end
get 8 good nights rest, rejoning me
here in the morning.
AZ performed the mission, though /
had great difficulty III crossing the
swollen streams. I delivered the mes.
sage, and the lone horsewao immedi
ately ealloped up the pike. l turned
my horses head toward Staunton |
reached home at about three o'clock in
the morning and went to bed. got
up about nine o'clock, and after break
fast l went to the telegraph office to
learn the news from Richmond, for
General Mcclellan was making it bot
for General Lee. Imagine my surprise
when found General Jackson and his
staff in the telegraph Office. The gen
eral was talking over the wire with
General Lee, who was in Richmond.
CAT length the conversation ceased.
did not know what the two generals
we're talking about, nor did anybody
else, except themselves and the tele-
graph operators. We mounted our
horses and started, as I supposed, to re-
turn to the camp. When we reached q
point where the roads forked, General
Jackson took what l told him was the
wrong road. His staff also tod him
the same thing, out he m rely bade US
follow him, which we reluctantly did.
At length we began to climb the mount
ain road. Again expostulated with the
general for going out of his way to reach
camp, but he merely told me to ride
ahead aud tell some cottsgers to
D epare dinner for us. ! did so, and al
the first cottage l halted and ordered
the dinner the women at home hesteued
to prepare for US.
''For the first time learned that the
army had broken camp early in the
morning, had climbed the mountains
and was then miles ahead on its way 10
Richmond.
"The remainder is known. While
the northern army was in full retreat
up the valley, and while General Jack
son was believed to be 10 hot pursuit,
ne was crossing the mountains on bis
way to Richmond. Two days later be
was engaged against Mcclellan. The
results of the battles around Richmond
are we'll known. History might have
recorded different results but for this
march of Jackson's, which has never be-
fore been told, across the mountains, q
feat which has been equaed oply by
Napoieon's crossing the Alps. The lone
horsemen whom I accosted in the dark
was q cavalrymsn, and the message
which I conveyed to him meant that
the cavalry should pursue the northern
army up the valley, which it did. IniF
cavalry was mistaken at the north Tor
General Jackson's entire army, and
imagine the surprise at the north when
it was learned that General Jackson
was aiding General Lee in the defense
of Richmond"