The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-02
Charlotte Observer, I9th.)

ne nail OF the 1Oung Men Chris
tian Association was we'll filed last
night to hear DR.. Hunter McGuire's
lecture on Stonewall Jackson. The
old soldiers and their families occu-
pied the middle tier of seats. On th>
stage were Captain Jno. r. Erwin,
Major j. G. Harris, commander of
the Mecklenburg Veterans camp, DR..
Cobb, OF Goldsboro, and Messrs. l..
Leon and A. N. Turnbull. Many Wis
itors and veterans from a distance
were in the audience.
DR.. Mcclure was introduced by
Captain John r. Erwin, who congrat-
ulated the audience and especially the
veterans, on the fact that it was their
pleasure to hear one among them so
competent to speak of the immortal
Jackson.
Dr. Mcclure said:
at is an inspiration to me to stand
before an adience in that State whose
Cape Fear sons offered the first
armed resistance to the stamp act;
to speak to an audience in a State
which offered the first armed resist
ance to British oppression in the
shape of unjust taxation; to speak in
State where the first battle of the
Revolution was fought, and particu-
larly to speak to an audience in the
town where the first declaration of
independence was declared.
II am a Virginian and an Amer
lean, but for a short time tonight
| desire to be only an old Con-
federate." Continuing, the speaker
referred in words of praise to the part
North Carolina bore in the civil war
and said that the record of this State
was unsurpassed by any other nation
in any other war in all history. He
said that the conduct of North Caro-
lima was an inspiration to patriots
everywhere.
Il love to speak to those who are
interested in preserving the memo
ries of the past, the brave men who
took part in the cause now lost. These
men fought not in vain, they died not
in vain. Their record is our dearest
heritage. l shall ever cherish the
fact that Stonewall Jackson treated
me as his friend; that l knew him
that silent man who was known to
most men only on the field of battle.
jackson was king who was as
worthy of having royal honors paid
him as any who ever sat on throne.
He was great; the unbiased tribunal
of the world has rendered the verdict.
Some time ago l had the pleasure of
hearing a distinguished English mill
tary authority say that the world had
produced only five military geniuses
of the first order: Marlborough,
Washington. Wellington, Lee and
Jackson. Some time ago heard an
other distinguished Englishman say
that Jackson's valley campaign was
superior to those made by Napoleon
in Italy. Another distinguished Brit
ish soldier thought Jackson was in
spired. Such opinions of Jackson l
have heard with elation, and l tell
you of them that you may know
them aud that your children may
learn them.
'sLord Wolsely says that great
commander must have the power to
divine the purposes of the enemy,
the acumen to devise strategy to de-
feat those purposes, the force to carry
out his plans, the cool judgment that
is mistaken by emergency, and the
personal magnetism and courage that
inspires men on the battlefield. Jack
son had all these qualities, and it will
be my purpose to show you he dis
played them.
at was at the first battle of Man
assas while was dressing his wound
ed hand that Mr.. Davis rode on the
field and called to the men, sitting in
his stirrups and telling them who he
was, TO follow him and charge the
enemy. Jackson did not hear the
command and when l told him what
Mr.. Davis had said, he turned to the
President and said: we have whip
ped them, they are running away!
Give me 10000 men and I'll take
Washington tomorrow And who is
| it that now doubts that he would
have done it?
''By the aid of Ashley and Stuart,
Jackson was always able to know
where the enemy was, his condition
and his numbers. l asked him on
the day of the battle OF Cedar Run
whether he thought there would be a
battle that day. Jackson replied:
Banks is in front of us and he is gen.
orally willing to fight and then turn
ing about he said as if to himself: And
usually gets whipped
That Jackson had the genius to de-
wise means to disconcert his foe is
proved by the fact that in his valley
campaign he had only 1900 men
with which to keep at bay an army of
more thar 100000, and that he often
with so small force soundly thrash
ed his opponent.
jackson took counsel with HIM
self and with his God. He never held
but one council of war; that was at
| Winchester, and resulted in the evac-
uation of the place. He said OF it.
his face lighting up and in tones al
most savage: That is the last coun-
Gil of war l will ever hold
jackson never lost his presence of
mind; he was always cool and self
possessed. 1t was at Chantilly, in
the midst of terrific thunder storm
that he received word from A. P. Hill
| that his ammunition was wet and
| therefore asked to retire. To the
courier Jackson said: Give A. P.
Hill my compliments and tell him
that the Yankees powder is just as
wet as his
''It was Jackson's policy never to
be content with whipping the enemy;
not to be content with defending his
own position, but to take the often
sive. He made up by consummate
daring and skill what he lacked in