The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-16
JACKSON'S STRATEGY.
THE WAY HE HAD OF OUTGEN.
ERALINO THE ENEMY.

ERALIN0 THE ENEMY.
A Story Told of Hajor Hotchkiss, Who
hawk as Chief Engineer. and
Revered His Memory as Few Others
Did-How McClelland Was Struck
Below Richmond.
| (NOlfolk Virginian and PilOt,)
| The late Major Jed Hotchkiss was
one N the most charming and in
structive cOnversatiOnalists and mar
rators in Virginia, or the United
States for that matter. l knew him
as boy and man and always to admire.
Whether sitting by Il quiet tireside.
in hotel lobby, waiting at railway
station, or upon the train whirling
along, he was the same genial, refined,
cultured, entertaining talker. or pa
tient listener. He never obtruded
his views unasked, nor refrained from
| giving them when cOurteously asked.
/ have travelled with Major Hotch-
kiss through the Valley of Virginia
time and again. where he followed, or
! perhaps, in reality, led StOnewall
Jacksor'S men in many strategic
retreat or advance to victory. He
was the great warriors chief engi-
| neer, possessed his entire confidence,
and never wearied in speaking OF him
and his wonderful campaigns in the
Valley Of Virginia.
Who Of us that heard his matchless
lecture on Jackson's Valley Cam
paign cannot recall his words, his
gestures, his power to make one see
the Confederate Nighthawk's" rapid
movements and brilliant victories in
1861-63 as he saw them. His rare
descriptive powers, his fervid elo-
quence and ability to always employ
the right word in the right time and
place were infectious, and he never
failed to carry his hearers with him
from Harper's Ferry in 1861 to Chan
ceived his death wound.
Ma or Hotchkiss revered the men,
orv of jackson. and whenever he
spoke of him, whether in burning sun
or in pelting rain, he always removed
his hat and stood bareheaded antil he
had finished. Thousands will recall
this act of homage, performed thirty
five years after Jackson's death. His
"reminiscences OF the great chieftain,
Lees ''Right ARM" were numerous
and interesting. The one which fol-
lows illustrates JacksOn's methods OF
fighting perhaps as we'll, if not better,
than any of them.
AFTER our defeat of General Banks, -
said the Major, ave halted in the
woods where we stopped minute or
so to rest our men, who had been
overworked in the hard valley cam
paign. We went into camp with the
intention, suppose, of remaining
several days. About IL o'clock on
the second night of the encampment,
General Jackson sent for me. The
rain was falling in torrents. l found
him in his tent bending over n set OF
maps and intently studying the roads
which led up the Valley to Winches-
ter and Harper's Ferry, over which
we had just journeyed and fought too
He asked me minutely about the
| roads, formation of the country. and
other details, and while was giving
the desired information he interrupt
ed me 10y saying:
by the way, Major. l wish YOU
| would take a short ride for me to-
night. | know it is dark and disa
| greeable, but you will not mind that
! You can see in the darkness dowr
here, want YOU to get on your horse
and ride to an inn on the pike, a few
miles above Staunton. There vo,
| will see lone horseman, clad in
rubber coat. Greet him and say:
General Jackson says it is al
right"
"'Atter delivering this messag
you may 60 to your home in Staun
ton and yet good nights rest re
| Joining me here in the morning.
SURPRISE.
! Il performed the mission, though
had great difficulty in crossing th
swollen streams. delivered the mes
sage, and the lone horseman immed
ately galloped up the pike. l turne
my horses head toward Stanton.
reachesi home about three O'Clock i
the morning and went TO bed | 20
up about 3 o'clock. and went to tn
telegraph office to learn the new
from Richmond, for General McCle
land was making it hot for Gen. lie,
Imagine my surprise when l foun
Telegraph office. The General wa
talking over the wire with Gener;
Lee, who was in Richmond.
TOOK THE WRONG ROAD.
| AT length the conversation ceased
II did not know what the two general
swere talking about, nor did anybod
Belse except them selves and the tell
! graph operators. We mounted ou
thorses and started. as | supposed,
! return to the camp When we reacl
ed point where the roads forke
General Jackson took what | told hil
was the wrong road. His staff ais
ttold him the same thing, but he mer
ly bade us follow him; which we r.
lluctantly did. At length we begs
to climb the mountain road. Again
, expostulated with the general ft
going out Of his way to reach cam
but he merely told me to ride ahes
and tell some cottagers to prePal
dinner for US | did SO, and 1t tt
first cottage ! halted and oriere
and the dinner the women at hon
hastened to prepare for US.
For the first time / learned tn
the army had broken camp carly
: the morning, had climbed the mon
Itains and was then miles ahead {
its way to Richmond.
BLOW AT MCCLELLAN.
e The remainder is known VIII
t the Northern army was in full retire
up the valley, and while Gene'
Dy Jackson was believed to be in hot pt
suit, he was crossing the mountai
on his way to Richmond. Two da