The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-02-15

Original In His Pians-Famous for
His Flank Movements and Vigorous
Attacks at Unexpected Times and
Places-Depended on His Scouts and
Always Knew the Strength and Re.
sources of His Opponents.
(Richmond TiMeS.)
There has been great deal of dis
cussion among ex-Confederate Eeter-
ans in Richmond as to what General
Stonewall Jackson would have done
at Spion Kop.
DR.. Hunter Mcclure, who was
member of General Jackson's staff
during the civil war, and was surgeon
for the famous commander, has been
much interested in the war between
the Beers and the British, and has
watched with great interest reports
of military manoeuvres On both sides.
DR.. Mcclure who was a great ad
mirer of General Jackson as military
commander, as we'll as man, could
not help Comparing the tactics of Gen
eral Butler with those adopted by
General Jackson, and when called
upon and asked for an interview as to
the comparative merits of the two
men and comparison of Buffers
campaign in South Africa and General
Jackson's in Virginia, said:
jackson would never have gone
into that trap at Spion Kop as did
Buffers subordinate commander.
Had General Jackson been placed
in the same position in which General
Butler was placed he never would
have attacked the Beers from the
front, but would have gone around
them-if necessary, one hundred
miles-cut their communications and
attacked them on more equal ground.
An army is obliged to move when its
supplies are cut off, and, its COM
munications cut, Jackson would have
followed out this principle. The diff
ference in advantage in South Africa
to the army attacked with the present
weapons and the army attacking, is
shown in the splendid defence the
English have been making at Lady
smith and Kimberley. where they
have invariably defeated the Beers,
who were the attacking party, and
just the reverse obtains when the
English have been the attacking party.
.'It does not seem to me that the
English have shown any generalship
at all. The soldiers have fought in
the most gallant way, as they have
always done in their whole history.
But so far there have not appeared
Marlborough or Wellington, or
Robert Lee or Stonewall Jackson.
SO far as l can see there has never
been any manoeuvring at all.
THEY NEED SCOUTS.
"Another great defect in the Eng
lish campaign to an old soldier is the
absence of scouts. The English seem
to be absolutely ignorant of the posi-
ton, strength and resources of the
enemy, subjects with which Jackson
was always acquainted through his
scouts and spies. Jackson's cavalry,
under Ashby and J. Z. b. Stuart. kept
him accurately informed of the po-
sition, strength, number and the
morale of his adversaries. AS far as
1 can see, the English are greatly de-
ficient in theis respect.
The Beers are splendid fighters.
l believed when l saw that General
Warren has crossed the Tugela river
with little resistance the Beers were
laying trap for the English. Jack
son would never have allowed him
self to be caught in such trap as
that.
''Suppose the Beers were occupying
a strong position in the Blue Ridge
range of mountains, occupying hills
about Rockfish Gap, controlling the
whole of the surrounding country.
Do you suppose Jackson would have
attacked them in their almost i'm
pregnable position? He would have
gone around them and got in their
rear, cut their communications, and
forced them to leave their position.
What a compliment the London
Times paid to Jackson when they sent
Colonel G. F. r. Henderson as one
of Lord Roberts staff officers avowed-
ly because of his knowledge of Jack
sons tactics in military affairs. 1t is
not the big battalions that win, but
the man who leads them. Napoleon
said: 1T wasn't the Roman army that
conquered Gaul, but Caesar; it wasn't
the Carthaginian army that made the
gates of Rome tremble, but Hannibal; :;
it wasn't the Prussian army that kept
the Allies out of Prussia for years, it
was Frederick the Great And if he
had lived, he might have added: 1t
wasn't the splendid Army of Northern
Virginia, grand as it was that kept
the Federals out of Richmond for four
years, it was Lee; it wasn't the army
of the Valley that made the Shen-
andoah campaign immortal, it was
Jackson So far the English have
shown no general equal to any of
these.
HIS GREAT STRATEGY.
Jackson was very sparing Of the
blood of his men. He never ventured
very desperate encounters unless un-
der orders of superior officer. He'd
never but up against breastworks ii
he could possibly 60 around them. A
good illustration of this was with
Pope before Second Manassas. Pope
was on the north side Of the Kappa
hammock river. Lee on the south
side, and for two or three days we
had several artillery duels. Lee was
threatening to cross to the north side
of the Rappahannock to attack Pope
who occupied much the stronger po-
sition and was partially entrenched.
While threatening to cross and max
ing feints at different points he de-
tached Jackson with nearly one hall
of his army, sent him some miles VI