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

another illustration of Jackson's
marvellous strategy and tactics was
at Charlottesville. Hooker had
crossed the Rappahannock river with
what was known in the North as the
finest army on the planet, but as soon
as he got within striking distance Of
Lee and Jackson he began to throw
up breastworks Of the most formidab ble
character. Indeed, they were impreg-
nable. General Lee detached jackson
at Jackson's suggestion, and he
marched clear around Hooker fifteen
miles and struck him exactly in the
rear. The wooded country enabled
him to do this unseen.
HUNDRED YEARS BEHIND.
ut seems to me the British are
fighting now as they did one hundred
years ago, when they had muzzlc-
loading guns, and could approach
within two hundred yards of the
enemy without being injured; when
they could receive one volley and be
on top of the enemy with bavonets
before they could reload. Now-a-
days, with the magazine gun, which
will 60 through brick wall one brick
thick at 1900 yards, or the bodies
of five men at that distance, and
which you can shoot as fast as you
can pull the trigger, the old tactics
are wrong.
"Neither jackson nor Lee ever ac-
cepted battle, if they could avoid it,
by manoeuvering when the enemy
had greatly the advantage of position.
Lee did do it at Gettysburg. after
Jackson's death, and would have sue
ceeded if his subordinate command
ers had obeyed his orders and fought
instead of talking"
DIR. SMITHS VIEW.
Rev. DIR. James p. Smith, who was
very closely associated with General
Jackson during the Civil War, and
who was a close student of General
Jackson's tactics in military move
ments, as well as great admirer of
the famous commanders genius,
Judgment and character, had inter
esting points to make about the
gallant Confederate leader and his
| manouvers during the Civil War.
When asked whether he thought
General Jackson would have attacked
Spion Kop in accordance with the
plan adopted by General Warren,
who was acting under orders of
General Butler, as part of the lat
ter's division, DR.. Smith said: 81 do
not believe that General jackson
would have made such an attack.
The Beers were strongly entrenched
there and commanded a very formid-
able position all around Spion Kop.
1t could not have been anything but
a difficult military feat to take the
place and hold it.
General Jackson was particularly
efficient in flank movements. He
seldom made front attacks, but
almost invariably decided upon some
plan to 60 AROUND the enemy, and
attack them at some wing or flank,
by which he broke up their strength
and accomplished great results.
General jackson was one of the most
original military men | ever knew
He was never held down by any mar
row regulations, but always planned
his movements in accordance with
the position of the enemy and the Cir
cumstances surrounding the situation.
His decisions were made entirely upon
the conditions prevailing.
PECULIAR MOVEMENT.
At Kernstown General jackson
made very peculiar military move
ment. He attacked the enemy and
then retreated, SO that it was under
stood that he was beaten back. 1t
must be remembered, however, that
this movement was intentional; the
enemy were concentrating their forces
in the Eastern part of the State, and
General Jackson's idea was to draw
| off a large part of their force into the
Valley of Virginia. In order to do
this, he retreated, so as TO be followed
by the enemy.
At Charlottesville the odds were
greatly against the Confederate
forces. General Hooker had mag
nificently equipped army OF something
in the neighborhood of one hundred
and thirty thousand men, which was
supported by the War Department Of
the United States to the extent that
everything desirable for an army was
furnished. General Lees forces num-
hered scarcely one-third. 1t was
against military regulations, gen
| orally, to divide so small force into
two or three separate forces, cspec-
tally when the enemy were so much
stronger and better equipped. Gen.
Jackson, however, announced his
| plans to General Lee, to divide his
force into three parts-General Stuart
remained in charge Of the hills around
| Fredericksburg, and Jackson himself
went around to the Western extcn-
sion of Hooker's force and attacked
| them with a vigorous flank move
ment from that side.
General Lee approved the plan, and
in opposition to all military rules, it
was adopted. 1t worked like a charm
General Jack son came down suddenly
and with great force upon Hooker ;
western flank and badly demolished it.
NO TRAP FOR HIM.
Jackson would not have allowed
himself TO be caught in trap like
Spion Kop. He would have attacked
from some other source. He was sci.
dom known to attack an enemy when
thew were entrenched or held very
strong positions. Jackson's strength
and success lay largely in his rapid
marches, his quick and strong flanl
movements, and in his originality 0
purpose and plans in dealing with th'