The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-08-02
The Work of HacBeth's Artillery.
By II. L SCAIFE.

Mr.. EDIToR:-I want to say that
the personal "reminiscences that ap.
pear III your paper from time to time
make Interesting reading for the old
soldiers. They not only relate Incl
dents and deeds of thrilling merit.
but help to keep the war record
Straight. Official reports are often
partial and sometimes fail to render
unto Caesar the things tina, are Gao
sars. Consuming selfshne8s the
big eye spirit that d'd it all can sit
with complacency on the pedestal of
fame forgetful OF the iorijude OF
others that made its erection possible
The great Second Manassas battl,
was brought on BY Gen. ope, the
Federal Commander, pushing for.
ward to overtake the imagined scared
army Of Lee, that was then actually
advancing with the music of pros
pectlve victory already in the air
Lee retrea'ing. Way he had been
persuing Pope up and across the
Rappahnnnock for ten days. The
invader fleeing before the invaded
TO bring him to halt, Lee, at a
daring risk, interposed Jackson be
tween him and Washington. This
brld strategic conception was execu-
ted bv Jackson with consumate skill.
but it placed his command in an iso
lated position that invited destruc
ton. Pope was impressed with the
magnitude of his responsibility and
rea lzed that the opportunity of his
life for winning undy!ng fame had
suddenly da~ued upon his pathway
Wrh the Rappahannock between
him and Lee he turned his face to.
wards Jackson and rushed to crush
hin, before Longstreet, now so far
away, could come to his assistance.
With tack and dash be occupied
every point of the compass with
strong forces and jackson in the
center of the invironment, and that
there might be loop-hole of escape
he threw a strong command at Thor
oughfare Gap to shut Longstreet's
gateway to Jackson's relief. The
generalShip evlnced by Pope up to
this time will not blush in compari-
son with other Federal Generals on
the pages of the unbiased historian.
1t was no fault of his that orders
were miscarried or the triggers were
not sprung at the proper time.
Jackson, like a stone wall, stood in
the way. and lie was no timid SOL
dier, he knew when and how to strike,
and when he struck his antagonist
staggered under his blow. There is
nothing grander in military evolu-
tion than The mastery conception of
Jackson that outwitted the vigilance
of Pope, upset his we'll laid plans,
beat his forces iii detail and held his
entire army at bay until Longstreet' 5
grim warriors forged their way
through Thoroughfare Gap and
marched up and went into line of
battle on his right to the mortiica-
ton of Pope and the CONSERVATION of
the people in Washington. This
clustering General who boa,tei that
he never saw anything but the backs
of Rebels in the West. had now to
look them in their faces, and it was Il
lo,k that brought defeat, disgrace
and historical grave. During the
morning of that eventful 3Ulh OF
August, 1862, Generals Lee, Jack
son, Stewart and others held IA rro-
tracted consultation just IN the rear
of our guns. About noon Lee whis-
perrd some instruction to Jackson.
who mounted his horse and without
showing any evidence of conscious
greatness, rode back to his command
Oh the other side of the pike. Troops
moving into position, the quick
sharp crack of the picket's rifles anc
the occasional boom of u cannon wer,
srme of the tokens of the approach
ing clash of conteuding armies. Lee
was ready and wonld have movec
forward had not Pope anticipated
hlm by assaulting Jackson's com
mand under the insane suppositior
that Lee was retreatlng Jackson
line of battle ran along railroad Gu
West Of a body of woods that shield
cd and protc, ted the enemy. Jack