The gold leaf., 1901-08-08
Special Dispatch to Baltimore Sun.

Special Dispatch to Baltimore Sun.
Hagerstown, Md, May S.-Recently
the Chicago Record Herald published
an account of an incident at Port Re
public, Va, when Stonewall Jackson
got into the Federal lines, asked a
question of Federal officer and was
ordered by the latter to 60 about his
business, not recognizing his ques-
toner. The account also said that
Lieutenant Douglas, of Jackson's
staff, was wounded and captured upon
that occasion and that after Jackson
left Douglas laughed at the Federal
officer for his blunder. This account
was shown to General H. Kyd Douglas,
of HagerstOwn, who makes the follow
ing statement in connection with it:
The article from the Chicago paper
is amusing. 1t has lot of truth in
it and lot of things not true. lam
the Douglas referred to as staff officer
to Stonewall jackson. 1t is curious
how my capture has been psrsistently
reported on that occasion. It was re-
ported in the Northern papers tho
day after the fight and led to An
amusing result. The officer captured
was Lieutenant Ed Willis, who after
ward was killed as Colonel command
ing the Georgia brigade. He was
then on Jackson's staff.
1.-The facts are these: General
Jackson had recklessly placed his
headquarters at some distance from
his own troops, with stream and
bridge between him and them. On
Sunday morning after breakfast, hav-
ing issued an order that his troops
should remain quiet in camp and have
prayers, he was startled by the rumor
that the enemy's cavalry was ap-
preaching on the Northeast side Of
the river from the direction of the
Gap. As the General had sent the
scout out the night before to watch
the enemy he did not believe this re-
port, but it proved true. General
Sprigg Carroll, with an advance of
cavalry for Tyler, was approaching
rapidly and jackson was not con-
vinced of it until he was informed
that they we're crossing a branch of
the river and would soon be in Port
Repu blic between him and his troops.
As my horse had been saddled for me
to ride l offered it to the General, and
ran after his, which was grazing. He
declined. however, to take mine, and
waited for his own. Only two or
three of the staff were up, and the re-
port created great excitement among
them. The General gave an order
to Pendleton to 90 to his troops,
mounted his own horse and followed
closely, and followed him. Behind
me were Colonel Crutchtield and
Willis. Pendleton got over easily.
JACKsoN's NARROW ESCAPE.
1.-The General could have been cap
tured il the enemy had known who he
was or suspected who be was, and
got through last amid the firing Of
their carbines. Crutchiield and Willis,
just behind ME. were captured.
Crutchfield got away in the middle of
the stream in the confusion that fol-
lowed, and returned. Willis was car
ried off :; he was not wounded. Hunter
Mcclure just escaped by going back
to quarters.
General jackson, after having
crossed the bridge, took position on a
hill, and seeing some artillery ap-
proach the mouth Of the bridge,
ordered them over the river, believing
them to be his own. told him they
were Yankees; he discredited it and
gave the second order with loud
voice. At that they opened on us,
tore up the ground pretty well around
the General, and he was convinced.
In the meantime Poague's battery
had placed gun near where jackson
| was, having come down at the sound
OF musketry. Poague soon silenced
the enemy's gun that had fired on
Jackson, and I led Colonel Edmun-
ston's regiment TO the bridge, which
| quickly crossed it and drove the
enemy away. There was, OF course,
no reason in the world, except con-
fusion, why the enemy should no,
have burned the bridge. or, in fact.
should not have cut off Jackson from
his command.
AN IMAGINARY CONVERSATION.
The report in the paper about the
conversation between Jackson and
this Federal soldier and myself is ar
amusing myth. Willis was carried
back to the rear aud. as / have said
it was reported in the army. and after
wards in the papers, that had beer
captured. The famous Belle Boyd
Confederate spy, having heard that
was captured, and being friend o
mine from her childhood, interferet
with the Union officers, and it was re
ported that her influence with Captain
Keog, to whom she had been very
try and its neighbors. The chief il
the Louisiana Rice Kitchen know,
how to cook rice without breaking
the grain or making It "soggy."