The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-12

new uniform for the first time, rodt
 down to where the Rockbridge Battery was stationed, in his extreme righ'
 flank. and ordered him (Captair
 Poague) to open with two of his guns ! on the opposing batteries, and added l 'If they prove too much for you, turn
 yourSguns on their infantry and stam-
 pede them" This last remark was
 what astonished Captain Poague SC
 much. He says he never has been able
 to understand it, that he put it in his
 report and set it up through the regular
 channels; but before being forwarded
 to headquarters, it was sent back to
 him by an intermediate authority, with
 the comment that he must be mistaken, but he returned it, saying he was not | rnistaken-that it was just as Jackson
 gave it to him. He obeyed orders, and opened with his two guns, and drew the
 fire of all the enemy's batteries upon him, and such a storm of shot and shell he never experienced. His horses were killed; and many of his officers and men--that no mortal power could stem
 the torrent--that Colonel Coleman came
 8alloping down and demanded to know
 what this meant, and he told him it was Jackson's order, and Colonel Coleman
 said, Stop it; I will take the respon-
 sibility," and he replied: Tt is stopped
 now; my guns are silenced, I cannot
 work them;" and all he could do was to tell his men to shelter themselves as best they could, They did this, but all the enemy's batteries kept up their pitt less fire on his two guns till night.
 To Lol lao, of guns, all were kept silent but these two. He says he has no doubt that Jackson's object was to develop the position of the Yankee batteries by the fire of these two guns before night closed in, and that he was then con- templating a night attack upon the enemy, and he kept most of his own ar tillery silnet, only exposing two guns of their fire, but he never could unravel the mystery of the last portion of that order It was so unprecedented
 This reminds me that the late Colonel Braxford told me some years ago of somewhat similar experience during the campaign. He said that just before Jackson begun his fa- nous flank movement he ordered him (Captain Braxton then) to take up a certain position in plain view of the enemy With his battery, and he soon saw that if the enemy chose to open upon him, inevitable destruction awaited his battery-that there was no hope for him. Jackson sat on his horse field-glass In hand, a few paces away. A superior officer to him (Braxton) soon rode up and asked him roughly what he meant by thus exposing his battery, and he replied by pointing to Jackson, and said: Tt is his order, won't you go and explain to him the desperate situation?" No" said the | officer, T am not going to fool with Jackson. I believe he is crazy, any way" Braxton said, he after little ventured to approach Jackson and 1 pointed out to him the untenableness of the position, but the only reply he | received was the curt uestion: What | gre your orders, sir?' And when he | My orders are to hold that position with my guns at all hazards again came the curt words: "Then l go and obey your orders, sir
 It so happened that the enemy did | not take the dare, and the battery was aved. He thought, and I think, that Jackson then contemplating his great iank movement, intended to make a eint of an attack there and thus mask lis real intention, even If he lost a he battery and the lives of the men ,ngaged This was 'Stonewall Jack on's way at all events, and suppose t was war, but it does seem heartless.