The National tribune., 1901-07-25
STONEWALL JACKSON
Firm Stand of the Virginians al
Manassas Under This Intrepid
Leader.
BY GEORGE DALLAS MosGRovn.

IL
army, Professor of Military Art and His
tory author of "The Campaign of Fred
erickshurg," etc, writing of the first bat
tie of Manassas. vividly pOrtrays Stone
wall JacksOn's genius in selecting his po
sition near the Henry House. The fol
lowing is an excerpt from Henderson,
story:
1.-The day seemed lost Strong masse:
of Northern infantry were moving for
ward past Stone House on the Warren
ton turnpike. Hampton's Legion was re-
firing on the right. Imboden's Battery
with but three rounds of ammunition fol
each piece, gallOped back across the Hen
ry Hill and this commanding hight, the
key to the battle-ground, was abandoned
to the enemy. But help was at hand.
Jackson. like Bee and Barstow, had been
ordered to the Stone Bridge. Hearing
the heavy fire to his left increasing in
intensity, he had turned the head of his
column toward the most pressing danger,
and had sent messenger TO Bee TO an
nounce his coming. As he pushed rapidly
forward. part of the troops he had in
tended to support swept by in disorder
TO the rear. Imboden's Battery came
dashing back, and that officer, meeting
Jackson, expressed with a profanity that
was evidently displeasing to the General
his disgust at being left without support
I'll support your battery was the BRIEF
reply. 'Unlimber right here
AT this moment appeared Gen. Bee, ap-
preaching at full gallop, and he and Jack
son met face to face. jackson was cool
and composed. Bee, covered with dust
and sweat, his sword in his hand and his
horse foaming.
"General' he said they are beating
us backr
"'Then, sir, we will give them the bay
onet.'
''The thin lips closed like a wise. and the
First Brigade, pressing up the slope,
formed into line on the eastern edge of the
Henry Hill.
"Jackson's determined bearing inspired
Bee with renewed confidence. He turned
and galoped back to the ravine
where his officers were attempting to re-
form their broken companies. Riding into
the midst of the throng he pointed his
sword to the Virginia regiments deployed
In well-ordered array on the hight above.
Look he shouted, there is jackson
standing like n stone wall! Rally behind
the VirginiansP
1.-THE men took up the cry, and the hap
py augury of the expression, applied at
. time when defeat seemed imminent and
hearts were failing, was remembered
when the danger had passed away.
"The position which Jackson had occu-
pied was the strongest that could be
found. He had not gone forward to the
crest, which looks down upon Young's
Branch, and commands the slope by
which the Federals were advancing. From
that crest extended a wide view and
wide field Of fire; but both hanks would
have been exposed. The Henry House
was nothing more than cottage; neither
here nor elsewhere was there shelter for
his ridemen, and they would have been
exposed to the full force of the Federal
artillery without power of reply. But on
the eastern edge of the hill, where he had
chosen to depioy, ran q belt of young
pines, affording excellent cover, which
merged into dense oak wood near the
Sudley road.
''Along the edge of the pines Jackson
placed his regiments, with six guns to
support them. Lying in rear of the guns
were the 4th and 9th Va; on the right |
was the 9TH on the left the I'd and 33d. |
Both TANKS were in the woods, and Stu
art, whom Jackson had called up to Sc
cure his left, was watching the ground
beyond the road. To the front, for |
space of 500 yards stretched the level |
crest Of the hill; and the ground beyond |
the Henry House, dipping to the valley |
Of 4oung's Branch, where the Federals |
were gathering, was wholly unseen. But, |
as the tactics of Wellington SO often |
proved, q position from which the view |
Is limited, well in the rear of q crest line, |
may be exceedingly strong for defense, |
provided that troops who hold it can use |
the bayonet. 1t would be difficult in the |
extreme for the Federals to pave the way
for their attack with artillery. From the |
guns on Matthew's Hill the Virginia
regiments were well sheltered and the
range was long. To do effective work the |
bostile batteries would have to cross
Ioung's Branch, ascend the Henry Hill |
and come into action within 800 yards of |
Jackson's line. Even if they were able |
TO hold their ground at so short range,
they could make no accurate practice un-
der the fire of the Confederate marks
men"
Supplementary to the foregoing Col.
Charles E. Sears, soldier, journalist and
Hterateur, says:
Here was an illustration of Jackson's
cool and consummate tactical skill All
about him was confusion The thin and
broken line of gray was hurrying back in
disorder, If not panic. There were no
reinforcements within four or five miles
Of him. His brigade was the only or
ganized body Of infantry in front of nearly
so,OOO Of the enemy, 10000 of whom were
moving directly toward him. 1t was
time TO try ones soul. But amid the mad
rush OF fugitiVes, with the battle appar-
emily lost beyond hope, he calmly select
ed his position with the deliberation and
care one might expect of a General en-
gagged IN sham battle or manuyering for
prize. His orders were few, his Ian
guage clear, his brain calm and calculat-
Ing.
"Just as his line was completed by the
bringing up Of the rallied fugitives on his
right, both Johnston and Beauregard ar
rived on the scene, having quickly aban-
doned all purpose to attack on the en-
emys left and hurried to the point where
the left wing was being swept away and
the destruction Of the army by detail ap-
psrently inevitable. Both rode in front
OF the line, encouraging the regiments, fol-
lowed by color-bearers bearing their ban
nsrs. Shells were bursting on every hand.
hot dust was floating in the midday rays /
OF July sun; there was the clamor of
cheers, the din of hot battle"
Says Henderson: Meanwhile, before
the center Of his line, with an unconcern
that had q marvellous effect On his untried
command, Jackson rode slowly to and fro.
Except that his face was a little paIer
and his eyes brighter, he looked exactly
as his men had seen him SO often on
parade; and SIS he passed along the crest
above them they heard from time to time
the reassurng words, uttered in a tone
which betrayed no trace Of excitement
STEADY, men! Steady All's wellr"
Col. Sears continues: The cloud of
battle now burst with all its fury. The
Federal regiments flushed with victory,
came crowding over the crest of Henry
Hill, past the Henry House, cheering and
firing volleys. The contest that ensued.'
says lmboden in his interesting narrative.
was terrific. Jackson ordered me to 20
from latfprv fo hattary .rJ CO a.. Z