Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-04-25


The first week In May. 1862. was wait
lng for hero. and Stonewall proved
himself the man. lie was student
In war committed 20 two theories. One
theory was. Always mystify, mislead
and surprise your enemy" and the
other. "fIurl your own force ON only a
part OF your enemy and crustiit." The
valley was a scene we'll suited for his
policy. Between the Potomac river,
the base Tor the Fcderals. and Staun-
ton. the base for the Confederates, the
valley Is 100 miles long. There are
passes 20 the east and To the west. all
TO be guarded 20 keep the army out or
10 hem II In. Jackson sat out for a
game OF hide and seek. with occasional
battles. 10 keep up a Federal scare In
the valley. threaten 10 cross the Poto-
mac and in this way compel the Wash
lngton government TO hold large force
I'm the vicinity. This would weaken
the bcslegers OF Richmond and by just
80 much strengthen its defenders.
Jackson's first concern was 10 look
out Tor his base M Staunton. This was
threatened early in May 10y the march
of two divisions OF Fremonts army
across the western mountains toward
stanton. Suddenly Jackson's entire
force. except his cavalry pickets. dis
appeared from the valley. His sol
d.ers marched east In the night through
two gaps In the Blue Ridge. and the
friendly people OF the valley were told
they would go 70 Richmond on the
/ Virginia Central railroad. They board
ed the cars az an obscure station and
at night steamed westward 10 Staun.
ton. 4 hurried march took the col
umn 20 the mountain town OF Mellow
ell. and there on May 5 Jackson. hav.
ing completely mystifed and surprised
his enemy. struck n weak part OF his
/ force and crushed H. FrcmOnts adj
vance. led by Mllroy and Schenck. had
reached Mcdowell on the way 20
Staunton. The battle was fought with
muskets alone. for the scene was a
mountain top where artillery could not
be brought 10 the firing line. Jackson
won the fight. and his enemy retreated
back TO Frcmonts main camp.
Stonewall passed the night Of May
in the house OF n citizen OF Mellow.
ell Next morning one OF his officers
who was going 10 StauntOn called 10
see II the general had any messages 90
send TO Richmond. Jackson sat down
and wrote what he said was n dispatch
20 be wired from Stauhton 10 President
Davis. He wrote nearly hair a page Of
foolscap. then. standing Ia front OF
fireplace. read Il over carefully and
tossed Il into the flames. Another mes
sage. not quite as long as the first.
was written and likewise thrown into
the Ere Then he wrote two lines. say
ing. Providence blessed our arms
with victory at Mcdowell yester.
day"
Perhaps II those burned dispatches
had fallen into unfrlendly hands they
would have told too much. Jackson
haG more mystery in his mind. He
sent his cavalry TO follow up Milroy
and Schenck on the road to West Vir.
ginia and also down 10 the valley 20
confront Banks az Strasburg. Once
more the little army OF the Shenan-
doah disappeared from public view ard
was wrapped In mystery TO all except
the faithful few whose business II was
20 know. The army could not be hid.
den from itself. but It's leader kept his
plans TO himself One OF his generals.
who was second In rank and would
have commanded the troops In case OF
accident TO Jackson. came away from
ar interview with his chief rating him
bitterly for stupidity. why" said he.
Il went to him for orders. and he sim
ply told me TO take my men to Staun-
ton; never said word about his
plans. haven't the slightest idea
what they may be. Don't believe he
has the sense OF horse"
Meanwhile jackson was communicate
ing by stealth with General Johnston
in front OF Richmond. lie was asking
for orders to attack Banks and keep
up the scare In the valley as well as at
Washington so that the Fcderals would
be prevented from marching away TO
REINFORCE Mcclellan and Mcdowell in
the coming attack on Richmond. Jack.
son had already received department
instruction very much In the vein OF
Commodore ScLley's when he went aft
or the Colon in the harbor OF Santiago.
lie was told not TO risk his troops In at
lacks upon fortified positions. Banks
had fortified Strasburg. What was an
obedlent and at the same time auda-
cious commander to dol But Jackson
was equal 10 the dilemma. IL required
few more days OF mystifying Banks
and Fremont with his few squadrOns
Of cavalry and few more marches
and cOuntermarches OF his soldiers,
with rolling backward and forward
OF railway trains. TO instill into the
minds OF gossiping women and country
men that Jackson was OF to Richmond
TO help beat Mcclellan. Was not Ere
mont massing his 10000 men at FraRk-
lin. only two days march from Jack
sons base NJ Stauntony Was not Banks
growing stronger every dag at Stras-
burr? jackson was bagged, In the eyes