The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-29
"ST0NEWALL JACKSON"
The Subject of Brilliant Lecture
by George II. vending

by George II. vending.
'Stonewall Jackson" the lecture de-
livered by Hon. George r. Vending
at Guards Hall last night, was a bril-
liant effort, and one that was appre-
ciated and enthusiastically applauded
by large audience.
Mr.. Vending has all the qualities
OF lecturer: strong but well mod
ulated voice, a clear enunciation, and
personal magnetism that would have
given charm to almost any subject
that he had discussed, and which made
doubly interesting the one he selected.
He was introduced by Mr.. Joseph M.
Dreyer
The lecturer began his address by
saying that he always prefaced it by
telling his audience that great men
are never accidents, that they are but
the swift and unerring shuttles in the
hand OF God, sent higher and thither in
the loom of time, weaving it's product,
destiny
In brief sketch Mr.. Vending
showed the condition of the country at
the time when Stonewall Jackson was
on the eve of beginning his military
career. Then he told of Jackson, him
SELL the quiet professor, his love of
peace as exemplified in his life prior
10 the call to arms, and with What
equal calmness and trust in God he
mad answered that call and begun his
wonderful career.
The lecturer described in graphic
terms the state of things preceding the
Dattle OF Manassas, and, gradually
leading up to the event, told of the
part that Jackson had taken in it,
He prefaced his description of the bat
"tle by saying, 1T is not of battle |
am going to tell you but of a christen-
ing" but he did tell of the battle,
using the historic present and point
ing in picturesque words the magnifi-
cent pageant of two struggling armies,
the Union slowly but surely advancing,
the Confederate giving way until the
coming of Stonewall Jackson, his stub
born stand that won for him his title,
and his subsequent charge that turned
the tide of battle.
Jackson's career was followed
through the various events of the war
up to what Mr.. Vending called his
masterpiece, when in the Virginia VAL
ley with only $4,000 strong. 100 miles
from his own lines and with captured
prisoners and heavy artillery, that
made his army ten miles long, and with
$4,000 men eagerly in pursuit, he effect
ed their defeat by striking them in
separate bodies. and then, as the de-
feated and disorganized armies fled
down the valley, served the Lords Sup
per through his army.
In splendid summary of the many
and varying characteristics OF the great
leader of the Confederates the lecturer
said that Stonewall Jackson as war
rior had been unsurpassed from the
time of Julius Caesar down to modern
times. Jackson's march with 10, 0Gc men
n of Il.
the most marvellous march in history,
and of Jackson's conduct in the fight
that followed, he said lie was oool
calm and confident, as though he were
what he looked-a very god of war
or Jacksons death he said: Jack
son had fulfilled his mission; God AL
mighty put out his hand and took him
away. Some day the Muse of Ameri-
can history will dip her pen in indy
ing colors and write the names of
Stonewall Jackson high among those
that are immortal in the history of
the world
The speaker said that no real his
tory of the Civil War had yet been
written, that those that have written
of events of that time have been led
| too much by their passions to write a
| true and philosophic account, but that
when such a history as will do justice
to the both sides has been written it
will be seen that not slavery was the
cause of the war, nor yet states rights,
nor any of the other questions usual
| ly credited with having brought it
! about, but that the real cause will be
seen to have been the fact that we
were two people instead of one. Puri-
tan and Cavalier, and that these could
never get along togetehr, The Nor
man and the Anglo-Saxon were fused
by war and became the Englishman;
let US hope. as l believe, that the
Puritan and the Cavalier were fused
by the Civil War and that they have
! become the American"
The lecture was given under the
auspices of the Savannah Lecture
| Course.