Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-02-18

Il
the following reminiscence, which
brings back to us in vivid force
some of the tragic memories OF
our Statehood war:
"This way, General Hood" " said the
guide, gracefully saluting and point
ing northward, as the head OF Long
streets column swung toward the east.
The guide, we'll mounted and wearing
the uniform of Confederate cavalry
man. sat at the forks of the road rear
the little village of Plains, in Fau-
quier county, Virginia.
"The road which General Hood was
taking leads to Thoroughfare Gap, in
Bull Run Mountain, and is the only
practicable approach to the field OF
Manassas, where Stonewall Jackson
was then struggling with the army OF
General Pope"
These are the opening para
graphs in most intensely inter-
esting pamphlet recently written
by Colonel John Cussons, of Glen
Allen, Va, in which he relates,
with accurate and thrilling detail,
the arrest, speedy trial by drum
head court martial and execution
of Jack Sterry, the Jessie scout
and Federal spy, who by the most
superb GOODNESS and daring, came
so dangerously near defeating
General Lees tactics and procur-
inc the ruin Of Jackson'S corps
at the second battle of Manassas.
General Lee had sent Jackson,
by a detour of more than sixty
miles, to the rear Of Pope's army.
Jackson seized Manassas juno
ton. DESTROYED all of Pope'S sup
plies and was practically between
him and Washington City before
Pope was aware of his presence.
Jackson was furiously aSSalled
by Pope and Mcdowell and was
fighting desperately to hold his
ground until he could be REIN
forced by Longstreet who was
rushing to his rescue.
| Jackson's situation was desper-
ate in the extreme. Pope was
between him and Richmond and
he was between Pope ard Wash
lington. The long lines OF the
Federal army were closing in
around his little command that
lhad marched and fought till 1t
was fa1nting from exhaustion
and LongStreet still far away,
The brigade to which / belong.
ed was in Hoods division, which
was leading Longstreet's corps
with General Hood riding at the
head of the column attended by
Ibis staff and Colonel Cussons,
commander of scouts. Cussons
saws it was 10 a. M, Aug. 2Sth,
1852. We were within fifteen
miles of Jackson, with Bull Rur
mountain between us. Thorough
: fare Gap, the only available pass
through the mountain, was sever
miles ahead of us, and Mcdowell
on the other side was rushing tt
seize it before Hood could arrive
1.-The situation was desperate. l
e Mcdowell could seize and hole
the pass. Longstreet would b.
cut off. Jackson would be crush
led. and the whole tide of wa
would be changed.
1t was at this critical junctur
THAT Hood encountered the hand
lsome and dashing young cavalry
Y man at the forks OF the road, tn
, right hand leading to Thorough
fare Gap and the left hand lea,
Is ing away somewhere to the mort
THAT would have made it impo
We sible for Longstreet to join Jacl
son If Hood had been deceived |
the bold and brilliant young fe
low who saluted and announce
himself as a courier from Jac
son, and informed Hood tn
Mcdowell had possession Of Il
Gap, and that Jackson direct
l. 'him to take the left hand and e
deavor to join him bv way
Gum Springs. But Hood was t
old a soldier to be caught, a
right here begins the story of I
dramatic scene between Ho
sol and Jack Sterry, tod in ColoI
all Cussons' graphic and inimital
So style. wish everybody cot
read it who appreciates AID
ljoys the romance of real histo
I know it to be literally true,
SIcause / was present and witness
the execution OF Jack Sterry,v