Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-11-02
An Estimate of General Jackson.

Mr.. !. c. Haas, of Washington, Con-
federate veteran who is known in this
section. writes the following letter TO the
Baltimore Sun, apropos OF the discussion
now going on as result of Miss Mary
Johnson's delineation OF the character OF
General Stonewall Jackson;
To the Editor of the Sun-Sir: The
undersigned served under Stonewall
Jackson when he defeated General Mil
roy, battle of Mcdowell, May s, 1862;
General Banks, at Newtown and Win
chester, May Is, 1862; General Fremont,
at Cross Keys, June 8, 1862, and General
Shields, at Port Republic, June g. 1862.
The combined force of the Union troops
to capture Jackson aggregated more than
$1,000 soldiers, while General Jackson'S
force was about 1900 men. saw him
during the battle of Winchester; was
near him at the battle of Mcdowell on
the top OF the mountain; was near him
when he emerged from the Port Repub-
lie bridge, passing through Federal SOL
dierS on the south side, June 9, 1862;
saw him in transforms and on forced
marches, sharing the hardships ofprivate
soldiers; | saw him in camp. And
vivid recollection of these stirring events
justifies my statement that Capt. James P.
Smiths pen portrait of Stonewall Jack
son is correct.
General JackSon's guiding star was du-
ty-the most sublime word in the English
language. He was the reverse OF a
"dress parade soldier" He realized that
war was terrible, but battles could not be
won without horrible sacrifice. His mind
acted like Corliss engine, and when he
gave the tart command, Forward y the
impact OF his force was irresistible. FIRE.
quently he was in front, where the battle
ragged fiercely.
General Jackson was plain Christian
not bigoted, as unjuStly represented.
In his Shenandoah Valley campaign two
of his staff officials were sons ofminiSterS
H. Kyd Douglass was son OF a Re-
formed minister, near HagerStown, Md. ;
Alexander Sandy Pendleton was son
of an Episcopal rector, of Lexington, Va.
But Stonewall Jackson was a practical
Christian, and assumed that God helped
those who helped themselves" and his
record shows that he suited the action to
the word.
General Jackson sucked lemons for
medicinal purposes. 1t would be diff
cult task to chew a lemon, like eating an
apple. But he "handed sour lemons" to
the enemy (metaphorically) in the game
of war.
1t is to be regretted that Miss Johnston,
in "The Long Roll" should give counte-
nance to the absurd change that General
Jackson was derelict OF duty at the battle
of "Seven Days." below Richmond,
where General Mcclellan was in formid-
able trenches with an army OF $4,000
men. AS matter OF fact, General Nc
Clellan held his ground until Stonewall
Jackson struck his right flank, when Nc
Clelan began Immediately his mastery
retreat toward the gunboatS. To assume
that Stonewall Jackson could get in the
rear of McClellan'S army OF $4,000 men
with modern arms and annihilate them at
zone fell stroke" might work in fiction,
but not in practical warfare. General
Jackson had just emerged from his Shen-
andoah Valley campaign, winning tour
battles, and had marched his loot cav
airy more than 500 miles. He had no
time to recruit his army, but notwith-
standing these disadvantages, when
Stonewall Jackson struck McClellan'srghs
wing the latter fled TO the rear.
General Lees estimate OF General
Jackson places him beyond criticism.
When General Lee was informed that
General Jackson was dangerously wound
ed at Charlottesville, he penned the
following note to General Jackson;
al have Just received word that you
have been seriously wounded. cannot
express my regret at the occurrence.
Could have dictated events, ! should
have chosen, for the good Of the country,
TO have been disabled in your stead. !
congratulate you on your victory, which
is due to your skill and energy"
That was the sincere estimate OF Gen.
R. E. Lee, whose grand character emola-
IONS the civilized world.
The undersigned enlisted in the Confed-
crate service April II, 1861, and remained
until the surrender, April, 1865. In the
first wear of the war | enlisted in the
Tenth Virginia Regiment, and was a
member of Chew's Battery, Stuart's
Horse Artillery, three years. Captain
Chew was finally promoted to colonel,
commanding Stuat's Horse Artillery, and
by many he was regarded as the most
efficient artillery officer in the Army OF
Northern Virginia. He was astudentun-
der General Jackson at Virginia Military
Institute, and now resides at Charles
Town, w. Va.
I.C. HAAS.