The Holt County sentinel., 1912-05-24
.TONEwALL" JACKsO.
\ campaign against General n
y T.. Banks In the Shenandoah

he resolved To disappear with purt Uf
his troops. 60 around Frcmont's col
umn and head II or. then turn against
Banks. who was on the other front
down the valley.
while yet u novice In war. jackson
adopted two theories about military
operations which he aftrrward prnc
ticed with success. The first was. Al
ways mystify. mislcad aud surprise
the enemy IN possible. aud when you
strike and overcome him never let az
In the pursuit 80 long ms your mcu
have the strength TO follow" the see
ond Never fight against heavy odd
" 10y any possible mnncuvcring you
can buri your own force on only II part
Of your enemy and crush It,"
A Campaign Of Threats and Alarms.
The field 81 .Iackson's exploits IN tho
spring ~ 1862 was well suited for u
trial Of his theories The Shenandoah
valley between the head at Stnunton
and the Potomac river Is over hun
drcd miles long. Staunton was strong
base for the Confrdcratcs IN the valley
because II had railway connections
with the main Confederate armies
south. The Federal forces were strong
On the Potomac and II not opposed
would advance up the valley on Staun.
ton aud 50 cooperate with the army
threatening Richmond. Jackson's duty.
when figured down to just what his
government expected Of him. WIS 10
keep NJ u scare IN the valley. threaten
To cross the Potomac aud pouncc upon
Washington aud IN this way compel
the northern government "a maintain
n large force IN The vicinity IN Other
words. jackson was Ia furnish occupa
ton In the valley for Federal troops
that otherwise would hr sent ,o uld
Mcclellan IN front at richmond
In May. i>,;2. Mcclellan was AL
vanring NJ 'hc peninsula against the
Confederate capital. \ good ~ih"i
Federal uriIly ul.'lcr General N'l'"w'
ell WAS lAiug ~ the region Just east
Of the Shenandoah valley another IN
der Fremont was IN the mounlainS
west of It. aud another under Hanks
was fortified NJ Slraslnrg. u point
about oIIriiird OF the way up the val.
ley from the Potomac. Jackson was
ut Siauntoi In the combined armies
IL Generals Mcdowell, Fremont ana
hanks there were al,uut $1,000 men
that could have been moved toward
Richmond but for Confederate activity
In the valley. JacksOn's force was
about 10000 On May ) the first bat.
tie Of the campaign was fought NJ the
village Of Mcdowell. In the mountains
west Of the valley. between a division
Of Jackson's command and one OF FIRE.
nionts under Schenck. Schenck Ted
FremOnt's advance aud was cooper
ating with Banks, who was intending
to advance up the valley from Stras'
burg toward StauntOn. Schenck was
defeated In the battle Of May =. aud
Jackson turned his attention at once
TO Ranks nj Strasburg, With his whole
force he marched boldly down the
valley In the direction Of Strasburg.
where Banks army lay behind fortiB'
cations.
Jackson MystiAes His Foe,
When haif way 10 Strasburg tue col.
umn halted. Jackson posted u strong
line OF cavalry pickets to mask his
movement from the Federal scouts.
and with his infantry disappeared 80
suddenly that even the people OF the
region nv well as the Federal leaders
were mystifed. Detachments Of cav.
airy guarded every road on his line Of
! march. and his soldiers marched 80
rapidly that the movement seemed to
he one OF cavalry only. II was then
that his infantry gained the name OF
foot cavalry" They sometimes made
thirty miles In twenty -four hours.
Leu wing the Shenandoah valley. Jack
sons army crossed the mountains TO
the eastward the night Of May % and
stealthily approached Front Royal a
post guarding Banks on the aank and
rear.
Front Royal was surprised aud cup
tured after a sharp light the evening
| Of the 23d. aud the hot pursuit begun
The garrison Of Front Royal retired
step by step. lighting valiantiy. hut
was ut last overcome. Tidings Of this
disaster were carried to the Federal
camps beyond the mountains during
| the night.
.Iackson's mounted men 10 the sur
2ri.~ OF Banks Outp0sts we're led by
Several Turner Ashby. a soldier Of the
| CIR. ucis Marion type WhOse friends