Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-05
BY Captain GEORGE L. KILr1ER- Late

- campaign against General y.
~ Z. Banks in the Shenandoah
valley during the last week OF
May, 1862, was marvel In its simplici-
~. CELEBRITY and success. As usual, FOR.
tune favored the bold. and the bold.
ness was Napoleonic.
Soon after the Kernstown fight. in
the last week OF March. Jackson learn
ed that Federal army under General
J. G. Fremont was moving on his rear
from western Virginia with the purpose
OF entrapping him between two foes,
one from the lower and one from the
upper end Of the valley. AS he was
not strong enough 10 cope with both,
be resolved to disappear with part Of
his troops. 70 around Fremonts col
umn and head il OF. then turn against
Banks. who was on the other front
down the valley.
While yet a novice in war. Jackson
adopted two theories about military
operations which he aftcrward prac-
ticed with success The first was. al
ways mystify. mislead and surprise
the enemy II possible and when you
strike and overcome him never iet up
In the pursuit so long as your men
have the strength 10 follow" the sec
oud. Never fight against heavy odds
II by any possible maneuvering you
can hurl your own force on only u part
OF your enemy and crush it,"
a Campaign Of Threats and Alarms.
The field Of JacEson's exploits in the
spring OF 1862 was well suited for
trial OF his theories The Shenandoah
valley between the head at Staunton
and the Potomac river is over hun
dred miles long Stanton was "A strong
base for the Confederates in the valley
because it had railway connections
with the main Confederate armies
south. The Federal forces were strong
on the Potomac and If not opposed
would advance u7 the valley on Staun-
ton and 80 cooperate with the army
threatening Richmond Jacksons duty,
when figured down 20 just what his
government expected OF him, was to
keep up scare in the valley. threaten
10 cross the Potomac and pOuuce upon
the northern government TO maintain
large force in the vicinity. In other
words. jackson was TO furnish occupa-
ton i'm the valley for Federal troops
that otherwise would be sent to aid
Mcclellan in front of Richmond.
In May. 1862, Mcclellan was ad-
vancing up the peninsula against the
Confederate capital. A good sized
Federal army under General Mellow
ell was lying in the region just east
of the Shenandoah valley, another un-
der Fremont was in the mountains
west Of IL, and another under Banks
was fortified at Strasburg. a point
about one-third Of the way up the val
ley from the Potomac. Jackson was
at Stauuton. In the combined armies
OF Generals Mcdowell, Fremont and
Banks there were about $1,000 mer
that could have been moved toward
Richmond but for Confederate activity
in the valley JacksOns force wa'
about 10000. On May $ the FIRST bat
tie Of the campaign was fought at the
village OF Mcdowell, IN the mountain:
west Of the valley, between n division
of Jackson's command and one OF Ere
mont's under SchenCk. Schenck lee
Fremonts advance and was cooper
Rting with Banks, who was intending
TO advance up the valley from Stras
burg toward Staunton. Schenck wa
defeated in the battle OF May s, ant
Jackson turned his attention at ono,
TO Banks at Strasburg With his who'll
force he marched boldly down tn
valley in the direction Of Strasburg
where Banks army lay behind fortih
cations.
Jackson Mystihes His Foe.
When half way TO Strasburg the col