Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-07-09
CHAPTER v,
Grand Old Jack.


Grand Old Jack.
T@TIE stunning successes of Jack
b son ut Front Royal and subse
Quently at Cross Keys and
Port Republic. on the Shenan-
doah. We're achieved by startling
series of maneuvers. little understood
by the world at the time. save that in
a general way they meant that he
held one commander ut arms length
while he hammered the other"
Il have seen grand Old Jack rat
tied, for once" Captain Ellingham
wrote his sister from Front Royal.
I'VE We're opposite Port Republic and
the general. with Il part Of his staff.
had crossed over the bridge into the
town when the enemy appeared in
force, with the evident design Of at
lacking the town. destroying the bridge
over the Shenandoah and thus cutting
off our army and getting in our rear
Jackson sent some hurried orders to
Taliuferro and Windcr for the de-
Tense Of the bridge. but before these
could be executed the advance Federal
batteries had opened fire and their
cavalry. crossing the South river had
swept into the town and taken posi-
ton at the southern entrance to the
bridge
You see. the general had not re-
crossed the river and so be was COM
pletey cut off. and we didn't know it.
bn ht,
with the most audacious display of
nerve and presence of mind that you
ever heard of-actually rode toward the
bridge and, rising in his stirrups, called
out to the Federal officer commanding
the artillery: Who ordered you to post
that gun there. sir? Bring it over here
1t fooled them long enough to enable
Jackson to put spurs to his horse and
dash on to the bridge at full gallop.
Three hasty shots followed him, but
they flew harmlessly over his head. and
he reached our quarters on the north
tied? Well, at the moment of the scare
saw young Bob Lee youngest son Of
General Lee. you know. who is only fif-
teen and left the university to join the
"Stonewall' brigade as private) going
down to the bank of the stream to
fetch up some water. He had the big
camp kettle Slung over his shoulder.
md | suppose the general in his ex-
element thought it was a drum, for
as he flew past he shouted out to Bob:
Hi, there, drummer, beat the long
roll!
THAT was a close shave, dear Sis.
But | believe-and SO do we all-that
our 'Stonewall' Jackson lives a charm
ed life while be has this job of clearing
d1e valley to perform, and nothing can
stop him. Do you know what the Yanks
call him? The ubiquitous Presbyter-
lam 1t seems like wild dream, as l
look back upon what has happened
since you and | parted at Richmond.
Our great commander, whom we were
rather inclined to poke fun at in the be-
ginning and whose recklessness many
distrusted a long while after that, has
bowled over the Federal commanders
rs fast as they could be hurled against
:
with subordinates like Blenker. Sigel.
Steinwehr and other able soldiers de-
feated and the whole upper valley re-
gained.
"Why. think of it-in three months
he-may | say we?-have marched.
suppose. 600 miles. fought four pitched
battles and seven minor engagements,
to say nothing Of the regular daily
skirmishes. And we have defea ted
four armies. caDtnred seven nieces of
artillery. 10000 stand Of arms, 1905
prisoners and any amount of stores
besides fabulous sums (as l hear) oil
cash money.
what our adversaries' losses il
killed and wounded foot up l dom
know, but they could not have beer
small. Ours were less comparatively
but, oh, Gertrude, we have lost ou
Ashby. He fell in moment of tri
umph. and his last words were, 'Vir
ginians. charger l am sure his nam
will always be remembered and hon
ored by the people Of Virginia.
"He was not Presbyterian, like Oh,
Jack, but he was deyout and childlik
in his religious faith and regular at
tendant Ut the services Of the Episcopa
church, which was the church Of hi
ancestors. He may have kept himsel
bit aloof from the vulgar camp full
or moments of abandonment, thougl
no man was more frank and gay on tn
march mr. in hivouoo
els it worth these sacrifices? Ger
trude, in spite Of all our successes
wish this nightmare Of civil war wer
over and we'll over. But who can tel
now when we shall be out Of tn
Woods?"
washington, remembering Bull Rur
had nervous prostration wheneve
"Stonewall'' Jackson was reported il
action anywhere within hundred mile
of the Potomac. For this reason it
probably historic truth to say tina
"Stonewall" Jackson saved Richmon
: to the Confederates in 1SG2-in the frs
place by diyerting McDowell's army t
the valley, in the second place b
marching fresh from his own victorie
tn that same valley to join Lee in tn
seven days battle around the Confet