Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-09-18
stonewaII Jackson's Military Genius.


the memory of Gen. Robert E. Lee in
the deepest reverence, he regards Gen.
Thomas Jackson, universally known as
"Stonewall" Jackson, as the greatest
military genius of the Civil War. The
fortitude of Lee rouses his admiration /;
the apparently reckless disregard OF all
military rules with which Jackson won
his most brilliant victories excites his
wonder.
"Whom do you think the greatest mil
itary genius of the Civil War;" inquired
a Northern veteran who was exchanging
"reminiscences lately with Southern cav
airy officer.
"StonewaIl Jackson" replied the
Southerner, promptly. ''Other generals
were great. Grant and Lee were both
great, but neither had Jackson's marvel
Gus military instinct. His immediate
grasp of things in all the chaotic whirl OF
battle was almost incredible.
81 will give you an example that came
under my own eyes. After the defeat OF
Pope at the Second Bull Run, his army
fell back toward Washington. Jackson,
hot upon the track, flanked the shattered
divisions, and attacked them at Chan
tilly. But he found stubborner foe than
at Bull Run, for Pope had left the army
and gone to Washington.
at was great surprise for Jackson,
who thought he was still facing the in
capacity of Pope, when Kearney and
other generals met him with a fierceness
and a determination that sent a shock
through his victorious columns.
"Indeed, it was only his genius for bat
lie that saved Jackson in the crisis, for
the Federal generals saw that Jackson
had hurried into battle in the belief that
Pope was still directing affairs, and that
he thought only OF attack. So they sent
a powerful column round Jackson's LEFT
flank, where General Lawton was in
command. If this turning movement
came off, things would look serious Tor
the Confederate leader.
at was about two o'clock in the after
noon,-and a drenching thunderstorm
was in progress,-when a courier from
General Lawton galloped up TO Jackson's
headquarters.
"General Jackson, he called out
through the roar of wind and rain and
cannonade, General Lawton reports
that the rain has wet his ammunition
He cannot fire; he must fall back!' Now
if Lawton should retreat, Jackson would
be flanked he would probably be taken
in the rear, and he might lose his army.
"The ammunition Of the soldiers in
those days consisted of cartridges made
OF a little cylinder OF paper, about the
size of ones finger, enclosing the charge
of powder, with the bullet at one end.
Moisture was fatal to them; soldier
whose ammunition got wet was helpless.
"Hardly had the courier ceased speak
ing before General Jackson turned TO
him, and in tones as quiet and cool as
ever he used from his professors chair
in the Virginia Institute, replied, Return
to General Lawton and tell him that II
his ammunition is wet and his troops
cannot fire, neither can the enemy; tell
him to hold his position.
"When, half an hour later, under a
clearing sky, Stuart swept out across
Lawton's front, where the enemy had
pushed forward, we found that they had
not only abandoned their flanking move
ment, but had retired to their trenches
more than a mile back. Their cartridges
were wet-but their general hadn't real
lied that Lawton's were, too"