Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1913-02-07
CHAPTER v.
Grand Old Jack.

Crane Oid Jaok.
T@HE stunning successes OF Jack
son at Front Royal and subss-
n QuentIy at Cross ksvs and
Port Republic. on the SteRaR-
doah. were achieved by 4 startling
series Of maneuvers. little understood
by the world ut the tune. save that In
q general way they meant that he
held one commander Ut arms length
while ha hammered the other
II have seen grand Old Jack rat
tied, for once" Captain Eliin.ha Ii
wrote his sister from Front Royal.
I'VE were opposite Port Republic and
the general. with q part OF his staff.
had crossed over the bridge into the
town when the enemy appeared In
force. with the evident design OF at
tacking 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
Taliaferro and Windsr for the es-
Tense Of the bridge. but before thess
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 bad net re-
crossed the river and 30 he WAS esn.
pletely cut ct. and we didn't know It
They do say he met the emergency
with the most aud2cious display OF
nerve and presence OF mind that you
ever heard er-actually rode toward the
bridge and, rising In his stirruDs. 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 bis horse aud
dash on to the bridge 1T full gallop.
Three hasty shots followed him. but
they few harmlessly over his bend. and
he reached our quarters on the north
ern bank In safety. And WAS he rat
tied! Well. at the moment OF the scare
/ saw young Bob Lee youngest son OF
General Lee. you know, who IS only hf'
teen and left the university to join the
"Stonewall" brigade as privatel going
down to the bank of the stream to
fetch up some water. He had the big
camp kettle slung over his shoulder.
and | suppose the general III his ex-
element thought 1t was drum. for
as be few past he shouted out to Bob:
eli. there. drummer. beat the long
sollr
That was a close shave, dear Sis.
But | believe-and SO do we all-that
our .Stonewalr Jackson lives q charm
cd life while he has this job OF clearing
the valley to perform. and netting can
stop him. Do you know what the Yanks
call him? The ubiquitous Presbytsr'
ian 1t seems like wild dream. a. |
look back upon what has happened
since you and parted at Richmond.
Our great commander. when we wore
rather inclined TO poke fun at Ia the be-
ginning and whose reeklessness many
aistrustea 4 long while after that. has
bewled over the Federal commanders
as fast NJ they could be hurled against
him-Bankx. Fremont. Shistda. Aflray.
with subordinates like Rlsaksr. Agel,
steinwshr and other able soldiers DE-
feated and the whole upper valley re-
gained.
why, think Of it-tn three noatks
hs-may l say we?-hsvs marched. |
suppose. 600 miles. fought four pitched
battles and seven minor sngagSmeet<
to say nothing Of the regular daily
gkirnishss. And We have defeated
four armies. captured ssrsn pieces OF
artillcsy, 10000 stand of arms. 400
prisoners and any amount OF stores.
besides fabulous sums tas | hear, OF
cash money.
What our adverSaries' losses In
killed and wounded foot up don't
know. but they could not have been
small Ours were less comparatively;
but oh. Gertrude. we have lost our
Ashby. He fell In 4 moment OF tri-
umph. and his last words were, 'Vir-
ginians, charged am sure his name
will always be remembered and hon
ored by the people Of Virginia.
He was not Presbyterian, like oA
Jack. but hs was dsvout and ehidliks
IN his religious faith and regular at
tendant at the services Of the Epfseepai
church. which was the church Of his
ancestors. He may have kept himself
a bit aloof from the vulgar camp fun
or moments of abandonment, though
no man was more frank and gay On the
march or Ia bivo,lac.
els 1t worth these sacrinces7 Ger
truds, in spite of all cur successes /
wish this nightmare Of eivn war were
ever and well over But who can tell
now when We shall be out Of the
woods?"
Washington. remem berins Bull Run,
had nervous proStration whenever
'Stonewalp' Jackson was reported in
action anywhere within hundred miles
Of the Potomac. For this reason it is
probably historic truth to say that
"Stonewal" Jackson saved Richmond
10 the Confederates in 1S62-in the first
place by diyerting McDowell's army to
the valley. in the second place by
marching fresh from his own victories
In that same valley to join Lee in the
seven days battle around the Confed-
crate capital.