The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-01-11

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son at Front Royal and subse-
quently at Cross Keys and
Port Republic. on the Shenan-
doah. were achieved by startling
series Of maneuvers. little understood
by the world at the time save that In
general way they meant that he
held one commander at arms length
while he hammered the other"
II have seen grand Old Jack rat
tied. for once Captain Elllngham
wrote his sister from Front Royal.
''We were opposite Port Republic and
the general, with 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 10
Taliaferro and Winder for the de
Tense OF the bridge. hut before these
could be executed the advance Federal
batteries had opened fire and their
cavalry. crossing the South river. had
nhtDh iilO NHt AOMI uiiu liktll DUrl'
ton at the southern entrance TO the
bridge.
''You see. the general had not re
crossed the river and so he was com
pleteIy cut of. and we didn't know e.
They do say he met the emergency
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 1t over here
IL fooled them long enough 10 enable
Jackson TO put spurs 60 his horse and
dash on 10 the bridge at full gallop.
Three hasty shots followed him, but
they flew harmlessly over his head, and
he reached our quarters OH the north
ern bank In safety. And was he rat
tied? Well, at the moment OF the scare
l saw young Bob Lee youngest son OF
General Lee. you know, who is only fif
teen and left the university TO join the
"StonewaIl" brigade as private) going
down TO the bank OF the stream 10
fetch mp some water. He had the biz
camp kettle slung over his shoulder
and | suppose the general in his eN
element thought it was drum. for
as he dew past he shouted out to Bob:
"'IIi. there, drummer beat the long
roll.
''That was close shave. dear Sis.
But | believe--and SO do we all--that
our 'StonewaIl Jackson lives a charm.
ed life while he has this job OF clearing
the valley 20 perform, and nothing can
stop him. DO you know what the Yanks
call him? The ubiquitous Presbyter-
IAN IL seems like wild dream. AZ
look back upon what has happened
since you anu 1 parted at Richmond.
Our great commander. whom we were
rather inclined to poke fun at I'm the be
ginning and whose recklessness many
distrnsted long while after that, has
bowled over the Federal commanders
ms fast ms they could be hurled against
banks. Fremont. Shields. Milroy.
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 we2--haye marched
suppose. GOO miles. fought four pitched
battles and seven minor engagements.
TO say nothing OF The regular dnl'
skirmishes. And we nave defeated
four armies captured seven pieces y
artillery. 10000 stasd OF arms, 4.00t
prisoners aud any amount OF stores
besides fabulous sums ms | hear OF
cash money.
What our adversaries' losses IN
killed and wounded foot up I 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 a moment or tri.
umph, and bis last words were. 'Nr-
ginlans. charge. am sure his name
will always be remembered and hon
ored by the people 0f Virginia.
'IIe was not a Presbyterian. like Old
Jack, but he was deyout aud childlike
In his religious faith and a regular Mt
tendant M the services OF the Episcopal
church. which wis the church OF his
ancestors He may have kept himself
a bit aIoof from the vulgar camp fun
or moments of abandonment. though
no man was more frank and gay on the
unrvh or In bivouilc.
Us II worth these sacri6ccs1 Ger.
trude. IN spite Of all our successes !
wish this nightmare Of civn war were