The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-09-22
A WARTIME BLUFF
1t Was Worked by Stonewall
Jackson, and 1t Won.
HIS MOST IMPORTANT ORDER

II Was Given by the Cool Headed Con-
federate Commander to a Confused
Federal Soldier, and II Was Prompt
! ly obeyed--A Lucky Escape.
Perhaps the most important order
that Stonewall Jackson ever issued
certainly the most vital to himself-is
not in the official war records. The
order was given in person by Jackson
to a northern artillery officer as he
stood in full uniform ready for battle
beside his gun. and, strangest of all,
was at once executed by him, with the
result that the battle was lost by the
Federal arms.
Jackson's action on this occasion fur
nishes a striking illustration of the
value of cool head and presence of
mind in an emergency-on an impor-
| tant occasion when the entirely unex-
pected happens-at a time when wav-
ering or indecision would result in dis
aster. That he was able instantly to
| grasp the situation and daringly mas
| ter it is a tribute to his quickness of
| judgment and his courage.
1t was on a spring morning in 1862,
just before the battle of Port Repub-
| lie. Jackson in advance of his troops,
| with only single escort. gallOped
across the bridge over the Shenandoah
river into the town, which stood on the
! east bank. Learning that the army
of General Shields was still good
many miles away and confident that
his own troops would be in possession
long before the enemy. he rode to
residence at the farther end of the vii
lage. where he spent nearly an hour.
But meantime the energetic Shields
whom Jackson declared to be his most
formidable Opponent-had thrust for
ward small. swift column to occupy
| Port Republic. seize the bridge and
halt Jackson's advance So rapidly did
it move that it gained both objects
without firing a shot. More than that,
Jackson was a prisoner--if any one
had known it,
Jackson. in utter ignorance of the
disastrous change. mounted his horse
and ambled down the main street to
the bridge. What was his astonish-
ment to see groups of soldiers-in bluel
-busily moving to and fro about the
bridgehead and throwing up htrench-
ments and Notifications. Planted on a
little knoll that commanded the bridge
and its approaches was formidable
field gun.
Fortunately for Jackson, the recent
campaigns up and down the valley had
faded both blue and gray uniforms
into nondescript drab. As Jackson
sat on his horse and watched the busy
scene he formed his plan swiftly. He
could not go back. He must cross that
bridge. That was his only chance 1t
was the frowning field gun that he
feared. He must put it out of commits
/ sion long enough to get beyond its
range. Throwing up his hand to at
tract attention, he shouted to the Of
ficer in command of the gun:
What are you doing with that gun
up there? 1 didn't order it there, and
don't want it therew There were au-
thority and petulance in his voice as
he added. Timber up and run it over
on that knob over therep'
The officer at the gun, thinking that
he had to deal with some superior Of
ficer recently arrived, hastened to obey
without question. explaining in self de-
fense that he had understood his orders
otherwise.
Sitting on Little Sorrel while the
Federal troops worked busily about
him, Jackson calmly waited until the
gun was numbering off to its new po-
sition. Then he rode quietly across
the bridge and up the other bank un-
til he was well out of musket range.
Then he turned. waved his hand to the
astonished Federals and. putting spurs
to his horse, galloped away from the
rain of bullets that pattered harmlessly
In the rear.
Had he been captured the Confeder-
ate victory at Port Republic which he
Won few hours later would not have
happened. The able and energetic
Shields would have defeated his
troops. stunned by his loss. Youths
Companion.