Year: 1867

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was that feeling in a fighting humor one


morning in early April he picked up his


army, and, crossing the stream, went in


pursuit of the enemy. He found the


enemy posted in the woods near Chan


cellorsville, where he engaged him in a


fierce and desperate battle. But the


Generals plan, IL he had any, soon got


out of bis head, and it became apparent


that he was fighting the battle in so


strange manner that no one could un.


derstand il. In truth, the General set


aside the established rules of war early


in the battle, and went back to first


principles. These give every man the


right to fight in his own way, and is


beautifully illustrated in an army fight


ing without orders. | am told, my son,


on very good authority, that these first


principles as applied to fighting battles,


never were better developed than at
Charlottesville. | am afraid, my son,


we shall never get a complete and accu-


rate history of that extraordinary battle,
for the reason that no historian will be
found capable Of describing it. When


we had got good many men killed, and
q great many severely hurt, the great


question arose as to who won the battle,


and who got whipped. Gen. Hooker was


sure he had gained great victory, and
yet he was not so sure. | say he was
notSo sure, since he found 1T necessary


before settling the question, to withdraw
his army to his old headquarters on the


other side of the river. Feeling that it


would not do to let it get cut that the
enemy had beaten him, he resolved that
it must be true he had beaten the enemy.
This was about the most accommodating
settlement he could arrive at


Yes, my son, such was the feeble con-
dition of the delenses when General
Early and his rebel army came in sight
of the dome of the Capitol. We all
looked confidently for an attack in force
on Tuesday morning. Had it been
made by column of ton thousand men,
led by bold and determined COM
mander, capable of infusing his own i'm
pulse into their movements, they might,
ieebly garrisoned as the forts we're at
that moment with no support between
or behind them), have treated our de-
fenses with contempt, and marched into
the city. But General Jubal A. Early
was not the man for such an enterprise
There we're two great events in this re.
markable siege, my sen, and must tell
you what they were. The Generals
(rebel) had not tasted fresh beef for sew
eral days, and had sharp appetite
which their commissaries we're inclined
to crafty. Now, there was on the plan
tation of Mr.. George Riggs, near where
these Generals had their headquarters. a
celebrated Alderney bull, much valued
by its owner. Here vas temptation
not to be resisted by these Gommssaries,
who had the animal led to the slaughter
and served up for their masters. Now
to the other great event A number OF
general offic ers (choice spirits). coming
to the house of Hon. Montgomery Blair,
put it under a close examination, espe-
cially Che cellar and larder, which was
supposed to be filled with the choicest.
They were disappointed, however, to
find that the cellar contained little wine,
and were about setting the honorable
owner down for disciple of temperance,
when they came on barrel of rare old
Bourbon whisky.


This discovery caused great rejoicing;
the news of it spread far and wide
among the officers, and not an order
was obeyed for the rest of the day. So
you will see, my son, that while the su-
perior Generals and their stats were
banQueting on Mr.. Riggs bull, the field
officers were besieging their brains with
Mr.. Blair's choice whisky. The city
was perfectly safe while this state of
revelry existed And l feel, my son,
that you will agree with me that Mr..
Blair deserves we'll of his country for
supplying his cellar with this remarka
Bile weapon of defense. Let the future
historian bear in mind that the War De-
partment can claim no credit for the
safety of Washington. The credit be-
longs exclusively to Mr.. Riggs bull, and |
Mr.. Montgomery Blair's barrel of
whisky.