Year: 1872

We think no we'll Informed man can read
this work without coming to the conclusion
that Gen. I J. Jackson, better known as
Stonewall Jackson, was the foremost cap
tain of his day. No one, since the fir st
Napoleon, can be compared with him in
point of military genius and ability. And


the campaigns Of Jacks on, in the Valley OF
Virginia, recall forcibly the Italian cam
paigus of the young hero of Lodi and Ma
rengo Theysame inferiority Of forces, the
same rapid movements and concen tration,
the same boldness Of attack, which con-
cealed actual weak ness and confused and
astouished the opposing armies, distin-
guish both. While we admit the great
merits of Lee as q most scientific and able
commander, and as worthy OF all the praise
and honor hich have been bestowed upon
him by friends and foes, we do not hesi-
tate moment in yielding the palm to
federacy was irreparable .there was no
one to fill his place. Such men are rare
in the worlds history. Jackson's idea of
the conduct. Of the war was the true one.
The weaker party should be the bolder.
The defensive policy was n fatal error
the aggressive should have been pursued
as soon as practicable. The Con nicdcracy
had everything 10 lose by procastinaton--
the North had everything to gain. Jack
son understood well the character of his
countryman, tie gall mt people of the South.
Brave and impulsive, they should have
been kept continually in action until the
matter was decided. They always did bet
ter in the advance--they became demor-
allied in a retreat. Their spirits fell, they
become discouraged. They had not the
endurance and patience which dlstin-
guished the northern character. With the
prolougation of the war the South would
inevitably become weaker, the North
stronger. What was to have been done
should have been done quickly. Ouropin-
ion Of Gen. 10. johnson, the great retreat
est is not and never was very high. The
policy was ruinous in every way. The
strength of slavery was in the furnishing
of supplies by the cultivation of the soil
while the masters did the fighting. But
whenever the South was seriously invaded
it bscame a weakness. With the occupa.
ton of the Northern armies, demoraliza
ton took place, more or less, everywhere
The fighting should have all been done ON
the frnniicr nr over the hnrler Thnsa
think, were the views Of StOnewall Jack
son, and they were founded in reason and
just conception of the situation.


What will strike the reader of this
interesting book INST strongly is the
marked religious feature in the character
of the great Southern General, which was
showing ITSELF with its peculiar tingc of
Calvinism, ON every occasion. We ore in
clined TO believe that this form vi Chris


tianity, or fatalism, which is Lear akin to
it, makes the mightiest warriors and com
manders as Cromwell, Napoleon, and Gus
tavus Adolphus. When Jackson won a
victory, he gave all the glory to God. The
harder he intended TO fight the oftener
and longer he prayed--he expected 10 get
Heaven to aid him, but it did not prevent
him from doing everything he possibly
could for himself. When he was up near
ly all night praying, his soldiers knew
what was coming the next day, and that
they must win or die. That was Jackson's
style. When the fight was over and the
victory won, he sal down and wrote TO $
wife how highly he had been blessed by
God, who had wrought so much through
his humble instrumentalily. There is no
disputing that this frame of mind makes
great fig hers. We doubt whether really
bad men can be great commanders or sue
cessful in the management of armies. The
very wicked and mean must be necessari-
ly timorous, they cannot have the noble
confidence of the really good man. That
| Stonewall Jackson was an exceeding ly
conscientious and pious man there can be
no doubt, and that he was really the
grandest military genius, which was de-
veloped during the great civil war of the
sections, we think there can be AS little.
The whole country, North and South,
should be proud of him, and as lorg as the
English language remains, he will be
known in history and song.