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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

NOTICE

The subscriber will publish in October a portrait of
Stonewall Jackson, engraved on steel by one of the
best artists in the country. It is copied from a photo
graph taken just before the battle of Chancellorsville
for Mrs. Jackson, and is the only authentic picture.
The work will be done in the finest style of the art.
The size of the engraving will be 13 x 16.
Prices ¦without Frame.
Plain Proofs, . -  |3 00
India "  6 00
Artist's Proofs before letter, of -wliicli a yeij
limited number ¦will be printed . ' . 10 00
They can be sent by express.
Persons desiring this splendid portrait of Jackson are
requested to forward their names early to the pub
lisher. Copies will be delivered in the order in which
the subscriptions were received.
C. B. RICHARDSON,
Publisher, 596 Broadway, K T.

LT CEN. T. J. JACKSON
'¦'7,mi.a,Plwtyirravh tahn a- fiir ifcl>- Ivtriv h's dixufj,.

En^ayedfoT-Qie life of .Jajisou

THB LIFE

STONEWALL JACKSON.

OFFICIAL PAPERS, CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVES, AND
PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCE.

BY A VIRGINIAN,

*' I bave jnst received yonr note, Informing: me that you were wounded. I cannot express
my regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed eventa, I should have chosen, for the
good of the conntry, to have heen disabled in your stead. I congratulate you on tlie victory
which is due to your slcill and energy." Lee to Jaceson, al Chajtcelhreville.

BEPKINTED FKOM
ADVANCE SHEETS OE THE lilCHMOND EDITION.

NEW YORK:
CHAELES B. RICHA EDSON,
596 BEOADWAY. 1863. ¦

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863,
By chaeles B. EICHAEDSON,
In tho Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Uafted States
for the Southern District of New York.

3 I SS

EENNIE, SHEA i LINDS.tY,
StEREOTVPERS and ELECTHOTYfEKS ^' CKAIGHEAD,
8I,tJ. Bnd85Cenire-street, ' PriMtr,,
New York. "'5' * *' Ca»TBtM.

TO THE READER,

This work has been written under disadvantages which
entitle it to the liberal criticism of the reader. It was un
dertaken without thought of the probable activity of the
summer campaign, and has been composed in bivouac —
by the road-side — immediately before and after engage
ments — amid scenes and under circumstances which have
rendered deliberate writing impossible. This, and my in
ability to correct the proof-sheets, should excuse the errors
of the work.
All that I claim for the narrative is truth. This I think
it possesses, and the merit is not trifling. Beyond its
value as an accurate statement of events, derived in the
main from ofiicial documents, I claim nothing for it — style
least of all.
A religious paper has made an incredibly violent and
insulting attack upon the work and the author, while the
former was in press and the latter absent in the field.
To this attack I have no abusive epithets to utter in re
ply. The good people of the South shall judge between us.
Some of the raaterial of this sketch is original ; but the
matter illustrating the official reports has been chiefly
drawn from contemporary publications. A considerable
number of these slips, some of them very interesting and

b TO THE EEADEE.
curious, were unfortunately captured by the enemy about
a month since. No MS. was lost, however ; and the pre
diction of friends, that the work would probably be first
isublished in New York, was not verified.
Constant movements, great events, and duties which
could not be neglected, have made this book unequal to
the great subject of which it treats. But the intention of
the writer in composing it was an honorable and worthy
one, as all who know him, he feels confident, will believe.
Camp  , July 21, 1868.

INTRODUCTORY.

" Jackson is dead !"
Seldom have words penetrated more deeply to the heart of a
great nation. The people of the Confederate States had begun to
regard this immortal leader as above the reach of fate. He had
passed unhui-t through such desperate contests ; his calm eyes had
surveyed so many hard-fought battle-fields, from the commence
ment of the combats to their termination, that a general conviction
of the hero's invulnerabUity had impressed every heart — no one
could feel that the light in those eyes of the great soldier would
ever be quenched. But that Providence which decrees all things
wisely at last sent the fatal bullet : and the South is called upon
to mourn the untimely death of one who seemed to his countrymen
the chosen standard-bearer of liberty. After the battle of Chan-
ceUorsville, and while the wound of the famous soldier attracted to
him the warmest sympathy and drew forth the earneat prayers of
many thousands for his recover}-, the journals of the land contained
many notices of his services and genius, and his death was alluded
to as a calamity too frightful to be contemplated. Well has one of
these journals in speaking of Lee and Jackson said : " It is an honor
to breathe the air they breathe. Together, they make up a meas
ure of glory which no nation under Heaven ever surpassed. Other
great leaders we have, to whom unstinted praise is due and every
where gladly accorded ; but the rays • of their fame converge and
accumulate but to add to the dazzling splendor that illuminates the
names of Lee and Jackson.
" The central figure of this war is, beyond all question, that of
Kobert E. Lee. His, the calm, broad military intellect that reduced
the chaos after Donelson to form and order. But Jackson is the
motive power that executes, with the rapidity of lightning, all that
Lee can plan. Lee is the exponent of Southern power of command ;

8 nSTTEODUCTOET.
Jackson, the expression of its faith in Qod and in itself, its terrible
energy, its enthusiasm and daring, its unconquerable will, its con
tempt of danger and fatigue, its capacity to smite, as with bolts of
thunder, the cowardly and cruel foe that would trample under foot
its liberty and its religion.
" Jackson is no accidental manifestation of the powers of faith
and courage. He came not by chance in this day and to this gen
eration. He was born for a purpose. In this conviction, he rests
serenely, awaiting the healing of his wounds ; wiUing once more
to hear the wild cheers of his men as he rides to the front ; or, if
that be denied him, content to retire from the field, a maimed, hum
ble, simple Christian man. Civil honor, were it the highest in the
gift of the country, could not add one cubit to the stature of his
glory. " Even should he die, his fiery and unquailing spirit would sur
vive iu his men. He has infused into them that which cannot die.
The leader who succeeds him, be he whom he may, will be impelled,
as by a supernatural impulse, to emulate his matchless deeds.
Jackson's men will demand to be led in ' Stonewall Jackson's way.'
The leader who will not or cannot comply with that demand, must
drop the baton quickly. Jackson's corps vrill be led forever by the
memory of its great chieftain.''
Alas I the termination of his wound was fatal. The great soul
has passed away from us : and we are left without his sagacious
counsels, Ms splendid powers of execution ; his unerring judgment,
and that intuitive genius for war which made him, in his sphere,
the first of living leaders, and ranked bim vrith the greatest who
have lived in all tide of time.
It is the life of this famous general that we now propose to write
— a popular and unstudied record of his career — for the satisfaction
of that honorable curiosity which his countrymen feel in relation
te his services. Those services need no record indeed : for they are
graven iu imperishable characters on the tablets of every heart.
But some portisns of this great career may have been obscured
amid the smoke and dust of these hot days of battle : and the ob
ject of these pages is to review them succinctly and furnish some
personal details of the hero's character.

CONTENTS

PASB
To THE Readek  5
INTEODUCTOET  7
CHAPTER I
Birth, Parentage, and Early Services iu Mexico  13
CHAPTER n.
Professor at the Virginia Military Institute — Appointed Colonel
in the Virginia Line  17
CHAPTER III.
Engagement at Falling Waters  21
CHAPTER IV
Battle of Manassas  25
CHAPTER V.
Jackson's Farewell to the Old Brigade  32
CHAPTER VI.
The Winter Expedition to Eomney  35
CHAPTER VIL
The Battle of Kernstown  39
CHAPTER VIII.
The Battle of McDowell  43
1»

10 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX. ^AOB
The Battle of Winchester  ^^
CHAPTER X. ¦
The Battle of Cross Keys  63
CHAPTER XI.
Battle of Port Republic  08
CHAPTER XII.
Illustrations — ^Romney : Kernstown  73
CHAPTER SUL
Illustrations — McDowell : Winchester  81
CHAPTER XIV.
Illustrations — Cross Keys : Port Republic  99
CHAPTER XV.
Jackson in June, 1862  107
CHAPTER XVI.
Cold Harbor  114
CHAPTER XVIL
The Retreat of McCleUan to Malvern HiU  121
CHAPTER XVin.
^ope  135
CHAPTER XIX
Cedar Run  j^7
CHAPTER XX.
DetaOs  jgg

CONTENTS. 11
CHAPTER XXI. PAGH
The March to Manassas  159
CHAPTER XXII.
Jackson at Bay  173
CHAPTER XXIII.
Manassas: August 29, 1863  177
CHAPTER xxrv.
Manassas: August 30,1862  183
CHAPTER XXV.
Invasion of Maryland  195
CHAPTER XXVI.
Sharpsburg  207
CHAPTER XXVIL
The Army Resting  219
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Fredericksburg  325
CHAPTER XXIX.
Winter Quarters at Moss Neck  236
CHAPTER XXX.
Hooker Advances  241
CHAPTER XXXI.
The WUderness — ChanceUorsviUe  347
CHAPTER XXXIL
"It is aU Eight"  363

12

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXIII. pagb
Jackson, the Soldier and the Man  370
APPENDIX I.
Operations of General Jackson's Command from September
5th to September 37th, 1863.— Official Report  289
APPENDIX II.
" The Old Stonewall Brigade"  301

LIFE

STONEWALL JACKSON.

CHAPTER L
BIRTH, PAEENTAGE, AND EAELT SERVICES IN MEXICO.
Thomas Jonathan Jackson was born January 21, 1824,
in Clarksburg, Harrison county, Virginia. His, great grand
father, an Englishman by birth, emigrated to the western
portion of Virginia ; and Edward Jackson, grandfather of the
General, was surveyor of Lewis county for a long time, repre
senting it in the Legislature. His son, Jonathan Jackson,
father of the General, moved to Clarksburg, where he studied
and commenced the practice of law with his cousin. Judge
John G. Jackson, acquiring considerable reputation, and mar
rying Miss Neal, a daughter of Thomas Neal, of Wood county.
He, however, became embarrassed in his circumstances by go
ing security for friends, and all his property was eventually
swept away. When he died, in 1827, his children were left
penniless. These children were four in number — two sons
and two daughters — Thomas, the subject of this sketch, being
the youngest, and at the time but three years old.
The child was thus left upon the very threshold of life to
learn the hard lesson of poverty. But this lesson, thus early
learned, bpre ample fruits in a soil so rich and auspicious to

14 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the finer growth of the human soul. The young man was
taught from the very commencement of his earthly career to
make up by honest toil for the neglect of fortune, and in
stead of frittering away his time and faculties in the haunts
of pleasure or the frivolous pursuits of youths generally, to
'turn his attention to the more ennobling aims of life, and fit
himself for that career in which he was to secure his great
fame. Soon after the death of his parents he was taken to the
home of an uncle in Lewis county, and remained at this place
— the family homestead of the Jacksons, in which his father
had been born — until he reached the age of seventeen. Here
he labored on the farm in summer and went to school three
months in the winter, gaining the rudiments of a plain En
glish education — what he acquired subsequently was due to
his stay at West Point, and his ultimate studies at the Vir
ginia Military Institute. His habits of life, even at this early
age, are said to have been grave and serious — his discharge of
every duty conscientious and complete. He assisted his un
cle in the management of the farm ; and soon secured among
the residents of the county a high character for industry, in
telligence, and probity. His orphan condition excited great
sympathy among the neighbors, who knew and respected the
good character of the Jackson family ; and every assistance
was rendered him in his struggle to carve out his own path
way in life, and secure an honorable independence. A proof
of this friendly sympathy is contained in the fact that at the
age of sixteen, he was elected constable of the county of Lewis,
the duties of which office he discharged with intelligence and
credit. The inclinations of the young man seem, however, to have
pointed early towards arms as a profession. Some hereditary
instinct of his family for war probably developed itself in the
grave and serious youth — but to those who believe as we do
that a mightier hand than man's shapes all human events

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 15
this early inclination will appear to have been the means of
fitting him for the grand part he was eventually to have in
the assertion of Southern liberties. It is certain that young
Jackson found himself impelled toward a military career, and
at the age of seventeen he set out for Washington on foot,
to secure, if possible, an appointment as cadet at West Point.
This he was enabled to do through the instrumentality of some
political friends, and he entered upon his studies there in 1842.
In July, 1 846, at the age of twenty-two, he graduated with
distinction, was brevetted 2d Lieutenant, and immediately or
dered to report for duty in Mexico, under General Taylor.
He served under that commander until Gen. Scott took the
field, when he was transferred to the command of the latter.
His military career was distinguished, and his promotion rapid.
In August, 1847, he was made 1st Lieutenant in Magruder's
Battery ; brevetted Captain " for gallant and meritorious con
duct in battles of Contreras and Churubusco," August 20,
1847 (Aug., 1848), and brevetted Major "for gallant and
meritorious conduct in battle of Chepultepec," September 13,
1847 (March, 1849). No other ofiicer had so distinguished
himself and risen so rapidly as the young Virginian. The un
known youth had, in this brief space of time, attracted the
attention of his generals, and become one of the most promis
ing young officers of the army.
The climate of the country had, however, told powerfully
upon a frame at no time very robust. His health became so
impaired that he was unable to discharge his duties — and, with
the high sense of honor which marked his character, he, on
the conclusion of peace, resigned his commission. (Feb. 29,
1852.) Eeturning to Virginia, he obtained a Professorship
in the Virginia Military Institute, and continued in the per
formance of the important duties of this position until the
breaking out of the present war. Soon after entering upon
his duties at. the Military Institute, he married Miss Junkin,
daughter of the Kev, Dr. Junkin, Principal of the Washing-

16 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
ton College. This lady and her children died, and he was
afterwards married to Miss Morrison, of North Carolina— his
only living child, a daughter, but recently born, being the sole
issue of this marriage.
Few records of the brief career of the young soldier in Mex
ico remain, tending to throw any light upon his personal char
acter — that unique individuality which has since attracted to
him the eyes of the whole world. The brief official recogni
tion of his " gallant and meritorious conduct" remains ; but
beyond this we find little. His profound religious sentiments,
it is however known, were at this time fully developed. He
did not, like many other Christians, confine himself to barren
faith, but actively exerted himself in the cause of God. He
restrained all profanity in his camp, welcomed army colpor
teurs, distributed tracts, and endeavored to have every regi
ment in the army supplied with a chaplain. " He was vul
garly sneered at," it is said, " as a fatalist ; his habits of
soliloquy were derided as superstitious conversations with a
familiar spirit; but the confidence he had in his destiny was
the unfailing mark of genius, and adorned the Christian faith
which made him believe that he had a distinct mission of
duty, in which he should be spared for the ends of Provi
dence." It would seem, indeed, that even at this early period
of his hfe, he had fully embraced that doctrine of Predestina
tion which undoubtedly marked his character very strongly
in latter years. No intelligent person has ever attributed to
him the vulgar and shocking sentiment of " fatalism'^' — but it
seems certain that from an early period in his career, he es
poused the Presbyterian doctrine of Providential supervision
and direction of human afi'airs, to the fullest extent; and had
but one feeling, which may be accurately summed up and ex
pressed in the words, " Do your duty, and leave the rest to
God." It is said that while in Mexico, a battery of the enemy was
pouring a storm of shot and shell down a road, along which

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 17
he wished his men to advance. They remained under cover,
out of the fire, shaken in nerve and fearing to venture forth.
This was excessively distasteful and mortifying to their young
commander, and leaving them, he advanced to the road, and
calmly walked up and down among the plunging shot and
shell, calling out coolly, "Come on — this is nothing — you see
they can't hurt me !"
It will thus be seen that, either from native courage or that
sentiment of predestination alluded to, young Jackson had
already acquired the dauntless nerve and coolness which after
wards rendered him so famous.
The penetrating eyes of Napoleon, had he seen that youth,
calmly walking amid the heavy fire of the enemy's artillery,
and declaring coolly that it " could not hurt him," would have
discerned much in his face — would have understood that this
young man would " go far."

CHAPTER IL
PROFESSOR AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE  APPOINTED
COLONEL IN THE VIRGINIA LINE.
Jackson remained at the Military Institute in discharge of
his duties until the spring of 1861. Then the time for the
full display of the great faculties of his soul came. Peace
might have left forever hidden the profound and splendid
genius of the man, but the bloody flower of war was about
to burst into bloom, and the quiet, "eccentric" professor was
to shape and mould the great events of a mighty period in
the history of the world. Cromwell might have remained a
brewer — Jackson an unknown professor; but for both of
these iron souls Providence had decreed and shaped their
work.

18 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
The year 1861 opened, big with portents. The air seemed
to be filled with that mysterious electricity whioh preludes
revolution and battle. Great events were on the march, and
the minds of men were aroused and excited ; all hearts beat
fast with the ardor of the time. In January the " Star of
the West" was fired upon in Charleston harbor, and Missis
sippi followed South CaroUna, seceding from the TJnion.
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana followed in the sarae
month, and military movements began at many points. Early
in February Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Con
federate States ; and on the 4th of March Abraham Lincoln
was inaugurated President of the United States. State after
State seceded ; a permanent Constitution of the Confederate
States was adopted March 11, and on April 13th Fort Sumter
surrendered to General Beauregard. From that moment the
issue was clearly joined, and all intelligent minds perceived
that it meant civil war. The Confederate States accepted
it — marshalled their forces — organized for the general defence
— and entered upon the great struggle with grave and serious
hearts, but profound reliance on that God of Hosts who
gives not the battle to the strong or the race to the swift,
but upholds the righteous cause against all assailants, working
its deliverance.
Up to the I7th April the galaxy of the Confederate States
wanted one of its brightest luminaries. The Southern cross
was yet without the central light which was to complete its
glories. Virginia, the soul of revolution in the past — the
proud, defiant, chivalric sovereignty which had been hitherto
the flrst to throw down the gauntlet of resistance to oppres
sion — Virginia, the mother of warriors and statesmen, re
mained inactive, lagging in the rear. Some day the causes
of this phenomenon will be investigated, the actors in that
drama delineated, and "every one shall have his own."
Certain it is that the beautiful Virgin of the Virginia Shield
hesitated long to lift the spear in defence of her chastity

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 19
and it was not until a brutal and insolent foe came in direct
contact with her pure person that she woke to the danger, and
raised her arm.
The Ordinance of Secession was passed on the l7th April,
and the Virginia Convention took immediate steps to operate
against the enemy in the Valley. It was a matter of primary
iraportance to drive the Federal forces from Harper's Ferry,
and secure the stores there, and this was promptly undertaken.
We had only a few volunteer troops to move with against the
U. S. regulars ; but Virginia had a well-grounded confidence
in the courage of her population, and the event of the move
ment was looked to with confidence.
With this month of April, 1861, again appears upon the
scene the young soldier who had so greatly distinguished
himself in Mexico, and since that time had been so quietly
pursuing the beaten path of his duties at the Virginia Mili
tary Institute. Jackson was now thirty-seven years of age.
He was scarcely known beyond the walls of the Institute in
which he continued to perform his official duties with military
regularity, and if the outer world heard of him at all, it was
only through jests or witticisms directed against his pecu
liarities of character and demeanor by some of the students
who, with the love of fun proverbial in their class, had much
to say of the eccentricities and odd ways of "Old Tom
Jackson." The universal tendency to caricature the pecu
liarities of a man of original genius is well known — to make
fun of those very great traits which separate such men from
the common-place mass of human beings — and Jackson re
ceived more than a fair share of this undesirable attention on
the part of his students. He was a martinet in the perform
ance of his duties — administered things in his department
" on a war footing,'' and no doubt caused the volatile young
men whom he taught, to regard him as a most unreasonable
and exacting stickler for useless military etiquette and cere
mony. But he was conscientious in this extreme attention to

20 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.

little things, and he was clearly right. The Institute was a
military school— its chief value consisted in the habits of
military obedience which it impressed upon the ductile char
acters of the youth of the Commonwealth — and Jackson no
doubt regarded any relaxation of the rules of the establish
ment as tending directly to strike at the intentions of its
founders, and destroy its usefulness. We have heard that he
once continued to wear a thick woollen uniform late into the
summer, and when asked by one of the professors why he
did so, replied that he had seen an order prescribing that
dress, but none had been exhibited to him directing it to be
changed. This was the source of some amusement to the
young gentlemen who had no idea of military " orders" and
the implicit obedience whioh a good soldier considers it his
bounden duty to pay to them. But was not Jackson right?
Let the thousands who, in this bitter and arduous struggle,
have been taught by hard experience the necessity of strict,
unquestioning compliance with all orders, to the very letter,
reply to the question.
Jackson thus remained a soldier as before — as striet in the
performance of duty, and as exacting in regard to others, as
if he was still in the field. It is certain, too, that his reli
gious convictions had become strengthened and established
as the controlling influence of his life. He had long since
become a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, and
was a most devoted and exemplary Christian — looking to
God, and " lifting up hands of prayer" for guidance in all
things from the supreme ruler of the universe. We shall
have occasion, subsequently, to speak more particularly of this
humble and devoted piety — of the profound submission of
this great man's heart to the will of his Maker. Never has
that unwavering trust deserted him, in the gloomiest scenes
of the war ; and in his last moments he said calmly that he
had no repinings or regrets for the loss of his" arm ; it was
God's will, and whether his life was spared or not, he sub-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 21
mitted himself with humility and entire confidence to the
mercy of his Redeemer.
Such was the man to whom the authorities of Virginia
looked when war threatened her frontier and a stout-hearted
leader was required to drive back the enemy. Gov. Letchei
will live forever in history as the official who conferred the
first military commission in the Southern army on Jackson.
He appointed him Colonel, the Virginia Convention unani
mously approved the appointment, and Jackson speedily pro
ceeded to Harper's Ferry, and took command of the small
"Army of Observation" there on the 3d of May, 1861.
Upon the approach of this force, Lieut. Jones, commanding
the Federal forces, attempted the destruction of the armory
and government works, and evacuated the place, which was
immediately occupied by the Virginia troops.

CHAPTER IIL
ENGAGEMENT AT PALLING WATERS.
Jackson remained in command of-the forces in the Valley
until May 23d, when General Joseph E. Johnston, formerly
Quartermaster-general U. S. Army, and an officer of tried
experience and courage, arrived and took command. Tha
force which Jackson thus surrendered the command of to
General Johnston consisted of nine regiments and two bat
talions of infantry, four companies of artillery, with sixteen
pieces without caissons, harness, or horses, and about three
hundred cavalry. All were undisciplined, several regiments
without accoutrements, and the supply of ammunition was
entirely inadequate for active operations.
But the character of the men who commanded this volun
teer force was a sure guaranty that all defects would speedily

22 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
be remedied. Johnston was a thorough soldier, and had his
whole heart in the cause ; Stuart, who commanded the cav
alry, was characterized by untiring energy, clear judgment,
and extraordinary powers of moulding and infusing his own
brave spirit into the hearts of his men ; and Pendleton, who
was in charge of the artillery, was an excellent officer, with a
complete knowledge of military matters, derived from his
early education at West Point. The deficiency in harness
for the artillery was readily sijpplied by the use of ropes and
farm gearing ; the cavalry were taught that more depended
upon stout hearts, strong arms and the elan of the true cava
lier, than on the number or excellence of weapons; and into
the ardent youths of the infantry was infused the stern cour
age, the unyielding fortitude, the daring, the obstinacy, the
unshrinking nerve of Jackson. With Stuart in command of
his cavalry, Pendleton in charge of the artillery, and Jackson
to lead his infantry force, General Johnston had an auspicious
augury of the splendid results which, in spite of its small
numbers, the army would surely achieve. Jackson had al
ready begun to mould his troops into that impenetrable pha
lanx which stood stern and unbroken afterwards, amid scenes
of the most frightful carnage, and whose battle-flag, pierced
with balls and torn with shell, has never yet gone down before
the foe. There, in the valley, he organized and gave its
character to that brigade which afterwards took his own name
of "Stonewall," and, as the "Stonewall Brigade," is known
now and admired for its unshrinking courage and unsurpassed
efficiency throughout the civilized world.
The pause in the storm did not last very long. Early in
June General Johnston was advised of the advance of Pat
terson with a heavy force, and he made arrangements imme
diately for the evacuation of Harper's Ferry. A glance at
the map, and a very shght knowledge of the ground, will
exhibit the necessity of this movement. Harper's Ferry is
untenable by any force not strong enough to take the field

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 23
against an invading army and hold both sides of the Potomac.
It is in a triangle ; its only strong position, in the rear of the
town, being exposed to enfilade and reverse fires from the
Maryland Heights ; and the place is liable to be flanked with
ease by an enemy, crossing at Williamsport or other point
above — Leesburg or other point below. General Johnston
had information from "the indefatigable Stuart," as he
styles him, who observed the whole river front with his cav
alry, fi:om Point of Rocks to beyond Williamsport, that Pat
terson was within a few hours' march of the Potomac, and
McClellan supposed to be advancing from Western Virginia
to form a junction with him at Romney ; and, in consequence
of this intelligence, he wisely determined to evacuate a posi
tion which it "perfectly suited the enemy's views" to have
him occupy, and retire to Winchester, his true base of opera
tions, where all the great highways converged. Thence he
could oppose McClellan advancing from Romney, and Patter
son fi'om Martinsburg — had the Valley to fall back along if
necessary — but, better than all, the way was open to Beaure
gard, who might need his assistance at Manassas. The new
field of operations was chosen with the eye of the true sol
dier — ^from a veritable trap General Johnston emerged into
an open field, where he could advance or retire at will, free
as a ranger of the prairie, to strike, or stand on the defensive ;
and this new position he hastened to occupy. Colonel, now
Major-general, A. P. Hill was dispatched with two regiments
via Winchester towards Romney; and Johnston, after send
ing off all the heavy baggage and public property, destroyed
the bridges over the Potomac, and fell back towards Win
chester. A flank movement from Charlestown towards
Bunker's Hill, a small town on the Martinsburg turnpike,
frightened General Patterson greatly. That commander re
treated, and General Johnston marched to Winchester. He
had scarcely arrived, when infoyination reaohed him that
Patterson was again advancing,/ and Jackson, with his bri-

24 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
gade, was sent to the neighborhood of Martinsburg, to sup
port Stuart's Cavalry. Jackson's orders were to destroy such
of the rolling stock of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as
could not be brought off, but, if the enemy appeared, to retire
before him to Winchester.
The two men who have since attracted so many eyes to
their great deeds, and whose friendship remained close and
warm to the moment when one of them passed away, were
now thrown together in front of the Federal army — Stuart
with his cavalry, and Jackson with his infantry 1 — a danger
ous combination, whatever the force of the enemy ; and so,
indeed, it proved. Stuart, hving in the saddle, and watching
the enemy with lynx-eyed vigilance, suffered no movement of
Patterson's to escape him, and, on one occasion, surprised a
whole company, who were so much startled and alarmed by
the officer's stentorian command to "Throw down their
arms !" that the men, too, fell on their faces. Finding the
enemy advancing in heavy force, Jackson, in obedience to
orders, fell back before him. It has never been the habit of
General Jackson, however, to omit any opportunity of' striking
a blow at the enemy. Whether in advancing or retiring,
one of his cardinal maxims has been to infiict all the injury
possible upon his foe ; and this practice he inaugurated
at Falling Waters. At that point he turned upon the
heavy column of Patterson, posted the Sth Virginia and
Pendleton's Battery in a skilfully selected position, and en
gaged the advanced force of the Federal army in an obstinately
contested fight. The artillery was handled admirably, under
the direct supervision of Jackson, and the Sth Virginia fought
like veterans. The ground was held stubbornly, heavy loss
inflicted on the enemy, and the Federals held completely in
check. It was only when he was about to be outflanked that
Jackson slowly retired, bringing off forty-five prisoners, and
scarcely losing a man. \
The engagement at Falling Waters was the first which
\

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 25
took place between the two armies, and the augury of future
success was auspicious. Jackson had retired in a way pecu
liar to himself, had felt the enemy with a roughness which
gave them little desire for a repetition of the cereraony, and
his men saw that in their silent leader they had to do with a
thorough soldier, whose nerve and judgment were equally
admirable, and in whose hands the force would be fought
with consummate courage and skill. Jackson was always
Jackson — in small things as in great — in the skirmish as in
the great battle — and the same eagle eye which chose the
ground ai Kernstown, Port Republic, and Groveton, ran along
the thin line and saw that all was right at Falling Waters.

CHAPTER IV,
BATTLE OP MANASSAS.
But we linger too long amid these early scenes of the great
soldier's career. Mightier events were on the march, and the
Federal government was marshalling its huge masses to hurl
them upon the main body of the " rebels " at Manassas. Here
Jafkson was to display in their fullest extent those heroic
qualities of stubborn courage and dauntless resolution which
characterized him; to win the name of "Stonewall" which
will cling to him forever ; and to arouse that enthusiasm which
in the latter months of his life rendered him the idol of the
popular heart. He continued to march and countermarch in
fi:ont of Patterson, whom Johnston was never in a condition
to attack — the Federal force amounting to about 32,000 ; un
til, on the 18th of July, a dispatch reached Winchester, an
nouncing that the Northern army was advancing on Manassas.
Gen. Johnston was directed, if practicable, to send his sick back
to Culpepper Court-house, and go to Beauregard's assistance
3

26 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
The good judgment shown by Gen. Johnston in his eracua-
tion of Harper's Ferry now became apparent. The road to
Manassas was open, and he speedily took steps to reinforce the
army of the Potomac. To be able to do this it was necessary
first to defeat Patterson, or to elude him. The latter courae
was chosen, and intrusting the disposition of the cavalry to
Stuart to cover the movement, Johnston left Winchester to be
defended by the militia of the region in earthworks, and com
menced his march by way of Ashby's Gap, toward the East.
Stuart, posting a cordon of pickets from Smithfield, along by
Summit Point and Rippon to the Shenandoah, completely
concealed the change of base; and Johnston's little army
wended its way towards Manassas.
The valley region will long be alive with the traditions of
this great flank movement, and the spirit exhibited by the
men. They had so often formed line of battle in front of Pat
terson, only to retire afterwards without fighting, that the
troops nearly broke out in open murmurs against their com
mander. They did not know that frequently, when his brist
ling guns threatened the foe with their grim muzzles from
every hillock, those guns were without a single round of am
munition ; and that no one could be more disappointed at the
necessity which existed for retiring than their general. Now,
however, when the order for a rapid march came, the troops
perceived in the air, so to speak, the long looked-for odor of
battle. They snuffed it up eagerly ; and went on their way
actually dancing for joy, and with deafening cheers. Through
Frederick and Clarke, past Millwood, wading the Shenandoah
and toiling up the rough pathway at Ashby's Gap, they went
upon their way, without rations, ignorant of their destina
tion, but knowing one thing only, that the moment for action
had arrived. On the way a message from Beauregard reached
Johnston by an officer who killed his horse to carry it —
"If you wish to help me, now is the time." Johnston has
tened on— his troops half famished, but "game" to the last.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 27
Stuart drew in his pickets; slowly put his little column in
motion to cover the rear, and having passed last through the
mountains, pushed on to the front again. At Piedmont the
exhausted infantry was placed upon a train of the Manassas
Gap Railroad — the cavalry and artillery continuing their
march. Gen. Johnston reached Manassas about noon, on the
20th July, preceded by the 7th and Sth Georgia and Jackson's
brigade — the President of the railroad assuring him that the
remainder of his force embarked on the cars should arrive
during the day.
The complicated and exciting details of the first great battle
of Manassas need not be given in this memoir of one of the
actors therein, prominent as he was among the heroic souls
who upon that day rolled back the great tide of invasion, pil
lage, and rapine. Gen. Johnston being the senior in rank,
took command of the entire forces, but owing to Gen. Beau
regard's superior knowledge of the ground, approved all his
plans, and directed their execution under Beauregard's com
mand. Jackson with his brigade was placed in rear of Gen. Long-
street near Blackburn's Ford, the scene of the battle of the
18th. Let us look at the composition of this force which was
on that day to win the name of the " Old Stonewall Brigade,"
and niche itself in history forever. It consisted of the 2d
Virginia, Col. Allen ; the 4th Virginia, Col. James L. Preston ;
the Sth Virginia, Col. Harper ; the 27th Virginia, Lieut.-col.
Echols; and the 33d Virginia, Col. Cumming. It embraced
the flower of the young men of the Valley of Virginia — the
best and bravest youths of all the land — and was to show by
its decimated ranks, and the entire disappearance finally of
every one of its original officers, with what heroic courage it
opposed its bosom to every danger. It was 2,611 strong; and
was on the morning of the Slst posted, as we have said, in rear
of Longstreet, behind the skirting of pines near Blackburn's
and Mitchell's Fords.

28 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
From this position, however, Jackson was, at seven in the
morning, ordered to'move more to the left, between Bonham's
left and Cocke's right, to support either in case the enemy
attacked. He reraained here until ten or eleven, when he
rapidly pushed forward with his brigade to support Bee, Bartow,
and Evans, whosfe commands, exhausted by their desperate
contest during the whole forenoon, were mingled and in disor
der. Taking position below the brim of the plateau, nearly
east of the Henry House, and to the left of the woods occupied
by the weary commands above mentioned, Jackson opened
with his artillery, with great effect, and held the enemy in
check until Gen. Johnston came up, with Gen. Beauregard, and
took direct command of the shattered forces, which he led in
person to the charge, the colors of the 4th Alabama at his side.
The presence of Johnston and Beauregard acted upon the
forces like a charm. As they galloped up and down the lines,
the men cheered wildly and seemed burning to renew the
contest. A new line of battle was instantly formed — with Bee
and Evans on the right; Jackson in the centre, with four
regiments and thirteen pieces of artillery ; and on the left,
Gartrell, Smith, Falkner, Fisher, and other commanders of
regiments or battalions. The force which thus confronted the
overwhelmning columns of the enemy consisted of about 6,500
infantry and artillerists, and two companies of Stuart's cavalry.
The eneray's force which now bore hotly and confidently down
on the little band of Southerners, was by their own official
history of the day, 20,000 infantry, seven companies of regular
cavalry and twenty-four pieces of improved artillery, most
of it rifled, while ours were nearly all sraooth bore. Heavy
reinforcements were held in reserve by the Federal commander;
and as far as human intelligence could estimate the future, it
seemed certain that the thin hne of Southerners would be
broken and annihilated by the mere weight of their opponents.
But one serious element was left out of the calculation. The
cause m which the men of the South fought — and the character

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 29
of those forces, from the highest officer to the humblest private.
On one side, the demoniac lust of spoil and rapine — a mad and
infamous invasion of a great people's homes and firesides, with
" Booty and Beauty" for the watchword : subjugation the
result aimed at by their legions. On the other, a great race
fighting in defence of their soil, their families — the very little
ones at their knees — for freedom and home and sacred honor.
They were led by Johnston, Beauregard, Jackson — those noble
types of the mighty Anglo-Saxon race ; and with such a cause
and such leaders, the little band of Southerners were more than
a match for their swarming foes.
It was now two o'clock in the afternoon. The enemy had
fiill possession of the plateau upon which Robinson's and the
Henry House were situated. It was necessary to drive them
from it ; and Gen. Beauregard gave the order for the entire
right of his line, with the exception of the reserves, to ad
vance. The Southerners rushed forward with wild cheers,
and gained the plateau in face of a tremendous fire, Jackson's
brigade piercing the enemy's centre, with the determined
courage of veterans and carrying all before them. They suf
fered heavily, and the ground was strewn with some of the
noblest youths of the South ; but the plateau was recovered,
and the Federal lines broken and swept back at all points.
The splendid courage of the Southerners covered them with
glory ; but their triumph was short-lived. The enemy threw
forward heavy reinforcements — attacked our exhausted lines ;
and by pure weight of numbers drove the Southerners back,
retaking their guns and recovering all the ground which they
had lost.
This was the turning point of the whole contest. If the
enemy were left in possession of this vantage ground thus
gained the struggle was over, and nothing remained for Beau
regard but to withdraw his shattered and defeated columns in
the best order possible before their victorious assailants. But
such a thought never entered the brain of that great soldier

30 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
or his comrades. It was " do or die" — victory or death ; and
the broken lines were again marshalled for a desperate and
final struggle. Just as Beauregard had ordered forward his
entire line, including all his reserves, and galloping forward,
had taken command of them in person, reinforcements pushed
forward by Johnston appeared upon the field, and a general
attack of the whole force was made all along the line. The
fighting which ensued was desperate — terrific. All thought
but victory seemed to be discarded by the Southerners, and
they charged madly over piles of dead, with a vigor and des
peration which no opponents could resist. Jackson was every
where in the thickest of the fight, cheering on his noble bri
gade, and holding it steady under the terrific fire which
mowed down whole ranks of them and their comrades. A
more desperate struggle has perhaps never occurred in the his
tory of the world than that which took place on that field near
Manassas, between the hours of half-past two and four o'clock,
on the 21st of July, 1861 — and the occasion was one to try
the nerves of the stoutest heart that ever beat. The Southern
leaders saw with irrepressible anguish the exhaustion of the
troops, the waning fortunes of the day, and the countless re
serves which the enemy hurled incessantly upon their thin
and weary lines. Among these was the heroic Gen. Bee, in
command of the 4th Alabama and some Mississippians who
were nearly worn out by the terrible ordeal through which
they had passed. Bee rode up and down the lines cheering
on the men and beseeching them by all they held dear not to
give way, when he met Jackson and said in the bitter de
spair of his heart, " General, they are beating us back." The
face ofthe stern silent soldier betrayed no answering emotion.
The keen eye glittered for an instant ; the lips opened ; and
in the curt, peculiar tones of the speaker he said : " Sir, we
will give them the bayonet." Bee seemed to gather new in
spiration from the words ; he galloped baek to the remnants of
his command, and pomting to Jackson, called out to his men :

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 31
" There is Jackson standing Uke a stonewall! Let us deter
mine to die here, and ive will conquer ! Follow me !"
The words echoed like a bugle blast in the ears of hi|
brave troops — they rallied ; and taking the head of the col
umn. Bee charged the enemy, falling mortally wounded in
the front.
It was just at this time that General Kirby Smith arrived
with his fresh troops, whioh he had disembarked from the
cars, and rapidly pushed forward towards the battle-field ; and
with his batteries he opened a destructive fire upon the ene
my's right and centre. At half-past three the Federal forces
were driven back on their left and centre, but formed a new
and formidable line of battle in the shape of a crescent, from
the Carter House across the turnpike to Chinn's house.
They had lost heart, however, in the long and bloody strug
gle. Their leaders could not bring them up again to the con
test. Before the resolute advance of our troops, mainly di
rected against their right flank and rear, they gave ground,
were driven over the narrow plateau into the fields beyond,
and the rout became general. Their torn and bleeding
columns were pursued by our cavalry which, earlier in the
day, under Colonel Stuart, had made a splendid charge upon
a regiment of Zouaves, scattering and riding them down ;
and had this cavalry force been sufficient, but few of the rout
ed forces of the Federals would have escaped to tell the tale
of their reverses to the gaping citizens of Washington.
Thus terminated the hard-fought battle of Manassas, in
which the army of the Shenandoah gained undying laurels.
Jackson's men had fought with that matchless daring which
has since made the name of the first brigade immortal ; and,
though painfully wounded in the hand, their great leader was
filled with joy and pride. The country had gained a splendid
victory against enormous odds ; and although he did not then
know it, Jackson had gained a name with which he is forever
inseparably identified. When the heroic Bee exclaimed:

32 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
" There is Jackson standing Uke a stonewall. Let us determine
to die here, and we will conquer," he unconsciously employed
a term which thenceforth clung to Jackson more closely than
fiis baptismal appellation. From that hot day of battle the
leader of the men of the valley was known as "Stonewall
Jackson"-his command as the "Stonewall Brigade." Many
are ignorant, and few recall the fact that the great soldier was
christened "Thomas Jonathan." His veritable christening in
the popular heart was on that evening of Manassas, when Bee,
about to surrender his great soul to his Maker, baptized him,
amid blood and fire, " Stonewall Jackson."

CHAPTER V,
JAOKSON'S FAEEWELL to the old BRIGADE,
Such was the part taken by the thenceforward famous
leader in the great battle of Manassas. He had held a subor
dinate position in the contest, and the force under his com
mand was small ; but the masterly handling of his troops, and
the obstinate stand which they made, justified Jackson in the
statement which he proudly made in taking leave of them
soon afterwards : that they had decided the fate of the battle.
The morning of Jackson's fame had scarcely dawned, how
ever. He had secured that immortal name which will forever
characterize him ; but the arena had been too limited for the
fnll display of his splendid faculties, and few suspected the
existence of those inexhaustible resources of strategy and
daring which lay hid beneath the calm exterior of the silent
Virginian. The time was soon to come, however, when these
great faculties would blaze out before the eyes of the world,
surrounding their possessor with a halo of almost dazzling
splendor, and when the deeds of the man, Stonewall Jackson,

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 83
would ring throughout the civilized world, making his very
enemies bear tribute to the matchless genius which struck and
overwhelmed them.
After the battle of Manassas, Jackson remained with his
brigade near Centreville until the early part of October, having
during that time made but one movement — in the direction oi
Fairfax Court-house, when Gen. Beauregard, by advancing
and then falling back, endeavored to draw McClellan out of his
earthworks. About the month of September, Jackson, who
had been made a Brigadier-general before he left the Valley,
was advanced to the rank of Major-general, and assigned to
the command of the troops in and around Winchester, then
threatened by a large Federal army under Gen. Banks. To
his great sorrow, the old First Brigade, which he had so long
commanded, was to stay behind with the main army, and
there took place, at the camp of the brigade, near Centreville,
on the 4th of October, one of those scenes which irresistibly
excite the deepest emotions of the heart, and light up the page
of history which records them.
On that day Jackson took leave of his old " First Brigade."
The officers and men were drawn up as though in line of
battle, and their commander appeared in front, as he had so
often appeared before, when about to give the order for a
charge upon the enemy. But now, no enthusiasm, no cheers
awaited him. All knew for what purpose he came, and the
sorrow which filled every heart, betrayed itself in the deep
silence which greeted his approach. Not a sound along the
line — not a hand raised in greeting — not a murmur, even,
going to show that they recognized their beloved captain.
The bronzed faces were full of the deepest dejection, and the
stern fighters of the old brigade were hke children about to be
separated from their father.
Jackson approached, and mastering his emotion by an
effort, said, in the short abrupt tones with which all were so
^miliar : 3*

34: LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
" I am not here to make a speech, but simply to say fare
well. I first met you at Harper's Ferry in the commencement
of this war, and I cannot take leave of you without giving ex
pression to my admiration of your conduct from that day to
this— whether on the march, the bivouac, the tented field, or
on the bloody Plains of Manassas, where you gained the well-
deserved reputation of havmg decided the fate of the battle.
Throughout the broad extent of country over which you have
marched, by your respect for the rights and the properly of
citizens, you have shown that you were soldiers, not only to
defend, but able and willing both to defend and protect. You
have already gained a brilliant and deservedly high reputation
throughout the army of the whole Confederacy, and I trust
in the future, by your deeds on the field, and by the assist
ance of the same kind Providence who has heretofore favored
our cause, you will gain more victories, and add additional
lustre to the reputation you now enjoy. Tou have already
gained a proud position in the future history of this our second
war of independence. I shall look with great anxiety to your
future movements, and I trust, whenever I shall hear of the
First Brigade on the field of battle, it will be of still nobler
deeds achieved, and higher reputation won !"
Having uttered these words, Jackson paused for an instant,
and his eye passed slowly along the line, as though he wished
thus to bid farewell individually to every old familiar face, so
often seen in the heat of battle, and so dear to him. The
thoughts which crowded upon him seemed more than he could
bear — he could not leave them with such formal words only —
and that iron lip, which had never trembled in the hour of
deadliest peril, now quivered. Mastered by an uncontrollable
impulse, the great soldier rose in his stirrups, threw the reins
on the neck of his horse with an emphasis which sent a thrill
through every heart, and extending his arm, added in tones
of the deepest feeling :
" In the army of the Shenandoah you were the First Bri-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 35
gade ! In the army of the Potomac you were the First Bri
gade! In the second corps of the army you are the First
Brigade ! You are the First Brigade in the affections of
your general ; and I hope by your future deeds and bearing
you will be handed down to posterity as the First Brigade in
this our second war of independence. Farewell I"
As the last words echoed in their ears, and Jackson turned
to leave them the long-pent-up feeling burst forth. Three
prolonged and deafening cheers rolled along the hne of the
old brigade ; and no sooner had they died away, than they
were renewed, and again renewed. The calm face of the great
leader flushed as he listened to that sound, but he did not
speak. Waving his hand in token of farewell, he galloped
away, and the old brigade deprived of its beloved chief, re
turned slowly and sorrowfully to camp.

CHAPTER VL
THE WINTER EXPEDITION TO EOMNEY,
Jackson proceeded to Winchester, and taking command of
the forces there, applied hiraself energetically to the work of
organizing the raw levies from the surrounding country. Gen.
Loring's command from Western Virginia was subsequently
assigned to him — and he succeeded in regaining his old Stone
wall Brigade, which returned to him, and went into camp near
Kernstown, in the latter days of November.
On the 1st of January, 1862, Gen. Jackson sent out an ex
pedition to Bath and Romney, where the Federal forces were
committing the most wanton depredations, and ruling the
whole region with a rod of iron. The day was exceedingly
bright and beautifiil — the air soft and balmy — and the men
left behind them their overcoats, and even their blankets, ex-

36 LIFE OF Sl-ONEWALL JACKSON,
pecting the wagons to follow and join them before these arti
cles were needed. The wagons did not come up, however;
and on the third day of the march, when, after winding about
among by-ways and paths they had reaohed Unger's Cross
Roads, the weather suddenly changed, and a freezing snow
storm came on. From Unger's three roads radiate — one to
Romney, another to Martinsburg, and a third to Bath, better
known as Berkeley Springs. The latter road was the one
which Jackson now pursued.
This expedition is only remarkable for the great powers of
endurance which it betrayed in the men ; peremptory orders
from the War Office at Richmond having arrested his further
advance, almost before he had commenced the execution of
the design which he had in view. The weather was really
terrible. It has been truthfully said that Napoleon's passage
of the Alps scarcely surpassed the march. Rain, snow, hail,
sleet, beat upon the troops who were without tents, overcoats,
or blankets, as has been stated ; and had it not been for biv
ouac fires many of the soldiers must have perished. Subse
quently, from the close proximity of the enemy not even fires
were allowed, and the feet of some of the men froze to the
soles of their boots. " I built a big fire," says a gallant young
soldier whose notes of the march are before us, " and went to
sleep by it; but waked up about 12 o'clock at night and found
the fire out, and about three inches of .snow over me." He,
like the rest, had left his blankets, and this winding sheet
covered that night the whole slumbering army.
The difficulties of the march were fourfold for the trains.
The roads were covered with ice two inches thick, and so
thoroughly glazed by the sleet that horses and men kept their
feet only with the greatest difficulty. Men were slipping and
their guns going off all along the line—" thousands fell flat
every day," says an eye-witness — and both men and horses
were often seriously hurt. The knees and muzzles of the
horses were terribly injured — they were seen hmping along.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 37
crippled and streaming with blood — but still Jackson pressed
on. Wagon after wagon slid off and turned bottom upward,
in spite of every atterapt to steady them. One train of wagons
and artillery took from daylight until 3 p. m., to pass a hilly
point — heavy details of men steadying the animals, and almost
lifting the vehicles along. Jackson, however, continued his
march, his plans not admitting of delay ; and soon came upon
the advance of the enemy about six miles from Bath, in Mor
gan county. Here he had a sharp skirmish, the Virginians,
under Col. Patton, driving the enemy back, and capturing
about thirty prisoners. This was followed up by an attack
on the force which held possession of the town, who were in
hke manlier defeated and driven across the Potomac, which
they were forced to wade on one of the coldest nights ever
known in that region.
Jackson, having cleared the path thus far, now made a
flank movement in the direction of Romney to fall upon the
Federal force stationed there, and committing every outrage
npon the citizens. His movements were rapid but not so
rapid as those of the enemy. They were at least 12,000 in
number, but had no desire to meet the ConlSderates, evacuat
ing Romney and faUing back before Jackson got within a
day's march of the place. Large supphes were captured at
Romney, to which Jackson now advanced, and the enemy in
his front were completely dispersed. It behooved him to
guard his communications however from attack, and leaving
Gen. Loring at Romney, he returned with his old Stonewall
Brigade to Winchester to watch the enemy toward Harper's
Ferry. Such was the position of affairs when the order above
mentioned was sent to Gen. Loring to fall back from Romney.
This he promptly did, and soon afterward the enemy were in
possession of Moorefield. The facts of this expedition are
httle known. When they are fully set forth, as they doubt-

38 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
less will be some day, the movements and designs of Jackson
will be understood and appreciated at their just value.
Operations during the remainder of the winter were not im
portant, though Dam No, S, on the Potomac, was completely
destroyed, and the enemy to that extent darHaged, A desul
tory warfare of pickets was kept up along the river — both
armies awaiting the opening of Spring for ^serious military
movements. Early in March the enemy began to move, and Jackson re
ceived information that they were about to attack him at Win
chester with an overwhelming force. Shields soon afterwards
advanced, and Jackson offered battle to his advance force on
two successive days. This was, however, declined, and the
main body of the enemy having come up, Jackson, on March
llth, evacuated Winchester, slowly faihng back before them.
He had, as was usual with hira, secured every thing in the
shape of public stores, and none of the fruits of his expedi
tions fell again into the hands of the enemy. Trains, cars,
engines from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had all been sent
to the rear — and the men had been greeted with the unique
spectacle of one huge railroad engine rolling slowly along. the
valley turnpike toward Staunton, drawn by forty-two horses.
Nothing was thus left for tho enemy, pressing now into Win
chester, and Jackson's httle army of about 3,000 men con
tinued slowly to retire in face of the foe. Ashby with his
cavalry held the rear, and obstinately disputed every inch of
ground with the on-pressing enemy. Chew's battery supported
him, and the roar of the guns was the " lullaby and reveille''
of the little army.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 39
CHAPTER VIL
THE BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN.
Jackson crept slowly along up the valley, accelerating his
motions as he proceeded. But on the 21st of March he re
ceived a dispatch from Ashby stating that the enemy had
evacuated and fallen back from Strasburg, His resolution
was promptly taken, and the men although greatly fatigued
with their long march were, on the 22d, faced about and
marched rapidly down the valley toward Winchester again,
Jackson determined to press the enemy and divert from their
intended march a body of about 15,000 men, under General
Sedgwick, who were then moving by way of Snicker's Gap,
to join the Federal force operating against Gen, Johnston ;
and his troops were accordingly pushed forward with the
greatest possible rapidity toward Winchester.
They consisted of Ashby's cavalry, which, with Chew's
battery, already held the front — Col. Fulkerson's brigade, con
sisting of the 23d and 37th Virginia and Shumaker's battery ;
Brigadier-general Garnett's brigade, consisting of the 2d, 4th,
Sth, 27th, and 33d Virginia (the " old Stonewall Brigade"),
and McLaughlin's, Carpenter's, and Waters' batteries ; Col.
Burks' brigade, consisting of the 21st, 42d, and 48th Virginia,
and the Ist battalion Virginia regulars and Marye's battery.
All the regiments except the 48th, which was the rear-guard,
arrived within a mile or two of Kernstown, a place about two
miles south of Winchester, by two o'clock on the afternoon of
the 23d of March, and bivouacked there that night.
During the march information had reached Gen. Jackson
from a reliable source, that the enemy were sending off their
stores and troops from Winchester ; and, after arriving near
Kernstown, he learned from a source which had been remark-

4:0 LIFK OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
t
able for reliabiUty, that the Federal force of infantiy at Win
chester did not exceed four regiments. A large body of the
enemy was leaving the vaUey, and had already reached Cas-
tleman's Ferry (leading to Snicker's Gap) on the Shenandoah.
Though it was very desirable to prevent the enemy from leav
ing the valley. Gen. Jackson deemed it best not to attack un
til the morning; but subsequently ascertaining that the enemy
had a position from which his forces could be seen, he con
cluded that it would be dangerous to postpone it until the next
day, as reinforcements might be brought up during the night.
After ascertaining that the troops, part of which had marched
more than fourteen miles since dawn, and Garnett's and Burks'
brigades, which had made a forced march of nearly twenty-
five miles on the previous day, were in good spirits at the pros
pect of meeting the enemy, Gen. Jackson determined to ad
vance at once.
Leaving Col. Ashby with his command on the Valley turn
pike, with Col. Burks' brigade as a support to the batteries,
and also to act as a reserve, the general moved with one piece
of Carpenter's battery and Col. Fulkerson's brigadsj supported
by Gen. Garnett's to the left, for the purpose of securing a
commanding position on the enemy's right, and, thus turn
ing him by that flank, force him back from his strong posi
tion in front which prevented a direct advance. Soon after
Carpenter brought up his other pieces, McLaughlin's and
Waters' batteries also came forward ; the eminence was
reached ; and the three batteries under their respective cap
tains commenced playing upon the enemy whose position was
now commanded. Jackson continued to advance his artillery,
keeping up a continuous fire upon the enemy on his right —
while Col. Echols with his regiment, the 27th, with its skir
mishers thrown forward, kept in advance, and opened the in
fantry engagement, supported by the 21st, under Col. Patton,
no other regiment of Gen, Garnett's command having come
up. Well did these two regiments do their duty, driving back

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 41
the enemy twice in quick succession. A severe wound com
pelling the noble leader of the 27th to leave the field, the
command devolved upon the Lieut.-colonel, the dauntless
Grigsby, whose officers and men behayed admirably.
Col. Fulkerson having advanced his brigade, consisting of
the 23d and 37th, respectively under the command of Col,
Taliaferro, and Lieut.-col. Carson, to the left of Col. Echols,
judiciously posted it behind a stone wall, toward which the
enemy were rapidly advancing, and opened a destructive* fire,
which drove back the Federal forces in great disorder, after
sustaining a heavy loss, and leaving the colors of one of their
regiments upon the field. This part of the enemy's routed
troops having, to some extent, ralhed in another position, were
also driven from this by Col. Fulkerson. Soon after the 27th
had been engaged. Gen. Garnett, with the 2d, 4th, and 33d
Virginia, commanded respectively by Col. Allen, Lieut.-col.
Ronald, and Col, Cummings, moved forward and joined in the
battle, which now became general. The 1st Virginia bat
talion, P. A. C. S., under Capt. Bridgford, though it unfortu
nately became separated in advancing, was in the engage
ment; and from near five to half-past six p. m., there was
almost a continuous roar of musketry, the enemy's repulsed
regiments being replaced by fresh ones from his large re
serves. As the amraunition of some of the Confederate troops
became exhausted, noble instances were seen of their borrow
ing from comrades, by whose sides they continued to fight,
as though resolved to die rather than give way. The troops
were fighting under great disadvantages, bnt it was unfortu
nate that Gen. Garnett ordered his men to fall back, as the
enemy's advance would otherwise have been retarded, and an
opportunity afforded the reserves to come up and take part in
the engagement. The advance of the enemy, consequent upon
this movement, enabled them to turn Fulkerson's right and
force him to fall back — but the presence of General Jackson
soon counteracted this dangerous state of things. The Sth

42 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Virginia was assigned a position which it held until the arrival^
of Colonel Burks, with the 42d, under Lieut.-col. Langhorne..:
Col. Burks and the officers and men of the 42d proved them
selves worthy of the cause which they were defending, by the
spirit with which this regiment took and held its position un
til its left was turned by the enemy, pressing upon the Sth as
it fell back. Col. John Campbell was rapidly advancing with
his regiment to take part in the struggle ; but night, and an
indisposition on the part of the enemy to press further, had
terminated the battle, which had commenced about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. Leaving Ashby in front. Gen. Jackson fell
back with the remainder of his command to the wagons, and
bivouacked for the night.
The artillery had played its part well in the battle, but we
lost two pieces — one belonging to McLaughlin's, the other to
Waters' battery ; the former from having upset wheu hard
pressed by the enemy, and the latter from having its horses
killed when on the eve of leaving the field which it had so
well swept with grape as to have driven back the enemy from
a part of it, over which he was pressing about the close of the
battle. During the engagement. Col. Ashby, with a portion
of his command, including Chew's battery, remained on the
Confederate right, and not only protected the rear in the vi
cinity of the Valley turnpike, but also threatened the enemy's
front and left. Ashby fully sustained his high reputation by
the able discharge of the important trust confided to him by
Jackson. Owing to the exhausting march which the infantry had
made since the morning of the day previous to the battle —
between thirty-five and forty miles — many of them were left
behind. Jackson's army, present on the evening of the bat
tle, consisted of 3,087 infantry, of which 2,742 were engaged,
and 27 pieces of artillery, of which 18 were engaged. Owing
to the recent heavy duty and the extent of country to be pick
eted, only 290 cavalry were present to take part in the en-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 43
gagement. There is reason to believe that the Federal infantry
on the field numbered over 11,000, of which probably over
8,000 were engaged. Their artillery engaged equalled or
exceeded ours, and their cavalry force was larger. Our loss
was 80 killed, 342 wounded. A few days after the battle a
Federal officer stated that their loss in killed was 418. Their
wounded, upon the supposition that they bore the same rela
tion to their killed as ours, must have been such as to have
made their total loss more than three times that of the Con
federates. The wounded of Jackson's army received that care
and attention from the noble women of Winchester which they
knew so well how to give, and the dead were buried by the
loyal citizens of the town. The hospitalities of Baltimoreans
relieved the wants of the captured.
Though the battle of Kernstown did not enable Jackson to
recover possession of Winchester, yet the more important
object at the moment — that of calling back troops that were
leaving the valley, and thus preventing a junction of Banks'
command with other forces, was fully accomplished ; and a
heavy loss in killed and wounded inflicted upon an enemy
greatly the superior of Jackson in numbers. Thus, though
the field remained in possession of the enemy, all the most
essential fruits of the battle remained in the hands of the
Confederates,

CHAPTER vm,
THE BATTLE OP m'dOWBLL,

Apter the battle of Kernstown, Gen. Jackson retreated in
the direction of Harrisonburg. His rear-guard, comprising
Ashby's cavalry, Capt. Chew's battery, and from time to time
other forces, was placed under the direction of Col. Turner

44 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Ashby, an officer whose judgment, coolness, and courage, emi
nently quahfied him for this delicate and important trust.
Although pursued by a greatly superior force under Banks,
Jackson halted for more than a fortnight in the vicinity of
Mount Jackson. After reaching Harrisonburg he turned
toward the Blue Ridge, and on April 19th, crossed the South
Fork of the Shenandoah, and took position between that river
and Swift Run Gap, in Elk Run Valley. Gen. Ewell having
been directed to join the main body, left the vicinity of Gor
donsville, and on April SOth arrived with his division on the
West of the Blue Ridge.
The main body of Banks' pursuing army did not proceed
further south than the vicinity of Harrisonburg ; but a con
siderable force under the command of Gen. Milroy was moving
toward Staunton from the direction of Monterey — and, as
Gen. Jackson was informed, on good authority, part of it had
already crossed to the East of the Shenandoah Mountain, and
was encamped not far from the Harrisonburg and Warm
Spring turnpike. The positions of the two Federal armies
were now such, that, if left unmolested, they could readily form
a junction on the road just named, and move with their united
forces against Staunton.
At this time Gen. Edward Johnson, with his troops, was
near Buffalo Gap, west of Staunton ; so that if the enemy was
allowed to effect a junction it would probably be followed, not
only by the seizure of a point so important as Staunton, hut
must compel Gen. Johnson to abandon his position, and might
succeed in placing the enemy between him and Jackson, To
avoid these results. Gen. Jackson determined, if practicable,
after strengthening his own division by a union with John
son's, first to strike at Milroy, and then to concentrate the
forces of Ewell, Johnson, and his own against Banks. To
carry out his design against Milroy, Gen. Ewell was directed
to march his division to the position then occupied by Jack
son, in Elk Run Valley, with a view to holding Banks in

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 45
check, while Jackson pushed on with his division to Staunton.
These movements were made. At Staunton Gen. Jackson
found, according to his previous arrangements, Majoi^gen.
Smith, of the Virginia Military Institmte, with his corps of
cadets ready to coioperate with him in the defence of that
portion of the Valley.
On the morning of May 7th, Gen. Johnson, whose famili
arity with this mountain region, and high qualities as a sol
dier, admirably fitted him for the advance, moved with his
command in the direction of the enemy, followed by the bri
gades of Gen. Taliaferro, Col. Campbell, and Gen. Winder,
in the order named. Encountering the enemy's advance near
the point where the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike in
tersects the Harrisonburg and Warm Springs turnpike. Gen.
Johnson pressed forward. The enemy rapidly retreated,
abandoning their baggage at Rodgers' and other points east
of the Shenandoah Mountain. Atter the advance had reached
the western base of the Shenandoah Mountain, the troops
bivouacked for the night.
On the following morning the march was resumed, Gen. John
son's brigade still in front. The head of the column was halted
near the top of Bull Pasture Mountain, and Gen. Johnson, ac
companied by a party of thirty men and several officers, with
a view to a reconnoissance of the enemy's position, ascended
Setlington's Hill, an isolated spur of the Bull Pasture Moun
tain, on the left of the turnpike, and commanding a full view
of the valley of McDowell. From this point the position
and to some extent the strength of the enemy could be seen.
In the valley in which McDowell is situated, he observed a
considerable force of infantry. To the right on a height
were two regiments — but too distant for an effective fire to
that point. Almost a mile in front was a battery supported
by infantry. The enemy, observing the reconnoitring party,
sent out a small body of skirmishers, which was promptly met
by the men with Gen. Johnson and driven back.

46 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
For the purpose of securing the hill, all of Gen. Johnson's
regiments were sent to him. The 6 2d Virginia being the
first to reach the ground was posted on the left as skirmishers ;
and it was not long before they were engaged in a brisk en
counter with the enemy's skirmishers whom they gallantly re
pulsed. Soon after this, three other regiments arrived and were
posted as follows: the 12th Georgia on the crest of the hill
and forming the centre of the hne ; the S8th Virginia on the
left to support the S2d ; and the 44th Virginia on the right
near a ravine.
Milroy, having been Teinforced during the day by Gen.
Schenck, determined to carry the hill if possible by a direct
attack. Advancing his force along its western slope, pro
tected in his advance by the character of the ground, and the
woods interposed in front of the Confederate forces, and dri
ving our skirmishers before him, he emerged from the wood
and poured a galling fire into our right which was returned,
and a brisk and animated contest was kept np for some time —
when the two remaining regiments of Johnson's brigade, the
25th and 31st, coming up, they were posted to the right.
The fire was now rapid and well sustained on both sides ; and
the conflict fierce and sanguinary. In ascending to the
crest of the hill from the turnpike, the troops had to pass to
the left through the wood by a narrow and rough route. To
prevent the possibility of the enemy's advancing along the
turnpike, and seizing the point where the troops left the road
to ascend the hill, the Slst Virginia was posted between that
point and the town, and when ordered to join the brigade in
action, its place was supplied by the 21st Virginia.
The engagement had now not only become general along
the entire line, but so intense that Jackson ordered Gen. Tal
iaferro to the support of Gen. Johnson. Accordingly the 23d
and 37th Virginia were advanced to the centre of the hne,
which was then held by the 12th Georgia with heroic gallantry ;
and the 10th Virginia was ordered to support the S2d, which

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 47
had already driven the enemy from the left, and had now ad
vanced to make a fiank movement on him. At this time, the
enemy was pressing forward in strong force- on Jackson's ex
treme right, with a view of flanking that position. This move
ment was speedily detected, and met by Gen. Taliaferro's
brigade and the 12th Georgia with great promptness. Further
to check it, portions of the 25th and Slst Virginia regiments
were sent to occupy an elevated piece of woodland on our
right and rear — so situated as to fully command the position
of the enemy. The brigade commanded by Col. Campbell
coming up about this time was, together with the 10th Vir
ginia, ordered down the ridge into the woods to guard against
movements against the Confederate right flank, which they,
in connection with the other force, effectually prevented.
The battle lasted about four hours — from half-past fonr in
the afternoon until half-past eight. Every attempt by front
or flank movement to attain the crest of the hill where our
line was formed was signally and effectually repulsed. Finally,
after dark, the enemy ceased firing and retired. Their artil
lery, posted on a hill in Jackson's front, was active in throwing
shot and shell, up to the period when the infantry fight com
menced ; but, in consequence of the great angle of elevation
at which they fired, and the sheltered position of the Confed
erates, they inflicted no loss upon the Southern troops. Jack
son did not bring up his artillery ; there being no road to the
rear by which his guns could be withdrawn in case of disaster ;
and the prospect of successfully using them did not compen
sate for the risk.
Gen. Johnson, to whom Jackson intrusted the management
of the troops engaged, proved himself eminently worthy of the
confidence reposed in him by the skill, gallantry, and presence
of mind which he displayed on the occasion. Having received
a wound near the close of the engagement, which compelled
him to leave the field, he turned over the command to Gen
eral Taliaferro. During the night the enemy made a hur
ried retreat toward Franklin, in Pendleton county, leaving

48 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
their dead upon the field. Before doing so, however, they
succeeded in destroying most of their ammunition, camp equip
age, and commissary stores, which they could not remove. The
loss of the Confederates in the battle of McDowell was 71
killed, and 390 wounded, making a total loss of 461. Among
the killed and wounded were Colonel Gibbons, of the 10th
Virginia ; Col. Harman, of the S2d ; Col. Smith and Major
Higginbotham, of the 25th, and Maj. Campbell, of the 42d
Virginia. To prevent Banks from reinforcing Milroy, Mr. J. Hotch
kiss, who was on topographical duty with the army, proceeded
with a party to blockade the roads through North River
and Dry River Gaps, whilst a detachment of cavalry ob
structed the road through Brock's Gap. As the enemy con
tinued to fight until night, and retreated before morning, but
few of their number were captured. Besides quartermaster
and commissary stores, some arras and other ordnance stores
fell into the hands of the Confederates.
Leaving Lieutenant-colonel Preston, with a detachment of
cadets and a small body of cavalry, in charge of the prisoners
and public property, Jackson, with the main body of the
army, preceded by a body of cavalry under Capt. Sheets, pur
sued the retreating enemy to the vicinity of Frankhn — but
succeeded in capturing only a few prisoners and stores along
the hne of march. The junction between Banks and Milroy
having been prevented, and becoming satisfied of the imprac
ticability of capturing the defeated enemy, owing to the
mountainous character of the country, which was favorable to
the escape of a retreating force, Jackson determined, as the
enemy had made another stand at Franklin, with a prospect
of being soon reinforced, that he would not attempt to press
further, bnt return to the open country of the Shenandoah
Valley— boping to defeat Banks before he should receive
reinforcements. Accordingly, on Thursday, May 15th, the
array, after Divine service, to render thanks to God for tlie
victory, began to retrace its steps.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 49
CHAPTER IX.
THK BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.
From the pursuit of Milroy and Schenck toward Frank
lin, General Jackson returned to McDowell on the 14th of
May. On the following day he crossed the Shenandoah
Mountain and encamped that night near the Lebanon White
Sulphur Springs. Here the troops were halted for a short
time after their fatiguing marches, to enable thera to attend
Divine service, and to observe the fast recommended by the
proclamation of President Davis. On the l7th May the
march was resumed toward Harrisonburg.
In the mean time, while the pursuit of the Federal troops
west of the Shenandoah Mountain was in progress, General
Banks had fallen back to Strasburg, which position it was
understood he was fortifying. General Jackson moved from
Harrisonburg down the Valley turnpike to New Market, in
the vicinity of which a junction was effected with EweU's
division, which had marched from Elk Run Valley. Leav
ing the Valley turnpike at New Market, General Jackson
marched his forces, via Luray, toward Front Royal, with the
hope of being able to capture or disperse the garrison at the
latter place, and get in rear of Banks, or compel him to aban
don his fortifications at Strasburg. To conceal this movement
as far as possible from the eneray. General Jackson directed
Brigadier-general Ashby, who had remained in front of
Banks during the march against Milroy, to continue to hold
that position until the following day, when he was to join the
main body — leaving, however, a covering force sufficient to
•prevent inforraation of the movement against Banks' rear
from crossing the lines.
Jackson's command at this time embraced Ashby's cavalry;
8

50 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the 1st ("Stonewall") Brigade, under General Winder; the 2d
Brigade, Col. Campbell comraanding; the 3d Brigade, Col.
Fulkerson commanding ; the troops recently under command
of Brio'adier-general Edward Johnson ; and the division of
Gen. Ewell, comprising the brigades of Gens. Elzey, Trimble,
and Taylor ; and the Maryland Line, consisting of the 1st
Maryland regiment and Brockenbrough's battery, under Biig
adier-general Geo. H. Stewart, and the 2d and 6th Virginia
cavalry, under Colonel Flournoy.
On Thursday, May 22, Jackson moved with his entire
command down the road leading from Luray to Front Royal —
the advance, under Gen. Ewell, bivouacking about ten miles
from the last-named place. Moving at dawn on Fridaj', the
23d, and diverging to the right so as to fall into the Gooney
Manor road, Jackson encountered no opposition until he came
within a mile and a half of Front Royal — when, about two in
the afternoon, the enemy's pickets were encountered and
driven in by oiy advance, which was ordered to follow
rupidly. The 1st Maryland regiment, supported by Wheat's
battalion of Louisiana Volunteers and the remainder of Tay
lor's brigade acting as a reserve, pushed forward in gfillant
style, charging the Federals, who made a spirited resistance,
driving them throngh the town and taking some prisoners.
The main force of the eneray now retired a short distance
beyond Front Royal, and took position on a comraanding
height to the right of the turnpike. From this point they
opened rifled artillery upon onr troops as they advanced be
yond the town. Col. Crutchfield, Chief of Artillery, placed
sorae gnns in position to dislodge them ; and the 6th Louisiana
was raoved to the left through the woods, to flank their bat
tery. But, in the mean time, Wheat's battalion and the 1st
Maryland, Col. Bradley F. Johnson, advancing more directly,
and driving in their skirmishers, the Fedends retreated across
both forks of tbe Shenandoah, attempting, in their retreat, to
burn the bridge over the North Fork. Betbre they could

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 51
fully accomplish their purpose onr troops were upon them,
extinguished the flaraes, and crossed the river — the enemy in
full retreat towards Winchester, and our artillery and infantry
in pursuit. The cavalry, under Gen. Ashby and Col. Flour
noy, had crossed the south fork of the Shenandoah at Mc
Coy's Ford, above the enemy's position, for the purpose of
destroying the railroad and telegraphic communication be
tween Front Royal and Strasburg ; and alao to check the ad
vance of any reinforcements from Strflsburg, or the retreat of
any portion of the enemy in that direction from Front Royal.
Colonel Flournoy kept a short distance west of that river, and
haviug executed his orders, was now in readiness to join in
pursuit of the retreating enemy. Delayed by difficulties at
the biidge over the North Fork, which the enemy had raade
an effort to burn. Col. Flournoy pushed on with four compa
nies of the 6th Virginia cavalry, and came up with a body of
Federal troops near Cedarville, about flve miles from Front
ROyal. This force consisted of two companifis of cavalry, two
pieces of artillery, the 1st Federal regiment of Maryland in
fantiy, and two companies of Pennsylvania infantry, which
had been posted there to check our pursuit. Dashing into
the midst of them. Captain Grimsby, of Company B, in the
advance, these four companies drove the enemy from their
position, who soon, however, re-formed in an orchard on the
right of the turnpike, when a second gallant and decisive
charge being made upon them, their cavalry was put to flight,
their artillery abandoned, and their infantry, now thrown
into great confusion, surrendered themselves prisoners of war,
— our whole loss being twenty-six killed and wounded.
While these occurrences were in progress, Gen. Ashby —
who, after crossing at McCoy's Ford, had moved with his com
mand further to the west, so as to skirt the base ofthe Mas-
si nutton Mountain — met with a body of the enemy posted as a
guainl at Buckton, in a strong position, protected by the rail
road embankment. Ashby drove back and dispersed the en-

62 LIFR OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
emy, but with the loss of some ofhis most valuable officers and
men. Among them Captains Sheets and Fletcher. The in
fantry and artillery pursued but a short distance before dark
ness rendered it necessary to go into camp.
The results of this first day's operations, were the capture
of about seven hundred prisoners, among thera about twenty
officers, a coraplete section of rifled artillery (lO-pounder Par
rotts), and a very large araount of quartermaster and commis
sary stores. The fruits of the movement were not restricted
to the stores and prisoners captured. The enemy's flank wns
turned, and the road opened to Winchester. In the event of
Bank's leaving Strasburg, he might escape toward the Poto
mac; or if Jackson moved directly to Winchester, he miajht
move via Front Royal toward Washington city. In order to
watch both directions, and at the same time advance upon him
if he remained at Strasburg, General Jackson determined,
with the main body of the army, to strike the turnpike near
Middleton, a village five miles north of Strasburg and thirteen
miles south of Winchester.
Accordingly, on the following morning. General Ashby ad
vanced from Cedarville toward Middletown, supported by skir
mishers from Taylor's brigade, with Chew's battery and two
Parrott guns from the Rockbridge artillery, followed by the
whole comraand, except the troops left under coraraand of Gen.
Ewell near Cedarville. Gen. Ewell, with Trimble's brio-ade,
the 1st Maryland, and the batteries of Brockenbrough and
Courtney, had instructions to move toward Winchester. Ashby
was directed to keep scouts on his left to prevent Banks from
passing unobserved by Front Royal. Brig.-gen. George II.
Stewart, who was now teraporarily in command of the 2d and
6th Virginia cavalry, had been previously dispatched to New
town, a point further north, and nine miles from Winchester,
with instructions to observe the movements of the enemy at
that point. He there succeeded in capturing some prisoners
and several wagons and ambulances, with arms and medical

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 53
stores. He also advised Gen. Jackon of raoveraents which
indicated that Banks was prepariug to leave Strasburg.
General Jackson accompanied the raoveraent of the main
body of the array to Middletown. Upon arriving there, he
found the Valley turnpike crowded with the retreating
Federal cavalry, npon *hich the batteries of Poague and
Chew, with Taylor's infantry promptly opened ; and in a few
moments the turnpike which had just before teemed with life
presented a raost appalling spectacle of carnage aud destruc
tion. The road was literally obstructed with the mangled and
confused mass of struggling and dying horses and riders. The
Federal column was pierced, but what proportion of its strength
had passed North toward Winchester Gen. Jackson had then
no means of knowing. Among the surviving cuvahy the
wildest confusion ensued, and they scattered in disorder in
various directions, leaving, however, sorae two hundred pris
oners, with their accoutrements in our hands.
A train of wagons was seen disappearing in the distance
toward Winchester, and Ashby, with his cavalry, sorae artillery,
and a supporting infantry force from Taylor's brigade, was sent
in pursuit. But a few moraents elapsed before the Federal
artillery, whioh had been cut off with the rear of the column,
opened upon Jackson with the evident intention to cut its
way through to Winchester. Our batteries were soon placed
in position to return the fire, and Gen. Taylor was ordered
with his command to the attack. After a spirited resistance,
this fragment of the Federal army retreated to Strasburg, and
from thence made its way through the mountains across the
Poto.mac. A large amount of baggage fell into our hands at
this point. Entire regiments, apparently in hne of battle, had
laid dovpn their knapsacks and abandoned thera.
Having becpme satisfied that the main body of Banks' army
had already passed this point on its way to Winchester, our
troops which had halted, moved on in pursuit in that direction.
The large number of wagons, loaded with stores and abandoned

64 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
by the eneray between Middletown and Newtown, plainly indi
cated his hurried retreat.
From the attack upon Front Boyal up to the present mo
ment, every opposition had been borne down, and there was
reason to believe, if Banks reached Winchester it would be
without a train, if not without an array ; but, in the midst of
these hopes, Gen. Jackson found that the infantry and cavahy
under Ashby had abandoned themselves to pillage to such au
extent that their gallant commander found it impossible to
continue the pursuit. The artillery, whieh had pushed on
with energy to the vicinity of Newtown, found itself, from this
discreditable conduct, without a propei' support from either
infantry or cavalry. The relaxation in the pursuit was unfor
tunate, as the eneray was encouraged by it to bring up, about
two hours later, four pieces of artillery, which were planted
on the northern skirt of Newtown find opened on our batteries.
Their fire was replied to by Capt. Poagne's two rifled guns
with skill and accuracy. When Gen. Jackson overtook the
advance it was thus held in check by the enemy's artillery.
Further movements were retarded until nearly dark, when the
enemy retreated, and the pursuit was renewed.
As Gen. Jackson advanced beyond Newtown the same pro
fusion of abandoned Federal wagons, loaded with stores, met
his eye, but he derived nO benefit fiora this property, as the
time lost during the disorder and pillage, and the consequent
delay of the advance at Newtown, enabled the enemy to ./Dike
arrangements for burning them. Shortly after leaving New
town the advance was fired npon by a body of the concealed
enemy, but they were soon driven off by the SSd Virginia,
Col. Neff, and the march resuraed.
On reaching Bartonsville, another arabuscade from the
right, left, and front was encountered, and heayy firing kept
up for some tirae. In repelling this, the 27th Virginia, Col.
Grig-sby; 2d Virginia, Col. Allen, and Sth Virginia, Col.
Baylor, acquitted themselves gallantly. Skirmishing con-

LlFK OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 55
tinued during the night, the enemy ambuscading from point to
point. So important did Gen. Jackson deem it to occupy, before
dawn, the heights overlooking Winchester, that the advance
continued to move forward until morning, notwithstanding the
darkness and other obstacles to its progress. The other troops
were permitted to halt for about an hour during the night.
In the mean time, Major-general Ewell,' with Trimble's bri
gade, the 1st Maryland, and Stewart's cavalry, which had
now joined him from Newtown, and Brockenbrough's and
Courtney's batteries, was advancing to Winchester by the
turnpike from Front Royal to that place, and had occupied a
position about three miles from the town, as early as ten
o'clock in the night, and thrown forward his pickets about a
mile in advance of his position.
As General Jackson approached Winchester, soon after
dawn, the enemy's skirmishers were occupying the hill to the
southwest, overlooking the town. He ordered Gen. Winder
to seize that height as speedily as possible. The 5th Vir
ginia was accordingly thrown out in advance as skirmishers,
and the 2d, 4th, 27th, and 33d Virginia (the "old Stonewall
Brigade") being placed in order of battle, the whole line was
ordered to advance. This was done in gallant style, and the
position on the crest secured, though the enemy made a reso
lute but unsuccessful effort to dislodge our troops from so
comraanding a position. Two Parrott guns from the Rock
bridge artillery, and the batteries of Carpenter and Cutshaw
were promptly posted on the height, to dislodge a battery of
the eneray which was playing from the front with great ani
mation and effect upon the hill. At this moraent, a body of
the enemy's sharpshooters were seen crossing the ridge to
Jackson's left, between him and a battery which soon opened
an enfilade fire on our batteries. Poague's guns were promptly
turned to the left, which corapelled the infantry to seek
shelter behind a stone fence, from which their fire upon our

66 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
, cannoneers and horses, was, for a while, very destructive. By
the well-directed guns of Carpenter and Cutshaw, the Federal
battery in front had now becorae silenced, but the battery on
the left still kept up a brisk and damaging fire.' Withdraw
ing his battery to the left and rear, so as to avoid the exposure
under which he was severely suffering, Poague opened his
gnns upon the enfilading battery of the enemy. He was also
directed by Gen. Winder to throw some solid shot against the
stonewall, under the shelter of which, their sharpshooters
were pouring a fatal fire into our ranks.
During these operations, valuable officers and privates suf
fered ; among them. Colonel J. A. Campbell, commanding
the 2d Brigade, was wounded. Whilst the enemy's artillery
was playing on Jackson's position, his infantry moved to the
left, as if designing to gain possession of that portion of the
hill immediately to the north. General Taylor was ordered
to advance his brigade to the left, and check the movement.
Promptly leaving the turnpike, he passed, under coyer of the
hill, in rear of Winder, and formed his line of battle in face
of a heavy fire of artillery and musketry from the sharp
shooters, the 10th Virginia infantry taking position on the
left, and the 2Sd Virginia on the right of his line. Steadily,
and in fine order, mounting the hill, and there fronting the
enemy where he stood in greatest strength, the whole line mag
nificently swept down the declivity and across the field,
driving back the Federal troops, and bearing back all oppo
sition before it. In this gallant advance, all the troops of
General Winder joined except those left as supports to the
batteries. This successful charge being followed by the
giving way of the whole Federal army. General Elzey, who
had been in reserve on the Valley turnpike, was now ordered
to pursue, and, eagerly uniting in the general advance, soon
entered Winchester with the other troops. On the right, the
attack under General Ewell was executed with great skill
and spirit. The 21st North Carolina and the 21st Georgia

Ln'E OF STONKWALL JACKSON.

57

gallantly drove back the advance force of the enemy ; but
the 21st Norih Carolina becoming exposed to a destructive
fire frora a Federal regiinent posted behind a stonewall, after
sufiering severely in both officers and raen, was forced to fall
back. The 21st Georgia having succeeded in driving that
regiraent frora its shelter, reinforced its brigade.
With the 1st Maryland on his left and Trimble's brigade
on his right, General Ewell now moved toward the eastern
outskirts of the town. That advance was made about the
t^e that Taylor's brigade was so gallantly crossing the hill
and charging toward the western side of" the town. This
simultaneous raoveraent on both his flanks, by which his re
treat might even have been cut off, may account for the sud
denness with which the entire Federal army gave way, and for
the slight resistance which it made in passing through the
town. The Federal forces were now in full retreat. As
General Jackson's army pa.ssed through the town in pursuit,
they were received with the most enthusiastic demonstrations
of joy by its loyal people, who, for raore than two raonths, had
been suffering under the hateful surveillance and rigors of
military despotism.
Notwithstanding the fatiguing marches and almost sleep
less nights to which the mass of General Jackson's troops had
been subjected, they continued to obey his orders and press
forward with alacrity. The Federal forces, upon falling back
into the town, preserved their organization remarkably well ;
but in passing through its streets, they were thrown into
confiision,. and soon after debouching into the plain and turn
pike to Martinsburg — and after being fired upon by our artil
lery — they presented the aspect of a mass of disordered
fugitives. Never was there an opportunity where it was in
the power of cavalry to reap a richer harvest jof the fruits of
victory. Hoping that hs cavalry would soon come up, Gen
eral Jackson pressed forward with his artillery and infantry
for two hours, his purpose being, by the fire of his artillery
8*

68 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
to prevent the re-forming of the enemy. As nothing, how
ever, was heard of the cavalry, aud as little or nothing could
be accoraplished without it, iu the exhausted condition of the
infantry — between which and the enemy the distance was
continually increasing — General Jackson ordered a halt, and
issued orders for going into camp and refreshing the men.
He had seen only some fifty of Ashby's cavalry prior to the
pillaging scenes of the previous evening, and none at all since
an early hour of the past night. The 2d and 6th Virginia
regiments of cavahy were under the coraraand of BrigadiM-
general George H. Stewart, of EweU's command.
After the pursuit had continued for some distance beyond
the town, and seeing nothing of the cavalry. General Jackson
dispatched his aide-de-carap. Lieutenant Pendleton, to
General Stewart, with an order " to. move as rapidly as pos
sible, and join him on the Martinsburg turnpike, and carry
on the pursuit of the enemy with vigor." General Stewart's
reply was " that he was under the command of Gen. Ewell,
and the order must come through him." About an hour
after the halt of the main body had been ordered by Gen
eral Jackson, Brigadier-general George H. Stewart, with
his cavalry, came up, and renewing the pursuit, pushed for
ward in. a highly creditable raanner, and succeeded in cap
turing a number of prisoners ; but the main body of Banks'
army was now beyond the reach of successful pursuit, and
effected 'its escape across the Potomac.
Before reaching Bunker Hill, General George H. Stewart
was joined by General Ashby, with a portion of his cavalry,
their delay in coming up having been caused by a movement
made to the left to out off a part of the enemy's force. The cav
alry pushed on to Martinsburg, where a large amount of army
stores were captured ; and there was reason to believe that if
the pursuit on the part of the cavalry had been prorapt and
persevering, but a small portion of Banks' army would have
escaped.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 59
On the following day — the 26th of May — Divine service
was held in the camps of the Southern army, and thanks
were rendered to God for the success with which He had
blessed their arms, and his continual favor implored — a duty
which Gen. Jackson never failed to impress upon his troops.
The men then rested; but, on the 28th, movements against
the enemy were renewed. Earlyou the morning of that day.
Gen. Winder, in order to make a deraonstration toward the
Potomac, left his encampment near Winchester with the 4tli,
Sth, 33d and 27th Viiginia regiraents — the ever-ready " old
brigade" — and Carpenter's and Poague's batteries, and took
up the line of march for Charlestown by way of Summit
Point. When abont four miles from Charlestown, he re
ceived information that the enemy were in possession of that
place in heavy force : upon being advised of which. General
Jackson ordered Ewell with reinforcements to his support.
Notwithstanding the report of the large nuraber of the enemy
and the e.xpectation of reinforceraents in the course of the
day, Gen. Winder moved forward continually toward Charles
town, and, as he emerged from the wood, less than a mile
distant from the town, he discovered the enemy in line of
biittle, about fifteen hundred strong, and decided to attack
them. Upon the appearance of our troops, they were fired upon
by two pieces of artillery. Carpenter's battery was imme
diately placed in position, supported by the SSd Virginia,
and was so admirably served that, in twenty minutes, the
enemy retired in great disorder, throwing away arras, blankets,
haversacks, and accoutreraents of every description. The
pursuit was continued raipidly with artillery and infantry to
Halltown. A short distance beyond that point, observing
the enemy in position on Bolivar Heights, Gen. Winder re
turned to the vicinity of Charlestown.
On the following day, the raain body of the army took
position near Halltown, and the 2d Virginia was sent to Lou-

60 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
doun Heights — the Blue Ridge opposite Harper's Ferry— to
drive the enemy out of the towu aud across the Potomac.
Meanwhile, Gen. Jackson had to guard against a serious
peril which menaced him in the rear. One portion of the
Federal army had been routed aud driven to the river, but
other heavy bodies were hanging on his rear and flank which
it behooved him to prepare for. Shields was moving from
Fredericksburg on his right, and Fremont from the south
branch of the Potomac, near Romney, on his left, with the
view of concentrating a heavy force in his rear and cutting
off his retreat up the Valley. To avoid such a result, Gen-
Jackson, on the SOth May, issued orders to all the troops,
except Winder's brigade and the cavalry, to letucn to Win
chester. Directions were gWen to General Winder to re
call the 2d regiment from Loudouu Heights, and, as soon
as it should return to its brigade, to move with his com
mand, including the cavalry, and rejoin the main body of
the army.
Before General Jackson reached Winchester, the enemy's
cavalry had appeared at Front Royal, and Col. Connor, who
held that town with the 12th Georgia and a section of Rice's
battery, hastily and improvidently abandoned the place —
permitting not only Federal prisoners then in our possession,
but some of his own men to fall into the hands of the enemy.
Quartermaster and commissary stores, which Jackson had
captured at that place, and estimated at $300,000, were,
however, destroyed before being recaptured by the Snemy.
Early on the morning of the Slst of May, the 21st Vir
ginia, Col. Cunningham commanding, left Winchester in
charge of some 2,S00 prisoners, and moved up the Valley
toward Staunton. He was followed by the other troops then
near Winchester, which, at that time, embraced Jackson's
entire command, except the portion left with Gen. Winder.
That night they encaraped near Strasburg, and on the follow
ing morning, June 1st, Gen. Fremont, who was approaching

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 61
by way of Wardensville, attacked Jackson's outpost in that
direotioil. As it was necessary for Gen. Jackson to maintain his posi
tion at Strasburg until Winder arrived with his commaud,
Gen. Ewell was ordered with his division to hold 'Fremont in
check. Other troops were subsequently sent to his support,
and, after a spirited resistance, the enemy's advance fell back
a short distance. Toward evening Winder arrived — part of
his brigade, the 2d Virginia, having marched thirty-six railes.
The comraand being thus united again, the retreat continued
toward Harrisonburg.
The public property captured in this expedition — at Front
Royal, Winchester, Martinsburg, and Charlestown — was -of
enormous value, and so large in quantity that most of it
had to be abandoned for want of means of transportation.
The medical stores which filled one of the largest storehouses
in Winchester were fortunately saved ; but in spite of the ef
forts of Major Harman, Chief Quartermaster, transportation
for other stores of countless value could not be secured. Most
of the instruments and some of the medicines, urgently needed
at the tirae, were issued to the surgeons — the rest sent to
Cliarloltesville and turned over to a medical purveyor. Two
large and well-furnished hospitals, capable of accommodating
some 700 patients, were found in the towu, and left undis-
urbed, with all their stores, for the use of the sick and wounded
of the enemy. Commissary supplies, consisting of upwards of
100 head of cattle, 34,000 pounds of bacon, flour, salt, sugar,
coff'ee, hard bread, and chfese, were turned over to the proper
officers, besides large amounts taken by the troops -and not ac
counted for. Sutler's stores valued at $25,000, and for want
of transportation abandoned to the troops, were captured.
Quartermaster stores to the value of $125,185 were secured,
besides an immense amount destroyed. Many horses were
taken by the cavalry. Among the ordnance stores takeu and

62 LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON.
removed in safety were 9,354 small-arms and two pieces of ar
tillery with their caissons.
The official reports of casualties in the entire command
during the whole expedition showed a loss of 68 killed, 329
wounded, and three missing — making u total loss of 400 tnen.
In addition to the 2,300 prisoners in Col. Cunningham's
charge, there were found in the hospitals at Winchester about
700 sick and wounded of the eneray, and at Strasburg some
50 — making the total nuraber who fell into Jackson's hands
about 3,050. Those left in the hospitals were paroled.
Eight Federal surgeons, attending the sick and wounded at
Winchester, were at first held as prisoners of war, though pa
roled, and the next day unconditionally released.
In his official report, from which we have taken the above
narrative, Gen. Jackson declares that the main bodv of the
troops acted in a manner worthy of the great cause for which
they were contending ; and adds, that as far as his knowledge
extended, the battle of Winchester was " on our part a battle
without a straggler."

CHAPTER X.
* THE BATTLE OP CROSS KETS.
Jackson had thus out-fought, out-generalled, and triumphed
over his foes, who were closing in upon his rear with the vain
hope of intercepting and destooying him. They did not
know the man with whom they had to deal— his sleepless
vigilance, the execution following the conception, as thunder
does the lightning — the profound and unerring military ge
nius, which was so much raore than a match for all his foes
combined— the eye which pierced to the depths of all their
plans and devices, and defied those enemies to entrap him.

LIFK OF STONKWALL JACKSON. 63
He had accomplished his object, and he now set out on his
return. Banks was driven ignominiously to the Potomac —
his stores of countless value captured or destroyed ; a tre
mendous blow had been struck, whose sound reverberated
along the Valley — and Jackson had no longer any thing to
keep him there. Converging colurans were closing in on the
flanks and rear of the weary lion ; and he slowly retired, still
full of "fight" and menace, toward the safer region of the
upper Shenandoah, to renovate his forces for any other strug
gle which should be necessary.
Leaving Strasburg on the evening of the 1st of June, he
continued to move up the Valley turnpike, the cavalry under
Brigadier-general Geo. H. Stewart, bringing up the rear.
Fremont's advance, which had been hovering near the
Southern army during the day, soon ascertained that the re
treat had been resumed, and moved in pursuit during the
night. Encountering our rear-guard, they were challenged,
but replying ". Ashby's cavalry" to the challenge, they ap
proached so near as to make an attack. The 6th Virginia
cavalry, which was nearest the enemy, were thrown into con
fusion, and suffered some loss ; and this disorder was, to sorae
extent, communicated to the 2d Virginia cavalry also. Its
comraander, Colonel Munford, soon re-forraed it, however,
and gallantly driving back the eneray, captured some of their
number. From information received respecting Shields'
movements, and from the fact that he had been in possession
of Front Royal for more than forty-eight hours without effect
ing a junction with Fremont, as originally designed, Jackson
becarae apprehensive that he was moving via Luray, for the
purpose of reaching New Market, on his line of retreat, before
the Confederates arrived there. To avoid this, he caused
White House bridge, upon the assumed line of Shields'
march, over the south fork of the Shenandoah river to New
Market, to be burned — and also Columbia bridge, which was
a few miles up the river.

64 LIFE OF S'lONEWALL JACKSON.
On the 2d of June, the enemy's advance came within ar
tillery range of Jackson's rear-guard, and commenced shelling
it, throwing the cavalry and artillery into some disorder.
This led Gen. Ashby to one of those acts of personal heroism
and prorapt resource, which strikingly marked his character.
Dismounting from his horse, he collected from the road a small
body of infantry from those who were fatigued and straggling
behind their commands, and posting them .in a piece of wood
near the turnpike, he awaited the advance of the enemy's
cavalry, pushing forward to reap the fruits of the panic pro
duced by the shells. As they approached within easy range,
he poured such an effective fire into their ranks as to empty a
number of saddles, and check their further pursuit for that
day. Having transferred the 2d and 6th Virginia cavalry to
Ashby, Jackson from that time placed hira in command of
Vhe rear guard of the army. On the 3d of Jnne, after the
army had crossed the bridge over the Shenandoah near Mount
Jackson, Ashby was ordered to destroy it, which he barely
succeeded in doing, before the Federal forces reached the op
posite bank of the river. Here Ashby's horse was killed, and
he narrowly escaped with his life.
Jackson reached Harrisonburgh at an early hour on the
raorning of the Sth, and passing beyond that town, turned
toward the east, in the direction of Port Republic. On the
6th, General Ashby took position on the road between Harri
sonburg and Port Republic, and received a spirited charge
from a portion of the enemy's cavalry, which resulted in the
repulse of the latter, and the capture of Colonel Wyndham,
with sixty-three others. Fearing that the Federals would
make a more serious attack, Ashby called for infantry sup
port ; and the brigade of General George H. Stewart was ac
cordingly ordered forward. In a short time the S8th Virginia
becarae engaged with a Pennsylvania regiment, called the
Bucktails, when Colonel Johnson, ofthe 1st Maryland, coming
up in the hottest period of the fire, charged gallantly into

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSOX. 65
its flank, and drove the enemy with heavy loss from the field,
capturing Lieutenant-colonel Kane, commanding the regi
ment. In this skirraish, our infantry loss was 17 killed, 50
wonnded, and three raissing. Among the killed was the heroic
Ashby. The name of this splendid type of Southern chivalry
will live as long as the history ofthis, our great war for inde
pendence, and we need not panse to delineate his great out
line upon the crowded canvas of our subject. It is there
before the eyes of all the world — the chevalier upon his milk-
white, horse — the adraired, the beloved, the peerless partisan
of Virginia. Our feeble praise can add nothing to his farae,
and we do not touch upon a theme which demands a separate
treatment. It may, however, gratify some of our readers to
see the words of General Jackson — words never before pub
hshed — on -the occasion of his death; to know, "under the
hand and seal" of the immortal Jackson, what he thought of
Turner Ashby. " An official report," writes General Jackson,
"is not an appropriate place for raore than a passing notice of
the distinguished dead ; but the close relation which General
Ashby bol'e to my command for most of the previous twelve
months, will justify me in saying that as a partisan officer I
never knew his superior. His daring was proverbial ; his
powers of endurance almost incredible ; his tone of character
heroic, and his 'sagacity almost intuitive in divining the pur
poses and raovements of the enemy."
Such are the words of Jackson upon Ashby — one hero's
estiraate of another. That epitaph shall reraain the glory of
Ashby "the heroic," while the grass grows and the water
runs! The main body of Jackson's command had now reached the
vicinity of Port Republic. This village is situated in the
angle formed by the junction of the North and South rivers,
tributaries of the south fork of the Shenandoah. Over the
larger and deeper of these two streams, the North river, there
was a wooden bridge, connecting the town with the road lead-

66 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
ing to -Harrisonburg. Over the South river there was a
passable ford. The troops more iramediately under the com
mand of Jackson were encamped on the high ground north
of the village, about a mile from the river. General Ewell
was some four railes distant, near the road leading from Har
risonburg to Port Republic Fremont had arrived with his
forces in the vicinity of Harrisonburg, and Shields was moving
up the east side of the south fork of the Shenandoah, and
was then at Conrad's store, some fifteen miles below Port Re
pubhc. Jackson's position was about equidistant fiom both
hostile armies. To prevent a junction of tfie two Federal
arraies, he had caused the biidge over the south fork of the
Shenandoah, at Conrad's store, to be destroyed.
Intelligence havjng been received that Shields was ad
vancing futther up J;he river, a small cavalry force was sent
down during the night of the 7th to verify the report, and gain
such other information respecting the enemy as could be ob
tained. On the next morning the cavalry precipitately re
turned, announcing that the eneray were approaching The
brigades of Gen. Taliaferro and Gen. Winder were soon under
arras, and Gen. Jackson ordered them to occuny positions im
mediately north of the biidge. By this time tne Federal cav
alry, accompanied by artillery, were in sight, and after directing
. a few shots towards the biidge, they crossed 'South river, and
dashing into the village, planted one of their pieces at the
southern entrance of the bridge. In the mean tirae, the bat
teries of Wooding, Poague, and Carpenter, were being placed
in position ; and Gen. Taliaferro's brigade having reached the
vicinity of the bridge, was ordered to charge across, capture
the piece, and occupy the town. While one of Poague's pieces
was returning the fire of that of the enemy at the far end of
tbe bridge, the S7th Virginia, Col. Fulkerson, after deliver
ing its fire, gallantly charged over the bridge, captured the
gun, and, followed by the other regiments of the brigade, en
tered the town, and dispersed and drove back the Federal cav-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 67
airy. Another piece of artillery, with which the eneray had
advanced, was abandoned, and subsequently fell into the hands
of the Confederates. About this time a cousiderable body of
infantry was seen advancing up the same road ; and our bat
teries opened with marked effect upon this force and the
retreating cavalry. In a short time the infantry ibllowed the
Cavalry, falling back to Lewis's, three miles down the river,
pursued for a inile by our batteries on the opposite bank, when
the enemy disappeared in the woods round a bend in the road.
This attack of Shields had hardly been repulsed before
Ewell vvas seriously engaged viith Fremont, moving on the
opposite side ofthe river. The enemy pushed forward, driving
in the ISth Alabama, Col. Canty, from their post on picket.
This regiment made a gallant resistance, which so far checked
the advance of the enemy, as to afford Gen. Ewell time for
the choice of his position, at leisure. His ground was well
selected on a commanding ridge, a rivulet aud large field of
open ground in front — wood on both flanks — and his line
intersected near its centre by the road leading to Port Repub
lic. Gen. Trimble's brigade was posted on the right, somewhat
in advance of his centre — the batteries of Courtney, Lusk,
Brockenbrough, and Rains in the centre. Gen. Stewart's
brigade on the left, and Gen. Elzey's brigade in rear of the
centre, and in position to strengthen either wing. Both wings
were in the wood.
About ten o'clock the enemy threw out his skirmishers and
shortly afterwards posted his artillery opposite our own. The
artillery fire was kept up with great animation, on hoth sides,
for severa] hours. In the mean time a brigade of the enemy
advanced under cover on the right, occupied by Gen. Trimble,
who reserved his fire until they reached the crest of the hill
in easy range of his musketry, when he poured into them a
deadly fire from his whole fi-ont, uuder which they fell back.
Observing a battery about being posted ou the enemy's left,
half a m'le in front. Gen. Trimble, now supported by the 13th

68 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
and 25th Virginia, of Elzey's brigade, pushed forward for the
purpose of taking it, but found it withdrawn before he reached
the spot, having, in the mean tirae, some spirited skirmishing
with its infantry supports. Gen. Trimble had now advanced
raore than a raile from his original position, while the Federal
advance had fallen back to the ground occupied by them in
the morning.
Gen. Taylor, of the Sth brigade of Louisiana troops, having
arrived from the vicinity of the bridge at Port Republic,
toward which he had moved in the morning, reported to Geu.
Ewell about 2 p. m., and w^s placed in rear. Col. Patton,
with the 42d and 48th Virginia, and 1st battalion Virginia
regulars also joined, and with the remainder of Gen. Elzey's
brigade was added to the centre and left, then supposed to be
threatened. General Ewell, having been informed that the
enemy were raoving a large coluran on bis left, did not advance
at once; but subsequently ascertaining 'that no ^attack was
designed by the force referred to, he advanced, drove in the
enemy's skirmishers, and when night closed, was in position on
ground previously held by the enemy.

CHAPTER XL
BATTLE OF PORT REPUBLIC.
The engagement in which General EweU's command thus
defeated Freraont is generally known as the battle of Cross
Keys. It was to be followed by a still more decisive action.
General Jackson had remained at Port Republic during the
greater part of the 8th of June, expecting a renewal of the
attack. As no movement, however, was made by Shields to
reuew the action that day, Jackson determined to take the
initiative and attack him on the following morning. Accord-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 69
inglj'. Gen. Ewell was directed to move from his position, at
an early hour on the raorning of the 9th, toward Port Re
public, leaving General Trimble, with his brigade, supported
by Col. Patton, with the 42d Virginia and the 1st battalion
of regulars, to hold Fremont in check, with instructions, if
hard pressed, to retire across the North river and burn the
bridge in their rear. Soon after 10 o'clock. Gen. Trimble,
with tbe last of the Confederate forces, had crossed the North
river, and the bridge was destroyed.
In the mean-time, before five in the morning. Gen. Winder's
brigade was in Port Republic, and, having crossed the south
fork by a temporary wagon bridge, placed there for the pur
pose, was moving down the river road to attack the forces of
Shields. Advancing a mile and a half, he encountered the
Federal pickets and drove thera in. The enemy had judi
ciously selected his position for defence. Upon a rising
ground near the Lewis house he had planted'six guns, which
commanded the road from Port Republic and swept the pla
teau for a considerable distance in front. As Gen. Winder
moved forward his brigade, a rapid and severe fire of shell
was opened upon it. Captain Poague, with two Parrott guns,
was promptly placed in position, on the left of the road, to
engage, and, if possible, dislodge the Federal battery. Capt.
Carpenter was sent to the right to select a position for his
battery, but finding it impracticable to drag it through the
dense undergrowth, it was brought back and part of it placed
near Poague. The artillery was well sustained by our bat
teries, but it soon became obvious that the superiority in this
arm was on the part of the enemy. Gen. Winder, being now
reinforced by the 7th Louisiana, Col. Hays, seeing no raode
of silencing the enemy's battery and escaping its destructive
missiles, but by a rapid charge and the capture of it, advanced
with great boldness for some distance, but encountered such
a heavy fire of artillery and small-arms as greatly to disor
ganize his comraand, which fell back in disorder. The enemy

70 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
advanced across the field, and, by a heavy rausketry fire,
forced back our infantry support, in consequence of which
our guns had to retire. The eneray's advance was checked
by a spirited attack upon their flank by the 58th and 54th
Virginia, directed by Gen. Ewell and led by Col. Scott, al
though his comraand was afterwards driven back to the woods
with severe loss. The batteries were all safely withdrawn
except one of Captain Poague's six-pounder guns, which was
carried off by the enemy.
Whilst Winder's comraand was in this critical condition,
the gallant and successful attack of General Taylor, on the
Federal left and rear, diverted attention from the front, and
led to a concentration of their force upon him. Moving to
the right along the raountain acclivity, through a rough and
tangled forest, and much disordered by the rapidity and ob
structions of the march, Taylor eraerged with his coramand
from the wood Just as the loud cheers of the enemy proclaimed
their success in front; and, although assailed by a superior
force in front and flank, with their guns in position .within
point-blank range, the charge was gallantly raade, and the
battery, consisting of six guns, fell into our hands. Three
tiraes was this battery lost and won in the desperate and de
termined efforts to capture and recover it. After holding the
battery for a short time, a fresh brigade of the enemy, ad
vancing on his flank, made a vigorous attack upon him, ac
companied by a galling fire of canister from a piece suddenly
brought into position at a distance of about three hundred
and fifty yards. Under this combined attack, Taylor fell
back to a skirt of the wood, near which the captured bat
tery was stationed, and from that point continued his fire
upon the advancing enemy, who succeeded in recapturing one
of the guns, which he carried off, leaving both caisson and
limber. The enemy now occupied with Taylor, halted his
advance to the front.

LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON.

71

Winder raade a renewed effort to rally his command, and
succeeding, with the 7th Louisiana under Major Penn (the
colonel and lieutenant-colonel having been carried fiom the
field wounded) and the Sth Virginia, Col. Funk, he placed
part of Poague's battery in the position previously occupied
by it, and again opened on the enemy, who was moving
against Taylor's left flank to surround hina in the woods.
Chew's battery now reported, and was placed in position and
did good service. Soon afterwards, guns fi-om the batteries
of Brockenbrough, Courtney, and Rains were brought fdl-ward
and placed in position. Whilst these movements were in
progress on the left and front. Col. Scott, having rallied his
comraand, led them under the orders of Gen. Ewell to the
support of Gen. Taylor, who, pushing forward with the rein
forcements just secured and assisted by the vvell-directed fire
of our artillery, forced the enemy to fall back, which was soon
followed by his precipitate retreat, leaving many hilled and
wounded upon the field. Gen. Taliaferro, who, on the pre
vious day, had occupied the town, was directed to continue
to do so with part of his troops, and with the remainder to
hold the elevated position on the north side of the river, for
the purpose of co-operating, if necessary, with Gen. Trimble,
and preventing his being cut off from the raain body of the
army, by the destruction of the bridge in his rear. But find
ing the resistance more obstinate than he anticipated. Gen.
Jackson sent orders to Taliaferro and Trimble to join the
main body. Taliaferro came up in tirae to discharge an
effective volley into the ranks of the wavering and retreating
enemy. The pursuit was continued some five miles beyond
the battle-field by Gens. Taliaferro and Winder, with their
brigades and portions of the batteries of Wooding and Caskie,
Col. Munford, with cavalry and some artillery, advancing
about three miles beyond the other troops.
The Confederates captured in the pursuit about 450 pris-

72 LIFE OP STONEWALL JACKSON.
oners, some wagons, one piece of abandoned artillery, and
, about 800 muskets. Some 275 wounded were paroled in the
hospitals near Port Republic.
Whilst the forces of Shields were in full retreat and onr
troops in pursuit, Fremont appeared on the opposite bank o.
the south fork of the Sheiiandojih with his army, and opened
his artillery on our arabulances and parties engaged in the
huraane labors of attending to our dead and wounded and the
dead and wounded of the enemy. The next day, withdraw
ing his forces, he retreated down the Valley.
On;tho morning of the 12th, Col. Munford entered Har
risonburg, where, in addition to wagons, medical stores, and
camp equipage, he captured about 200 small-arms, and also
about 200 of Fremont's men, raany of thera severely wounded.
The Federal surgeons attending them were released, and those
under their care paroled.
In the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic our loss in
killed, wounded, and missing was 1,096, including the skir
mish on June 6th ; also one piece of artillery. No estiraate
was made of the enemy's killed and wounded in these en
gagements by Gen. Jackson, but their loss was unquestionably
far greater than his own. .In addition, 975 prisoners were
captured between the 6th and 12th. The small-arms taken
numbered about 1,000 ; and seven pieces of artillery, wilh
caissons and limbers, fell into our hands.
On the 12th, Jackson recrossed South river, and encamped
near Weyer's Cave : " For the purpose of rendering thanks
to God for having crowned our arms with success," says Gen.
Jackson, " and to implore his continual favor, Divine service
was held in the army on the 14th." The army remained
near Weyer's Cave until the I7th, when, having rested long
for this coraraand, it recoramenced its march — this time for
a new field of operations — on the banks o5 the Chickahominy.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 7c
CHAPTER XIL
ILLUSTRATIONS  ROMNBT : KERNSTOWN. :
We have presented a concise narration of that great cam
paign of the Valley upon which Jackson's fame will rest as
upon pillars of adamant.
We claim thorough accuracy for all the statements in rela
tion to these battles ; for the account is given almost entirely
in the words of General Jackson's official reports. These
reports are so full, so lucid, so exhaustive of all the main
great facts and outlines, that they leave little to be desired ;
and in narrating the events of this portion of the famous sol
dier's career, we have shrunk from interrupting the history
given, so to speak, under his own hand and seal, with any
comments, additions, or coloring of our own.
Something, however, remains to be said in relation to these
occurrences — some familiar details which could not, with pro
priety, be given in the official reports, may here be noted
down. The subject is not unworthy of such minute atten
tion. In relation to these great events, every detail, however
trifiing, is valuable. By his operations in this magnificent
campaign, Jackson will be mainly estiraated in that "after
time" which sums up and passes judgment upon all human
things without fear, favor, or the prejudices of the contempo
rary. In that grand career, extending over barely two years,
but so craramed with extraordinary events, the names of
Kernstown and McDowell, Winchester, and Port Repubhc,
will outshine Cold Harbor, Manassas, Sharpsburg, and Fred
ericksburg. In these latter battles, he was one of General
Lee's lieutenants, carrying out the orders of a commander-in-
chief, under the eyes of that comraander. In the Valley, he
was commanding in the field — far away from the capital, and

74 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
often without communication with any one. What he there
accomplished was due to his own brain aud nerve, and perfect
soldiership. When the coining generations speak of Jackson
they will delight to dwell upon the toiling, raarching, thinking,
fighting of those two or three months. Tradition will cluster
around the least detail ; and the great soldier will be insepara
bly associated, in every heart, with the beautiful region which
he loved so well.
From the moment when he took command of the httle
"Army of the Valley," General Jackson based all his mili
tary operations upon the conviction announced in a letter to a
friend, dated March 3, 1862: '¦'¦If this Valley is lost, Vir
ginia is lost.'" His far-seeing eye at once discerned the long
train of "woes unnumbered" which would follow the occu
pation of the Shenandoah Valley by the enemy, and every
faculty of his soul was bent to the almost hopeless task of
holding it against the strong column about to advance upon
Winchester. His expedition to Romney had this design in
view ; and, perhaps, no portion of Jackson's military opera
tions more accurately indicates his method of warfare than
this :
" Please procure me," he wrote a friend on January 29th,
"thirty-five miles of telegraph wire from this point to
Romney." The point was Winchester, and from that place he designed
watching the roads to Harper's Ferry and Williamsport —
able to communicate promptly with Loring at Romney, and
direct his operations, or to move that force and his own either
according to the preconcerted plan, or as subsequent opera
tions on the eneray's part dictated. His designs were, how
ever, fiustrated by the order from the War Office recalhng
General Loring, and he was compelled, greatly dissatisfied,
to go into carap at Winchester, and, instead of initiating the
campaign, await the movements of the Federals. He had
never deceived himself with the idea that ifthe enemy had time

LIFK OF STONKWALL JACKSON. 75
to collect and organize his force, the Valley could be defended
by his own little army. He seeras to have comprehended
clearly that in the strategy afterwards employed by him
against General Banks lay the sole prospect of success. That
was the aggressive, and from the moment when this policy was
interdicted, he saw the coming event — retreat.
" Though the troops under my command are inadequate to
the defence of this district," he wrote, " yet we must look on
the bright side, trusting, that a kind Providence will continue
to give its protection to this fair portion of our Valley. I
regret 'that  should not regard the success of the
recent expedition as far outweighing the losses sustained."
The winter passed away ; the enemy organized his force at
leisure, and the first days of March saw heavy columns firmly
posted directly in front of Winchester. Of the situation at the
moment, Jackson wrote on March Sd :
" My plan is to put on as bold a front as possible, and to
use every means in my power to prevent his advance, whilst
our re-organization is going on. What I desire is to hold the
country, as far as practicable, until we are in a condition to
advance ; and then, with God's blessing, let us raake thorough
work of it. . . . Banks, who commands about 35,000 raen,
has his headquarters at Charlestown ; Kelly, who has suc
ceeded Lander, has probably 11,000, with his headquarters
near Paw Paw. Thus you see two generals, whose united force
is near 46,000, of troops already organized for three years or
the war, opposed to our little force here. But I do not feel
discouraged. Let me have what force you can. ... I am
delighted to hear you say that Virginia is resolved to concen
trate all her resources, if necessary, to the defence of herself.
Now we may look for war in earnest. ... I have only to say
this — that if this Valley is lost, Virginia is lost." The defence
of the Valley was the dearest object of Jackson's heart, not
only then, but always, and he subsequently alluded to his deep
solicitude upon this point, writing : "It is but natural that I

76 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
should feel a deep and abiding interest in the people of the
Valley, where are the homes of so many of my brave soldiers,
who have been with me so long, and whose self-sacrificing
patriotism has been so thoroughly tested."
This affection of the great soldier for the Shenandoah
Valley was more than returned by its inhabitants. Jackson
is famous everywhere throughout the world, but the people of
that region first saw and hailed the rising sun of his renown.
All lovers of purity and goodness now look to him as a noble
type of earnest, truthful manhood ; but the dwellers on the
banks of the Shenandoah cherish his meraory with a deeper
affection — as that of one^ whose brain, and heart, and arm,
were dedicated to their defence.
The reinforcements — ardently longed for and persistently
urged — did not arrive. The march to Romney and consequent
suffering of the troops had still further diminished Jackson's
little army. It was reduced now to about 4,000 men, and
the enemy were advancing with 46,000. Winchester must
be evacuated, and Jackson slowly and sullenly falls back,
doggedly retiring before the huge columns of the enemy, but
striking their advance at every step with his cavalry under
Ashby. He has fallen back nearly to Staunton, when sud
denly his weary troops are faced about, march down the
Valley, and at Kernstown find themselves in front of the
Federal army under Shields. Jackson has traversed nearly
fifty railes, raoving so rapidly that only 2,700 have been able
to keep up, but he is in time. Sedgwick has crossed the
Blue Ridge through Snicker's Gap, and the head of his
column of 15,000 men is at Middleburg, ready to strike Gen
eral Johnston, who, falling back frora Centreville, has reached
the Rapidan, when the roar of artillery from the direction of
Winchester arrests the Federal general's march. Dispatches
quickly corae from Shields that Jackson is pressing him hard
with a force of unknown size, and General Sedgwick faces

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 77
about and returns to the assistance of the 11,000 who are
threatened at Kernstown by Jackson's 2,700.
Such were the circumstances under which the battle of
Kernstown was fought. By assailing Shields, Jackson with
drew a force of 15,000 ofthe enemy from the projected attack,
upon Johnston — inflicted a heavy loss upon the foe, and re
tired with all his baggage and artillery, except two pieces dis
abled. His enemies declared that his brain was diseased, or
he never would have broken down his troops by this tremen
dous forced march, to attack an enemy nearly five times as
strong as himself, and for no considerable object. Jackson did
not contradict these statements — he went npon his way.
The following brief notices and details of the battle of Kerns
town, from contemporary publications, mayp rove of interest
hereafter :
The writer of these p^es has not considered it necessary
here, or elsewhere, to indicate the particulars in which the
letter-writers err in their statements of the main facts. The
narratives of the battles already given will point out their dis
crepancies ; and the familiar details will remain for what they
are worth.
" The name of Kernstown will shine proudly in our annals.
The engagement at that place was the most desperate, and, all
things considered, the most successful of the war. It was not
a defeat; itwas a drawn battle, at the close of which both
parties retired, the enemy to a greater distance than our men,
who slept almost upon the battle-field. Jackson made the at
tack in obedience to orders. The blow was struck for a pur
pose, and that purpose was fully accomphshed ; it was, there
fore, a victory. The marvel is that Jackson's men were able
to fight at, all, much less a force of five to one in a carefully
chosen position. His troops had marched forty-five miles in
a day and a half— they had been marching constantly for a
week or two before — and when they arrived at the scene of
action, part of the small army was far in the rear. Fatigued,
worn out, the little band of patriots ' attacked at once and fu-

78 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
nously' the huge eneray before them. The ' Shrivel Greys,'
a gallant handful of exiles from Wheeling, only 30 strong,
were thrown out as skirmishers to feel the enemy, and it took
three regiraents ofthe Yankees to drive them back. The 21st
Virginia regiment, commanded by Col. Patton, and containing
onr own noble ' Co. F,' from Richmond, made a splendid
fight. Gen. Jackson, we hear, complimented them for their
bravery, and assigned them hereafter the position of the ad
vance guard — a proud tribute to their pluck and bravery.
The Irish battalion fought hke tigers — or, which is the same
thing, like Irishmen. The ' Stonewall Brigade' came np to
the support ofthe 21st, and did its work heroically, as we all
knew it would. The men who held Patterson's whole army
at bay, and who won on the field of Manassas a name that will
live as lung as the English tongue is spoken, gathered new
laurels at Kernstown. Five times the intrepid Jackson led his
veterans to the charge and drove back the enormous columns
of the enemy. Night fell upon the combatants before the re
inforcements of either party could come up. Twenty-seven
hundred Virginians had attacked 12,000 Yankees — the lowest
estimate of the enemy themselves— and when the fight closed,
83 of onr men lay dead oh the field, with 416 Yankee corpses
by their side. Disclaiming any invidiousness, any State vani
ty, we can but feel proud of our soldiers. We glory in them
all, come from what part of the State they may, and in none
more than the men of the Valley.

" The knightliest of the knightly race.
Who, since the days of old.
Have kept the lamp of chivalry
Alight in hearts of gold —
The kindliest of the kindly band,
Who, rarely hating ease,
Yet rode with Spotswood round the land
And Ealeigh round the seas —

" Who climbed the blue Virginian hills
Against embattled foes,
And planted there in valleys fair,
The lily and the rose —
Whose fjragrance lives in many lands,
Whose beauty stars the earth,
And lights the hearths of many homes
With loveliness and worth !

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 79
" We thought tbey slept ! the sons who kept
The names of noble sires,
And slumbered while the darkness crept
Around their vigil fires !
But still the Golden Horse-shoe Knights
Their Old Dominion keep,
Whose foes have found enchanted ground,
But not a knight asleep."

Another writer says :
"The fight was raade by the Yankees as they fought at
Manassas, first raaking a deraonstration on our right, and then
throwing their whole force rapidly to our left. An ' artiUery
duel ' was kept up until about four o'clock, our forces moving
gradually to the left, when the eneray's infantry advanced in
force. They were met by the 37th and 21st Virginia regi
ments, and repulsed three tiraes. Three times the Stars and
Stripes fell, and three tiraes did our gallant troops drive them
headlong down the hill. The 1st brigade, the 'Stonewall,'
then carae up, and again a fresh column of the enemy was
driven back, leaving the side of the hill black with their
dead and wounded. * * * *
"No battle has been fought during the war against such
odds and under the same trying circumstances. The Yan
kees fought better than at Manassas, but their officers could
be seen riding behind their columns sabring the men on to
the work. While the battle lasted, the firing was sharper and
more rapid than on the glorious 21st of July. It was equally
as hard a fought battle, and against greater odds ; and if not
so successful on our side, the result leaves no blush of shame
behind, and adds new laurels to the desperate bravery of both
officers and men of our little army. * * * *
" Letters received from Winchester last night, from relia
ble persons, state that there is ' no exultation among the Yan
kees, and that they look upon Jackson's army as a band of
heroes.' Our ladies in Winchester gave every attention to
our wounded and prisoners. For the first time since the
Yankees entered the town, they crowded the streets, and the
march of our men to the railroad depot was, as one expresses
it, 'a march of triumph rather than of defeat.' The Yankees
did not interfere with this patriotic dehionstration, or the
shouts of our brave boys for Jeff. Davis and the Confed
eracy.' The same letters represent the Yankees as looking

80 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
upon Jackson's array, particularly Colonel Ashby's cavalry
with fear and trembling. The men claim no victory over us,
though the usual noise will be made in their papers. Our
people on the border look upon our gallant fight on Sunday in
the light of a victory, and seem cheerful and hopeful.
" It is useless to say that General Jackson acted bravely ;
he was in the thickest of the fight, and exposed to every
danger. A braver man God never made. Colonel Allen, of
the 2d Virginia distinguished himself. Three times the flag
of the 2d 'Virginia was shot down, and the staff shot away.
Colonel Allen, the masses of the enemy close upon him,
jumped from his horse and carried the colors from the field.
Colonel Tahaferro, of the 21st, had his horse shot under him,
and acted his part well. Colonel Echols, of the 27th, had
his arm badly broken while leading his men to the field.
Colonel Burks, of the 42d, received six shots through his
clothing, and his horse was shot four times. Lieutenant Dall,
of Delaware, who joined the Sth at Harper's Ferry, was
killed, .fighting bravely. Captain Austin, of the Sth, was
badly wounded, and left on the field. Captain Robertson, of
the 27th, going on the field lame, was taken prisoner. Lieut.
Junkin, General Jackson's aid-de-carap, was taken prisoner.
He mistook a body of Yankees for our men, and was taken.
The whole army regrets the loss of the gallant lieutenant.
Captain Morrison and Lieutenant Lisle, of the Liberty Hall
Volunteers, of Washington College, who fought so gallantly
at Manassas, were taken, and his company badly cut up.
"Colonel Ashby held the right, and before the fight was
over was completely in the rear of the enemy. He covered
our retreat, and by his tireless energy has made himself the
terror of the Yankees."

Another writer says ;
" Reliable advices from Winchester represent the loss of
the enemy in killed at near 1,500, and the wounded at a much
larger figure. It is said that about 360 dead bodies were
brought to Winchester for transportation Northward. These,
as we suppose, were the elite, whose friends were able to in
cur the cost of removal. The mass of course, were buried
in the neighborhood of the battle-field.
"Upon inquiring as to the cause of the disparity in the
casualties in the two armies, I learn, from some of our men,

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 81
that the enemy were so thick that it was impossible for our
meu to miss. Every shot took effect — if it missed the column
at which it was aimed, it was sure to hit one in the rear.
" The most deadly strife occurred near the boundary of two
fields which were separated by a stone wall. Two of our regi •
ments were in one field, and six Yankee regiments in the
otber. At first they fired across the wall, but after a while,
each party advanced in a run, to get the benefit of the shelter
of the wall. Our men reached it first, and the Yankees were
then about 40 yards distant. Our men immediately dropped
on their knees, and taking deliberate aim, fired deadly volleys
into the advancing lines of the enemy. The effect was ter
rific, and it is said that an Ohio and a Pennsylvania regiment,
which jWere in advance, were almost annihilated. It is said
that after this fire not more than 20 men of one of these regi
ments were left standing.
" We lost two guns in the battle — ono from the Rockbridge
and one from the Augusta battery. The Rockbridge gun
was struck by a cannon-ball and disabled. The loss of the
other was caused by the killing of one of the horses, which
frightened the others, and caused them to turn suddenly and
capsize the carriage. The euemy were close upon us, and left
no time to replace it. Our men, however, cut out and se
cured all the horses but one, and he was cut out by the
enemy, and escaped from them, and came galloping to our
camp. It would seem as if even the horses were infected
with the spirit of rebelhon and hatred to the Yankees."

CHAPTER XIIL
ILLUSTRATIONS — m'dOWELL : WINCHESTER.
May, 1862, was looked forward to by the Federal authori
ties as the great month — the hinge of the crisis upon which
it would turn.
Their plans were not deficient in ingenuity, and promised
favorable results. Upon the Confederate capital four armies
4*

82 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
were about to converge — Fremont from the West, Banks
from the Valley, McDowell from Fredericksburg, and Mc
Clellan from the Peninsula. Fremont and Banks, having
united their forces, were to cut all the communications, and
sweep down upon the devoted capital from the mountains;
McClellan was to march to the Chickahominy, and extend
his right wing far up that stream ; and, at the same time,
McDowell was to advance from Fredericksburg and extend
his left wing until it formed a junction with McClellan's
right. The combined forces were thus to surround Rich
mond on the east and north with a cordon of fire. Between
the array ascending the Peninsula and the array descending
from the mountains, the capital of the Confederacy must, in
this raonth of May, be evacuated or destroyed.
To defeat these plans, only two obstacles existed — but they
were serious. These obstacles were General Johnston and
General Jackson. The forces under their commands were
far outnumbered by those of the eneray ; but God had en
dowed these two leaders with a genius for war which more
than supplied the lack of numbers.
The purpose of these pages is to exhibit the part enacted
in the great drama by General Stonewall Jackson ; and the
narrative of his battles in the Valley has been given. We
proceed now to add, in relation to the great combats which
succeeded Kernstown, those illustrations mentioned above.
Frora Kernstown, Jackson fell back, as we have seen, to
ward Staunton, pursued by Gen. Banks. Crossing to Swift
Run Gap, he took up a strong position there, ready to raarch
in any direction, and confronted the enemy, so long following
upon his trail. Many skirmishes took place, but nothing de
cisive occurred ; and Gen. Banks finally fell back, in order to
unite his force with that of Fi'emont, approaching from the
West— probably, also, with expected reinforceraents from
McDowell at Fredericksburg. Jackson took advantage of
this movement after |iis own fashion, and, marching around

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 83
Staiinton, went to meet Milroy and Schenck, who were ap
proaching that place from Western Viiginia. The battle of
McDowell followed, as has been seen, and the expected junc
tion between Fremont and Banks was defeated. The follow
ing details of this engageraent are taken from a letter written
ou May the 21st, near Franklin, whither the euemy had been
pursued :
" About this time, ' Old Stonewall' passed up the road, and
had a consultation with Gen. Johnson. Soon after the con
sultation, Johnson's army pushed up the road in pursuit of
the eneray towards Shenandoah mountain, followed by Jack
son's. When we arrived at the foot of the mountain, on the
east side, we found a regiment of Yankees had been camped
there, but had left on hearing of our appearance, leaving be
hind all their tents, clothing, commissary stores, and a nuraber
of small-arms, most of which they broke the stocks of, but
several oases were left unopened and in fine order.
" After scouting the mountain thoroughly, we found that
three regiments had been camped upon the top, but upon our
approach had made a hasty retreat.
" When we arrived upon the summit, we could see the
enemy in hasty retreat on the east side of Bull Pasture Moun
tain, about five miles in advance. It being late in the day,
our commander thought it prudent to halt and go into camp
for the night.
" At sunrise the next raorning, we were again on the line
of raarch in pursuit of the enemy. When we arrived at Bull
Pasture Mountain, we ascended to its sumrait, when Ashby's
scouts reported that the Yankees had placed four pieces of
artillery on the road leading to McDowell, on the west side of
the mountain, where the road passes through a narrow gorge.
The heights commanding Monterey were also in possession of
the enemy, with artiUery planted.
*********
" We expected to renew the flght the next morning, but
the bird had flown, leaving behind, at McDowell, where 3,000
were encaraped, all his camp equipage, a large quantity of
amraunition, a number of cases of Enfield rifles, together
with about 100 head of cattle, which they had stolen, being
mostly milch cows.

84 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
"At McDowell, Milroy's headquarters, great destrnction
was done to private property.
" The Yankees had been enjoying themselves finely. They
had erected large bake-ovens, and the officers' kitchens were
all provided with large cooking-stoves of the most improved
pattern. " On the retreat, our cavalry overtook and captured a num
ber of prisoners. Among them was a colonel, and an able-
bodied negro worth at least $1,500.
" We have found a number of dead and many graves along
the road, besides abandoned wagons and broken-down horses.
I learn this morning that 103 dead Yankees have been found
in the mountain hollow, near McDowell, covered with brush.
" People along the road tell us that they pressed aU their
horses to carry off their artillery, &c.
" We arrived at this place yesterday (Sunday) about three
o'clock, p. M. On our approach, the enemy took to the
mountains, where they had planted artillery, and set fire to
all the works. So dense was the smoke, that we could not
find the position until night fell, when it was too dark to shell
them. In faot, it is very hard to drive an enemy from the
mountain heights, as you can seldora get a position for artil
lery. This morning our scouts are out in search of a position,
and to watch the movements of the Yankees, but I have not
yet heard from them.
" Northwestern Virginia is now nearly free PPom the scoun
drels. "I do not know our destination, as General Jackson never
tells any one his plans, not even his brigadiers and aids.
" The Yankees had put up a telegraph wire almost to Mon
terey ; but, on our approach, they abandoned the work, leaving
several tons of wire, ladders, &c., behind.
" The fight, I suppose, will be renewed as soon as General
Jackson ascertains the enemy's position."

One passage in'the above letter will seem a very unneces
sary announcement to those who knew the habits of Jackson —
" I do not know our destination, as General Jackson never tells
any one his plans, not eyen his brigadiers and aids." This
statement will excite the amusement of many persons ; for it
is made in relation to a man who declared, that " if his coat

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 85
knew what he intended to do, he would take it off and burn
it" — and who said on another occasion, in the low, quiet
voice peculiar to him, " Mystery — mystery is the secret of

success

1"

Jackson returned devout thanks for his victory, and we
have in the letter of a correspondent, the following allusion
to the scene :
" A significant lUustration of the elevated virtues and prin
ciples whioh governed Jackson's public acts was given on
Monday last, three miles north of Franklin, in Pendleton
county. On the morning of that day, he addressed his troops
in a few terse and pointed remarks, thanking them for the
courage, endurance, and soldierly conduct displayed at the
battle of McDowell, on Thursday, the Sth instant, and closed
by appointing 10 o'clock of that day, as an occasion of prayer
and thanksgiving throughout the army, for the victory which
followed that bloody engagement. There, in the beautiful
httle valley of the South Branch, with the blue and towering
mountains covered with the verdure of Spring, the green sward
smiling a welcome to the season of fiowers, and the bright
sun, unclouded, lending a genial, refreshing warmth, that
army, equipped for the stern conflict of war, bent in hurable
praise and thanksgiving to the God of Battles for the success
vouchsafed to our arms in the recent sanguinary encounter of
the two armies. While this solemn ceremony was progress
ing in every regiment, the minds of the soldiery drawn off
from the bayonet and sabre, the enemy's artillery was occa
sionally belching forth its leaden death, yet all unmoved
stood that worshipping army, acknowledging the supremacy
of the will of Him who controls the destinies of men and
nations, and chooses the weaker things of earth to confound
the mighty.
" Gen. Jackson is one of the purest men I ever knew. He
is far above all political or personal considerations. He is a
Christian patriot, deeply impressed with the righteousness of
the cause in which he has unsheathed his sword, and, depend
ing upon the aid of a just God, determined to win the freedom
of his country, or perish in the holy effort."

The battle of McDowell was fought on the Sth of May ; and

86 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
was announced by Jackson in his habitual terms of piety and
simplicity — "God blessed ouV arms with victory at McDowell
yesterday." Then he went after Banks.
His design now required energy, nerve, rapidity of move
ment, and all the greatest faculties of the soldier. The design
was to defeat or drive Banks before him across the Potomac;
to thus divert McDowell from his projected junction with
McClellan in front of Richraond; and in the event that success
crowned his arms, to cross into Maryland and advance to
attack Washington.
The authorities at Washington realized their danger. Lin
coln's dispatches teem with allusions to the suspected designs
of Jackson. On the I7th of May, he writes to Gen.
McClellan :
" In order, therefore, to increase the strength of the attack
upon Richmond, at the earliest moment, Gen. McDowell has
been ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route.
He is ordered — keeping himself always in a position to cover
the Capital from all possible attack — so to operate as to put
his left wing in communication with your right. =n * *
The specific task assigned to his comraand, has been to pro
vide against any danger to the Capital of the nation. At your
earliest call for reinforcements he is sent forward to co-operate
in the reduction of Richmond, hut charged in attempting this,
not to uncover the city of Washington ; and you will give ¦no
orders, either before or after your junction, which can put him
out of position to cover this cityP
On the 21st of May, Lincoln writes to McDowell, at Fred
ericksburg :
" Gen. Fremont has been ordered by telegraph to raove from-
Franklin on Harrisonburg to relieve Gen. Banks and capture
or destroy Jackson's or EweU's forces.
"You are instructed, laying aside for the present the move
ment on Richraond, to put twenty thousand men in motion
at once for the Shenandoah, raoving on the hne or in the
advance of the Manassas Gap Railroad. Your object will be
to capture the forces of Jackson and Ewell, either in co-oper
ation with Gen. Fremont, or in case of a want of supplies or

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 87
transportation interferes with his movement, it is believed that
the force with which you move will be sufficient to accom
plish the object alone. The information thus received here
makes it probable that if the enemy operate actively against
Banks you will not be able to count upon much assistance
from him, but may even have to release him. Reports re
ceived this moment are that Banks is fighting with Ewell
eight miles from Winchester."
General McDowell rephes, on May 24th. " The President's
order has been received — is in process of execution. This
is a crushing blow to us." He adds, on the same day ; " I
beg to say that co-operation between Fremont and myself, to
cut off Jackson or Ewell, is not to be counted upon, even if
it is not a practical impossibility. Next, that I am entirely
beyond helping distance of General Banks, and no celerity or
vigor will avail, so far as he is concerned. Next, that by a
glance at the map, it will be seen that the line of retreat of
the enemy's forces up the Valley is shorter than mine to go
against him. It will take a week or fen days for my force to
go to the Valley by this route, which will give it good forage,
and by that time the enemy will have retreated. I shall gain
nothing for you there, and shall gain much for you here. It
is, therefore, not only on personal grounds that I have a heavy
heart in the matter, but that I feel it throws us all back, and
fiom Richmond, North, we shall have all our large masses
paralyzed, and shall have to repeat what we have just accora
plished. I have ordered General Shields to commence a
movement by to-morrow morning. A second division will fol
low in the afternoon.''
Such was the position of the pieces on the great chess
board of war at the end of May. McClellan threatening
Johnston at Richmond, and clamoring for McDowell — Lin
coln, in Washington, telegraphing McDowell to " put 20,000
men in motion" to destroy Jackson, and " cover" his beloved
capital. The situation was not without elements of the gro
tesque — and the complicated movements of the Federal Gen-

88 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
erals McCleUan, Banks, McDowell, Shields, Milroy, and Fremont
might have puzzled the brains of the most thorough master of
the art of war.
The problem was soon solved, however — the Deus Ex
Machina appeared in the shape of General Jackson. The
battle of Winchester has been narrated ; but another account
of the affair exists— Gen. Banks'. It is headed : " Official
Beport of ihe March of the First Division, Fifth Corps
d^ Armee, from Strasburg, Va., to Williamsport, Maryland,
on 2ith and 25th days of May, 1862." It is somewhat singu
lar that General Banks should call the moveraent of his troops
a march, when, after telling pathetically how " Colonel Kenly's
force had been destroyed" at Front Royal, he adds : " It was,
therefore, determined to enter the lists with the enemy in a
race or a battle — as he should choose — for the possession of
Winchester, the key of the Valley, and for us the position of
safety." The " march" was really a " race," as General Banks
inadvertently calls it in his text ; and here are some extracts
from his account of the affair :
" The strength and purpose of the enemy were to us un
known when we reached Winchester, except upon uncertain
reports and unsatisfactory reconnoissances. Our suspicions
were strengthened by the vigor with which the enemy had
passed our main column, and defeated at every point the
efforts of detachments to effect a junction with the main
body. "At Winchester, however, all suspense was relieved on that
subject. All classes — Secessionists, Union men, refugees, fu
gitives and prisoners — agreed that the enemy's force at or
near Winchester was overwhelming, ranging from twenty-five
to thirty thousand. Rebel officers, who carae into our camp
with entire unconcern, supposing that their own troops occu
pied the town, and were captured, confirmed these statements,
and added that an attack would be 'made upon us at day
break. I determined to test the substance and strength of
the enemy by actual collision, and measures were promptly
taken to prepare our troops to meet them. They had taken

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 89
up their positions on entering the town after dark without ex
pectations of a battle, and were at disadvantage as compared
with the enemy. .
"The rattling of musketry was heard during the latter part
of the night, and before the break of day a sharp engagement
occurred at the outposts. Soon after four o'clock the artillery
opened its fire, which was continued without cessation till the
close of the engagement.
"The right of our hne was occupied by the Third Bri
gade, Colonel George H. Gordon comraanding. The regi
ments were strongly posted, and near the centre covered by
stone walls frora the fire of the enemy.
"Their infantry opened on the right, and soon both lines
were under heavy fire.
" The left was occupied by the First Brigade, Col. Dudley
Donnelly comraanding.
"The line was weak corapared with that of the enemy;
but the troops were well posted, and patiently awaited, as they
nobly improved, their coming opportunity. The earliest
movements of the enemy were on our left, two regiments
being seen to move as with the purpose of occupying a posi
tion in flank or rear. General Williams ordered a detach-.
ment of cavalry to intercept this movement, when it was
apparently abandoned. The enemy suffered very serious loss
from the fire of our infantry on the left. One regiment is
represented, by persons present during the action, and after
the field was evacuated, as nearly destroyed,
"The main body of the enemy was hidden during the
eariy part of the action by the crest of the hill and the woods
in the rear.
"Their force was massed apparently upon our right, and
their manoeuvres indicated a purpose to turn us upon the Ber
ryville road, where, it appeared subsequently, they had placed
a considerable force, with a view of preventing reinforce
ments from Harper's Ferry. But the steady fire of our lines
held them in check until a small portion of our troops on the
right of our line made a movement to the rear. It is but
just to add that this was done under the erroneous impression
that an order to withdraw had been given. No sooner was
this observed by the eneray than its regiments swarmed upon
the crest of the hill, advancing from the woods upon our
right, which, still continuing its fire steadily, withdrew to
ward the town.

90 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
"The overwhelming force of the enemy now suddenly
showing itself making further resistance unwise, orders were
sent to the left by Captain De Hauteville to withdraw the
First Brigade, which was done reluctantly, but in ordei', the
eneray having greatly suffered on that wing. A portion of
the troops passed through the town in some confusion ; but
the column was soon reforraed, and continued its march in
order. *********
" Our march was turned in the direction of Martinsburg,
hoping there to meet with reinforceraents — -the troops moving
in three parallel columns, each protected by an efficient rear
guard. Pursuit by the enemy was prompt and vigorous;
BUT ODR MOVEMENTS WERE RAPID and withoUt loSS.
" A few miles from Winchester the sound of the steam-
whistle, heard in the direction of Martinsburg, strengthened
the hope of reinforcements, and stirred the blood of the men
like a trumpet. Soou after two squadrons of cavalry carae
dashing down the road, with wild hurrahs. They were
thought to be the advimce of the anticipated support, and
were received with deafening cheers. Every rnan felt like
turning back upon the enemy. It proved to be the First
Maryland cavalry. Col. Witchky, sent out in the morning as
a train guard. Hearing the guns, they had returned to par
ticipate in the fight. Advantage was taken of this stirring
incident to reorganize our column, and the march was con
tinued with renewed spirit and order. At Martinsburg the
column halted two and a half hours — the rear-guard remain
ing until seven in the evening in rear of the town — and
airived at the river at sundown, forty-eight hours after the
first news of the attack on Front Royal. It was a march of
fifty-three miles, thirty-five of which were performed in one
day. The scene at the river when the rear-guard arrived
was of the most animating and exciting description. A
thousand camp-fires were burning on the hillside, a thousand
carriages of every description were crowded upon the banks,
and the broad river rolled between the exhausted troops and
their coveted rest.
" The ford was too deep for the teams to cross in regular
succession. Only the strongest horses, after a few unsuccess
ful experiments, were aUowed to essay the passage of the river
before raorning.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 91
"The single ferry was occupied by the ammunition trains,
the ford by the wagons.
"The cavalry were secure in its own power of crossing.
The troops only had no transportation. Fortunately, the
train we had so sedulously guarded, served us in turn. Sev
eral boats belonging to the pontoon train, which we had
brought from Strasburg, were launched, and devoted exclu
sively to their service. It is seldom that a river crossing of
such magnitude is achieved with greater success, and 'there
never were more grateful hearts' in the same number of men
than when, at mid-day of the 26th, we stood on the opposite
shore. " My comraand had not suffered an attack and rout. It
had accomplished a ' premeditated' march of nearly sixty
railes, in the face of the eneray, defeating his plans and giving
him battle wherever he was found. * * *
" Our wagon train consisted of nearly five hundred wagons.
Of this number fifty-five were lost. They were not, ¦with but
few exceptions, abandoned to the enemy, but were burned upon
the road. Niearly all of our supplies were thus saved. The
stores at Front Royal, of which I had no knowledge until my
visit to that post on the 2l6t instant, and those at Winches
ter, of which a considerable portion was destroyed by our
troops, are not embraced in this statement."
Compare the statement italicized, with Gen. Jackson's offi
cial one, which we have presented.
Having given precedence duly to Gen. Banks' official re
port, let us look at a few statements by eye-witnesses, and
participants in the battles, or those who were on the spot
soon afterwards. A young officer of the Irish Battalion,
writes to his uncle :
" A series of successes have crowned our efforts. We first
drove the enemy from Front Royal, defeating and capturing
about six hundred prisoners, besides a very large quantity of
stores of all kinds. Iramediately after we got possession of
the place a train loaded with coffee came in, which is a per
fect God-send to us, as rations of that article have been
stopped for some days. We then drove the remaining por
tion of the army toward Middletown, where we captured a
large portion of their wagons, containing a httle of most

92 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
every thing. From thence we wended our way toward
Strasburg, where all of their wagons fell into our hands. We
left our camp, which was about two miles beyond Luray, and
marched twenty-seven miles to reach Front Royal — this was
on Friday — we marched all day and night Saturday, and
reached Winchester yesterday (Sunday), about five o'clock,
or about daybreak. The engagement lasted one hour and a
half, but it was a terrific one, short as it was. Their force
was repulsed and scattered, and, after once getting on their
scent, we did not let them rest. In the three days we have
captured about fifteen hundred prisoners. This I can safely
say, but I think it will exceed that number, as they are still
coming in. A squad of fifty-three has just passed our camp.
This does not include the negro women our men bring in
with them. Sometimes we see a group of a dozen or more
prisoners with three or four negro women. By the way,
while here, three of the Yankees married negro wenches.
We are still pursuing the enemy, but it is the general im
pression that they will not stop this side of the Potomac.
Gen. 'Shields left Winchester on Wednesday, crossing the
mountains, but what course he took I have not learned. The
rascals fired all the houses here filled with medical and quar
termaster's stores, but the citizens put the fire out ; so we
save enormous quantities of every thing — stores enough for
our army for twelve months. All of our men supplied them
selves with clothes, shoes, blankets, and even shirts, socks,
drawers, gloves, and every thing a soldier wants or needs.

? " General Jackson had his war-look on yesterday. He was
so fatigued that, after the fight, he actually went to sleep on
his charger. He rode about the battle-field regaidless of shot
and shell, and looked as if nothing was going on. I was not
half so much alarmed as I thought I would be, it being my
first appearance on a battle-field. I met with many narrow
escapes, as did all of us, for which I am truly thankful. I
never felt so proud as when we marched victorious through
the town of Winchester in pursuit of a fleet-footed enemy.
Thanks to the Most High for his protection to our brave and
gaUant army. Just think of marching twenty-seven miles
and fighting two hours. The men all call themselves Jack
son's foot cavalry."

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 93

Another writer says :
"The enemy made but a short stand at Front Royal. The
1st Maryland Volunteers, on the Yankee side, was charged
by the 1st Regiment of Maryland rebels, who put their old
acquaintances to flight in a short time, capturing a stand of
colors, killing several, and taking a number of prisoners.
" "We took the enemy by surprise, and put them to flight
before one-fourth of our forces had entered the town. The
cavalry, araong which were the Wise Troop and Jack Alex
ander's company, charged upon the Yankees, in the retreat,
killing many, and capturing a large number of prisoners.
" Among the arms captured are about five hundred im
proved cavalry six-shooters, an article very much needed.
" When we entered Front Royal, the women and children
met us with shouts of the liveliest joy. As we passed through
tbc place in double-quick, we could not stop to partake of
the hospitality so generously and profusely tendered on all
hands. " Araong one of the squads of prisoners, about twenty in
number, was a woman, mounted. "When we came to the Val
ley turnpike, we found hosts of prisoners, and the road
blockaded with dead and live horses, and wagons heavy laden
with subsistence, &c., together with dead and wounded Yan
kees. " At early dawn this (Sunday) morning, we advanced and
attacked the mighty Banks in front of Winchester. After
fighting about one hour, distributing shell and minie balls
profusely, our boys made a charge, when the Yankees left at
double-quick, after setting fire to the town, and burning their
commissary stores.
" The Lee battery of Lynchburg and two others were or
dered to pursue in a gallop, and the command was obeyed,
they shelling the enemy for five miles.
" When the army passed through the town, men, women,
and children were shouting, ' Thank God, we are free — thank
God, we are free once more !' Confederate flags and white
handkerchiefs were waved from every window, and the happy
smiles of lovely women on all sides met the wearied soldier,
and cheered him as he hurriedly passed through the place in
pursuit of the flying foe.
" After pursuing the enemy for six miles, we were brought

94 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
to a halt, and left the finishing stroke to the cavalry, who
have captured a large number of prisoners, who have been
sent in through the day.
" Prisoners tell me that General Banks has said that he
was afraid that he would have to surrender his whole com
mand, and to be relieved of the painful necessity, and to save
his own bacon, left before day on an extra car."
The following is from a member of Congress to a friend in
Richmond :
" There never was a more successful and more decided and
overwhelming victory. When our guns opened on the enemy
at Front Royal, they had no idea who was hammering at them,
thinking that Jackson was a hundred miles away from them.
They were completely surprised and panic-stricken by the
suddenness of the attack. They surrendered to us by hun
dreds, allowing all their stores of every sort, and in the great
est quantities, to be captured, without an effort to defend or
destroy them.
" Banks was with the main body of his army at Strasburg
when we took Front Royal, and alarmed by our guns, they
abandoned their works (which are quite extensive at that
point) and fell back towards Winchester; but before they
had gotten half-way, old Stonewall was upon them, and their
retreat became a rout,
'• From Middletown to Winchester, and from thence to Mar
tinsburg, the rush of the retreating wretches is represented
to have been more ridiculously terrible than that at Manassas,
Our batteries would open upon a wagon in front of a train,
knocking it over in the road, and before those behind it could
stop their headway, they would come thundering down upon
the ruins of the first wagon, whilst other teams would be
tumbling in upon them so as to block up the road completely,
then Ashby's cavalry would charge upon the more forward of
cavalry, or ride down the masses of disorganized infantry, and
such a scene of confusion and conflict as they kept up for
many miles you possibly may imagine ; but I certainly cannot
describe. " Old Banks behaved in a most cruel and cowardly manner
on this retreat. He was accompanied by a crowd of negroes
whom he was running off to Yankee land, and he preferred
to leave his own wounded in our.hands than to allow the negro
women and children to be turned out of the wagons and have

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 95
them u.sed for the transportation of the sick and suft'ering
white soldiers of his own array.
"At the first salvo of artillery he puts spurs to his hoise
and distanced all competitors in the race from the field. Al
Middletown he stopped for a drink of water, and was blub
bering like a baby because reinforcements had not been sent
him. " To give you an idea of the demoralization of the Yankees
on their way from Strasburg, I will only mention one fact :
"In the ardor of pursuit, Ashby had separated himself
from his men, and had gotten abreast of the Yankee coluran
of cavalry, winch was rushing down the turnpike. Alone
he charged five hundred of them — dashed through their line,
firing his pistols right and left as he did so — then wheeling
about, he agaiu charged through them and summoned thera to
surrender. AU who heard his voice at once obeyed, threw
down their arms, dismounted, and, at the word, squatted as
meekly as so many mice upon the ground, until some of our
men came up and took charge of thera. In one instance, he
took thirty in this way. When our men would charge the
Federal cavalry, they would tumble off their horses, roll over,
scream and scramble to the road-side in the most amusing
manner. But I cannot pretend to jot down a hundredth part
of the incidents of this raost remarkable victory.
" At Winchester the eneray tried to make a stand in the
suburbs, but our boys drove them pell-mell through the
streets, and soon beyond Martinsburg.
" Many were killed in the streets, and a reraarkable feature
of the day was that when the tide of battle rolled toward
the town, tbe glorious women of Winchester turned out to
give relief to our wounded and exhausted soldiers, and so
regardless were they of danger that they were not deterred
frora their pious duty by the shot and shell which fell around
them. In the streets our men had to advance a guard to
clear the woraen out of the way for our platoons to deliver
their fire. This, I am assured, was literally the case in more
instances than one."

Another writer says :
'I The wild joy with which the inhabitants, especially the
ladies, greeted our army in Winchester and Chariestown, can
be more readily imagined than described. The 2d Virginia

96 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
regiment, composed of volunteers from Jefferson, Clarke, and
Berkeley, marched through Charlestown with scarcely a halt;
such was the pressure of the military discipline in which their
brave comraander trains them, that they neither asked nor
received the privilege of halting to shake hands with their
friends and dear ones, though a twelvemonth and more had
elapsed since they took the field. The activity of a perpetual
'forward .'' seeras to pervade this whole army."
Lincoln's order to McDowell to "put 20,000 men in mo
tion," and go and destroy Jackson, will be recalled hy the
reader. Here is the manner in which they moved — the para
graph will not be found the least entertaining of those hei'e
presented. It is from a Yankee correspondent, whose candor
is something unusual.
" Word was flashed over the wires frora Washington that
the PhiUstines were upon the Congressional Sarasons, and we
were summoned to the rescue. The order fi-om the War De
partment, to send twenty or thirty thousand men to assist
Banks and defend Washington, put an entirely new face on
matters, and knocked the plans which a raonth and more of
time and millions of money had been spent in maturing into
that peculiarly chaotic, formless, and void shape popularly
known and described as a cocked hat. As McClellan before
had been served, so now was McDowell. * * We found
the 104th New York at Catlett's 'Station, with neither tents,
arms, nor clothing. They informed us that while innocently
encamped at Thoroughfare Gap, undreaming of impending
evil, word came to them from the War Department that they
were utterly surrounded by the enemy, with an order to
destroy every thing and fall back upon the impregnable forti
fications and wooden guns of Manassas. So completely did
they follow out this edict of destruction, burning tents, arms,
equipraents, and every thing else, that the only wonder is they
didn't blow out their own brains — perhaps they would if they
had had any.
" At Markhara Station, besides rheuraatic pains, I encoun
tered Colonel Ashby's house, a deserted whitewashed tene
ment, with battered waUs and crumbling staircases, and smell
ing strongly of secession and old cheese. From Markham to
Front Royal such a road no intelligent gray mare, of domestic

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 97
habits and a ruminative and ruminating turn of mind, ever
encountered before. . It seems as though all the men, women,
and children of the countiy had spent their lazy hours —
which, indeed, would include the whole period of their several
existences — in rolling huge stones fi-om the mountains down
into the roads. If the war ever ends — and there is reason to
believe that in the fulness of time it will — let me suggest
that the Virginians of this section be punished for their con- ^
tumacy by being made to pick up the stones, and with them
build, in some less inconveniencing grounds, ononuments to
their own folly. At Front Royal we found Major-general
McDowell and several' minor generals. They were all tle-
termined upon one thing — that thing to bag Jackson and
recapture the immense train he took from Banks — for you
must know that Banks lost over two millions of dollars in
property, and it is said several thousand prisoners. Well,
then, it had been determined to retake all these national gods
and goods.
* * "A word about Blenker's division. With all re
spect to General Blenker himself, whom I highly esteem as a
German and a gentleraan, it comprises a lawless set as ever
pillaged hen-roosts or robbed dairy-maids of milk and butter.
I saw a company of them gutting the cellar of a house, carry
ing off every thing eatable and drinkable, and only replying
to the earnest remonstrance of the proprietary widow, and the
representation that she had seven children to feed, with a gut
tural nix fur stay. And two infantry captains bathed their
yellow beards in the golden cream, and were aiders and abet
ters, in fact, the overseers and directors of the larceny.^ — not to
say brutality. '

"Through the openings between, the trees we could see
our brave boys surrounded by a cordon of fire, flashing into
them from the muzzles of more than a thousand muskets. But
not a sign, nor the shadow of a sign of yielding. Their fire
met the enemy's, straight and unyielding as the blade of a
matador. Oh, for reinforcements ! but none came. * *
Now our " Bucktails" give back, and anon they break cover
and retreat across the fields of waving green between ns, firing
as they go — but not the hundred and fi|iy that went in. The
rest ol them lie under the arching dome of the treacherous
forest, aad the night dews alone can go to moisten the lips of
6

98 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the wounded ones, for the rebels hold the woods, and we are
not now prepared to dislodge them. To .send a force to their
support would bring on a general engagement, and this, in
our present unprepared condition, would be ruin."
We have seen how both Fremont and Shields, advancing
from the east and the west to intercept and close in upon the
' rear of Jackson, entirely failed in their object, and^were com
pletely out-generalled. Jackson struck Fremont with his right
wing and Shields with his left ; stunned both ; passed between
the two columns, and composedly continued his march up the
Valley. On the 27 th of May, at the moment when Banks was de
feated and in full retreat-^when the heavy column from Fred
ericksburg was marching toward the mountains, and when
Lincoln was trembling for the safety of Washington — Gen.
Johnston wrote to Gen. Jackson :
" The most important service you can. render the country
is the preventing the further strengthening of McClellan's
army. * * You compel me to publish orders announcing
your success so often, that you must expect repetition of ex
pression," It will be seen that these instructions were carried out.
We termina1;e this chapter with the official dispatch of Gen.
Jackson, announcing the victory at Winchester : .

" Winchester, May 26th, 1862,
" Gen.* S. Cooper, Adjutant-general.
"During the last three days God has blessed our arms
with brilliant success. On Friday, the Federals at Front
Boyal were routed, and one section of artillery, in addition
to many prisoners, captured. On Saturday, Banks' main
column, while retreating from Strasburg to Winchester, was
pierced, the rear part retreating towards Strasburg. On
Sunday, the other part was routed at this place. At last
accounts, Brigadier-general George H, Stewart was pursuing;

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. Vi)
with cavalry and artillery, and capturing the fugitives. A
large amount of medical, ordnance, aijd other stores have
fallen into our hands.
(Signed) T. J. Jackson,
Major-general Commanding."

CHAPTEfe XIV.
»
illustrations  CROSS KETS : port REPUBLIC.
May had passed; June arrived — and the enemy had not
succeeded in accomplishing their 'long-cherished design for
the destruction .of the rebel armies, and the occupation of the
Confederate capital.
McClellan's huge army still confronted Richmond, swing
ing to and fro on either bank of the Chickahominy — uneasy,
dubious, undetermined what course was best for it to pursue.
A few days after the battle of Winchester, a portion of the
Grand Army was defeated at " Seven Pines," but with that
genius for hoping which characterizes these people, the fall
of Richmond, distinctly in sight, with its roofs and spires, was
looked forward to as an event very soon to take place. A
portion of McDowells force, it is true, was drawn off by Jack
son, and he was so weakened that he could no longer hope to
effect much by the junction with McClellan's right Tjjng on
the Chickahominy — forming the famous " cordon" above men
tioned ; but then the capital at Washington was safe ; Presi
dent Lincoln's terror dissipated ; and the Government there
enabled to crowd forward all their spare troops to the Penin
sula. Fremont and Shields would soon make short work of
the daring Jackson, whose lucky star would speedily be ob
scured — that general would be driven before them far up the
Valley, along which he was then retreating ; their combined
armies would descend like a thunderbolt upon the rear of the

100 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
unfortunate Confederate den; and the rebellion would be
" crushed" at a blow.
Such was the situation of affairs early in June — McCleUan
at "Seven Pines," within four or five miles of Richmond;
McDowell on the march to join him ; Fremont and Shields
pursuing Jackson hotly up the Valley.
We have seen what events occurred at Cross Keys and Port
Republic, on the Sth and 9th days of Junoj at the veiy mo
ment when McClellan, perched in the top of a tall tree, as
some of their writers describe him, was straining his eyes to
discern the columns of McDowell on the horizon, and listen
ing for the tramp of Fremont's legions from the mountains.
Richmond was directly in his front, with the sunshine on its
white spires — " the finest army on this planet" was beneath
him, dull, inactive, resting in the trenches dug out from the
treacherous mud of the Chickahominy swamp. All things
were stagnant.
The news from Port Republic came to bi'eak this languid
siesta of the Federals — and we have seen how that great
battle was fought.
We proceed, as before, to give some of the details which we
have collected, for the entertainment of the reader now, and
the information of the future historian, who will gather sedu
lously every circumstance relating to the events of this great
period. This book is written in a tent, on the outpost ; the
enemy jronder, almost in view — ^but with Jackson, alas! no
longer in the front. The real historian of his life will write in
a quiet study, in the tranquil days of peace, with no enemy,
let us hope, anywhere in view, on all the vast horizon of tha
Confederate States.
Pardon, therefore, friendly reader, the faults of these pages,
which the distant roar of artiUery may at any moment inter
rupt the writer in tracing — and give the author fcredit for
honesty, if not for style.
Fremont was routed at Cross Kays on the 8.th of June,

UFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 101
On the morning of the 9th, Jackson turned like a lion upon
Shields and hurled his wholfe column upon that commander,
with the results which we bave ,seen. The following details
fi-om participants in the battle are interesting :
" Ott Monday mol-ning, about sunrise, our forces crossed the
bridge at the junctioli of the two streams to attack the enemy,
numbering about 12,000, under Gen. Shields, the river here
makes a bend or crescent form, circling round a lai-ge piece
of low gi'ounds, on which there was a heavy crop of wheat.
Nearly opposite the bridge and ou the other side of this field,
the enemy were drawn up in line of battle, and in their front,
on a small hill, at the foot of Cole Mountain, commanding the
whole position, was the celebrated Clark battery, (consisting
of 8 splendid guns, 2 Parrott, 2 mountain howitzers, and 4
rifle pieces,) manned by the artillery corps, under command
of  Clark. From this battery was belched forth one
incessant storm of grape, canister, and shell, literally covering
the .valley, so that the work of attack on our part seemed
alraost hopeless.
"Jackson, Ewell, and Taylor were all there, and their forces
eager for the encounter. But it seemed rash and even des
perate to attempt it. General Jackson looked for a while
thoughtfully on the scene, and then turning to Taylor,
inquired, 'Can you take that battery? — it must be taken
or the day be lost.' Taylor replied, ' We can,' and pointing
his sword to the battery, called out to his men, ' Louisianians,
can you take that battery ?' With one universal shout that
made the mountains to echo, they declared they could ; where
upon, he gave the order in that sonorous voice, 'Forward, charge
the battery and take it.' Onward dashed the Louisiana brigade,
composed of the 6th, 7th, Sth, and 9th Louisiana regiments,
and the Tiger Battalion, assisted by one Virginia regiment,
across the low grounds right after the battery. From its
mouth now, with renewed violence, poured streams of shell and
shot, mowing down our men like grass. The earth seemed
covered with the dead and wounded.
"The gallant Colonel Henry Hays^ commanding the 9th
Louisiana regiment, was badly wounded. His Lieutenant-
colonel, De Choine, was shot through the lungs, and after
again and again endeavoring to hold his place on the field,

102 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
was borne off almost insensible. This regiment, one of whose
companies was led by Captain D. A. Wilson, of our town,
carried into the fight but three hundred and eight effective
men, the rest being sick or detailed on other service, of whom
one hundred and fifty-eight were killed or wounded. Onward
they rushed, sustained by the 6th, Sth, 9th, the Tigers, under
Bob Wheat, and the Virginia regiment, all doing their duty
like heroes. They dare the battery. Voluraes on volumes oi
shot continue -to salute their advance — but they do advance.
They strike their bayonets and sabres into the artillerists as
they serve the guns, they kill the horses, they seize the guns,
they take the battery, and the victory is accomplished. Proud
day and proud honor this for those who did this gallant deed !
Jackson, Ewell, and Taylor were present cheering on the, fight.
Every officer, nay, every man, did his duty, the enemy flying
in dismay, having no time to spike their guns, and our men
seize and direct their fire against . themselves. This was
one of the most glorious battles of this war, and one of the
bloodiest. " When the bloody scene was over, a moment is spent in
thankfulness to God, and another in silent rejoicing at the
result. General Jackson now publicly thanked Taylor and the
Louisiana brigade for the day's work. 'Take that battery,'
said Jackson to Taylor, ' and keep it, for your men have won
it — carry it to your native State when you return, and call it
the Louisiana battery, and let it be kept as a memento of this

Another correspondent writes as follows :
* * * "So much for the eventful day of the Sth.
" Like the great Napoleon, General Jackson determined to
fight the other column before it could effect a junction with
the defeated array. Hence at early dawn ou the raorning of
the 9th (Monday), our brigade was in motion. Having
crossed the river, the head of our column was turned down
the stream, and then we knew there was bloody work in store
for us. About a mile below Port Republic we came in view
of the eneray's batteries in position. Then General Jackson,
who was at our head, ordered up two of our batteries, the
Alleghany Roughs and Rockbridge. But the Yankees had
every advantage in position, their left . resting on the ridges

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 103
of the mountain, and their right on the river. Their bat
teries were placed so as to sweep the ridges on their left and
the batteries on their right, so the position of our guns was
not as good as desirable. However, the hour for action has
come, and the battle of Port Republic commences. The
Yankee regiments are moving into hne, the old ' Stars and
Stripes' can be distinctly seen, but opposite floats proudly
and defiantly the ' Sic Semper' of Virginia and the banner of
our Confederacy. The 2d and 4th Virginia first raoved into
position on the enemy's left ; the Sth and 27th on his right,
next the river. Both of these are exposed to a heavy artillery
fire. The Louisiana brigade and part of the 3d Virginia
"brigade now move into line also, and the bloody tragedy
commences. The cannonading is heavy, and the rattle of
musketry is sharp, especially on our left. The eneray fight
well, for they are Northwestern raen. Our left wing aot at a
great disadvantage, having to raove up throngh dense thickets
in the woods; also, the eneray sweep. the ridges with canis
ter. A shout comes up from the centre. 'Tis the 7th Louisi
ana charging one of the enemy's batteries. They take it, but
are soon driven back by three regiments and canister fiom
three other pieces. In the mean time the tide of battle rages
in the bottom next the river, for there the fighting is desperate.
Nothing is now heard save the roar of artillery and the rattle
of rausketry. A loud and prolonged shout now bursts on
the ear. It coraes from the 7th and Sth Louisiana^ who
have again charged and taken the enemy's battery of six guns.
They are splendid in a charge I The enemy feel the loss
of their guns, and their line wavers. Cheer after cheer bursts
from our lines, for the enemy are giving way. Sorae of them
break and run, but others retreat in tolerably good otder.
The cavalry now charge down the bottoms, making the
very ground quake and the Yankees tremble. The Yankees
make excellent time, the rout is complete, and the field is
ours !
" Those are proud moments for the soldier, when he stands
victorious on the bloody field, and sees the columns of the
enemy in full retreat. We pursued them about six miles, the
cavalry much further, capturing a large number of prisoners.
The enemy's loss was heavy, and ours was severe too. Yet
the insolent foe was repulsed, and to gain that end some of the
best and the bravest*blood of the South must be shed."

104 UFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
A trooper writes :
" This has been a week of exhaustion and toil to us — not a
moment to write. We have had, indeed, little time even to
eat or sleep. When I staggered out of my saddle last night,
I had been in it for thirty-six hours, including the whole of
the night previous. I. slept not a wink, except while coming
to carap, and then I dozed a little on my horse. I only dis
mounted twice during the period stated, and then for short
periods. " Yesterday, we had a terrific battle with one column of the
enemy, utterly routing him, capturing 500 prisoners, seven
pieces of artillery, four of them splendid ¦ brass rifled pieces,
and a considerable number of small arms.
" Jackson's retreat, now safely accomphshed, has been even
more brilliant than was his advance, and will be so recorded
by historians. With his array encumbered with the spoils of
the enemy in vast quantities, with a wagon train probably
seven or eight miles long, and with several thousand prisoners,
he has retreated before an enemy numbering 20 to 40,000, ad
vancing upon him by different roads, and under the lead of
five or six generals of distinction. They threatened, at every
road leading into the Valley, to get around him, and some
times came near doing so, but General Jackson baffled them at
every point. Always calm and cool himself, he kept them in
perpetual excitement. He would dash hke a lion first at one
and then at another, always making them feel his fangs in a
vital place, till their very caution defeated their object.
"Yesterday the enemy (and our own army agreed with
them) thought they had entrapped us. We were in a narrow
valley, at one end the enemy as strong as we, and at the other
doubly as strong, with only a river between us and them.
Jackson whipped the smaller column, and carried off the
prisoners, &c., in the very presence of the others, while they
were trying to cross the river. To do so, he passed to this
point through a trail in the mountain, the mouth of which
cannot be noticed from the main road, or, at least, it would
never be suspected to be passable for an army, the existence
of which neither the enemy nor our army had any suspicion.
Until we entered this road, I thought we were gone, for be
yond the enemy we whipped there was another overwhelming
foice, and the road in the direction of Port Republic was en-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. It) 5
tirely commanded by the other large force, whom we could
see crowning the heights, and no doubt gnashing their teeth
at our escape."
The story of Jackson ordering the removal of one of the
enemy's guns from the bridge, and when his order was obeyed
by the Federal cannoneers, fiotoposedly riding by, has been
often repeated, and under many forms. A correspondent of
a Northern paper gives what seems to be a truthful versfon of
the affair, and we append his statement :
" Yesterday I met Captain Robinson, of Robinson's battery,
on his way home to Portsmouth, Ohio, to recruit. He was
at the battle of Port Republic, where his brother lost three
guns, and was wounded and made prisoner. Capt. Robinson,
who appears to be a very modest and veracious man, relates
that while he was working one of his guns, Stonewall Jack
son, whose forra was familiar to him, came within easy hailing
distance, and, standing erect in his stirrups, beckoned with
his hand, and actually ordered him to ' bring that gun over
here.' " Captain Robinson replied by eagerly firing three shots at
the ubiquitous Presbyterian, but without even the effect of
scaring hira. ' I might have knOWn,' said he, ' that I couid
not bit him.'
" Captain Robinson is utterly at a loss to explain this extra
ordinary personal deraonstration of the redoubtable 'Stone
wall.' Whether he mistook hira for one of his own men, or
that some incomprehensible ruse was involved in the act, he
does not pretend to guess. But one thing be does know, that
Stonewall Jackson is the great man of the war, and that our
troops in the Valley believe hini to be as humane as he is
rapid and daring."
A Southern writer, commenting upon the above, says :
"This story has some truth in it. The fact, as we believe,
is that Jackson, finding that this gun commanded the bridge
which it was necessary for him to pass, for once in his life
played the Yankee, and, riding briskly forward, ordered the
gun to be raoved to another place, which he designated. The
ruse succeeded. Tho Yankee captain limbered up and cona-
menced moving his piece, wheii Old Stonewall, putting spina
5*

106 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
to his horse, dashed across the bridge. The Yankee discov
ered the ruse, and let fly with his gun, but it was too late. It
was uot in the book of fate that the glorious chieftain should
fall in that way. We devoutly pray that it may never be his
lot to be lost to us by the hand of the enemy."
Sad, prophetio words! "W^ devoutly pray that it may
never be his lot to be lost to us hy the hand of the enemy T
No enemy's hand struck down the peerless soldier at last. A
chance volley fiom the Confederate lines laid low the pride
and glory of the South.
Araong the saddest events of those June days in the Valley
was the death of Turner Ashby. We find many allusions to
this heroic soul in the letters of the time ; and the figure of
the cavalry leader on his milk-white battle-horse will long re
main present to the memory of those who saw him. That his
toric steed had already received his death wound, in relation
to which we find the following paragraph :
" We learn that the gallant Ashby, a few days ago, whilst
falling back before the enemy, who pursued along the Valley
turnpike, alighted to aid a few men in destroying the bridge
across the Shenandoah. The last caisson of his artillery had
thundered by, and the Yankee cavalry pursued so closely that
a nuraber had crossed the bridge before it could be destroyed.
Springing upon his noble gray charger, Ashby sped along the
turnpike, followed by eight of the eneray. His pistols were
unfortunately empty, and he had no resource but flight. The
chase continued for nearly two miles, the Yankees firing at
him as they ran. As he neared a place of safety, two of the
Yankees, who had outstripped the rest, were nearly abreast of
him, when one of thera was shot by sorae of his men, and the
other was killed by Ashby with his sabre.
" During the latter part of the chase a shot fired by a long-
range gun, at a distance .of nearly half a mile, struck his
horse in the side. The faithful animal continued with una
bated speed, and saved his rider, but the wound was mortal.
He was led along the line of a regiment under arms. Our
informant says he never imagined so magnificent and spirited
an animal. He was white as snow, except where his side and

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 107
legs were stained with his own blood. His mane and tail
were long and flowing ; his eye and action evinced distinctly the
rage with which he regarded the injury he had received. He
trod the earth with the grandeur of a wounded lion, and every
soldier looked upon him with sympathy and adrairation. He
had saved his master at the cost of his own life. He almost
seemed conscious of his achievement, and only to regret death
because his own injuries were not avenged."
.The noble rider was soon to terminate his earthly career,
also. This is not the occasion to speak of this brave soul —
this noble type of chivalric Southern manhood. The fame of
Ashby lives fresh and green in every heart, and the words of
Jackson's report will be his epitaph forever.
As before, we append Jackson's dispatch announcing the
victory. It is in the following words :
Near Port Republic, June 9th, )
Via Staunton, June XQth. )
Through God's blessing, the enemy near Port Republic
was this day. routed, with the loss of six pieces of his
artillery. T. J. Jackson,
Major-general Commanding.
The fall of Ashby had been more than avenged.

CHAPTER XV,
JACKSON IN JUNE, 1862.
At sunset, on the 9th of June, the campaign of the Valley
had terminated.
It had commenced in earnest on the llth of March, when
Wmctiester was evacuated before the column of nearly 50,000
Federals advancing upon the place. It terminated on the red
day of Port Republic, when Jackson routed all his foes, and
remained undisputed master of the region.

108 UFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Thus this great campaign extended over a period of exactly
three mouths.
Those three months will shine forever in our annals, bright
with the light of heroism and victory. The astonishing nerve,
the almost superhuman endurance, the dash, the skill, the
chivalric courage, and the stubborn resolution of the little
handful of Confederates and their great leader, will render
them and the beautiful region of the Shenandoah famtfus
through all time.
Nothing was expected of Jackson. It is as weU to state
that fact here. We mean that none but those who had seen
and known him well in Mexico believed that he would accom
plish any thing. The Romney expedition was regarded as a
hair-brained project ; and many persons did not hesitate to
express their convictions of a want of sanity on the part of
the man who devised it. But these cavillers were soon si
lenced. Kernstown closed some mouths ; Winchester and ¦
Port Republic quite hushed the foolish babbling about the
great leader.
The critics began to understand that war reveals men :
falsifying all estimates previously made of them in the quiet
days of peace. Jackson was regarded as a common-place,
somewhat eccentric " professor," who, by some singular
chance, at an early period in his life, had blundered into the
arena of arms. A command was intrusted to him by those
who knew him better, and the result is before the world.
He has surrounded the name of .his native land, Virginia,
with a halo of glory brighter than all past revolutionary glo
ries ; — and to-day is only second to the greatest name of aU.
The campaign of the Valley, upon which, as we have said,
his fame will chiefly rest, will be studied by military men,
through all coming time, as the carapaigns of Caesar and
Napoleon are studied — as the recorded work of a master in
the art of war. For this class, Jackson will always remain
one of the Kings of Battle, Combat was the element in

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 109
wh'ch his great soul breathed freely, and he made war with
the air of one " to the manner born." His astounding marches ;
his rapid advances and masterly retreats ; his furious On
slaughts before which no enemy could stand, and his sudden
disappearance when the enraged foe brought against him over
whelming odds ; the manner in which he executed all these
movements ; the provoking, baffling, incredible strategy which
he brought to bear upon the enemy — have made his name
and fame as a leader of men immortal in the annals of the
South. The children and children's children of the present
generation will point out, on the map of Virginia, the positions
of Kernstown, and Winchester, and McDowell, and Port Re
public — classic names forever now, since Jackson associated
. them with his glory.
We leave to the historian of the future the task of narrating
this great campaign in all its splendid details — ^to tell in terms
which " mount to the height of the great argument" how
Jackson marched, and planned, and fought ; how he conquered
at Bath, Romney, Kernstown, Front Royal, Middletown, Win
chester, Charlestown, Strasburg, McDowell, and elsewhere ;
how he fell upon the enemy finally at Port RepubUc, whipped
him in two battles, and drove Shields and Fremont, as he had
driven Milroy and Banks, to ignominious flight. Here we
only touch upon the great contests, as upon the man who fought
them. In the campaign of March-June, 1862, Jackson dis
played all his faculties fully — his far-seeing generalship ; his
prudent boldness ; his indomitable, vice-like resolution and
tenacity of purpose, which no storm gould shake, no peril af
fect. Under the calm and simple exterior of the man was a
soul that was not born to bend — a will which shrunk from
nothing, and broke down every olfttacle opposed to it. To
say that no braver man ever lived, is to say Httle. Nothing
is better established than the fact that Jackson loved danger
for its own sake — a point which we propose to return to — but
this common courage whioh does not recoil from the hissing

110 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
ball or the bursting shell, was not the courage of Jackson.
His stern resolution was deeper and stronger. What marked
him as one of the " men of fate" was his astonishing equa
nimity in the face of perils which would have overwhelmed
other men ; his cool determination not to " give up ;" his re
fusing to entertain the idea that he could be defeated. At
Manassas he surveyed with utter calmness the terrible spec
tacle of the Confederate lines, reeling back before the Federal
hosts, pressing down with their enormous reserves of infantry
and artillery ; and when Gen. Bee, with uncontrollable an
guish in his voice, told Jackson that the day was going against
them, his cold reply was — " Sir, we will give them the bayo
net." The last words of the brave South Carolinian tell how
he fought his old brigade. He stood " like a stone wall" —
as stern, stubborn, and immovable. At Kernstown, when a
portion of his line gave back before the overwhelming numbers
assailing it, he took his stand close to the enemy, amid a storm
of bullets — called to a drummer boy — and placing his hand
firmly upon the boy's shoulder, said in his brief, curt tones —
"Beat the rally ! " The rally was beaten ; Jackson remained
by the drummer's side, holding him to his work with the in
exorable hand upon the shoulder — the rally continued to roll,
and the line was speedily re-formed.
The writer of these lines has seen Gen. Jackson in several
great battles, when the "revel of death" was at its height,
and the fate of the day hung suspended in the balance — but
he never saw the great soldier show the least agitation or
doubt of the result. At Fredericksburg, his cheeks glowed
and his eyes had the " war-look" — but that was late in the
evening, when he had ordered his whole line to advance and
attack with the bayonet. •
This, however, is not the appropriate place for a character
ization of Jackson. We reserve that for the concluding pages
of our work. At present, other great events demand atten
tion, for the victor of Winchester and Port Republic, without

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. Ill
pausing, enters upon another struggle on a new arena. The
Valley is exhausted — every portion of its highways and by
ways has been trodden by the "Foot Cavalry" until they
know, and attach sad or pleasant recollections — memories of
fatigue and suffering, or rest and refreshment — to every stone,
and bank, and spreading tree upon the road-side; the mountains
are left behind, and the old Stonewall Brigade, with their com
rades, led by their idolized chief, set out for fresh fields of com
bat in the lowlands.
Biographies are lame and incomplete affairs when they only
contain events and dates. These are the skeleton ; but the
skeleton expresses no individuality. 'What is needed, in ad
dition, is the flesh and blood — the flashing eye ¦ and the elo
quent lip. Events and dates are valuable for reference, but
personal details make the picture which impresses the feel
ings and dweUs in the memory, for meditation, example, and
instrijction. We have seen what Jackson accomplished. Let us now
endeavor to see what manner of man, outwardly, it was who
thus overthrew all his enemies, and built himself a name
which is the echo of glory and victory. How such men look
is interesting — ^how they dress and appear among their fellow
men. Jackson's • costume and deportment were unique, and
have doubtless contributed in some degree to that amazing
individuality which he has secured in the popular mind.
The writer of these lines first saw him soon after the battle
of Port Republic, and can thus present an outline of the
great athlete, as he appeared, all covered with the dust of
the arena, whereon Banks and his compeers had been over
thrown by him. Jackson was in his fighting costume at the
moment ; it was the conqueror of the Valley who moved be
fore us ; and, to complete the picture, he had, at the moment
when we first encountered him, his " war-look on" — was in
his veritable element.
The outward appearance of the &rmous leader was not im-

112 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
posing. The popular idea of a great general is an individual
of stiff and stately bearing, clad in splendid costume, all.
covered with gold lace and decorations, who prances by upon
a mettled charger, and moves on, before admiring crowds, acr
companied by his glittering staff, and grand in all the magnifi
cence of high command. The figure of "General Stonewall
Jackson was singularly different from this popular fancy. He
wore an old sun-embrowned coat of gray cloth, originally a
very plain one, and now almost out at elbows. To call it
sun-embrowned, however, is scarcely to convey an adequate
idea of the extent of its discoloration. It had that dingy
hue, the result of exposure to rain and snow and scorching
sunshine, which is so unmistakable. It was plain that the
general had often stretched his weary form upon the bare
ground, and slept in the old coat ; and it seemed to have
brought away With it no little of the dust of the VaUey. A
holiday sdldier would have disdained to wear such a garb ;
but the- men of the Old Stonewall Brigade, with their brave
comrades of the corps, loved that coat, and admired it and its
owner more than alt the holiday uniforms and holiday warriors
in the world. The remainder of the general's costume was
as much discolored as the coat — he wore cavalry boots reach
ing to the knee, and his head was surmounted by an old cap,
more faded than all : the sun had turned it quite yellow in
deed, and it tilted forward so far over the wearer's forehead,
that he was compelled to raise his chin in the air, in order to
look under the rim. His horse was not a " fiery steed" paw
ing, and ready to dart forward at " the thunder of the cap
tains and the shouting," but an old raw-boned sorrel, gaunt
and grim — a horse of astonishing equanimity, who seemed to
give himself no concem on any subject, and calraly moved
about, like his master, careless of cannon-ball or bullet, in the
hottest moments of battle.
The general rode in a peculiar fashion, leaning forwatd
somewhat, and apparently unconscious that he was in the sad.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 113
die. His air was singularly abstracted ; and, unless aware of his
identity, no beholder would have dreamed that this plainly
clad and absent-looking soldier was the idohzed leader of a
great array corps, at that very instant hurling themselves,
•column after column, upon the foe.
The glittering eye' beneath the yellow cap would have al
tered somewhat the impression that this man was " a nobody "
— that wonderful eye, in whose blaze was the evidence of a
slumbering volcano beneath ; but beyond this, there was ab
solutely nothing in the appearance of General Jackson to in
dicate his great rank or genius as a soldier.
Such was the outward man of the famous general, as he
appeared soon after the campaign of the Valley — and this
plainness of exterior had in no small degree endeared hira to
his soldiers. His habits were still greater claims on the re
spect and regard of the best men of his command. He was
known to be wholly free from all those .vices which are the
peculiar temptation of a military life. He lived as plainly as
his men, and shared all their hardships, never for a moment
acting upon the hypothesis that his rank entitled him to any
luxury or comfort which they could not share. His food was
plain and siraple ; his tent, when he had one, which was
seldora, no better than those of the men ; he would wrap him
self in his blankets and lie down under a tree or in a fence
corner, with perfect content, and apparently from preference ;
for to flght hard and hve hard seeraed to be the theory of
war. He was a devout Christian, and rarely allowed passion
to conquer him ; when he yielded, it was on exciting occa
sions, and when great designs were thwarted by negligence or
incapacity on the part of those to whom their execution was
intrusted. Such occasions seldom occurred, and Jackson's
habitual temper of mind was a gentle and childlike sweetness ;
a simplicity and purity of heart, which proved that he had
indeed become " as a little child " — walking humbly and de
voutly before his God. Prayer was like breathing with him —

114: LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the normal condition of his being. Every morning he read his
Bible and prayed, and the writer will not soon forget the pic
ture drawn by one of his distinguished associates, who rode
to his headquarters at daylight, last November, when the
array was falling back to Fredericksburg from the Valley, and^
found him reading his Testament, quietly in his tent, an oc
cupation which he only interrupted to describe, in tones of
quiet simplicity, his intended movements to foil the enemy.
Before sitting down to table he raised both hands, and said
grace. When he contemplated any movement, his old ser
vant is said to have always known it by his " wr&tling in
prayer" for many hours of the night ; and on the battle-field
thousands noticed the singular gestures with the right arm,
sometimes both arms, raised aloft. Those who looked closely
at him at such moments saw his lips moving in prayer. Like
Joshua, he prayed with uplifted hand for victory!
Napoleon trusted in his stars ; Jackson in God. In the
great scenes through which we shall now see him pass, the
hand of the Lord of Hosts will be clearly revealed, according
to the true soldier of the Cross, full triumph over all the
enemies of his country.

CHAPTER XVL

COLD HARBOR.

In the latter. part of June, the writer of these lines waa
intrusted, for delivery to a confidential messenger, with a dis
patch addressed " Gen. T. J. Jackson, somewhere."
, "Somewhere" was, at that raoment, as upon many pre
vious occasions, the only known address of the rapidly-moving
and reticent commander of the Army of the Valley.
Jackson was on his march to join Gen. Lee. Having

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 115
publicly directed his engineer to furnish him, speedily, with
•maps of the country about Lexi'ngton, and thus, after a
fashion common with him, thrown all speculators, as to his
intended movements, off the scent, he had, on the lYth of
-•June, commenced his march toward tide-water. General
Robertson's cavalry brigade, with Chew's battery, was left at
Harrisonburg, to watch the movements of the enemy In that
direction, and check him, if he again advanced upon Staun
ton ; and with the rest of his corps. Col. Munford's cavalry
bringing up the rear, Jackson pushed forward, reaching the
neighborhood of Ashland, about sixteen miles from Richmond,
on the 2Sth of June.
Jackson's corps at this time consisted of General Whiting's
Division, embracing General Hood's 3d Brigade, Colonel Law
commanding, with the batteries of Reilly and Balthis ; Gen.
EweU's Division, 4th Brigade, General Elzey ; 7th Brigade,
General Trimble; Sth Brigade, Colonel Seymour; and the
Maryland Line, Colonel Johnson, with the batteries of Brock
enbrough, Carrington, and Courtney ; Jackson's (old) Division,
1st Brigade ("Stonewall"), General Winder; 2d Brigade,
Lieutenant-colonel Cunningham; 3d Brigade, Colonel Ful
kerson ; 4th Brigade, General Lawton ; and the batteries of
Poague, Carpenter, and Wooding. These veterans, who had
met and overthrown the enemy on sb many battle-fields of
the Valley, were now on their rapid march to join Lee on the
banks of the Chickahominy, and try their mettle npon Gen.
McClellan. The position of the opposing armies of Lee and McCleUan,
at the moment when Jackson was sent for, is familiar to every
boy in the Confederate States ; for so intense was the interest
felt in the movements of these two great gladiators, about to
contend, front to front, for the possession of the Southern
capital, that even the children of the land knew the position
of affairs. McClellan had crossed a portion of his army to
the right bank of the Chickahominy, and advanced within

116 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
four or five miles of Richmond, elaboratelj? fortifyitg and
guarding his flanks. On the left or north bank of the stream,
the remainder of his army was strongly posted on the heights
from Meadow Bridge, nearly due north of the city, to Bot
tom's Bridge, nearly due east. The Federal position thus re
sembled a crescent, some twenty miles in extent, which the
Chickahominy intersected near the lower extremity.
General Johnston had struck at the Federal left, near
Seven Pines, and driven him- back on the last day of May.
Wounded in the action, this accomplished soldier had yielded
the command to General Lee ; and the design of again assail
ing the enemy without delay, was speedily adopted by that
general. A flank movement against McCleUan's right,
beyond the Chickahominy, was determined upon ; and as Jack
son, with his invincible corps, had just disembarrassed himself
of Shields and Fremont, he was ordered by the commander-
in-chief to hasten forward from the Valley, and passing by
way of Ashland toward Cold Harbor, attack the enemy in
flank and reverse, while the main body of the army assailed
him in front.
On the morning of the 26th, the great plans of Lee began
to unfold themselves, and the immense,.drama commenced.
The enemy were driven off at the point where the Brooke
turnpike crosses the Chickahominy, and Brigadier-general
Branch crossed, directing' his march to form a junction with
General A, P. Hill, who had crossed at Meadow Bridge.
Hill engaged the enemy at Mechanicsville, and stubbornly
held his ground until night, when the enemy retired from his
position there, and fell back upon the main body at Gaines'
Mill. The way having thus been cleared. General Longstreet's
corps, consisting of his veteran division, the Old Guard of the
Army of the Potomac, and' General D. H. Hill's division,
debouched from the woods on the south side of the stream,
crossed, and took position oil the left bank.
Mi.anwhUe Jackson had steadily advanced, preceded and

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. llT
guarded on his left by Stuart's cavalry, toward Cold Har
bor, on the enemy's right and rear. General Whiting's
division held the advance, and the Federal forces retired be
fore him. At Tottapotomoi creek, a sluggish stream, with
abrupt banks, heavily wooded, the enemy's picket felled trees
across the road, and destroyed the bridges. Hood threw for
ward some of his Texas skirmishets, however, Capt. Reilly
opened with his guns, and the enemy disappeared. Whiting
quickly repaired the bridges, the army resuraed its march,
and still skirmishing and driving the Federals, bivouacked
for the night at Hundley's Corner. Jackson, following the
orders of General Lee, had thus borne away from the Chicka
horainy, where the reverberating roar of artillery indicated
the progress of a great battle — had gained ground toward the
Paraunkey, driving all before him — and was now in a position
to descend, next day, like a thunderbolt on the enemy at
Cold Harbor, attacking with his fresh troops, and deciding
the fate of the day.
The great day arrived, cfear and cloudless. Jackson
gradually converging toward the Chickahominy again, and
advancing steadily, with Ewell in front, drove the enemy be
fore him, surmounted, every obstacle which they had placed
upon the roads to bar his progress, and about five in the after
noon reached Cold Harbor.
Not a moraent was lost in making his dispositions for bat
tle. Stuart, with his cavalry, was posted on the left to charge
and intercept the enemy if they attempted to retreat in the
direction of the Pamunkey; and hardly had line-of-battle
been formed, when heavy firing on the right indicated that
Gen. A. P. Hill, who had gone in that direction, was hard
pressed. Jackson immediately ordered a general advance of
his entire corps, which hastened forward. Whiting's division
on the right of the line, and Jackson's, EweU's, and D. H.
Hill's, in the order named, from right to left.
The welcome sound of Jackson's guns came to Lee and

118 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
Longstreet as ihey were hastening forward from Gaines'
Mill, and the entire Confederate force on the left bank of the
Chickahominy, which had only awaited the arrival of Jack
son, advanced in one wild charge, and the battle began to
rage with a fury, until then unknown.
We do not attempt a general account of this mighty con
test — that is left to the • historian of the war. We confine
our notices of events to the part taken in the battle by Gen.
Jackson's corps.
The position of the enemy in his front was a powerful one,
and nothing but hard, stubborn fighting could carry it. The
Federals were posted on a ridge nearly parallel to the Chicka
hominy — their right resting near McGee's house, their left
on a bluff, bristling with artillery, and protected by a deep
ravine, and double line of breastworks. In their front a
swamp and sluggish stream, a wood of tangled undergrowth,
and heavy masses of felled timber, made successful attack
almost hopeless. Jackson ordered Gen. D. H. Hill to make
the assault on the left, and it * was done with great gallantry
and success. The men rushed through the swamp, tangled
underwood, and felled trees, in face of a heavy fire ; and after
a fierce and bloody contest, drove the enemy back on their
reserve. They took position behind a fence and ditch ; and
Hill, determined to press on, when his attention was called to
a battery which was so posted as to pour a destructive enfi
lading fire upon his advancing line. It was necesaary first to
silence this battery ; and Col. Iverson, with the 1st, 3d, and
20th North Carolina, charged and captured it. The enemy
immediately attacked him in force, and succeeded in recap
turing the guns, but not until Gen. Hill had advanced ' over
the dangerous ground, and, supported by the " Old Stonewall
Brigade," under Gen. Winder, was engaged in an obstinate
contest with the entire Federal force in front of him.
Meanwhile, Gen. Ewell had a hard fight upon Gen. Hill's
right. The same obstacles barred his advance upon the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 119
enemy's position, but he charged through the swamp, up the
hill in face of a terrible fire, and fought with that daring
which had so often excited the admiration of his commander.
Reinforced by Lawton and Trimble, Gen. Ewell continued the
struggle until dusk, when his ammunition being completely
exhausted, he fell back.
Jackson's old division was the third in the line, counting
from left to right, and was held as a species of reserve, to be
sent to the support of any part of the line which was hard
pressed. The 1st "Stonewall" Brigade moved on the enemy's
front through the swamp, so fi-equently mentioned, and did
some of the hardest fighting of the whole day. The enemy
contended with especial obstinacy for the possession of the
ground at this point, which was the key of his position ; and
the roar of his artillery and musketry, as his fire converged
upon it, was appaUing. Jackson said that night, in the hear
ing of the writer, that it was " the most terrible fire of mus
ketry he ever heard," and all who heard it will recognize the
truth of the description. The old brigade did not flinch "from
the ordeal. Under its brave leader. Gen. Charles Winder, it
moved steadily on, amid the tempest of projectiles, and driving
the enemy from point to point, stormed his last position, three
hundred yards beyond McGee's, with the bayonet. The 2d
Brigade was sent to reinforce Gen. Wilcox, at his own re
quest, but arrived too late to take part in the engagement.
The 3d Brigade, sent to support Whiting, also came too late.
The 4th Brigade took part in the general charge late in the
evening. Gen. Whiting's division, which held the right of Jackson's
line, advanced through the wood and swamp, in face of a
murderous fire. Hood's 4th (Texas) Brigade charged with
a loud yell, and rushing down the precipitous ravine, leaping
ditch and stream, pressed forward over the enemy's abatis,
and every obstruction, driving all before them. They lost
1,000 men, but they took 14 pieces of cannon, nearly a' regi-

120 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON
ment of prisoners, and strewed the ground with the Federal
dead. It was of the Texans that Jackson, on the next day,
said, as he surveyed the ditch and abatis over which they had
charged : " The men who carried this position were soldiers
indeed." The movements which we have thus related in sequence,
took place together, all along the line. It was a close, almost
hand-to-hand encounter on our part, with small-arms only —
but with one striking exception. The only artillery used was
that of Capt. John Pelham, of the Stuart Horse Artillery.
Pelham was sent forward with two guns, a Blakely and Napo
leon, to a position in advance of the old Cold Harbor House,
and ordered to engage the enemy's batteries on the eminence
in front, diverting their fire from Hill, and the Stonewall Bri
gade. Capt. Pelham performed this important duty with a
gaUantry and nerve which extorted the admiration of all who
witnessed the affair. He opened upon the heavy batteries of
the enemy at close range with unfaltering resolution ; and
though his Blakely gun was soon disabled and obliged to be
withdrawn, he continued to fight the batteries in front with
his one Napoleon, directing the management of the gun in
person, and holding his ground with that stubborn courage
which afterwards immortalized the young artiUerist at Fred
ericksburg. The diversion produced by the galling and per
sistent fire of the Napoleon was exceedingly important ir^ its
effect upon the fortunes of the day ; and other batteries having
been biought up and put in action at the same point, the
enemy's fire began sensibly to slacken.
It was at this moment, and just as night was descending,
that the general and decisive charge was made all along the
line, in obedience to Jackson's brief, stern order — " Press them
with the bayonet," Hill's, EweU's, Whiting's, and Jackson's
divisions all charged. Hood's Texans and the StonewaU
Brigade, in advance of all the rest, pressed forward with cheers
of defiance, over every obstacle — and before this terrible

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 121
charge in front, and the storra of artillery on their right, the
eneray wavered, broke, and were put to rout. Posted in ad
vance of his batteries, his figure clearly revealed by the fires
which the eneray had kindled to draw the artillery fire from
their guns — Jackson heard the wild cheers of his raen as they
pursued the flying enemy in the direction of Grapevine Bridge.
The foe was routed, and as Jackson's brigade decided the
fate of the first battle of Manassas, so Jackson's corps decided
the day at Cold Harbor. The heroic troops who had driven
the enemy from their powerful positions on the Chickahominy,
back to the point where they fell into the stern clutch of Jack
son, were nearly exhausted by the enormous struggle ; and
when the roll of musketry at Cold Harbor announced the
presence of Jackson with his veteran troops, fresh for the en
counter, a thrill ran through the Confederate host, and the
hearts of the Federals sunk.
Jackson's appearance decided all.

CHAPTER XVIL
the retreat OF m'cLELLAN to MALVERN HILL,
When night fell on Friday, June 27, 1862, Gen. McClellan
was routed.
'• Thenceforward the only question was, how could he with
draw his shattered and disheartened forces to a place of safety.
Two lines of retreat were left — both perilous. One down the
Peninsula, with the vengeful Confederates assailing him at
every step ; forcing him to turn and give battle day by day,
if, indeed, the first encounter did not terminate in the destruc
tion of his command. The other toward James river, on
the right bank of the Chickahominy, right through the Con-

122 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
federate lines — through swamps and streams — over treacher
ous roads — with Lee on his rear and flank, ready to destroy
him. Neither prospect was inviting, but rapid decision was neces
sary ; and Gen. McClellan determined to retreat toward Har
rison's Landing, on James river.
The following paragraphs from the army correspondence of
the New York Tribune, exhibits the condition of affairs at
the moment when the retreat commenced ; and the first sen
tences contain a statement of the effect produced upon the
minds of the enemy by Jackson's flank attack at Cold Har
bor: " My note book says that, at 6 o'clock, the enemy com
menced a determined attack on our extreme right, evidently
with a design of flanking us. It was an awful firing that re
sounded from that smoke-clouded valley — not heavier than
some in the earlier part of the engagement, but more steady
and deterrained. It was only by overbearing exhausted men
with fresh ones that the enemy succeeded in turning that
flank, as, at length, he did succeed, only too well ; and he ac
complished it in three-quarters of an hour. At the expiration
of that time, our officers judiciously ordered their men to fall
back ; the order was not obeyed so judiciously, for they ran
back, broken, disordered, routed. (Italics those of the corre
spondent.) Siraultaneously the wounded and skulkers about
tbe buildings used as hospitals, caught a panic, whether from
a few riderless horses plunging madly across the field, or from
instantaneously scenting the rout, does not appear. A motley
mob started pell-mell for the bridges. They were overtaken
by many just from the woods, and it seemed as if BuU Run
were to be repeated.
" Meanwhile, the panic extended. Scores of gallant officers
endeavored to rally and re-form the stragglers, but in vain,
while many officers forgot the pride of their shoulder straps,
and the honor of their manhood, and herded with the sneaks
and cowards. Oh, that I had known the names of those officers
I saw, the brave and the cowardly, that here, now, I might re
ward and punish by directing upon each individual the respect
or the contempt of a whole people !
" That scene was not one to be forgotten. Scores of rider-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 123
less, terrified horses, dashing in every direction ; thick flying
bullets singing by, admonishing of danger; every minute a
man struck down ; wagons, and ambulances, and cannon,
blockading the way ; wounded raen limping, and groaning,
and bleeding, amid the throng; officers and civilians de
nouncing, and reasoning, and entreating, and being insensibly
borne along with the mass; the sublirae cannonading, f^e
clouds of battle-sraoke, and the sun just disappearing, large
and blood-red — I cannot picture it, but I see it, and always
shaU."

It is only justice to the fallen leader to say that he conduct
ed the movement towards Harrison's Landing with great mili
tary skill ; and although he had the benefit of some terrible
negligence, incapacity, misunderstanding, misconception, — call
it what you will,^on the part of his enemies on the right
bank of the Chickahominy, yet he achieved the movement
successfully, and got under cover of his gunboats, broken down
and shattered, but not cut to pieces and annihilated.
The battles which took place every day during this retreat
will long be memorable for the obstinate courage of the Con
federate assaults, and the heavy losses inflicted upon both
combatants. Otherwise, the battles are not important. They
were terrible, bloody, full of the darkest tragedy, but not de
cisive. McClellan massed his artillery finally at Malvern Hill,
and maintained his ground until night, when he evacuated his
position and retreated to Harrison's Landing, under cover ot
his gunboats.
We shall only touch upon the movements of Gen. Jackson
during these days. He had his part in the stirring events of
the time, but we shall not dwell upon this portion of his career
— simply adverting to the operations of his corps in the vari
ous battles.
On the morning of the 28th, Jackson sent Gen. Ewell for
ward to Dispatch Station, on the York River Railroad, Gen.
Stuai't being in advance with his cavalry. The cavalry at-

124: LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
tacked and routed a party of the enemy, and Ewell tore up
and destroyed the railroad at th'at point. Finding from cav
alry reconnoissances toward the White Honse that the enemy
had not retreated in that direction. Gen. Ewell proceeded
toward Bottom's Bridge, on the next day, returning thence
and rejoining the main corps.
On the night of the 29th, Jackson, who had remained, up
to that time, upon the battle-field, put his corps in motion,
and crossed to the right bank of the Chickahominy, at Grape
vine Bridge, This bridge had furnished an avenue of escape
to McClellan on the night of the 27th, when his army gave
way ; and, having passed over the rolling and uncertain
structure of loose logs, half buried in the slushy soil, he
had destroyed it behind him, Jackson hastily reconstructed
it, and pushing forward, arrived at Savage's Station, on the
York River Railroad, where he gathered up about 1,000
stragglers from the Federal army, and found immense stores
abandoned. From Savage's Station he proceeded to White Oak Swamp,
and came upon the enemy strongly posted with artillery and
sharpshooters in advance, behind the stream ; the bridge over
which they had passed having been destroyed. Here a hot
artillery fight took place, but the enemy continued to fall
back, and Jackson pressed forward to Frazier's farm, where
he met Generals Lee and Longstreet, and was assigned to the
front. His presence infused new ardor into the pursuit of the
retreating enemy, and, advancing under an incessant fire, he
found his corps confronted by the entire army of McClellan,
drawn up on Malvern Hill.
The Federal commander had thus escaped to an almost im
pregnable position, but, in doing so, had passed through scenes
the description of which, in army letters, harrowed for many
months the blood of the whole Northern people. In that re
treat of the defeated army, the depths of tragic horror were

UFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 125
fathomed — human endurance seemed to have been exhausted.
The following sentence from the New York Tribune^s corre
spondent wiU convey some idea of the scene :
" Huddled among the wagons were 10,000 stragglers — for
the credit of the nation be it said that four-fifths of them were
wounded, sick, or utteriy exhausted, and could not have stirred
but for dread of the tobacco warehouses of the South. The
confusion of this. herd of raen and mules, wagons and wounded,
men on horses, meu on foot, men by the road-side, men perched
on wagons, men searching for water, men famishing for food,
men lame and bleeding, men with ghostly eyes, looking out
between bloody bandages, that hid the face — turn to sorae
vivid account of the most pitiful part of Napoleon's retreat
from Rusisia, and fill out the picture — the grim, gaunt, bloody
picture of war iu its most terrible features.
" It was determined to move on during the night. The dis
tance to Turkey Island Bridge, the point on Jaraes river which
was to be reached, by the direct road was six miles. But
those vast numbers could not move over one narrow road in
days; hence every by-road, no matter how circuitous, had
been searched out by questioning prisoners and by cavalry
excursions. Every one was filled by one of the advancing col
urans. The whole front was in raotion by seven p. m.. General
Keyes in comraand of the advance.
"I rode with General Howe's brigade of Couch's division.
taking a wagon track through dense woods and precipitous
ravines winding sinuously far around to the left, and striking
the river some distance below Turkey Island. Comraencing
at dusk, the march continued until daylight. The night was
dark and fearful. Heavy thunder rolled in turn along each
point of the heavens, and dark clouds spread the entire canopy.
We were forbidden to speak aloud ; or, lest the light of a cigar
should present a target for an ambushed rifle, we were cautioned
not to sraoke. Ten miles of weary marching, with frequent
halts, as some one of the hundred vehicles of the artillery train,
in our centre, by a shght deviation crashed against a tree, wore
away the hours to dawn, when we debouched into a magnifi
cent wheat field, and the smoke stack of the Galena was in
sight. Xenophon's remnant of ten thousand, shouting, ' The
sea ! the sea 1' were not more glad than we."
It is certain that the whole Federal aimy shared this feehng.

126 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Another writer in the New York Times, who strives to con
ceal the extent ofthe enemy's discorafiture, says:

" When an aid of General McCleUan rode back and reported
that the way was all open to Jaraes river, a thrill of relief ran
through the whole line, and a sight of the green fields skirting
its banks was indeed an oasis in the terrible desert of suspense
and apprehension, through which they had passed. The teams
were now put upon a lively trot, in order to relieve the pres
sure upon that portion still in the rear.
"General McClellan and staff rode ahead and took posses
sion of the old estate known as Malvern HiU, one mile back
from Turkey Island Bend. It is a large, old-fashioned estate,
originally built by the French, and has near it, in front, an old
earthwork, constructed by General Washington during the
Revolutionary War. It has a spacious yard, shaded by vener
able elras and other trees. A fine view of the river can be
had fiom this elevated position. General McClellan expressed
the opinion that, with a brief time to prepare, the position
could be held against any force the enemy can bring against us.
" Exhausted by long watching and fatigue, and covered
thickly with the dust of the road over which we had passed,
many offioers threw themselves upon the shady and grassy
lawn to rest. The soldiers also, attracted by the shady trees,
surrounded the house, or bivouacked in thc flelds near by.
" General McClellan immediately addressed hiraself to the
task of preparing dispatches for the government."

From the composition of his dispatches, announcing the suc
cessful occupation of a new and more favorable position for his
projected advance upon Richmond, Gen. McClellan was di
verted by the intelligence that the enemy were approaching to
attack him in his last stronghold.
In speaking of the hard-fought battle of Malvern Hill, we
shall confine ourselves to a brief notice of the part taken in
the contest by Gen. Jackson's corps. The coraraand lost here
some of its best men — sleeping now amid the dim pines of
Charles City.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 127
Jackson formed his Une in thefoUowing order: Whiting's
division on the left, at Poindexter's farm ; D. H. Hill more
to the right ; Taylor's brigade of EweU's division, forward be
tween Hill and "Whiting, the rest of that division, in rear of the
first line. Jackson's division was halted near WiUis's Church,
and held in reserve, concealed amid the dense woods.
Hill hearing, as he supposed, the signal frora Gen. Lee for
a general advance, put his lines in motion, and advanced to
attack the tremendous position before hira. He was met by
overwhelming numbers, and so hard pressed that ho was com
pelled to Qall urgently for reinforcements. Jackson promptly
sent forward EweU's reserve and his own old division, but
owing to the swampy nature of the ground, the thick under
growth and gathering darkness, their march was so much
retarded that they did not arrive in tirae to enable HiU to
maintain his position. He was forced to fall back with heavy
loss, at nightfall.
On the left. Gen. Whiting with his batteries drove back an
advance of the eneray upon Jackson's centre ; but this was
decisive of no results; Jackson's corps slept on the field in
froiit of the enemy — but in the morning the Federal army had
retreated. Such was the part borne by Gen. Jackson in the battle of
Malvern Hill one of the most .hotly contested of the -war. It
has not been necessary tathe design of this work, to describe
the great combat in all its details, any more than the battle oi
Cold Harbor. We add, however, the following animated
sentences of a writer soon after the event, which convey a
very truthful idea of the fury of the contest, and the condi
tions upon which it was fought.
"Gen. McClellan," says this writer, "prepared, inthe lan
guage of one of his officers, to ' clothe the hill in sheets of
flame.' Every ravine swarmed with his thousands, and along
the crest of every hill flashed forth his numerous artillery,
having for the most part an unbroken play over the ascend-

128 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON
ing slope, and across cleared fields of twelve hundred yards in
length. "Notwithstanding the forraidable nature of this position, it
was determined to attack hira. It was not in the plan of our
skillful and able general-in-chief, whose genius had conceived
the whole of the strategy which crushed McClellan, to permit
the eneray to stand at bay, and arrest our terrible pursuit
merely by a show of battle-array — and so, late in the afternoon
of Tuesday, 1st July, this tremendous contest commenced.
Soon Malvern Hill was sheeted with ascending and descend
ing flame of fire. Thirty-seven pieces of artillery, supported
at a greater distance by heavy and more numerous batteries,
and by his gunboats, kept faithful ward over the enemy's po
sition, and ploughed through our columns even before they
could see tho enemy or deploy into line of battle. Undismayed
by the most terrible cannonading of the war, the terrible ad
vance of Magruder's forces commenced. Onward, in the face
of a storm of shot and shell, they pressed forward, until in mus
ket range of the enemy, and then they opened their terrific
fire. Whole lines of the enemy feU as they stood, or, attempt
ing retreat, were overtaken by the fatal bullets of our troops,
who never veered in their aim or recoiled, while the enemy's
infantry remained in range, and when forced back for a time
by the avalanche of converging artillery, yet when the infantry
of the enemy ventured again beyond their batteries, our heroic
lines advanced with shout and bayonet, and drove them hack
among the reserves and behind the wall of fire which flamed
along the mouths of the circling cannon. Thus the contest
ebbed and flowed until night spread its mantle on the battle
field. " The batteries of the enemy were not captured by assault,
because no line of men could live in their converging fires,
sweeping unobstructed the attacking forces for twelve hun
dred yards, but his line of infantry was repeatedly broken
with frightful slaughter by the fierce charges of our troops,
who held their position and slept on the field, within one hun
dred yards of the enemy's gunsv The extent of the carnage
of the enemy no one imagined until daylight revealed it inthe
horrors of the battle-field. Our dead lay close together, pro
ducing thus upon the beholder an exaggerated impression of
the number ; but an examination showed that the loss of
the enemy much exceeded ours. His dead lay everywhere —

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 129
here in line of battle, there in wild confusion of rout and re
treat — not a ravine, not a'glade, not a hill that was uot dotted
by their mangled forms, while every dwelling, out-house, barn,
and stable for miles around was crowded wilh their dead and
dying. In mauy places groups of dead were found distant
from the battle-field, where it was evident they were carried
with the intent of bearing them to the river, and where they
were roughly and rudely tossed on the wayside when the
panic overtook their escort. Every indication showed the
wildest flight of the enemy. Cannon and caissons were aban
doned, and for miles the road was filled with knapsacks,
rifles, muskets, &c., (fee. Loaded wagons were left in the road,
with vast quantities of ammunition unexploded. Caisson
drivers opened their ammunition chests and threw out their
powder and round shot to lighten their loads, to enable them
to keep up with the rapid flight. It is hazarding but little to
say, that when night put an end to the battle, the whole array
of McCleUan, with the exception of the artillery, and its di
minished infanti'y guard near Crew's and Turner's houses,
was utterly disorganized, and had become a mob of stragglers.
At daylight next morning nothing could be seen of his army
except sorae cavalry pickets, that in the distance observed our
advance. We do not believe that fifteen thousand of the
Grand Array of the Potomac retreated fiom the bloody
heights of Malvern Hill as soldiery. If nature had scooped
out the bed of Jaraes river twenty railes distant from Malvern
Hill, the Grand Army of the Potomac would "have ceased to
exist."

McCleUan had been enabled, by massing his artillery upon
strong positions, to repulse a portion of the Confederate as
sault, and hold the ground until the welcome shades of night
put an end to the contest. But the battle of Malvern Hill,
indecisive as it appeared, had a conclusive 'effect upon the
Federal army. The frightful carnage which took place in
their ranks bore heavily upon the spirits of men who were
completely exhausted by the prostrating fatigue and excite
ment of six days of marching and fighting, almost without
rest or food. From the 26th of June, the Federal troops had
had no breathing space. They were either engaged in des-
6*

130 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
perate combat with the foe during aU that time, or retreating,
hotly pursued. That foe, like a vengeful Nemesis, stiU
hovered over them, as fresh and vigorous, to aU appearances,
as ever, and under these combined influences of fatigue,
famine, disaster, and hopelessness, the hearts of the enemy
sunk. They gave up all further idea of victory ; many threw
down their arms, and sauve qui peut was now the order of the
day throughout almost the entire Federal army. They no
longer looked forward toward the Confederate lines, but back
ward toward Harrison's Landing, where, under the shelter of .
the gunboats, they saw their only hope of extrication from
the horrors which surrounded them. Broken in spirit, pros
trated physically, and seeing in further contests additional
disaster only,. they gave up the struggle, straggled away, and
arrived at the haven of safety a confused and disorderly mob,
rather than a disciphned and effective army.
Let the following paragraph, from the correspondent of the
New York Tribune, at Harrison's Landing, on the 2d of July,
describe the demeanor of General McClellan, and the condi
tion of his troops :
" General McClellan came on board, the mail boat, greatly
perturbed. He met General Patterson as he stepped on
• board, laid his hand on his shoulder, and took hira in a hur
ried manner into the aft cabin, or ladies' saloon. As he went
in he beat the air with his right hand clenched, frora which all
present inferred there was bad news. To the astonishment Oi
the writer, it was subsequently explained 'that the whole
array of the Potoraac lay stretched along the banks of the
river where we lay, having fought their way all through from
Fair Oaks, a distance of thirty miles.' General McClellan,
however, claimed that his troops ' had fought the Confeder
ates in superior numbers every day for a week, and whipped
thera every tirae.' To a question as to the location of certain
divisions and their generals, the answer was, 'They are scat
tered everywhere, but are, nevertheless, in a solid, compact
body.' And in reply to another remark, it was said, ' What
we want is fresh men; they (the troops) are worked to

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 131
death.' The description of the troops, on a dead level on the
banks of the river, covered fiom head to foot, and up to their
knees in raud in the soft, moist alluvial soil, is painfully graphic.
' Under sorae trees which lay in clusters, the men were crouched.
They looked,' says the writer, 'as if they were raore dead than
alive. They were covered to the crown of the head with mud ;
their faces and clothes were hterally coated, while their shoes
and boots had several pounds of the nasty yellow stuff into
and all around them.' "
Such was the termination of the long agony of invasion —
defeat, disaster, ruin. The boasted plans for taking the Con
federate capital had all failed. The splendid army, which,
by General McClellan's sworn statement on his trial, amounted
to raore than 150,000 men, of whom 112,000 were hale, hearty
and effective, had been routed and overwhelmed ; beaten in
battle after battle ; driven ignominiously from its positions,
and huddled together — a shrinking, trembling, broken-spirited
flock of sheep — under the bristling portholes of the gunboats
on James river. That tragic end of all its hopes was patent to
the great world of America and Europe. Glozing dispatches
could not smooth over the disaster ; the pretence of a pre
meditated "change of base," to a more favorable position for
advancing upon Richraond, deceived nobody. The Old World
and the New — England, France, New York, Lincoln and Sew
ard, and their corapeers — saw that this was defeat ; for the
time, final, irrevocable defeat. McClellan had played for a
great stake ; brought all his skill, strategy, brain and strength
and nerve to bear upon the contest. The game went against
him ; he was bankrupt ; and the world would not believe that
he rose the winner.
We have presented a rapid narrative of these great battles,
so far as Jackson's corps took part in them. The statements
of fact are all that is needed : coraraent is unnecessary. The
plans of General Lee were those of a great commander, arid
the best proof of their erainent wisdom lies in the fact, that
McClellan speedily discovered, but could pot counteract them.

132 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
. The hand of Fate was on him, in the person of Lee ; he had
been outgeneralled ; and, though prorapt intelligence reached
the Federal commander, as he stated on his trial, that Jackson
was approaching — though he wrote to Lincoln, on the 25th of
June, that he would " probably be attacked to-raorrow" — the
position of his forces was snch that he could not guard against
the assault, and his fate was already decided. The hand upon
the dial pointed to the fated moment ; the hour struck ; and
the star of McCleUan, the "Young Napoleon" of popular fancy,
went down in blood.
Lee had thus outgeneralled, and soon outfought and tri
umphed over his opponent. He had proved himself the
greatest captain ofthe age, but with what magnificent lieuten
ants ! Longstreet, the hard, stubborn, unyielding fighter, who,
like the " War Horse," a name given hira by Lee, snuffed the
coming battle, and fought with a skill, a courage, a resolution,
so admirable 1 Stuart, the prince of cavalry leaders, with his
native genius for the career of arms, his nerve, his daring, his
elan in a charge, and that coolness which never deserted him,
whatever peril menaced, or disaster seemed irarainent. A. P.
Hill, of the "Light Division," the chivalric, dashing, steady,
indomitable leader. Ewell, the blunt, stern, abrupt, thoroughly
reliable soldier, who never yielded, and compelled victory to
his standard. Hood, the immovable rock, which dashed back
every wave that struck it. The generals of divisions and
brigades ; the colonels of regiraents ; the commanders of
squadrons and battalions ; the captains of companies — all co
operated in this grand result, upholding the hands of their
great commander-in-chief, and insuring the success of the
Confederate arms.
Among those lieutenants of the great captain one name
shines with unsurpassed lustre — the name of Jackson. It
was Jackson who came with his fresh troops to decide the fate
of the obstinate contest ; to hurl his trained legions upon
the enemy, and to drive them from the hai-d-fought field.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 133
With what skill, courage, and perfect success this was done,
the reports of General Lee will show. These two men had
now met for the first time in the war; had seen each other at
work ; and there sprung up at once between the two eminent
soldiers, that profound respect, confidence, and regard, which
thenceforth knew no diminution, no shadow of turning.
Jackson said of Lee, " He is a phenomenon. I would follow
him blindfolded." And when the former was struck at
Chancellorsville by the fatal bullet which forced him to quit
the field, Lee wrote :
" I have just received your note informing me that you
were wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occurrence.
Could I have dictated events, I should have chosen, for the
good of the country, to have been disabled in your stead. I
congratulate you upon the victory vvhich is due to your skill
and energy."
It was on the field of Cold Harbor that this great and
noble fi'iendship had its beginning. The men measured each
other, face to face, saw each the other's stature ; and thence
forth knew what they had to rely on. ' .This utter confidence
was the crowning glory of both ; and the note of Lee at
Chancellorsville will remain forever the glorious epitaph of
Jackson ; the declaration of the latter, above recorded, is a
noble authority for the historian of the future, in dehneating
the great form of Lee.
Jackson fought at Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, as
everywhere, with the science of a great soldier; but the
arduous, toil and anxiety of earher days in the VaUey was
spared him. His troops no longer required watching, and
careful manoeuvring, to make them victorious. The raw
levies had become veteran legions ; the inexperienced volun
teer officers had grown to be masters of the art of fighting.
Like bloodhounds, they had only to be loosed, to follow with
unerring accuracy the trail of victory. The writer of this
page saw Gen. Jackson in those days, and he was utterly

134: LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
calm. He had the air of one who knew upon what he relied,
and foresaw the event. His troops and the skilful leaders
who coraraanded them, had been placed in position ; the lines
of the enemy pointed out ; thenceforth, the affair lay with
them ; and once unleashed, these dogs of war never paused
until the prey was run down, and in their clutch.
Malvern Hill was the end of the struggle around Richmond.
It is true that Gen. Lee sent Jackson forward on the next
day, toward Harrison's Landing, and that, on the day after,
there was a desultory skirmish between the -opposing forces.
But the roll of great events was exhausted ; the curtain had
fallen upon the bloody drama.
The Confederate army reraained in front of the enemy until
the Sth of July. Jackson was strongly in favor of an advance,
and subsequent revelations, by Gen. McClellan, of the strength
and condition of his army at that time, afford ample grounds
for believing that such an advance would have terminated in
his destruction.
Upon grounds, however, which seemed to them at that time
conclusive, the Confederate authorities determined to retire ;
and on the Sth of July, our forces were accordingly withdrawn.
Jackson's corps fell into line, left the hot pine woods in which
they had lain, sweltering, in front of the enemy, and took up
the line of march for the neighborhood of Richmond.
Jackson had lost at the battle of Cold Harbor, 589 killed,
and 2,671 wounded. At the battle of Malvern Hill, 377
killed, and 1,746 wounded.
The famous corps had sustained, in the fuUest degree, its
noble reputation, won in the hard combats beyond the moun
tains ; had left its mark aU along the road from Ashland, hy
Cold Harbor, to Malvern Hill ; but, alas ! had left, too, some
of its most precious blood, poured out in the lowlands, as
other precious blood had been, in the Virginia Valley. Those
brave hearts sleep now under the green sod of the Hanovei
slopes ; in the silent and mysterious swamps of the Chicka-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 135
hominy ; and beneath the dim pines of Charles City, sighing
over their unknown graves. But they are not forgotten.
Their names are linked with the name and fame of Jackson,
and will live forever.

CHAPTER XVIIL

POPE.

The disastrous termination of the battles around Richmond
only aroused the Northern government to new efforts. Hard
fighting had failed to secure their' object ; brutality and fren
zied rage against the *" rebels " were now to be the controlling
elements of the Federal policy.
All restraints of decency were to be laid aside ; the rules of
civilized warfare ignored; the gentlemen of the South -con
tending in open and honorable confiict for their homes and
liberties were to be treated as slaves in revolt against their
masters. The radical party had finally gained the ascendenc}', and
the signal was given for new and more extensive preparations
for carrying on the war. The object now was to overwhelm.
by every means, honorable or dishonorable, the strength Oi
the " rebellion."
A bill was passed confiscating the slaves of all persons loyal
to the South. Another act directed slaves to be armed and
enroUed as troops. Military commanders were authorized to
seize and make use of any property, real or personal, belong
ing to citizens of the Confederacy, necessary or convenient for
their commands, without compensation to the owners.
The war was thus to be conducted in future upon the radi
cal programme; upon the fundamental principle. that rebellion
against the " best government the world ever saw " was a crime

136 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
of SO deep a dye, that those guilty of it, should be treated
without mercy, and as enemies beyond the pale of civilized
warfare. Napoleon, when it was necessary, subsisted his ar
mies on the country through which he passed, but honestly
paid for every thing. It was reserved for the Federa. govern
ment to seize every species of property without compensation ;
to ransack clothes-presses and china closets, and rob the very
hen-roosts and dairies.
The new campaign was to be inaugurated in that beautiful
region of Virginia lying north of the Rappahannock and
Rapidan. During the month of July, while McClellan was
still lying on the hot shores of Jaraes river, with a portion of
his defeated army, fresh levies were rapidly hurried forward
to Washington. That city became one great carap ; and
under the inspiring influences of the new radical regime, a
large force was soon ready to take the field. This body of
men was known as the "Army of Virginia" — and was
speedily sent forward to Warrenton, Little Washington, and
Fredericksburg, . with a view to advance upon Gordonsville,
and cut the communications between Richraond and Staunton.
The command of the " Army of Virginia " was intrusted
to Major-general John Pope ; a personage chiefly renowned
for having been cowhided without resistance by a Southern
gentleman, for embezzling large sums of public money, and
for having been guilty, while commanding in Missouri, of
outrages which " chaUenge a comparison with the most infer
nal record, ever bequeathed by the licensed murderer to the
abhorrence of mankind."
The career of Pope in Virginia is one of the most gro
tesque chapters in the annals of war. Let us not speak of
him with indignation, or in terras of labored insult. Oppro
brious epithets cannot reach him ; and the present writer would
derive no satisfaction from dwelling on the fact that Gen. Pope,
as all now concede, was a braggart, a poltroon ; guilty of sys
tematic falsehood ; and proved to have perpetrated in his own

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 137
person, outrages which mark the low-born and low-bred
wretch. He has been called a " Yankee compound of Boba-
dil and Munchausen." But unfortunately this Bobadil com
manded a large army ; this Munchausen signed " Major-
general" beneath his name.
Before following the further movements of General Jack
son, let us notice some of the proceedings of the Federal
troops, under the leader whom he was soon to overthrow.
The subject, as we have said is grotesque : and suppressing
our indignation at the outrages which laid waste one of the
fairest portions of the State, we may contemplate with a spe
cies of curious interest, the doings of these vermin ; their
robbery of hen-roosts ; their predatory excursions in search of
eggs ; their guttural reply to all questions, " / vites mit Zie-
gel ;" and their arausing confidence in their resistless prowess,
up to the very moment when they fled, affrighted before
Jackson — their great commander Pope, for once not bringing
up the rear.
One of the few pieces of light literature read in the latter
days of his life, by General Jackson, was an article in a num
ber of the Cornh'll Magazine, styled " Campaigning with
General Pope.'' This article gave the experiences of a rov
ing Englishman from Washington to Cedar Run, and pre
sented a curious picture of the state of things at the moment.
Some of these incidents, derived from various sources, will
furnish, as we have said, an appropriate introduction to the
battle of Cedar Run, in which the outrages perpetrated upou
the defenceless inhabitants were fully avenged..
General Pope, the willing instrument of the brutal party
now in the ascendant, was tall of stature, vulgar in feature,
and full of "brag and bluster." He had secured his com
mand by boasting and braggadocia — by the declaration, that
he " had seen nothing of his enemies but their backs ;" and
he now prepared to sustain himself by still more magnificent
rodomontades.

138 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
He knew the character of his countrymen, and arrived at
his headquarters in a special car, decked out with flags and
streamers, floating in the wind. He then proceeded to pen
his " order " to the army.
" I desire you to disraiss frora your minds certain phrases,
which I am sorry to flnd much in vogue among you. I hear
constantly of taking strong positions and holding them : of
lines of retreat, and bases of supplies. Let us discard such
ideas. The strongest position which a soldiea should desire
to occupy, is the one from which he can most easily advanee
upon the enemy. Let us study the probable line of retreat
of our opponents, and leave our own to take care of itself.
Let us look before and not behind. Disaster and shame lurk
in the rear."
Such was the order issued by General Pope on taking com
mand, and the last sentence had something prophetic in it.
" Disaster and shame lurked in his rear " as he advanced, and
as he fled. His next order was, that all disloyal male citizens
should be imraediately arrested ; the oath of allegiance offered
them ; and if they took it, and " furnished sufficient security
for its observance," they should be released. If they refused
it, they should be sent beyond the extreme pickets, and if
found again within his lines treated as spies — that is, shot.
" If any person haying taken the oath of allegiance as above
specified, be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and
his property seized and applied to the public use." Lastly,
" all communication with any person whatever living within
the lines of the enemy " was prohibited ; " any person con
cerned in writing, or in carrying letters or messages, will be
considered and treated as a spy.'^ Such was the infamous
" Expatriation Order " which General Pope fulminated at the
peaceful inhabitants of Culpepper. It was followed by an
other more execrable still, issued by Steinwehr, one of Pope's
subordinates, to the effect that the prominent citizens in every
district should be arrested, and held as hostages for the good
behavior of the population. If auy of the Federal troops

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 139
were " bushwhacked" — that is, shot by guerillas or irregular
troops, the citizens should suffer death.
It is obvious to what all this tended — complete subjugation
of the people, soul and body. But it ludicrously failed.
Pope has only the historic infamy of his atrocious " orders" —
they utterly failed to attain their purpose. The brave wom
en and children of Culpepper laughed at him : the old men
swore at him to his face ; and the great Yankee Bombastes
Furioso, by the enormities which he comraitted, only hastened
the steps of the inexorable fate which approached in the form
of Jackson.
A few details of the manner in which searches and " sub
sisting on the country" were accomplished will appropriately
introduce, as we have said, the great events which followed.
We present these details just as they were given by eye-wit
nesses of both parties, and leave the reader to make his own
comments. A gentleman of Culpepper writes :
"One peculiarity in the army of the 'greatest of our gen
erals,^ ought to be recorded as a matter of sorae possible in
terest in the future. There were two regiments, forming a
corps of lictors and executioners, who usually went in ad
vance — yet in different squads — for the purpose of gather
ing the first spoils, and of striking terror to the hearts of the
people. They were stated (by their comrades of a more de
cent complexion) to consist alraost exclusively of public male
factors (the only exceptions being young men who were in
duced to take commissions), selected and hunted up amongst
all the most notorious dens of infamy and crime in the United
States.

" An elderly gentleman was sitting in his porch, and of a
sudden a large body of cavalry galloped up into his yard and
surrounded his-house. The officer who had, as a rider or of
ficer, the appearance of an overgrown cobbler or weaver, dis
mounted and entered his porch. The gentleman rose and ad
dressed him : ' Will you take a seat, sir V ' No, sir,' said

140 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the colonel ; ' I have come to make a search of this house.'
Gentleman — ' Well, sir, I hope you will raake a thorough ex
amination, and I will assist you, with a hope that I may be
spased any future visitations of this sort.' (Calling to a ser
vant.) ' Boy, bring me all the keys of the house.' He pro
ceeded, followed by the colonel. ' We will first explore this
room ; it is the parlor ; there, sir, are some presses.' Colo
nel — ' What's in them, sir ?' Gentleman — ' Books, sir, I be
lieve, exclusively ; but I desire that you examine them all
for yourself,' at the same time throwing open the upper part.
All were books. Yankee — " There's a lower part. What's
in that ?' ' Open it, sir, and look for yourself All books
again. Yankee — ' There's a box, sir. What's in that V
' I think, sir, it's a box packed by my family ; but I desire
you to make a thorough exploration of it. I will open it if I
can find the key.' The box was opened, in dived the Yankee
colonel, and stirred and rummaged every thing inside ; but
finding nothing but towels, baby clothes, and such trumpery,
he emerged, to pursue his search elsewhere ; and as he did
so he saw the hilt of a sword of the last century, so hanging
as for the blade to be hidden by one of the presses. He was
immediately animated with the idea that he had probably
made an important capture. ' Why, sir,' said he, ' hereh a
sword ; what's that doing there ?'— at the same time taking
it down. Gentleman — drawing himself up to his full height,
and looking with a most withering scorn upon the low-bred
brute, replied calmly and deliberately — ' Yes, sir, that is a
sword. It has a little story which gives it a value in my eyes.
It would be of very little use to the Federal army. It was
buckled on by a young officer, who was in the first company
formed in the State of Virginia for the war of the Revolution.
He fought with it iu the tirst battle South, and afterwards at
Yorktown. He was never absent from the army during the
entire Revolution. He fought with it at Saratoga, and Tren
ton, and Monmouth, and Germantown, and Brandywine, and
on many other fields. He returned home aud continued a
warm friend of Washington, and well known to Washington.
He lived for a great number of years the intimate friend of
John Marshall, who was also his companion in arms ; and
when he died he left me that sword. That portrait hanging
near is his, and I am his son ! The gentleman was Daniel F.
Slaughter — perhaps as generaUy, certainly as favorably known
as any man in the State of Virginia,' "

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 141
The same gentleman gives the following account of the
treatment of the Rev. Mr. George, near Culpepper Court
house. This clergyman, on the appearance of the enemy, ap
plied for a guard, which was furnished, in the person of one
soldier. Mr. George then says :
" 'But before the guard arrived some twenty or more men
collected in the garden and yard, went at once to work in
destroying iny bees, broke into my study through the back
window, broke open ray desks and a trunk, stealing a variety
of things, and tumbled all my papers into confusion and dis
order.' The guard that came first, Mr. George said, seeraed
to try to protect him, but it was impossible. ' The work of
housebreaking and plundering proceeded until nearly every
locked place on my plantation had been forcibly entered — not
excepting the basement rooms of my dwelling-house — some of
them several times.'
" His crop of wheat was wasted or taken off, his corn-house
repeatedly broken open and the corn carried off,, spring-house
broken open, every thing, such as vessels, (fee, stolen and taken
away. Then carae fresh regiraents, 28th New York and 46th
Pennsylvania. Depredations proceeded. 'My study was
again broken open, and robbery was the order of the day.
General Crawford soon after came and established his head
quarters in ray yard, and although he continued the guard
granted by Colonel Donelly, and appointed others, it
seemed irapossible to arrest the work of housebreaking and
plunder, which was increased by the well-known order of
General Pope.'
*****
" ' Gen. Pope and his staff arrived, and ray yard became his
headquarters also. No sooner had his train arrived than my
garden inclosure, in different places, was thrown down, a
blacksmith shop set up in the garden, and various horses
tethered in it also. * * * Almost all the fencing
on my plantation was now burnt up. * * * j ^^.
dressed a note to Gen. Crawford's A. A. G. upon the subject,
and the next day received a verbal reply to the effect, that al
though sorry for me, they could do nothing for my relief, and
that I had better prepare to submit to my fate.
" 'During the time of their occupancy of my premises, my
beautiful farm was laid waste, the meadow, which would have
yielded not less than fifty tons of hay, a clover field, which

142 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON;
would have produced as much more, one hundred and twenty
acres of fine sod land, two thousand bushels of wheat, forty
bushels of oats, not less than fifty barrels of corn, the field of
growing corn, from which I expected a yield of four hundred
barrels, almost destroyed by government men and horses ;
every gate on my farm cut up or broken, carriage curtains
torn off, and much of the carriage houses and doors burnt up,
fifteen hundred dollars' worth of horses and colts, one hundred
dollars' worth of cattle, one hundred and fifty dollars' worth of
sheep, one hundred dollars' worth of hogs, together with my
saddles and bridles, wagon harness, <fec. * * *
In consideration for which, I have, up to this time, a quarter-
niaster'p receipt for five or six barrels of corn and twelve tons
of hay. * * * J became acquainted with a
number of privates, who seemed to understand that citizens
here had rights that ought to be respected. But the great
body of them, as they appeared to me, dehghted in that in
terpretation of Gen. Pope's order, which gives a license for
robbing all who may belong to " Secesh Land." I know not
how often bitter curses were heaped upon me, my life and
the destruction of my property threatened for kindly remon
strating against their robbery. In some instances, when
asked if they had authority from a quartermaster or commis
sioned officer to appropriate my property to their uses, they
referred me to Gen. Pope. I may mention, that within so
many weeks my study was five tiraes broken open, and my
corn house and barn not less than one dozen times, each.
This brief review sickens me. I feel thankful to officers and
men who showed me kindness, and refer the cases of those of
a contrary character to the decision of him who judgeth
righteously.' "
From the same series of records we take the following de
scription of the Northern soldiers :
" Of the rank and file I know but little. Sorae companies
seemed to be of a decent agricultural or mechanical complex
ion ; but by far the greater part were the most unsavory-look
ing wretches I ever beheld. The Irish were the next best ;
then came the genuine Dutch, about as cleanly and intellec
tual as the overgrown sows of ' der Vaterland.' Meeting a
greasy-looking beast of that brood, I asked him, ' What do

UFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 143
you want here ? Are you fighting for Fraternity and Union ?'
Perfectly incapable of comprehending rae, he drawled out,
'Yah! Vat you mean!' I repeated the question in au ex
planatory way, but in vain. As I turned frora him, he said :
'Ve vites mit Ziegel !' Next came the selected assassins and
thieves, who were probably received upon certificates of their
actual convictions and service in the penitentiaries. And last,
and worst of all, the Puritans and psalm-singers of pious New
England— their care to look after the little niggers' morals,
and to attend to the general business of the Underground
Railroad. These are the people who have been sent with ' the
greatest of our generals,' as a Northern paper calls Majer-gen-
eral John Pope — a commander suited to the force, a force
worthy such a comraander.
" When the celebrated proclamation, embodying the facts
that he came from the West, never looked, but at the backs of the
enemy, and had estabhshed his headquarters in his saddle, was
published, he was not yet in the field 1 It was from his arriv
al, or a few days afterwards, that I propose to take him up, and
to proceed to recount his deeds and record his end."
The most detailed accounts of the depredation of Pope's
troops are, however, derived from the enemy themselves. So
shocking were these permitted, if not ordered transgressions
of all the laws of decency and common honesty, that even
some of their own raen had the grace to exclaira against them,
and deraand, for the honor of their people, that these enormi
ties should be checked.
One of these Federal correspondents from the army writes :
" A great evil e.xists to a great extent in the army of Vir
ginia. I allude to the practice of procuring (through itin
erant traders and city hucksters) every denomination of
spurious paper and broken bank-notes, as well as fac-simile
notes of the Confederacy, and passing them indiscriminately
upon the unsuspecting inhabitants, poor as well as rich, old
and young, male and female. Your correspondent is cogni
zant of several instances where this has been perpetrated, in
return for kind nursing by poor aged women. Unless this sys
tera is checked,, will not the whole country be overrun by the
hordes of counterfeiters and swindlers on the close of the
war!

144 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
" The country is flooded with bogus Secesh raoney ; it is
impossible, in many cases, to tell the good from the bad. We
went into a small store at ' Orleans ' one day, where they were
selling ' fip calico ' at thirty-five cents per yard, and the whole
contents of the store you could carry in a bushel basket, and
found the proprietor was taking all the paper offered. On
looking over his ' pile,' we found four different kinds of Rich
mond ones, and two of fives. Many were the most worthless
imitations. He was very indignant at ' Banks's men,' whom
he alleges passed it upon him.
"Meeting an aged contraband this raorning, who had been
into carap selling eggs, butter, &c., we found he had ' pay for
massa' in Secesh paper, nearly all bogus. He said he did not
care what kind it was ; ^6 took whatever was offered."
Another, writing from Culpepper Court-house, draws the
full-length picture as follows :
" The army of Virginia has undergone a marked change
in a very iraportant particular. The new usage which has
been instituted in regard to the protection of Confederate
property, and the purpose of the Governra'ent to subsist the
army, as far as practicable, upon the eneray's country, has
produced a decided revolution in the feelings and practices of
the soldiery, and one which seems to me Very much to be
regretted. " Unless these innovations are guarded by far raore strin
gent safeguards against irregular and unauthorized plunder
ing, we shall let loose upon the country, at the close of the
war, a torrent of unbridled and unscrupulous robbers. Rapid
strides toward villany have been raade during the last few
weeks. Men who at horae would have shuddered at the sug
gestion of touching another's property, now appropriate re
morselessly whatever comes in their reach. Thieving, they
iraagine, has now become an authorized practice, and under
the show of subsisting theraselves, chickens, turkeys, hams,
and corn have become a lawful plunder, with little discrimi
nation as to the character or circumstances of the original
owner. " It is to me a very serious and unfortunate state of facts,
when soldiers will rush in crowds upon the smoke-house of a
farmer, and each quarrel with the other to get the best and
greatest, share. I blush when I state that on the inarch

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 145
through, a section of country, every spring-house is broken
open, and butter, milk, eggs, and cream are engulfed, almost
before the place is reached by the men. Calves and sheep,
and, in fact, any thing and every thing serviceable for meat, or
drink, or apparel, are not safe a moment after the approach of
the army. Even things apparently useless are snatched up,
because, it would seem, many raen love to steal.
" At a place where I not long ago spent a night, scarcely
. an article to which the fertility of a soldier could suggest the
slightest use remained to the owner upon the foUowing morn
ing. There had been soldiers there, you might wager. Pans,
kettles, dish-cloths, pOrk, poultry, provisions, and every thing
desirable, had disappeared. The place was stripped, and with
out any process of commissary or quartermaster. So it has
been in innumerable instances. Many a family, incapable
of sustaining the slightest loss, has actually been deprived
of all.
"I not long ago saw a dozen soldiers rushing headlong
through a field, each anxious to get the first choice of three
horses shading themselves quietly under a tree. The aniraals
made their best time into the farthest corner of the field,
with the men close npon them ; and the foreraost ones caught
their prizes aud bridled them as if they had a perfect immu
nity in such things. A scene foUowed. A young lady came
out, and besought the soldiers not to take her favorite pony.
The soldiers were remorseless and unyielding, and the pony is
now in the army.
" I know a case where a famUy were just seating themselves
to dinner, when sorae of the soldiers being that way, they
went in and swallowed every thing. That was not all ; but
whatever in doors and out of doors the soldiers wanted was
readily appropriated, and the proprietor of the place told me
sorrowfully that they had ruined him — he never could now
get out of debt. I hardly regretted his misfortune so much
on his account as for the influence of this thieving upon the
soldiers. I was really gratified to hear his little boy say,
' Pap says he wouldn't vote the secession ticket again if he
had the chance.' His patriotism was evidently drawing too
heavily upon his fortunes, and I was rejoiced to find hinj in
an inquiring state of mind. But unless a check is given to
this promiscuous and unauthorized plundering, the discipline
and value of the army will be destroyed ; and when the en-
1

146 LIFE OF STONEW.ALL JACKSON.
listments have expired, we shaU let loose a den of thieves
upon the country.
"One favorite forra in which this will exhibit itself is the
passing of Philadelphia Confederate notes. Whenever we
advance into a new section, the floodgates are immediately
opened, and the fac simile Confederate notes are poured out
upon the land. They pass readily, and seem to be taken
gladly for whatever is held for sale. Baulk-notes and shin-
plasters are given for change. Horses and other valuable
property are often purchased with this currency. A party of
soldiers entered a store, not long singe, fortified with exhaust-
less quantities of Vs and X's, and commenced buying. Forty
pounds of sugar was first ordered, when the storekeeper,
pleased with the sudden increase of business, called in his
wife to assist him in putting up the sugar in small parcels.
Seventy-five cents a pound was the cost. That was a smaU
matter. Matches were purchased. Twenty-five cents per
box was the charge. Tobacco also found a ready market.
Each man provided himself with a straw hat. But the crown
ing act of all was the abstraction frora the till of money al
ready paid to the dealer for his goods, and the purchase of
more goods with the same spurious medium."

Such were the outrages practised on the unarmed inhabi
tants of Culpepper by this band of brigands — this motley
crew of jail-birds, malefactors, released convicts, and Dutch-
Yankee vermin, from the cellars and rookeries of Europe
and the North. Their unbridled license was known and per
raitted by Pope ; -and though he subsequently issued an order
declaring that such proceedings were unauthorized, and must
cease, he only did so, when even the Northern people — ven
omous as was their hatred of the rebels — began to murmur at
such incredible villanies.
The plague, as of obscene vermin, had, however, been let
loose, and had done its work. The Federal horde had passed
over the land, and left a desert behind them. The fences
had disappeared; the forests were felled; the farm lands
were turned into comraon ; and so thorough had been the
work of piUage and rapine that heads of families began

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 147
seriously to dread that their little children would soon be
without bread. When the writer of these lines passed through
Culpepper in August, a few days after Pope's disappearance,
it was as much as he could do to procure food for himself and
forage fOr his horse.
Pope advanced toward the Rapidan, and had, as yet, en
countered no foes. His right extended to the foot of the Blue
Ridge, his left toward the confluence of the Rappahannock
and Rapidan. The vast horde advanced, sweeping all before
it ; and the people of the North hailed with noisy triumph,
the successful march, to this central position, of the " greatest
of our generals." ^
This was the state of things in the last days of July ; and
Gen. Pope looked with longing eyes toward Gordonsville,
where he had already, in fancy, established his headquarters,
and whence he would descend, like an avalanche, upon the
metropolis of the South.
Man proposes ; God disposes. That destiny which would
so soon crush him lik#an egg-sheU, in an iron hand, was al.
ready on the march.

CHAPTER XLS.
CEDAR RUN.
When Gen. Pope thus advanced toward the Rapidan, se
riously threatening, with his large force, the Central Railroad
at Gordonsville, Gen. McClellan was still with a considerable
portion of his army at Harrison's Landing, and professed to
design another attack upon Richmotid. It was thus rendered
necessary for the Confederate government to retain a, sufficient
number of troops at the capital to repulse any movement
from that direction.

148 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
It was equaUy important, however, to check Gen. Pope;
and to that end. Gen. Jackson, who had gone into camp on
the Mechanicsville road, not far from Richmond, was directed
to proceed toward Gordonsville, and guard that point against
the threatened assault upon it.
His own " old division," and Gen.^ EweU's, were accord
ingly moved in that direction, and reached Gordonsville on
the 19th of July.
Receiving reliable information that the Federal army in his
front greatly outnumbered l^s own forces, Jackson sent back to
Gen. Lee for additional troops, and was reinforced by Gen. A.
P. Hill's division. *
It was not long before the advanced forces of cavalry, on
both sides, came into collision. On the 2d of August, whilst.
Col. Jones, by direction of Brig-gen. Robertson, was moving
with the 7th Virginia cavalry, to take charge of picket posts
on the Rapidan, he received inteUigence, before reaching
Orange Court-house, that the enemy were in possession of
that town. Continuing to advance. Col. Jones found the main
street full of Federal cavalry, and charged the head of the
enemy's column — another portion of the regiment, under
Major MarshaU, attacking them in flank. Both attacks were
successful, and the enemy were driven from th'e place. But
our forces were still greatly outnumbered ; and, in conse
quence of the large body of the enemy in front, together with
the fire of their flanking parties, Jones was compelled to fall
back. He made another stand, however, not far from the
town, and the Federal cavalry retired. In this brief contest
Col. Jones, while gallantly charging, at the head of his men,
received a sabre wound, and Major Marshall was captured.
Having received information that only a portion of Gen.
Pope's army was at Culpepper Court-house, Gen. Jackson de
termined to advance and attack it before reinforceraents ar
rived ; and accordingly, on the 7th of August, moved with
his entire force from Gordonsville in the direction of the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. " 149
enemy. On the morning of the Sth, Gen. Robertson's cavalry,
whioh had advanced beyond the Rapidan, drove back that of
the enemy, and pursued them on the road leading from Bainett's
Ford to Culpepper Court-house, the rest of the troops follow
ing, with EweU's division in front. The enemy's cavalry con
tinued, however, to display unusual activity, and to guard his
trains, which were seriously endangered, Jackson detached
Gen. Lawton's brigade, which was thus prevented from taking
part in the battle of the next day.
On- the 9th of August, Jackson reached a point about eight
miles from Culpepper Court-house, and found the enemy
posted in heavy force, in his front, near Cedar Run, and a
short distance west and north of Slaughter Mountain. A
large body of Federal cavalry occupied a ridge on the right of
the road, but retired when a battery, under Lieut. Terry, opened
npon it. The fire was responded to by a battery of the enemy
beyond the ridge ; and his cavalry subsequently returned, and
reoccupied its former position.
General Early was now ordered to advance) keeping near the
Culpepper road ; and General Ewell, with his two remaining
brigades — Trimble's and Hays's, the latter commanded by
Colonel Ferns — was directed to diverge to the right, and pass
along the slope of Slaughter's Mountain. Early, forming in
line of battle, moved into the open field, and pushed forward
to the right of the road, driving the enemy's cavalry before
hira to the crest of a hill which overlooked the ground between
his troops and the opposite hill. Along this hill the eneray's
batteries were posted, ready to open as soon as he appeared.
In his front the country was, for some distance, open and
broken. A corn-field, and to the left of it a wheat-field, upon
which the shocks were yet standing, extended to the opposite
hill, which was covered with timber." As soon as Early reached
the eminence described, the Federal batteries opened upon
hira, large bodies of cavalry appearing in the wheat-field "to
the lefl. Gen. Early having retired his troops under the pro-

150 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
tection of the hill. Captain Brown, with one piece, and Captain
Dement, with three pieces, planted their guns in advance of
his right, and opened a rapid and well-directed fire upon the
Federal batteries.
By this time General Winder, with Jackson's division, had
arrived. Having disposed Campbell's brigade, Lieut.-colonel
Garnett commanding, to the left, under cover of the wood near
the wheat-field: Taliaferro's brigade paraUel to the road, in
rear of the batteries of Poague, Carpenter, and Caskie, then
being placed near the road, under the direction bf Major
Andrews, chief of artillery of the division ; and Winder's
brigade, Colonel Ronald commanding, as a reserve — he was
proceeding to direct, with his usual skill and coolness, the
movements of those batteries, when he was struck by a shell,
from which he expired in a few hours. " It is difficult," says
General Jackson, "in the -proper reserve of an official report,
to do justice to the merits of this accomplished officer. Urged
by the Medical Director to take no part in the movements of
the day, because of the then enfeebled state of his health, his
ardent patriotism and military pride could bear no such re
straint. Richly endowed with those qualities 'of mind and
person which fit an officer for command, and which attract
the admiration and excite the enthusiasra of troops, he was
rapidly rising to the front rank of his profession. His loss has
been severely felt." The command of Jackson's division now
devolved upon Brig. -general W. B. Tahaferro, whose brigade
during the remainder of the action was commanded by Colonel
A. G. Taliaferro.
In the mean time. General Ewell, with the brigades of
Trimble and Hays, reached the northwes't termination of
Slaughter's Mountain, and upon an elevated spot about two
hundred feet above the valley below, had planted Latuner's
guns, which opened with marked effect upon the enemy's
batteries. For some two hours a rapid and continuous fire
of artillery was kept up on both sides, our own batteries being

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 151
admirably served, and damaging the enemy seriousl|\ Ma
jor Andrews handled his guns with great gallantry and suc
cess, until he was severely wounded and taken from the field.
About five o'clock, the enemy threw forward his skirmishers
through the corn-field, and advanced his infantry, until then
concealed in the wood, to the rear and left of his batteries.
Another body of infantry, apparently debouching from one of
those valleys, hidden from view by the undulating character
of the country, moved at the same time upon Early's right,
which rested near a clump of cedars, where the guns of
Brown and Dement were posted. The infantry fight soon
Extended to the left and centre, Early being warmly engaged
with the enemy on his right and front. As Gen. Hill had
arrived with his division, one of his brigades. Gen. Thomas',
was sent to Early, and joined him in time to render efficient
service. •
Whilst the attack upon Early was in progress, the main
body of the Federal infantry moved down from the wood,
through the corn and wheat fields, fell with great vigor upon
our extreme left, and, by the force of superior numbers, bear
ing down all xjpposition, turned it, and poured a destructive
fire into- its rear. The enemy pushing forward, and the left
flank of Taliaferro's brigade being, by these movements, ex
posed to a flank flre, fell back, as did also the left of Early's
line, the remainder of his command holding its position with
great flrmness.
During the advance of the enemy, the rear of the guns of
Jackson's division becoming exposed, tBey were withdrawn.
At this critical moment. Branch's brigade of HiU's division
with Winder's brigade further to the left, met the Federal
forces flushed with their temporary triumph, and drove them
back with terrible slaughter through the woods. The fight
was still maintained with obstinafcy between the enemy and
the two brigades just named, when Archer and Pender comiilg
up, a general charge was made, which drove the enemy across

152 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the field into the opposite wood, strewing the narrow vaUey
with t*ir dead. To retrieve this serious disaster they had
recourse to their cavalry. An impetuous charge was made
upon Tahaferro's brigade ; but the enemy were met with such
determined resistance by Taliaferro in front, and by so galling
a fire from Branch's brigade in flank, that their cavalry was
driven from thefleld in disorder, and with heavy loss.
On the right, Ewell had been forced to remain inactive.
The incessant fire of our batteries in the valley, sweeping his
only, approach to the enemy's left, had prevented him from
advancing. This difficulty now no longer existing, he moved
forward with his two brigades, Trimble in the advance, and-
pressed on under a heavy fire from the enemy's artiUery — his
front covered by skirmishers from the 15th Alabama, and the
brigades advancing in echelon of regiraents. Thus repulsed
from our left and centra^ and now pressed by our right, centre,
and left, the enemy fell back at every point of his line, and
retreated, leaving his dead and wounded on the field of battle.
The bloody contest had thus terminated in the complete
rout of the Federal forces, and the piles of dead which met
the eye upon every hand, bore witness to the fury with which
the confiict had raged. Engaging a force outnumbering him
two to one, with heavy reinforcements hurrying forward to
overwhelm hira, Jackson had held his ground with that stub
born nerve which had never yet failed to corapel unwUling
victory to his standard. The enemy had fought hard, buf had
fought in vain. They had advanced with jests and triumphant
laughter ; with the assured expectation of utterly annihUating
their opponents ; with " Booty and Beauty" awaiting them
in the fresh fields of Central Virginia. But in their path they
had found the inexorable Stonewall. Contact with that fatal
obstacle had shattered them ; and at nightfall they retreated,
broken, and in confusion, through the woods full of dead and
dying. As night fell, the full-orbed moon soared aloft, and poured

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 153
its mellow light upon the field of carnage. Jackson had again
triumphed over his enemies — the boasted power of Pope was
broken in his grasp, and all was well.
Over the beautiful slopes of Culpepper covered with the
wounded and dying; the battle-flag of the South floated
proudly in the light of the calm August moon.

CHAPTER XX.
details.
Thus commenced the great movement of the Confederate
forces northward-, which drove the enemy from Virginia and
obliged him finaUy to concentrate his entire available strength
in Maryland for the defence of his own soil.
In the midst of their dreams of triumph they had received
a staggering blow ; their further progress was summarily
checked ; and the imposing array whiph had advanced in all
the pomp and pride of war, was a disorderly mob, rather than
an army, flying to that " rear" where their general had per
petually declared " lurked disaster and sharae."
The hand which struck them thus heavily was Jackson's —
that ubiquitous fate of Northern leaders, meeting and over
throwing them at every turn. Two months before he had
defeated Fremont and Shields at Port RepubUc; less than
three weeks afterwards his troops had suddenly appeared near
Richmond, and hurling themselves upon McClellan's right,
decided the event of the hard-fought field of Cold Harbor.
Now, those same unresisting men, under the same indefatigable
commander, had emerged from the woods of Culpepper and
formed line-of battle in front of Pope, and struck and over
threw him.
Nothing could have astonished the enemy more than the
7*

154 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
presence, there, of the invincible, mysterious "Stcnewall
Jackson," as they universally called him. But a short time
before the battle he was supposed by the enemy to be rapidly
advancing down the Valley upon Winchester. The Federal
caraps there were in turault; the druras beat to arms; and
the affrighted enemy, we are told by one of their 'own writer."!,
reminded each other of the brief blunt words of Jackson when
he fell back last, that " he would return again shortly, and as
certainly as now."
While the enemy at Winchester were thus beating the long
roll in expectation of his coraing, he was near Gordonsville ;
before their fears had subsided, he had passed the Rapidan,
and defeated the " greatest of our generals." The Northern
people began to experience toward Jackson the sentiment of
the Scottish mothers of the middle age^ when they quieted
their crying children 'with the threat, "Hush! or the Black
Douglas will get you !"
It is more than probable that General Pope and his foUow
ers shared this feeling. When the guns began to roar at
Cedar Run, the "greatest of our generals" penned a dispatch
in which he announced the fact, and concluded with the an-
nounceraenlr^" I go to the front to see." But he never reached
it. He passed through Culpepper Court-house, the citizens
assert, with the haughty bearing of one who had never expe
rienced the emotion of fear, and had no doubt of the result;
but he stopped before reaching the battie-field. He allowed
his troops to be defeated within sight of hira ; and made no
atterapt to rally them. He saw thera rushing in a disordered
crowd toward the Rappahannock, and did not interpose in
their path. These facts are completely established; and this
general, like his predecessors, seemed to have come under the
spell of Jackson ; to lose all his brain and courage when
brought in contact with that " avenging Nemesis'' of the South.
The battle of Cedar Run was planned and executed with
that skill and nerve which characterized aU the military

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 155
movements of General Jackson. He had opposed to him,
according to Pope's official report, Banks and Siegel's corps,
and a division from that of McDowell, amounting in all to
32,000 troops. To meet these 32,000 men, fresh, ihdtoughly
equipped, and flushed with anticipated triumph, he had only
two divisions, and a portion of a third. These statements
are made from official papers.
The conflict, which resulted -in a Confederate victory
against such great odds, was hard and desperate. At one
period of the JDattie, a portion of the Southern troops were
pressed by numbers so overwhelming that they were forced
back, thrown into disorder, and the day seemed about to be
decided in favor of the Federals. It was at this moment that
Jacksbn, ordinarily so cool, silent, and deliberate, was mas
tered by the genius of battle — and exhibited, as he had rare
ly done, before that gaudium certaminis, and passionate ex
citement which Murat displayed in his cavalry charges. Gal
loping to the front, amid the " flre of hell" hurled against his
broken and disordered hnes, new rapidly giving way before the
Onset of the enemy, with his eyes flashing fire, his face
flushed, his voice rising to loud and strident tones, he raUied
the confused troops, and brought them again into line. Hav
ing thus re-formed them under the terrible flre of the foe, he
did not lose a moment, and gave his stem order to charge
with the bayonet. His presence ; the magic of his eye, arid
voice ; the sight of their great leader in the front, cheering
them on, produced ah irresistible effect upon the men. They
advanced with shouts which struck terror to the hearts of the
foe ; the ground which they had lost was regained ; and the
enemy, in their turn, driven back, and finally put to rout.
Those who saw Jackson, at the moraent when he passed
hke a thunderbolt to the front, and thus rallied his men, in
the very jaws of destruction, declare that he resembled the
genius of battle incarnate.
The confiict continued, as we have seen, untU night. The

156 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Southern troops were greatly exhausted by the arduous strug
gle, and the hours of darkness were not propitious for a for
ward movement : but so anxious was Jackson to reach the
enemy's stronghold at Culpepper Court-house before morning,
that he deterrained to pursue. An advance was accordingly
ordered, HiU's division in front ; and after proceeding cau
tiously for about a mile and a half, they came on the enemy.
Pegram's battery, supported by Fields' brigade, took position
just beyond the wood, through which Jackson had passed,
and suddenly opened upon the enemy before they suspected
its presence. The result was gratifying. The Federal forces
were thrown into complete, confusion and scattered in every
direction, to escape the shell rained down on them. A des
perate effort was made to cover their further retreat, however,
and it proved successfuh Three of their batteries were soon
worked into position ; a heavy cannonade commenced ; and
although the single battery of the Confederates fought the
three opposed to it with unflinching nerve, it was flnally
silenced and forced to retire with severe loss.
This terminated the fighting for that day. Colone'l Jones
having made a reconnoissance with his cavalry, in front and
to the right of the Confederate lines, and ascertained that
Federal reinforcements had arrived, Jackson considered it
imprudent to continue to move forward during the darkness,
and ordered a halt for the night. On the following morning,
the 10th, having reason to believe that the Federal army had
been so largely reinforced as to render it unadvisable to
attempt a further advance, Jackson gave directions for his
wounded to be sent to the rear, the dead to be buried, and
for the collection of arras from the battle-field. In the course
of the morning, General J. E. B. Stuart arrived, on a tour of
inspection, and at Jackson's request took coramand of the
cavalry, -and proceeded to reconnoitre. Convinced by the re
port of General Stuart, and information derived from other
Bources, that the enemy's force concentrated in his front

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 157
was SO heavy as to render it unwise for him to renew the
action, General Jackson determined not to advance upon them
— but posted his troops in such a manner as to receive any
attack of the enemy. On the llth, a flag of truce was re
ceived from the Federal commander, who requested permission
until 2 o'clock to remove and bury his dead, not already in
terred by our troops. This was granted ; and the time subse
quently extended, by request of the enemy, to S o'clock in the
evening. Jackson remained in position until night-^August llth —
when he fell back toward Gordonsville, with the hope of draw
ing Pope on, procuring reinforcements, and meeting the vast
columns of the enemy upon"more equal terms.
Jackson had thus encountered and defeated a greatly su-
' perior force of the enemy ; driven them nearly two miles ; re
mained in possession of the battle-field, forcing them to ask
permission to bury their dead^and, only when they received
overpowering reinforcements, fallen back. He had captured
400 prisoners, among them a brigadier-general, 5,302 small-
arms, one Napoleon gun and caisson, with two other caissons
and a limber, and three stands of colors. His loss was 223
killed and 1,060 wounded ; but this he said, in his guarded
phrase, was only " probably about one-half of that sustained by
the enemy.''
The victory had been dearly purchased. Some of the most
valuable officers and men had fallen; among the former. Gen.
Charles Winder and Col. Richard H. Cunningham. Gen.
Winder had long been in command of'the " Old Stonewall
Brigade," and had fought it with a skill and courage which
extorted the warmest commendation from Jackson. Colonel
Cunningham, commanding the 21st Virginia, had proved
himself a most accomplished soldier, and enjoyed the full
confidence of his superiors and his men. These two noble
soldiers were, at the time, prostrated by. sickness, and on
the night before the battle occupied the same tent. Their

158 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
physical weakness would have simply excused them for re
maining absent from their commands ; but the high soldierly
pride which animated their hearts would not permit them to
be idle lookers-on, while their comrades were contending so
desperately against the heavy columns of the enemy. They
took comraand of their troops in the battle, gave their small
remaining strength to the cause which they loved so deeply, and
fell, at the post of honor, noble martyrs in the great cause of
Southern independence.
Jackson fell back behind the Rapidan,*and on the 14th of
August — " to render thanks to God for the victory at Cedar
Run, and other past victories, and to implore his continual
favor in the future — Divine service was held in the army."
On the plains of Orange, as amid the blue ranges of the moun
tains after McDowell, the followers of Jackson bent their
bronzed faces in prayer to the Giver of Victory.
Jackson's dispatch announckig the result of the battle was
as follows: " Headquarters Vallet District,
August llth, 6| A. m.
Colonel : — On the evening of the 9th instant, God blessed
our arms with another victory. The battle was near Cejar .
Run, about six miles from Culpepper Court-house. The
enemy, according to statements of prisoners, consisted of
Banks', McDowell's,' and Siegel's commands. We have over
four hundred prisoners, including Brigadier-general Prince.
Whilst our list of killed is less than that of the enemy, yet
we have to mourn the loss of some of our best officers and
men. Brigadier-general Charles S. Winder was mortally
wounded whilst ably discharging his duty at the head of his
comraand, which was the advance of the left wing of the army.
We have collected about 1,500 siHaU-arms and other ordnance
stores. I am, Colonel, Your obedient servant, T. J. Jackson,
Major-geMral Commanding.
Col. R. H. Chilton, A. A. G."

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 159
General Pope's was in these words ;
"Headquarters Army of Virginia, )
Cedar Mountain, 7:30 A. M., Aug. 12. |
To Major-gen. Halleck :
The enemy has retreated under cover of the night.
His rear is now crossing the Rapidan, tovfard Orange
Court-house. Our cavalry and artiUery are in pursuit.
John Pope,
Major-general, <S:c."

CHAPTER XXL
THE march to MANASSAS.
Jackson thus retired before the enemy toward Orange.
The foe, who knew his mode of warfare, seldom pressed him
hard, and General Pope's " cavalry and artillery in pursuit"
did not make very zealous efforts to come up with the Con
federates. The enemy seeraed, indeed, to have a presentiraent of the
truth ; to comprehend that this retrograde movement was, in
reality, the drawing back of the arm to strike a heavier blow ;
the crouch of the tiger that he may spring with greater force
and certainty upon his prey.
' The special pleading of General Pope, in regard to the battle
of Cedar Run, deceived none of the astute authorities at Wash
ing-ton, and they speedily arrived at the conviction that, to
make headway in the new field of operatipns, it would be
necessary to concentrate there all the troops which were
operating in Virginia. A brief period only had, therefore,
elapsed before a fleet of transports appeared in James river,
proceeded to Harrison's Landing, and took on board the entire
remnant of McClellan's army, which had lain there cowering

160 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
under the gunboats since their defeat on the Chickahominy.
The plan of the Federal authorities was to unite McClellan's
forces with those of Pope ; to hurry forward from Fredericks
burg the troops under General Burnside, and forming one
great aa'ray of these three distinct bodies, concentrate them
between the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, with a view to
penetrate the heart of Virginia, cut the' communications of the
Confederate' capital, and either drive the rebel government
from the State, or reduce it to submission.
This design was energetically undertaken, and the Confed
erates were proraptly called on to decide whether they would
stand on the defensive, for the protection of Richmond against
this new attack, or advance upon the enemy, and " carry the
war into Africa."
The latter determination was speedUy arrived at ; offensive
operations were decided upon ; and no sooner had General
Lee satisfied hiraself that McClellan was evacuating his position
on James river, than he hastened to put his troops in motion to
attack General Pope before the expected reinforcements reaohed
him. The main army moved rapidly to Orange Court-house, and
General Lee lost no time in commencing operations. He de
cided, it would appear, to. attack General Pope's right flank
and front at the sa.me time, and the moveraent against the
enemy's right was intrusted to General Jackson,
A portion of Jackson's corps accordingly moved from its
camp near Gordonsville, and bearing well to the left, crossed-
the Rapidan, and proceeded in the diregtion of Madison Court
house. From that point the force could descend upon the
enemy's right flank and rear, while General Lee assaUed him in
front ; and thus, hemmed in between the Rappahannock and
the Rapidan, the Federal army would be destroyed or forced
to surrender.
This design was frustrated by the unexpected movements
of the enemy. Gen. Pope had no intention of again attempt-

LIFE OF STONEW.ALL JACKSON. 161
ing a trial of strength with Jackson, who had already handled
him so roughly at Ced.ar Run, and, doubtless, the presence
of General Lee in his front did not diminish his inclina
tion to retire. With a prudence which ill-assorted wifli his
publicly-expressed detfermination to take no steps toward
that " rear" where " lurked disaster and shame," he no sooner
suspected the projected attack than he fell back promptly
to the north bank of the Rappahannock, and crowning every
hill with his batteries, prepared to dispute its passage. This
movement produced a corresponding change in the plans
of General Lee. He advanced across the Rapidan, and the
whole army was united in the neighborhood of Culpepper
Court-house. We shall insert here a paragraph or two, relating to the
movements of the Southern troops, written by " Personne,"
the exceUent correspondent of the. Charleston Mercury, and in
teresting as furnishing those familiar details, which will here
after be read with so much interest. We quote the foUowing
sentences from the writer's diary :
"August 19, near Orange Court-house. — Orders issued from
headquarters for the army to move forward in light marching
order. At daylight, every thing in motion toward the Rapi
dan, which is ten miles distant. The enemy in front and on
this side of the river. Longstreet at the head of his coluirin.
The Federals back rapidly as we advance, our front and their
rear-gvftrd having one or two slight skirmishes. Jackson is
moving toward the left, probably with a view to flank the
eneray in case of a stand.
" August 20. — Army crossed the Rapidan, the water thigh
deep. Scene exciting and amusing. Nearly whole day thus
occupied. "August 21. — The enemy in close proximity, and we have
to move cautiously. Longstreet's corps is in front. From a
hill on the other side of the Rapidan we have a magnificent
view for miles. Three columns — long, black winding lines
of men, their muskets gleaming in the sunshine like silver
spears — are in sight, moving in the direction of Fredericks-
"burg, or down the opposite bank of the river. More skirmish-

162 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
ihg in front. Good many stragglers by the wayside, but they
are generally broken-down soldiers, and trudge slowly along in
the tracks of their comrades. An attractive part of the pro-
cessiqu is the baggage trains, wending their way in the rear
of the army. Thousands of wagons are in sight, and between
the stalling of trains, the shouting of drivers, and the chaotic
confusion which emanates from the motley mass, no man can
complain of the ennui of the march.
" Nothing can be more picturesquely beautiful than the
bivouac at night. Thousands of troops line the woods on
both sides of the road for miles. Camp fires are glimraering
in the trees, muskets are stacked along the edge of the for
est, and the men are disposed in every conceivable manner.
Some are rolled up in their blankets, and already dreaming
away the fatigues of the day ; some are sitting around the
camp fires watching the roasting ears, and discussing the'
' coming events which cast their shadows before,' and some
are araong the t^ees, moving to and fro in the gray film of
smoke that has arisen from the myriad fires and rests upon
the earth. We live on what we can get — now and then an
ear of corn, fried green apples, or a bit of ham broiled on a
stick, but quite as frequently do without either from morning
until night. We sleep on the ground without any other cover
ing than a blanket, and consider ourselves fortunate if we are
not frozen stiff before morning. The nights are both damp
and cold.
" August 22. — To-day another busy scene. The army re
sumed its march at daylight. Longstreet's twelve brigades
moving toward the Potomac on the right and Jacksoii On the
left. The latter has passed the Rapidan Station on the Vir
ginia Central Railroad, and is pressing on northeast^f Cul
pepper. Several small skirmishes have taken place on the
front, and eighty or ninety prisoners went by on their Way to
the rear. Among the Yankees captured by Jackson were two
men, who, as soon as they fell into our hands, commenced to
ask after their old comrades in the artillery company. An
inquiry being instituted, they confessed that eight months
ago they were soldiers in our army, but that, being tired of
service, had deserted and joined the ranks of the enemy.
Without further ado, the general ordered them to be hung to
a tree, which was done in the presence of a large portion Of
his army."
A portion of this extract paints with great accuracy the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 163
commissariat of the Southern army. "A bit of ham broiled
on a stick" was a luxury with the men, and the time was
soon to come when it would be unattainable : -when the entire
force Would be called on to subsist upon green corri roasted on
the embers — sole bill of fare of the tired and hungryisoldieri
General Lee had thus massed his army between the Rapidan
and Rappahannock ; his designs were speedily to take shape,
and becorae "clothed in act."
Jackson bivouacked opposite Warrenton Springs, on the
evening of August 22d, and iihmediately threw two brigades
of Gen. EweU's division across the river. On the next day
a fresh in the river destroyed the bridge, and as Jackson had
determined to withdraw the force, he rebuilt the bridge,
which they then repassed, after a brief but warra engagement
with the enemy. ,
At the very moment when Jackson was thus feeling the
enemy on the Rappahannock, General Stuart, at the head of
his cavalry, had, by one of those bold dashes which charac
terized him, penetrated to their rear, and, in the midst of
night and storm, struck them at Catlett's, a station on the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where General Pope then
was in person. Pope escaped ; but with the loss of his coat
and hat, and some members of his staff. The most valuable
part of the captured property, however, was a box of official
papers, which is said to have clearly exhibited the strength of
his army ; his anxious desire for reinforcements ; his expec
tation that they would soon arrive; and the small hope hef
had of success, if, meanwhile, he was assailed by the Confeder
ates iti force. These documents were laid before Gen. Lee ;
and the revelations which they contained of the enemy's de
signs, probably led to the great movement which speedily
commenced. Genergl Lee determined to send an expedition against the
enemy's rear, in order to cut his communications, and force
him to fall back from the Rappahannock. The movement

164 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
would necessarily be attended with great peril; woyld de
mand' on the part of the officer in charge of it, great energy,
judg'ment, and decision ; and it was necessary to intrust the
execution of the project to one of the most competent gener
als of the Southern army. The antecedents of General
Jackson pointed him out as a person erainently fitted to un
dertake' this great movement ; and to him it was accordingly
assigned. Jackson lost no time in preparing to move forward. • Delay
was a word not found in the .vocabulary of the leader who had
swooped from the heights of McDowell upon Front Royal
and Winchester ; pushed on to the Potomac ; passed back by
forced' marches between the converging columns of the enemy ;
defeated them at Port Republic ; and as suddenly fallen upon
McCleUan's right at Richmond.
On Monday, August 2Sth, he raoved his command, con
sisting of EweU's, A. P. Hill's, and Jackson's old division,
toward Jeffersontown, producing upon the enemy the impres
sion that th'e Southem forces were faUing back. But at Jef
fersontown his route was suddenly changed. Facing to the
right, he ascended the banks of the Rappahannock, passed
through the small village of Amosville, and crossed the river
at Hinson's Ford, dragging his artillery with difficulty up the
narrow and rock-ribbed road beyond. From that moment
rapidity of raovement was essential to success. The presence
of Jackson in that region could not long be concealed, and it
•was vitally important that the Confederate forces should push
on, and pass through Thoroughfare Gap — their proposed hne
of advance — before the eneray could occupy that strong for
tress, and bar their passage.
The faraous " Foot Cavalry" were now called upon to put
forth their utmost strength. A long and exhausting march
was before them ; every moraent was precious ; Thoroughfare
Gap must be reached before the enemy arrived; and*the ordi
nary rules of marching must be changed. As though recog-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 165
nizing the truth of the maxim, that wherever two men can
place their feet an army can raove, Jackson pushed on be
neath the very shadow of the Blue Ridge, "across open
fields, by strange country roads and corafortable homesteads,
by a littie town in Fauquier, called Orleans, on and on, as if
he would never cease," declares one of his men. The troops
were scarcely perraitted to pause for an instant ; weary, foot
sore, almost without food, they were still marched steadily
forward ; and the result exhibited the sound judgment and
foresight of their- leader. Reaching Salem, on the Manassas
Gap Railroad, at midnight, they were put in motion again at
dawn of day ; and, passing " crowds, all welcoming, cheering,
staring with blank araazement" at the sight of Confederate
troops in that Yankee-ridden land, pressed on through the
Plains to Thoroughfare Gap.
The mountain gorge was undefended — the euemy had been
completely "headed off" — and passing rapidly between the
frowning raraparts, Jackson, with his littie army, hungry and
exhausted, but resolute as ever, descended like a" hawk upon
Manassas. Gen. Pope, in his official report, declares that
he knew of Jackson's moveraent. He makes this statement
to relieve himself from the charge of a want of generalship,
in having been surprised ; but his declaration has rather the
opposite effect. The truth doubtless is, that scouts brouo-ht
hira word of some movement of the enemy in that direction ;
but it seems plain, from all the testimony, that General Pope
considered it only a raid by a small body, probably of cavalry.
General Stuart was between him and Jackson with a cordon
of pickets, and a perfect net-work of scouting parties; and
we are thus justified in declaring that the raovement was a
complete surprise. Had General Pope suspected for an in
stant that the rumored force advancing to turn his right
flank, and strike his rear, was the army of Jackson, led by
that general in persOti, his operations on the Rappahannock
would have terminated two days earlier than they did ;

166 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Thoroughfare Gap would have been defended ; and the condi
tions under which the great battles at Manassas were fought
would have beeu changed.
Gen. Stuart had pushed in advance with his cavalry, as
cended the Bull Run Mountain by a winding and rocky road,
to the right of the Gap, and descending the eastern acclivity,
taken his post again iu front and on the flanks of tbe army,
which on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 26th, reached the
neighborhood of Manassas.
This march will always remain famous in history. It was
the achievement of a leader, fertile in resource ; close in his
calculations of time and raaterial ; unerring in decision and
execution. It had completely surprised the enemy, who,
fancying that the main attack vpould be made by Lee, upon
the Rappahannock, had paid no attention to the threatening
ruraors of an intended assault upon their rear, attributing it to
a few wandering guerillas, who could be repulsed by the gar
rison at Manassas ; and persistently kept their. eyes upon the
main body of the Confederates in their front, up to the mo
raent when the intelligence reached them that they were com
pletely cut off from Washington, and must fight upon terms
dictated by their adversaries.
The illustrious leader had thus stolen a march upon his
enemies, and won new laurels ; but in contemplating the
splendid success of the chief, let us not lose sight of the
credit which belongs to his men. The troops who executed
that great movement displayed a soldiership and devotion to
the great cause of the South — an endurance, a heroism, a
cheerfulness under privation and hardship, which would do
honor to the most celebrated nations of history. In two days
they had marched nearly fifty miles, almost without food or
rest, to attack. Had they passed over the ground, pursued
by a triumphant enemy, it would have been different; but
they raade this steady and rapid advancg to attain a position
in which they expected to be immediately assailed by over-

LIFE OF SJONEWALL JACKSON. 167
whelming masses of the enemy, and bear the brunt of Pope's
huge horde, hurled, in mad and desperate rage, against their
weary lines. They were, many of them, barefooted, limping,
" weary unto death," fainting from want of food and rest ;
but they did not lag behind on that account. " Close up !"
was the word all along the line ; and they marched on, broken
down in strength, but with spirits that no privations or fatigue
could overcome. The correspondent of the " Mercury" has
described their food ; but only those who saw the Southern
troops, in those days, can realize the sufferings which they
were called upon to undergo — and did undergo with the cheer
fulness of the true soldier, fighting, not for pay or rations,
like the hired mercenary, but for a cause which they dearly
loved, and were willing to make all sacrifices for, without a
murmur. The phenomenon was then and there presented of
an army living for days upon nothing but green corn and
unripe apples ; of exhausting marches, incessant combats,
and unresting movements, almost without food or sleep. And,
as we have said, there was not a murmur heard in all the
corps ; the flower of the Southern youth, reared in homes of
affluence and luxury, were toUing on over the dusty ways, or
lying, weak and exhausted, by the roadside, or fighting while
so feeble that they could scarcely handle their muskets— but
they did not permit one word of complaint to escape them,
one thought of despair to enter their hearts. Their feet were
on their native Southern soil, the' foe in front of them ; th»
fixed resolve of every soul in Jackson's army was to drive that
insolent enemy from our borders, or perish.
The writer of these pages saw the men of the South, in
that great crisis of our history; and his pulse still throbs,
as he recalls the grand and noble spectacle which they pre
sented. Jackson approached Manassas, as we have said, on Tues
day, the 26th of August. At Bristoe, a station on the Ojange
and Alexandria Railroad, about four miles from the Junction,

168 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Stuart's cavalry fired into a train of cars, which, however^
got by to Manassas ; and the infantry succeeded in stopping
and capturing two or three other trains, which were speedily
burned. Jackson was thus completely in the enemy's rear ;
held possession of the railroad which supplied their arm.y
and the first aot of the great drama had been played. When
the curtain descended, this was the position of affairs. Lee
was in Pope's front ; Jackson in his rear ; the Federal rein
forcements from Washington and Fredericksburg had not
arrived ; Gen. Pope must fight on ground and conditions se
lected by his enemy. A cool and determined spirit would
not, however, have regarded the situation as desperate. Lee,
with his main body, was still a long way off; Burnside was
approaching from below ; reinforcements were being hurried
forward from Alexandria ; and Jackson was playing a game
which might, with good hopes of success, be retorted against
himself He might be the "cut off" party; his coramand
attacked before Lee could arrive ; and, indeed, the Northern
journals, which had speedily gained intelligence of his pres
ence in Pope's rear, congratulated their readers that the
faraous " Stonewall," who had given them so much trouble,
was now completely flanked, and about to fall into the clutches
of his enemies.
Proceeding upon this view of the subject. Gen. Pope put
his columns in motion, and advanced to protect his communi
cations, and attack Jackson before he could be reinforced by
Lee. Let us follow the movements' of the personage who was
thus threatened. The 'first thing. necessary was to gain pos
session of Manassas ; and this work was ifltrusted to General
Stuart. Jackson sent him Trimble's brigade, to co-operate
with the cavalry ; and notified Stuart to take charge of the
movement. The force at Manassas did not make a very stout
resistonce. Gen. Stuart advanced with his cavalry, until
challenged by the enemy's interior sentinels, and fired on with

LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON. 169
Banister, and finding the ground impractioable for cavalry, by
night, sent for the infantry. When it arrived, he directed
Gen. Trimble to rest his centre on the railroad and advance,
which was iraraediately done ; an^, after a brief contest, the
place was captured, Colonel Wickbam, with a portion of the
cavalry, cutting off the enemy's retreat.
The amount of stores captured at Manassas was very large.
Five or six pieces of artillery, ten locomotives, two railroad
trains of enormous size, loaded with many millions' worth of
quarterraaster and comraissary stores ; 60,000 pounds of
bacon, 1,000 barrels of bee^ 20,000 barrels of pork, several
thousand barrels of flour, and a large quantity of forage. In
addition to these public stores, were the contents of the
sutler's shops, containing, says an eye-witness, " an araount
and variety of property, such as I had never conceived of."
The same writer says : " 'Twas a curious sight to see our ragged
and famished raen helping themselves to every imaginable
article of luxury or necessity, whether of clothing, food, or
what not. For my part I got a tooth-brush, a box of can
dles, a quantity of lobster salad, a barrel of coffee, and other
things which I forget. The scene utterly beggared descrip
tion. Our men had been living on roasted corn since crossing
the Rappahannock, and we had brought no wagons, so we
could carry little away of the riches before us. But the men
could eat one meal at least. So they were marched up, and
as much of every thing eatable served out as they could carry.
To see a starving man eating lobster salad and drinking Rhine
wine, barefooted and in tatters, was curious ; the whole thing
"was indescribable."
This vast mass of pubhc and private stores, with the ex
ception of what the men consumed or carried away with
them, a bakery, furnishing daily 15,000 loaves of br^od, and
all the public buildings of the place, were, on the evening of
Wednesday, consigned to the flames, and utteriy destroyed.
8

170 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
When the army evacuated the place, on that night, the last
building was in flames, and the ruin was complete.
But we anticipate events. The attack upon Manassas was
raade about daylight on the 27th, and when Gen. Jackson
arrived, the place was in our possession. We were not to
hold it without a further struggle, however, on the part ol
the eneray.
Intelligence of the danger to which this great magazine ot
stores was exposed, having reached Washington, a brigade of
New Jersey troops, under Gen. Taylor, was promptly ordered
forward by railroad, to defend it. The train reached the
bridge over Bull Run about seven in the morning ; the troops
were disembarked; and the entire coramand hurried forward
as rapidly as possible toward Manassas. Our skirmishers,
who had been posted along the crest of hills overlooking
Bull Run, fell back before the enemy, and they were thus
drawn on towards the fortifications, where the infantry and
disraounted cavalry awaited them in silence. They had ad
vanced, in line-of-battle, within close and deadly range, when
suddenly the artillery in the breastworks opened their iron
mouths, and a storm of shot and shell gfreeted them. They
fell back immediately in great confusion, behind a sheltering
crest, and were at once attacked by our infantry, -jpho drove
them, "like scattered .partridges," says an eye-witness, com
pletely routed, through Blackburn's Ford, to the opposite
side of Bull Run. Here they were fired into by the guns
of the Stuart Horse Artillery, under Major Pelham, who
poured round after round of canister into the broken and
flying ranks, covering the ground with dead, and driving
the eneray to ignominious flight. General Taylor-was killed,
his son, nephew, and at least one-half of his officers wounded,
and the road over which the enemy fled, pursued by the
merciless Horse ArtiUery of Pelham, was marked at every
step by their dead.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 171
Later in the day, an attack was made by General Ewell upon
Bristoe, a station, as we have said, about four miles frora the
Junction, General Hooker commanded the Federal force —
the advance guard of Pope's army then pressing forward — and
outnumbered Ewell so largely, that after an obstinate struggle,
the latter, in accordance with previous orders, fell back across
Muddy Run to the main body of the army at Manassas. This
incident of the day, whioh in no degree affected the general
result, was claimed by the enemy, after the fashion peculiar to
them, as a great Federal success ; and in view of the events
which soon followed on the plains of Manassas, we can afford
to concede all which they claira in reference to this affair of
advance guards. Ewell had certainly felt them very roughly ;
fell back coolly ; and preparations were speedily made for
greater events.
During the entire day, the cavalry were engaged in observ
ing the enemy, reporting his movements, and capturing de
tached parties in all directions. General Fitz Lee was sent on
an expedition toward Fairfax Court-house, to still further dam
age the Federal communications, and, if possible, cut off the
retreat of Taylor's brigade ; and the entire region was scoured
by efficient officers of cavalry, who notified General Jackson
of every nrnvement.
At nightfall, Manassas, which had been set on fire, was
evacuated ; and when the enemy took possession on the fol
lowing morning, Stuart's few remaining cavalry falling back
before them, they found only smoking ruins, and the burnt
and blackened remains of their great masses of stores.
The destruction of these stores was of vital, inestimable
importance to General Jackson. It doubtless seemed hard to
his hungry soldiers, that after a march of fifty miles, almost
without food, they should be called upon to destroy the
tempting commissary stores, and innumerable luxuries of the
sutlers' shops, almost before they had satisfied the cravings of
nature. But the personal comfort of the army was at that

172 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. -
moment a very small itera in the account. The destruction
of these stores was one of the great objects of the expedition ;
Pope depended upon them for the subsistence of his army;
and the success or failure of the grand operations about to
coraraence was involved in depriving the eneray of their
benefit. General Pope's official report shows how thoroughly he was
crippled- by the capture of Manassas. He rests his apology
for the defeat which followed solely upon the want of rations
for his raen and forage for his hoi ses. Describing his starv
ing condition, and inveighing against General McClellan for
refusing to dispatch trains of supplies without an escort of
cavalry, he attributes all to the destruction at Manassas.
There were some grounds for his stateraent. Even if General
Fitz Lee's cavalry had perraitted a convoy to pass, it could
not have arrived in tirae ; and General Pope declares in his
report, that whether defeating Jackson, or defeated by him,
it was a siraple question of time whether he should fall back
behind Bull Run, toward his supplies, or " starve." He adds
that the battie of Saturday was fought because he had no op
tion in the matter, and could not delay an engagement.
" Starvation " for men and horses stared hira in the face, and
drove him to renew the action. .
Such were the excellent results immediately achieved by
General Jackson in the capture of the enemy's magazines at
Manassas. That historic place had thus been twice destroyed
by the Confederate commanders — first by Johnston, and then"
by Jackson.
It had twice been occupied by the enemy, on the next day,
but under different circumstances. The troops which took
possession of it when Johnston evacuated and destroyed it in
March, were the advance guard of. an army thoroughly pro
visioned, and in high spirits. Those who entered it on the
2Sth of August were hungry, and with spirits already dark
ened by the shadow of Jackson.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 173
CHAPTER XXH.
JACKSON AT BAT,
Jackson turned his back on the burning houses of Manassas
at nightfall.His position was now perilous in the extre'ine. The main
body of Lee's army was in motion, and raarching by the sarae
route which he had foUowed, to his assistance ; but Pope was
moving to attack him, and the head of the Federal column
had already come in collision with General Ewell. Lee had
the arc of the circle to follow, while his adversary moved
over the chord; and all now depended upon the former's
celerity, and Jackson's strategy in meanwhile keeping the
enemy at bay. If General Pope could once come up with,
and strike Jackson before Lee and Longstreet arrived, the
contest would be desperate, as the Confederates did not num
ber 20,000 men ; and to ward off the threatened blow until
the main body came to his succor, was now the aim of Gen,
Jackson. The movement brought into play all his great resources of
energy, nerve, prudence, and generalship. He might have
retired without difficulty before the enemy, in the direction
of Aldie, and turning the Bull Run Mountain at its northern
extremity, formed a junction with Longstreet, and defied the
foe ; but this withdrawal of the advance force was no part of
the plan of General Lee. The design of that commander was
to engage the enemy with his whole force in the neighborhood
of Manassas, while they were laboring under the erabarrass-
ments occasioned by the destruction of their stores and com
munications — while the men and horses were hungry and
exhausted^and before supplies could reach them from Alex
andria. The retreat toward Aldie, on Jackson's part, would

174 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
have lost to him half the fruits of the great movement —
thwarted Gen. Lee's plans — and reversed the whole pro-
grararae of operations. Gfflieral Jackson accordingly ban
ished all thoughts of such a retrograde raovement, and with
that stubborn nerve which characterized hira, deterinined to
fall back slowly to a position within supporting distance o
Longstreet, contest every inch of the ground, and only re
tire when the existence of his army made it necessary.
Accordingly, just after sunset, he put his troops in motion,
and begun the movement which was to effect his object. His
corps was divided, and took different routes. HiU's division,
with a detachment of cavalry, set out on the road to Centre
ville, crossing at Blackburu's Ford, and thus drawing the
attention of the enemy in a false direction. HiU did not pro
ceed beyond Centreville, however. Having reached that
point, he faced to the left, took the Warrenton road, and re
turned, recrossing Bull Run at Stone Bridge. Near this
point, he rejoined Jackson, who had fallen back, with EweU's
division, his own and the rest of the cavalry, and taken
up a position on the battle-field of Manassas ; his left resting
near Sudley Ford ; his right at a point a little above the small
village of Groveton. The crest which he occupied was part
protected in fiont by a railroad cut — that of a projected road
branching from the raain Manassas railroad near Gainesville,
and running toward Alexandria. Here he was in a position
to repulse the enemy unless they advanced in overpowering
force ; to form a junction with Longstreet as soon as he ar
rived, aud, if hard pressed, retire up the right bank of BuU
Run toward Aldie.
Deceived by the movements of A. P. HiU toward Centre
ville, a force of the enemy had followed him in that direction,
and pursued hotly until his rear-guard passed Stone Bridge.
This was in the afternoon. But meanwhile the cavalry force
of the two armies had not been idle. General Stuart disposed
his cavalry so as to cover Jackson's front in the direction of

i?:-Jia-'fS'

LT CEN, R. 5, EWELL,

TT  C 

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 175
Warrentown and Manassas ; and having interoeptetl a dispatch
from the enemy, directing cavalry to report to General Bayard
at Hayraarket, near Thoroughfare, Stuart proceeded in that
direction, with his two fiagraents of brigades, to attack it, and
establish communication with Longstreet, whose arrival was
looked for with intense anxiety. On the way, Stuart cap
tured a party of the enemy, and, having sent his dispatch
through by a trusty messenger, engaged the enemy's cavalry,
while Longstreet was fighting at Thoroughfare Gap. The
skirmish was still going on, when the sound of artillery from
Stone Bridge indicated a battle there, and quietly withdrawing
from the action, General Stuart hastened to place his command
upon Jackson's right flank.
As the cavalry approached, the dust which they raised
induced the apprehension on General Stuart's part that his
comraand, coming as it did from the direction of the enemy,
would be taken for a part of the Federal force. A staff offi
cer was accordingly dispatched with the intelligence of his
approach, and Jackson proraptly informed that the supposed
enemies were friends. . He was reconnoitring at the moment
with General Ewell and others in front of his troops, drawn up
in line of battle, and no sooner knew that his flank was not
threatened, than, pointing to the enemy in his front, he said,
briefly, " Ewell, advance I"
EweU immediately threw forward his own division and
Jackson's, and attacked the enemy, who were seen advancing
along the Warrenton turnpike, with the apparent intention
of crossing Bull Run at Sudley Ford and Stone Bridge. A
flerce engagement, in the last two hours of daylight, followed ;
the enemy finally gave way, and at nightfall were entirely re
pulsed. General EweU had been badly wounded in the knee,
and his valuable services were lost in the subsequent battles,
but the enemy had suffered heavy loss and yielded the field —
the opposing armies reraaining in front of each other in line
of battie, waiting for daylight.

176 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
The mild hours of the August evening which witnessed
this contest on the historic plains of Manassas, were raarked
also by a sharp engageraent between Longstreet and the
enemy in the gorge of Thoroughfare Gap. ¦ This wild and
roraantic pass in the raountains, with its frowning, fir-clad
battlements on either side — its narrow and winding road, and
its rugged walls rising rock above rock to the summit, right
and left — was defended by a considerable force of the enemy,
with powerful batteries judiciously posted to take the eastern
debouchment with shell and canister. General Lee, who had
pressed forward over the same rodd followed by Jackson, and
reached the lofty hill upon the western opening of the pass
late in the afternoon, determined not to delay the attack. A
brigade was accordingly sent forward, and bravely rushed into
the gap in face of a hot fire of musketry and a storm of shell
from the enemy's artillery beyond. The conflict was kept up.
with great spirit for some time ; but Lee having sent a force
by Hopewell Gap, a littie north of Thoroughfare, to take the
enemy in flank and rear, they hastily withdrew their batteries,
and left the way open to Longstreet, who passed through
about nine o'clock at night.
When a courier brought to Jackson the intelligence that
Longstreet had passed Thoroughfare, and was rapidly pressing
forward to join him, he drew a long breath and uttered a sigh
of relief. The long agony was over — the great raovement
which would remain among his proudest glories had terminated
in complete success.
Longstreet — nay, Lee himself — was near, and all was well.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 177

CHAPTER xxni.
MANASSAS: AUGUST 29, 1862,
On the morning of Friday, August 29th, Jackson's corps
was drawn up to receive the anticipated assault of the enemy,
posted directly in his front. His position was a strong one.
His left rested near Sudley Ford, and his right a littie above
the small village of Groveton, on the Warrenton turnpike — a
portion of the hne being protected by the deep cut for the
projected railroad, already mentioned. Thus posted, General
Jackson was in a condition to repel any assault of the enemy,
unless it was made in overpowering force ; and confldent of
his ability to hold his ground until reinforcements arrived, he
presented a dauntless front, ready to accept battle at any
moment. The fatal error of General Pope was his delay in making
this attack. Confusion seems to have reigned in the Federal
counsels, and the plainest dictates of common sense, much
more of military science, were utterly disregarded. It was
known that Lee was advancing with Longstreet's corps — that
great reserve whose blows were so heavy, and told for so
much in every contest. The route of this corps was also well
known; there could be no doubt that they would advance
through Thoroughfare Gap ; and yet Thoroughfare Gap, the
key of the whole position, the Thermopylae pass which ten
men could haye held against .a thousand, was inadequately
guarded, and suffered to be cleared. The veriest tyro
in arms would have understood that all depended upon
hurling the entire Federal column upon Jackson before
Longstreet arrived; but General Pope either did not see
the importance of doing so, or was unable to accomplish it.
In his defence, he presents an elaborate array of charges
8*

178 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. •
against General Porter, and other officers, for delay, ineffi
ciency, and actual treason, in not coraing up in time ; but the
rejoinders of these officers are fatal in the extreme to General
Pope's character for generalship, and the fact remains clearly
proved that he was out-generalled, as he was out-fought by
General Jackson,
The hour for the execution of the movement referred to
above had now passed. The golden moment upon which the
hinges of destiny turned had slipped away. That raost terrible
of phrases, " too late," applied in all its force to the move
ments of the Federal army.
A cloud of dust from the directioh of Thoroughfare Gap,
on that eventful morning, told the tale of despair to General
Pope, of succor and good hope to Gen. Jackson. The .great
corps whioh had 'turned the tide of victory upon so many
hard-fought fields was steadily pressing onward, and the ad
vance was now on. the Warrenton turnpike, beyond Gaines
ville, not far from Jackson's right.
All the morning Gen. Longstreet was coming into position.
The far-seeing eyes of the great soldier who commanded the
Southern army had embraced at a glance the whole situation
of things, and his plans were formed with consummate skill.
The design was to envelop the enemy, as it were, and occupy
a position from whioh he could be struck in front, flank, and
rear at the same moment, if he made a single error ; and this
design dictated an order of battle not dissimilar from that
which was crowned with such success on the banks of the
Chickahominy. Jackson fronted, as we have said, directly toward the War
renton road, his right resting near Groveton. When Long-
street -arrived, his froops were steadily advanced in a line
crossing the Warrenton road, his left resting upon a range not
far from Jackson's right — the two lines ^forming an obtuse
angle, and resembling somewhat an open V. The village of
Groveton was in the angle thus form^, about a mile distant;

LI-FK OF STONEWALL JACKSOlJ. 179
and the fields in its vicinity were completely commanded by
heavy batteries. These were placed upon a ridge at the angle
mentioned, where Longstreet's left and Jackson's right ap
proached eaeh other, and were commanded by that accom
plished soldier and admirable artillerist, Colonel (now Briga
dier-general) Stephen D. Lee, of South Carolina.
The advantage of this order of battle is apparent at a
glance. If the enemy advanced, as it was probable they
-would do, upon Gen. Jackson, to crush him before Longstreet
was in fighting trim to assist hira, they would expose their
left fiank to the latter, and be placed in a raost perilous posi
tion. If they succeeded in driving Gen. Jackson buck, and
followed up their success by a general advance all along the
line, that success would only expose thera still more to the
heavy arm of Longstreet ready to fall upou their jnprotected
flank. Their very victory would be the signal of their ruin.
Triuraph would insure destruction. The rapidly closing sides
of the great V would strike them in flank and rear, huddle
thera together in a disorderly raob, aud end by crushing them
with its inexorable vice-like pressure.
Their only hope in advancing upon Jackson was to pene
trate between him and Longstreet, thereby dividing the line-
of-battle. But Stephen Lee was there, with his batteries
crowning the crest, and the design was hopeless.
Such was Gen. Lee's order of battle. The enemy were as
yet unaware of it. They adhered to their design of over
whelraing Jackson before succor reached him ; and durino- tiie
whole forenoon were moving their troops to tbe left, and
massing them in his front. Skirmishing and cannonading,
rather desultory in their character, and not important, went
on during this moveraent bf the enemy ; but it was not uutil
three or four o'clock that the battie commenced in earnest.
At that tirae the eneray rapidly advanced with a force, con
sisting, it is said, of Banks', Siegel's, and Pope's divisions, and
supported by a heavy fire of artUlery, threw themselves with

180 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
great fury upon Jackson's right. Their design was to divide
our Une, and the assault was raade with great spirit. EweU's
division, however, concealed behind the erabankraent of the
railroad received them with a fire so galling that they were
repulsed with heavy loss. The bold stroke to cut our line
thus faUed at its very inception ; and the Federal forces did
not seem to relish the idea of immediately renewing the attack.
As they fell back in disorder before the hot fire of the South
ern infantry, they were saluted by a shower of shot and shell
from the batteries posted on the high ground in our rear ;
and so accurate and effective was this fire that scarcely a shot
failed to strike some portion of the surging, panic-stricken mass
of Federals. They fell by hundreds, and the hne which had
advanced in all the porap and splendor of raartial strength,
scattered and slunk away, completely routed and disheartened,
to the shelter of the woods. The mortality was so great that
of one of the enemy's regiments only three men, it is said,
remained unhurt.
A pause in the conflict was speedily foUowed by another
attack — this tirae very generally directed all along the line.
The eneray brought up their best troops; spared no exertions;
and fought with a fury whioh indicated the importance they
attached to some measure at least of success in that portion of
the fleld. Their batteries hurled a storm of iron missiles upon
our lines ; and protected by this heavy fire, their infantry ad-
¦yanced at a double-quick, bent apparently upon breaking
through the bristling hedge of bayonets or leaving their dead
bodies on the field. The conflict continued hour after hour,
and was really terrific. Jackson's brave troops never wavered,
however ; and the great leader was everywhere among his
men, cheering them on, and holding them steady amid the
hottest fire of infantry and artillery. They thus continued to
hold their own obstinately without a thought of yielding — but
the strength which had borne them through such exhausting
marches and hard conflicts within the^ preceding four or five

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 181
days began to flag. Other causes conspired to render assist
ance necessary. Heavy reinforceraents were being rapidly
pushed forward by the enemy, and our troops had shot away
all their cartridges. "We got out of ammunition," writes a
young soldier of A- P- Hill's division to his mother, " we col
lected more from cartridge-boxes of fallen friend and foe.
That gave out, and we charged with never-failing yell and
steel. All day long they threw their masses on us ; all day
they fell back shattered and shrieking. When the sun went
down, their dead were heaped in front of that incomplete rail
way, and we sighed with relief, for Longstreet could be seen
coming into position on our right. The crisis was over ; Long-
street never failed yet ; but the sun went down so slowly."
Without ammunition, the raen of Jackson seized whatever they
could lay their hands on to use against the enemy. The piles
of stones in the vicinity of the railroad cut were used — and it
is well established that many of the eneray were killed by hav
ing their skulls broken with fragments of rock.
The conflict went on in this way all the afternoon, and was
exceedingly obstinate. The enemy had not succeeded in
driving Gen. Jackson from his position ; but' his brave men
were beginning to grow weary in the unequal struggle with a
foe who threw against them incessantly heavy reinforceraents
of fresh and trained troops, constantly arriving from the rear
and hurried to the front, to take the place of those who had,
been repulsed.
Gen. Lee saw that the moraent had arrived for a demon
stration on the enemy's left, and this was made about night
fall, when Jackson's right began to yield ground slowly and
sullenly before, the masses brought to bear upon it. Hood's
division was ordered forward, and no sooner had these splen
did troops thrown themselves with ardor into the contest, than
the whole appearance of the fleld suddenly changed. Up to
that moment the conflict had been obstinate, but the firing

182 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
upon both sides had perceptibly decreased in intensity — the
Federals, like their opponents, appearing fatigued by the per
sistent conflict. The eneray, as we have said, had gained
ground upon Jackson's right, and were pushing forward their
sharpshooters in advance of their main line, further and fur
ther, as our raen sullenly retired inch by inch. It was just at
this dispiriting moment that Hood's division advanced ; and
the quick tongues of flame leaped from the muzzles of his
muskets, lighting up the gathering gloom with their crimson
light. These " flres of death" were followed by the sharp crack
of the guns from end to end of the great field between the op
posing lines — and then dusky figures were seen advancing rap
idly from the Confederate side. The next jets of flame spurted
into the darkness were near the edge of the wood where the
eneray were drawn up ; then with one long roar of musketry
and a maze of quick fiashes everywhere, Hood's meu charged
forward with wild cheers, driving the enemy before them into
the depths of the forest.
The impetuous charge had instantly changed the fortunes
of the day. Jackson's brave men were inspired wilh new
ardor, and pressed forward with cheers, all along the line.
The enemy were unable to withstand the shock, and when
the deep darkness of night, lit up now only by a few flashes
of artillery, put an end to the conflict, the Federal hnes had
been forced back more than half a mile from the position
which they had held before Hood charged.
By order of Gen. Lee, the troops, however, fell back to
their former strong position, for the real struggle on the next
day, and bivouacked for the night — a circumstance whioh
possibly induced Gen. Pope to telegraph that, although he
had sustained a loss of 8,000 men, he had driven back the
entire Southern army.
What remained after the long and obstinate conflict — above
the smoke, the dust, the blood — was this : Jackson had held

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 183
his ground against the vast masses thrown upon his lines —
had sustained the shock everywhere without flinching — and
night and Longstreet had come.
He had foiled the eneray at every turn ; had obstinately
held his ground against every attempt to dislodge him ; had
fought with that dogged determination which compels the
eagles of victory to perch upon the standards of the leader
who possesses it ; had triumphed over his foes, and was safe.
Longstreet was there upou his right, with his strong and
veteran corps ; Lee was by his side to take from his shoulders
a portion of that burden of care and anxiety which would
have crushed most men, and oppressed even the iron strength
of Jackson ;. the enemy were repulsed ; their men and horses
were, by his exertions, cut off from all supplies ; victory, on
the morrow, was, huraanly speaking, a certainty?
The stern soul of Jackson, the soldier, must have rejoiced
within him, when night came, and all was well. But the
childlike heart of Jackson, the humble Christian, was full of
pity for his brave followers, and of prayer to the God in whom
he trusted, for their welfare, and his country's success.

CHAPTER XXIV.
MANASSAS : AUGUST 30, 1862
Saturday, the great day which was to terminate the long
conflict, dawned, clear and beautiful.
With the first dawn of day, the Southern troops were under
arms, and prepared for the contest which was to ensue. All
of our force had now arrived, with the exception of Gen. R.
H. Anderson's division of Longstreet's corps, which was
only a few mUes from the field ; .and line-of-battie was formed
immediately. The order of battle remained unchanged. Jackson still

184 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
occupied his forraer position, with his left near Sudley, his
right above Groveton ; and Longstreet's line, as before,
stretched away obliquely, the interval between the two being
protected by the eight batteries of Col. Lee. Gen. Stuart's
cavalry was posted ou the right and left wings, and batteries
were so disposed as to serve as supports to the advancing
colurans, or repulse the onset of the enemy.
The Federal array adapted its line, in sorae measure, to our
own. It curved backward from the centre, following the
conformation of our two wings, and is said to have embraced
Gen. Heintzelraan on the right; Gen. McDowell on the left;
and Porter, Siegel, and Reno in the centre. Their batteries
were disposed in a manner similar to our own, and their
cavalry held well in hand to take an active part in the
battle. It was in this attitude that the two arraies remained in face
of each other for many hours — neither advancing to the
attack. Gen. Lee's policy was plainly to await the assault in
his strong position behind the railroad, and on the high
ground of the Groveton heights — thus forcing the enemy
either to attack him, or retire across BuU Run, for supplies,
pursued by the Southern troops. Gen. Lee could hold his
position indefinitely, having uninterrupted communication
with his rear ; but the Federal general was forced to fight or
rjtreat — and the obvious policy was to await his advance.
The strength of our position was evidently appreciated,
and persistent attempts were made to draw the Southern
troops from it. About one o'clock a feint was made upon our
right, and a brisk encounter took place between the advance
forces ; but the enemy were speedily driven back with artil
lery, and our troops retained their position. Heavy»masses
then moved in the direction of our left, and Gen. Jackson
prepared for an instant renewal of the fierce conflict of the
preceding day. Several demonstrations were m'ade, but the
failure here was as raarked as it had been on the right — and

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 185
the Federal forces withdrew, apparently designing to fall back
in the direction of Manassas.
These raoveraents, during the whole forenoon, and up to
four in the evening, were vigilantly watched by our generals.
The great drama evidentiy absorbed all their attention, and,
though outwardly calm, the latent fire of the eye showed that
the design of the enemy was fully understood, and every thing-
ready for the earnest work which would speedily succeed all
this manoBuvring, these elaborate ruses and feints. The enemy
had completely failed in achieving their object — they had
attempted in vain to deceive the wary eyes of Lee and Jack
son and Longstreet — and they now prepared to. abandon their
useless raovements, and trust the event of the day to superior
numbers and stubborn fighting.
The Southern troops had witnessed the complicated evolu
tions of the eneray across the wide fields aud through the
forest, with little anxiety. The conflict of the preceding day
had given them confidence, and the men lay down in line-of-
battle, laughing and jesting. Virginians, Georgians, Ala
bamians, Mississippians, Texans, Floridians, Carolinians — all
awaited the development of the enemy's designs with entire
calmness, and a species of indifference which was very striking.
They were in this careless mood — some talking, others- jesting,
others again sleeping beneath the warm August sky, when
suddenly the roar of thirty pieces of artillery shook the
ground, and filled the air with their tremendous reverbera
tions. Every man started to his feet — and the cause of the
heavy cannonade was plain.
The enemy, entirely foiled in their attempt to draw us from
the heights, had suddenly advanced at a double quick, as be
fore, against our centre, where Jackson's right and Long-
street's left came together. The attack was made upon
Jackson's line first, by a dense column of infantry, which had
been massed in a strip of woods, in close vicinity to Grove
ton. Three heavy lines had been formed for the charge, and

186 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
as the first of these lines eraerged at a double quick from the
woods, they were greeted with the murderous fire above de
scribed. Col. Lee had opened upon them with all his war-
dogs at once, and the writer of these lines has never, during
his whole experience, witnessed such handling of artillery.
The fiery storm was directed with astonishing accuracy, and
the brigades which ied the charge were almost annihUated by
the shot and shell which burst before, behind, above, to the
right, to the left — raking and tearing thera to pieces. They
were swept away before this horrible fire, like leaves in the
wind, and disappeared, broken and flying in the woods —
to be immediately succeeded, however, by another brigade
charging as before. Again the iron storm crashed through
the ranks; and again they broke and ran. A third force,
heavier than before, now advanced with mad rapidity, and in
the midst of the awful fire of our batteries, threw themselves
upon Jackson, and engaged him with desperation. Reserves
followed ; and the fight became furious — Jackson's troops
mowing down their opponents, but suffering heavily them
selves. We shall continue our description now in the graphic
words of " Personne," the writer formerly quoted from, who
after speaking of the three lines pushed against our troops by
the Federals, says :

"Jackson's infantry raked these three columns terribly.
Repeatedly did they break and run, and rally again under the
energetic appeals of their officers, for it was a crack corps of
the Federal array — that of General Sykes and Morrell ; but
it was not in human nature to stand unflinchingly before that
huri'icane of fire. As the fight progressed Lee moved his
batteries to the left, until reaching a position only fo^ir hun
dred yards distant f'rom the enemy's lines, he opened again.
The spectacle was now raagnificent. As shell after shell burst
in' the wavering ranks, and round shot ploughed broad gaps
ainong them, you could distinctiy see through the rifts of
smoke the Federal soldiers falling and flying ou every side.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 187
With the explosion of every bomb, it seeraed as if scores
dropped dead or writhed in agony upon the field. Some were
crawling on their hands and knees, sorae were piled up to
gether, and somo were lying scattered arouud in every altitude
that imagination can conceive.
" With the dispersion of the eneray's reserwe, the whole
mass broke aud. ran like a flock of wild sheep. Jackson's
men, yelling like devUs, now charged upon the scattered
crowd; but you could notice that they theraselves had severely
suffered, and were but a handful compared with the over
whelming forces of the enemy. The flags of two or three
regiments did not appear to be more than, fifty yards apart.
The brilliant affair did not occupy more than half an hour ;
but in that brief time over three hundred and fifty Yankee
souls had been launched into eternity, and five times that
number left mangled on the ground. It wns like lhe waves
rolling against a solid rock, and dashing back in showers of
spray. A golden opportunity was now at hand for Longstreet
to attack the exposed lefi fiank of the eneray in front of him;
and he accordingly ordered the advance of Hood's division,
whioh moved obliquely to the right and forward of the posi
tion it had occupied. Kemper next followed, with the brigade
of General Jenkins on the right of that of Pickett, and Jones'
division completed our line of battle. The brigade of Evans
acted as a support to Hood.
" Not many rainutes elapsed after the order to attack, before
the volleys of platoons, and finally the rolling reports of lono-
lines of rau.sketry, indicated that the battle was in full proo--
ress. The whole army was now in motion. The woods were
full of troops, and the order for the supports to forward at a
quick step was received with enthusiastic cheers by the elated
men. The din was almost deafening. The heavy notes of
the artillery, at fir.st deliberate, but gradually increa^ing in
rapidity, raingled with the sharp treble of the small-arras,
gave one an idea of sorae diabolical concert in which all the
furies of hell were at work.' Through the woods, over gently
rolling hills, now and then throngh an open field, we travel
toward the front. From an elevation we o'btain a view of a
considerable portion of the field. Hood and Keraper are now
hard at it, and as they press forward, never yielding an inch,
sometimes at a dojible-quick, you hoar those unmistakable yells
which tell of a Southern charge or a Southern success.

188 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
" The troops they encounter are the best disciplined in ths
Yankee array, and for a little while most obstinately do they
contest every inch of ground over whioh we advance. Noth
ing, however, can withstand the impetuosity of our boys.
Every line of the enemy has been broken and dispersed, but
T'lllies again upon some other position behind. Hood has
already advanced his division nearly half a raile at a double
quick — the Texans, Georgians, and Harapton Legion loading
and firing as they run, yelling all the while like madmen.
They have captured one or two batteries and various stands of
colors, and are still pushing the enemy before them. Evans,
at the head of his brigade, is following on the right, as their
support, and pouring in his effective volleys. Jenkins has
come in on the right of the Quinn House, and, like an ava
lanche, sweeps down upon the legions before him with resist-
less_ force. Still further to the right is Longstreet's old
brigade, coraposed of Virginians, veterans of every battie-
field, all of whom are fighting like furies. The First Virginia,
which opened the ball at Bull Run on the I7th of July,
1861, with over six hundred men, now reduced to less than
eighty raembers, is winping new laurels ; but out of the little
handful more than a third have already bit the dust. Toombs
and Anderson, with the Georgians, together with Kemper and
Jenkins, are swooping around on the right, flanking the Fed
erals, and driving them toward their centre and rear. Es-
chelman, with his company of the Washington Artillery,
Major Garnett, with his battalion of Virginia batteries, and
others of our big guns, are likewise working around ujion the
enemy's left, and pouring an enfilading fire into both their in
fantry and artillery.
" We do nothing but charge ! charge ! ! charge ! ! ! If the
eneray raake a bold effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day
(and they made raany), and we are repulsed, it is but for the
moment, and the regiments rallying upon their supports, plunge
back again into the tempest of fire that before swept them
down. " Sorae of the positions of the eneray were strong as Nature
could raake them, and were charged five or six tiraes, but
each time our soldiers were turned back by sheer physical
inability to surmount the obstacles before them. It was then
grand to witness the raoral heroism with which, though their
comrades went down like swaths of grass under the mower's

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 189
scythe, other raen continued to step into the path of death
with cheerful alacrity, and still to fall with the battle-shout
upon their lips, and the proud smile of conscious valor on their
faces." Such are the animated paragraphs of "Personne.''
Gradually as the fierce struggle progressed, the sides of the
open V, which our order of battle resembled, closed upon the
flanks of^he enemy. Colonel Lee's artillery still continued
to play with destructive effect upon their front, and the bat
teries were regularly advanced from position to position, raking
from every hillock, with a merciless storm of shot and shell,
the lines of the enemy.
The battle has now become terrific. The ruses and ma
noeuvres of the morning had long yielded to desperate, stub
born fighting, and the day depended not so rauch upon any
military skill of the generals, as upon the character of the
troops engaged. The Northern man was pitted against the
Southerner, and from the first the 'result was not doubtful.
The enemy fought hard, bnt that " heart of hope," which adds
so much to the efficiency of the soldier, had deserted them, and
they contended doggedly, but without the dash and fervor
which compel victory. Gradually the great Southern lines
closed in upon them. Longstreet's right pressed down upon
their left, and Jackson's column swung round, steady, heavy,
resistless, upon their right, huddling the disordered regiments
and brigades upon their centre.
This was the situation of affairs as the sun sank slowly toward
the west, and the Confederate leaders now concentrated
all their forces for a last charge, which should carry every
thing before it. The batteries redoubled their exertions, the
air was hot and sulphurous with exploding missiles, whole
ranks went down before the whirlwind of iron, and the con
tinuous streaming roar of musketry was frightful in its inten
sity. The enemy continued to give ground ; our reserves
were hurried forward to the front, and just as the sun sank, a

190 LIFE OF SrONEWALL JACKSON.
general bayonet charge was made all along our lines. From
the dust and smoke of battle there appeared all at once before
the eyes of the disheartened Federals a rapidly advancing line
with gleaming bayonets, and this line swept forward at a run,
with the resistless power of a torrent. " They came on," says
the correspondent of a Northern journal, "like demons emer
ging from the earth." There was no pause, no hesitation. The
Federal volleys tore through the line, but could not>check it.
The men pressed on with d^fening cheers over the dead and
dying — the ranks closing up where gaps were made — the fury
of battle burning in every soul ; and before this resistless charge
the last remnant of hope deserted the Federal troops. They
no longer came up to the strflggle. They broke, ran, and,
pursued by the pitiless fire and gleaming bayonets ofthe Con
federates, disappeared, shattered and overwhelmed, in the rapid
ly gathering darkness.
The field was ours. The long contest was ended ; victory
assured ; the great array which had advanced to the assault
with colors flying and certain of victory was a routed and deci
mated multitude, which now thought of nothing but its safety
behind the sheltering heights of Centreville.
Jackson's veterans had taken their full part in the despe
rate combat, and sweeping down upon the wavering lines, had
led the wild charge which put them to final rout. The fight
ing of the old corps had been obstinate, dogged, fatal, as
always. They had sustained every assault with undaunted
firmness ; repulsed every attempt to force them from their
ground ; and then advancing in their turn, had pushed the
enemy from position after position, and swept onward to
victory. " It was a task of almost superhuman labor," says the cor
respondent from whom we have already quoted, " to drive the
eneray from those strong points, defended, as they were, by
the best artillery and infantry in the Federal array; but in
less than four hours from the commencement of the batUe our

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 191
indomitable energy had accomplished every thing. The arri
val of R. H. Anderson, with his reserves, soon after the en
gagement was fully opened, proved a timely aoquisiti(Jii, and
the handsorae manner in which he brought his troops into po-.
sition, showed the cool and skilful general. Our generals —
Lee, Longstreet, Jackson, Hood, Katnper, Evans, Joues, Jen-
kms, and others — all shared the dangers to which they ex
posed their men. How well their colonels and subordinate offi
cers performed their duty is best testified by the list of killed
and wounded.
"The battle raged in the manner described until after dark,
and when it was irapossible to use fire-arms, the heavens were
ht up by the still continued flashes of the artillery, and the
meteor flight of shells scattering their iron spray. By this
time the enemy had been forced across Bull Run, and their
dead covered every acre from the starting point of the fight
to the Stone Bridge. Had we been favured with another
hour of daylight, their rout would have been as great as that
which followed the original battle of Manassas. As it was,
they retreated in haste and disorder to the. heights of Centre-
viUe. We had driven them up hUl and down a distance of
two and a half miles, captured between twenty and thirty
pieces of artiUery, several hundred prisoners . (though few sol
diers cared to be troubled with the -latter), and some six or
eight thousand stand of arms.
" The field after the battle is a portion of the history of the
fday which pen cannot fully describe. But if the reader can
imagine hiraself standing on the heights around the old Henry
House, and looking across the country in the direction in which
we advanced, over the gullies, ravines, and vaUeys which
divided the opposite hills, he will see dead and wounded lying
by thousands as far as the eye can reach. The woods are
likewise full of them. It has been remarked by every one
that the enemy on this vast hecatomb outnumbered us five or
six to one. They lie thickest upon the slopes and sumraits
where their batteries were planted, and the infantry were drawn
up as supporters, in raany instances as many as eighty or ninety
dead marking the place where fought a single regiraent. It
is one of the singular coincidences of this sti'ange battle, that
Hood's brigade encountered on Saturday precisely the sarae
troops whom they met at Gaines' Mill in the battles before
Richmond — the Duryea Zouaves, fierce fellows in red baggy

192 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
breeches, red skull caps, and blue embroidered jackets — and as
on that occasion literally mowed thera down.
" In front of the Chinn Houso, which is now a hospital, the
havoc has been terrible. The ground is strewn not only with
men, but arras, aramunition, provisions, haversacks, canteens,
and whatever else the affiighted Federals could throw away to
facilitate their flight before our onsets at that point. Several
cannon, broken caissons, wheels, and numbers of dead horses
were also to be seen here.
" In front of the position occupied by Jackson's raen, the
Killed are even raore plentiful. In many places you cannot
walk three steps without being compelled to step over or around
a corpse." Such was the great second battle of Manassas. The de
scription of " Personne" is vivid and accurate, though it omits
many facts. The part taken by Major-general Stuart in the
events of the day was important. He commanded the division
of infantry whioh toward nightfall made the vigorous and suc
cessful attack upon the enemy's left ; and his cavalry were en
gaged on the flanks of the army thjoughout the day. As the
eneray were giving way on our right an impetuous charge was
made by a body of cavalry under Col. Munford, of the 2d Vir
ginia, which terminated, after a close hand-to-hand conflict, in
the cBfc^ete rout of the largely superior force brought against
him. ^Kis ended the conflict in that part of the fleld, and the
enemy broke and fled, pursued by our artillery and cavalry to
the banks of Bull Run, over which their confused column hast
ened on its way to Centreville.
The gallant young soldier of A. P. HiU's division, from
whose letter to his raother we have already quoted, has the
following sentences specially relating to our subject :
" Saturday morning — day ever memorable ! for it broke
the back of the great lying nation — our corps still held that
ridge, and Longstreet formed on our right, obtuse-angled to
us, so that, if they attacked, upon forcing us back, their flank
would be exposed to Longstreet ; and, if they forced him
back their flank would be exposed to us. This arrangement

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 193
was concealed from them, so far, that they suspected our
strength to lie to our left. Skirmishing and distant cannon
ading lasted till one, p. m., when the action commenced, and
soon grow inflnitely furious. But they were out-generalled
and beaten from the start, and, at half-past four or five, p. m.,
it was plain that they were terribly whipped. The. fight was
by far the most horrible and deadly that I have seen. Just
at sunset, our wings swept round in pursuit ; Jackson swing
ing his left on the right, as a pivot, and Longstreet in the re
verse method. Their dead on the field were io such numbers
as to sicken even the veterans of Richmond and the Shenan
doah Valley ; they left 2,000 dead — rotting clay — and almost
innuraerable wounded. Their discipline and the nighty saved
thera from a rout. They retreated in tolerable order to Cen
treville. 'Twas decisive; their whole army engaged — only
two corps of ours ; and their Joss, I think, ten to one on our
side."

Thus ended the bitter contest upon the weird plains, al
ready so deeply crimsoned with Southern blood. Strange
Providence which rolled the tide of battle there again ! which
mWie the huge wave brealrin foam again in the melancholy
fields around Stone Bridge. It was a veritable repetition of
the fierce drama of July, 1861. "Batteries were planted and
l^ptured yesterday," says a writer, " where they were planted
and captured last year. The pine thicket, where thdSS*orth
Alabam*^ and Eighth Geergia suffered so terribly in the first
battle, is now strewn with the slain of the invader. We
charged through the sarae woods yesterday, though from a
different point, where Kirby Smith, the Blucher of the day,
entered the fight before.'-'
The strength of the invader of our soil was broken again,
as it had been in the battle of the 21st July. Again he fled
ignominiously across Bull Run, . pursued by our victorious
troops, leaving behind him the debris of a panic-stricken re
peat. In August of 1862, as in July of 18'61, the writer of
these Unes saw, as he followed the retreating horde, the rub
bish of knapsacks, oil-cloths, swords, guns, bayonets, artillery.
9

194 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
broken-down vehicles, and — worse rubbish still — dirty Federal
stragglers in blue coats, with coarse, low-browed faces, full of
deceit and vulgarity — that "vulgarity of the soul which is in
these people, and can no more bo rooted out than the spots of
the leopard can be changed, or the skin of the Ethiopian made
white. All this crowded upon the right, along tho same road
to Centreville over which Pope retreated, as McDowell had
retreated before him, routed and broken.
A few words will' terminate our sketch of these great
events. On* Sunday, Jackson's corps was again in raotion, and
pressed the enemy toward Centreville. General Stuart pur
sued with his cavalry, and fought their rear-guard at Cub Run
Bridge, which they burned behind them. The cavalry moved
to the 'left, struck into the Little River turnpike, toward
'Chantilly, and, getting into the enemy's rear, fired into their
trains ; then — Sunday evening — rapidly retreating toward
Fairfax Court-house. On Monday morning, the advance, oi'
Jackson, who had changed his line of march and followed^he
cavalry, appeared on the Little River road, and -on the after
noon of that day — September 1st — a brief but severe en
counter took .place at Ox Hill, just above the littie village^
Germantovfn. The .Federal force' engaged • was a portion'. of
Franklin's corps, which had taken n# part in the bale's ofthe
preceding days, and the contest was, for a time, exceeding
obstinate — the Federals losing General Kearney, and ot^er
prominent officers. The battle was, however, interrupted by
a severe thunder-storm, and, darkness coming on soon after
wards, the enemy took advantage of that circurastance, and
withdrew from our front.
On the same night they retreated from Fairfax Court
house, and the Confederates, on the next day, entered in
triumph, amid the joyful exclamations of the loyal inhabi
tants, so long subjected to the insults and oppression of their
enemies.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 195
Pope — like Banks, Fremont, Shields, and Milroy — had
passed away ; his lurid star obscured by the clouds of dis
aster and defeat. The star of Jackson mounted toward the
zenith — it was the star of Victory.

CHAPTER XXV,

INVASION OF MARYLAND,

Thus ended the great summer campaign, which was to have
" crushed the rebellion" before the forest leaves were touched
by the finger of autumn.
It had commenced with boasts and braggadocio ; it ended
in ignorainious defeat. General Pope had advanced with the
air of a world-conqueror about to exterminate a foe whom he
despised. He slunk away with his shattered columns behind
the defences of Washington, like a dog who has been met by
the lash, and driven howling frora the field.
The battie-flag of the South fioated proudly where the
standards of the enemy had fiouted the air, and new fields
were open to the Southern array, Maryland was now unde
fended ; and the sraoke of battle had scarcely lifted frora the
plains of Manassas, when our victorious columns were in mo
tion toward the upper Potomac.
Long before, Jackson had written to a friend, who was the
recipient of his raost private feelings :
"I am cordially with you iu favor of carrying the war
north of the Potoraac."
It would appear, that from the beginning of his railitany
career, he had looked forward to an -invasion of the enemy's
territory as the only certain means of bringing the war to an
end ; and if his abruptly terminated campaign toward Rom
ney in January be attentively studied, it will leave the im
pression that even then, with the great force in front of him.

196 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
he believed that greater results would be achieved by a for
ward movement, and a transfer of hostilities to the region be
yond the Potomac, than by faUing back, and yielding posses
sion of the Valley, to be overrun and plundered by the
enemy. To advance seeras, indeed, to have been the prime maxim
of this great man's military philosophy — to strike the foo,
without waiting to be struck by him — to make him feel the
horrors of war, amid his own homes, and thus im'pressing
upon the people of the North the atrocious nature of the con
test, compel an early peace.
The signal of the long-wished-for advance now carae. " On
to Maryland !" was the watchword ; and the old veterans of
Jackson moved forward at the signal, joyous, elated, confident
of victory, and burning with ardor at the thought that the
fair fields of Virginia, the horaes of their loved onefe, would be
relieved of. the horrors of war.
No tirae was lost by Gen. Lee in commencing his move
ment. It was necessary to gain a foothold in Maryland be
fore the disorganized forces of the Federal government were
agaiu put in fighting condition, and the campaign began with
energy and rapidity.
Gen. Jackson having," after his custom, inquired with great
interest what roads led" to the Potoraac, in the direction of
Arli'ngton Heights, and ordered maps to be prepared of the
region for his use, put his troops in motion toward Leesbui'g.
Marching by DranesviUe, which he reached on September 3d,
the second day after the battle at Ox Hill, he arrived at
Leesburg on the 4th, and was there joined by the other corps
of the array.
On the Sth the passage of the Potomac was effected with
out resistance. It is said to have been an inspiring spectacle.
Says a correspondent :
"When our array reached the middle of the river, which
they were wading, the troops were baited. General Jackson

LIFE -OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 197
pulled off his hat, and the splendid bands of rausic struck up
the inspiring air of ' Maryland, ray Maryland,' which was re
sponded to and sung with 'the spirit and with the under
standing' by all who could sing, and the name of all who
could then and there sing was legion."
No pause was permitted now ; and the army pushed for
ward rapidly toward Frederick City, which the advance
reached on the same day. We shall quote again from " Per
sonne," the intelligent writer whose letters have already sup
plied us with particulars of the movements and contests of
the army. The paragraphs extracted are valuable as present
ing the irapressions of an eye-witness, and thus affording a
life-like picture of events at the moment when the pages were
written. The letter is dated at Frederick City, September
7th, two days after the arrival of the Southern array :
"Thus far," says "Personne," "we have everywhere met
with hearty hospitality. Along the road the farmers have
welcomed the presence of our raen with a sincerity that can
not be misunderstood, opened their houses and spread their
boards with the fat of the land. One Marylander, with
whom I met, has fed in twenty-four hours six hundred hun
gry raen, free of charge. Others have been proportionately
liberal. " Our reception up to this point has been all that we could
desire. Wilh a few, the enthusiasm has been highly deraon
strative, but the majority content themselves with quiet mani
festations of the warm sympathy they feel. Nearly all the
houses along the route of raarch were open, and invitations
were fi'eely extended to the officers to spend the day and night.
A slight indication of the grateful outbursts of the people
was in the presentation of a magnificent horse to Gen. Jackson,
by the farmers, within' an hour after he touched Maryland
soU. " The advance of our army arrived on Friday night, and
we are now encamped around the town. Martial law has
been proclaimed, a provost marshal appointed, and a strong
guard of our men patrols the streets to preserve order.
" In the sentiment of the people we are not much disap
pointed. It is apparentiy about equaUy divided, and there is

198 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
yet little openly expressed enthusiasm. As Jackson's army-
marched through, the houses were mostly closed, and from
between the window blinds the citizens could be seen anx
iously peering, as if they expected to see a crowd of buga
boos intent upon nothing but rapine and slaughter. A lew
of the residences were open, however, and in those ladies
and gentiemen were waving their handkerchiefs, and display
ing? the Confederate flag. From one, the residence of a Mr
Ross, a lawyer of high standing, his family were distributing
to the soldiers as they passed ' eatables and clothing to such as
seemed most needy.
"Afterwards the family invited many officers to the house,
where they were handsomely entertained with wines, cigars,
and other luxuries. Mr. Ross himself has been confined in '
Fortress McHenry for the bold stand he took at an early hour
in favor of the South.
" As soon as the troops were encamped, many were per
mitted to enter the town, and in a short time it was thronged.
Confederate money was taken withont a murmur-by all who
opened their stores, and for the first time during the cam
paign we enjoyed the privilege of purchasing at peace prices
the articles we most required. Cofl'ee could be had in abun
dance at twenty-five cents per pound, sugar at eleven and
twelve cents, salt fifty cents a sack, boots five and seven dol
lars a pair, shoes three dollars, flannel forty cents a yard, and
evei'y thing else in proportion. Lager beer, ice cream, dates,
confections, preserves, all found ready sale, and were liberally
dispensed aud disposed of.
" There are three or four churches in 'the town, and to-day
they are fllled with our officers and men, attending diviue
service." •
" Personne" thus continues his letter on Monday, Septem
ber Sth :
a " Frederick to-day presents a busy scfene, more like thatof a
Fourth of July festival than a gathering of arraed invaders. A
majority of the stores are closed to general adraission, because
of the crowds eager to press and buy, but a liltle diplomacy
secures an entrance at the back door, or past the sentinel
wisely stationed, to protect the proprietor fiom the rush of
anxious customers. Prices are going up rapidly. Every thing
is so cheap that our men frequeutly lay down a five dollar biU

UFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON. 199
to pay. for a three-dollar article, and rush out without waiting
for the change. The good people here don't understand it.
Bitter complaints are uttered against those who refuse Confed
erate money, and it is understood that the authorities will
insist upon its general circulation.
" The people are beginning to recover from their surprise at
our sudden appearance, and to realize the raagnitude of our
preparations to advance through and relieve Maryland from
her thraldom. Some are still moody, and evidently hate us
heartily, but we are more than compensated by the warm wel
come of others, who now begin to greet us from every quar
ter. Only a few moments ago I met a lady who confessed
that although she had Confederate flags ready to expose in
her windows as we passed, she was afraid to wave them, lest
being discovered by her Union neighbors she should be re
ported to the Federals in case of our retreat, and be thereby
subjected to insult if not iraprisonment at their hands. To
assure me how true were her sentiments, she introduced me
to a large room in her house, where there vvere fourteen ladies,
young and old, busy as bees, making shirts, drawers, and other
clothing for the soldiers.
" She was also distributing mouey and tobacco to the sol
diers. Judging probably from my rags that I too was in a
destitute condition, she benevoleutly desiied to take me in
hand and replenish my entity throughout, but of course I
declined, and though I could not help smiling at the ingenu
ous oddity of the proposition, a tear at the same time stole
down my cheek at the thought of the sufferings whioh these
noble-hearted ladies must have endured to prompt the unsel
fish generosity by which they endeavored to express their de
light in our presence.
" Though thousands of soldiers are now roaming through
the town, there has not been a solitary instance of misde
meanor. I have heard no' shouting, no claraor of any kind,
and seen but a single case of intoxication — a one-legged Yan
kee prisoner.
" All who visit the city are required to have passes, and
the only persons arrested are those who are here without
leave. This quiet behavior of our men contrasts so strongly
with that of the Federals when here as to excite the favor
able comment of the Unionists. None of the latter have, to
my knowledge, been interfered with, and, as far as I can

200 LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON.
learn, it is not the policy of our commander to retaliate. We
shall, on the contrary, pursue a conciliatory course, and by
kindness endeavor to show these misguided people that our
horae should be their home, and our God their God.
'• One of these Union men frankly confessed to me that he
feared his own neighbors raore than he did our troops, and he
should regret to see us depart.
" The only outrage, if outrage it can be called, which has
taken place, was coramitted by the citizen Secessionists, who
entered the office of the Frederick Fxaminer, a Black Repub
lican newspaper of the darkest dye, and tore it to pieces, the
editor hiraself fleeing on the first symptoms of our advance.
" We pay for every thing as we go, the farmers being com
pensated for all damage by the burning of rails, use of forage,
or destruction of crops, before we break up c.-iinp.
" We are told by Marylanders that we shall have an acces
sion to our ranks in this State of over forty thousand men,
and that when we arrive within striking distance of Balti
more, twenty thousand men will rise in arras and join our
standard. A gentleraan from that city inforras me that the
excitement there is intense, the streets being blocked up by
the crowds, and au armed force of cavalry and infantry con
stantly patrolling the city to keep down the increasing signs
of a revolution.
"Recruiting here goes on rapidly. Within two days five
companies have been formed, and it is stated that from the
surrounding country over seven hundred entered our ranks
while en route.
"Pennsylvania, the border line of which is only some
twenty-five or twenty-eight miles distant, has sent us nearly a
hundred recruits, who prefer service in the Confederate army
to being drafted in that of the North.
" Altogether, our movement has been thus far marked by
the most gratifying success. Every detail has been success-
. fully carried out, the troops are in good health, and full of en
thusiasm, the commissariat is improving, and we wait fur
nothing more anxiously than the order to resume our march
onward."

On the same day General Lee issued his expected address
to the people of Maryland, which the citizens and the array
equaUy looked for with the deepest interest. Up to this mo-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 201
ment no indications of the intended policy of the invading
general had been given, and the paper was seized upon and
perused with avidity as soon as it appeared.
It was in the following words :

" Headquarters Army op Northern Virginia, 1
Near Frederick Town, September Sih, 1862. J
" To the People of Maryland :
"It is right that you should know the purpose that has
brought the array under my command within the limits of
your State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves.
" The people of the Confederate States have long watched,
with the deepest syrapathy, the wrongs and outrages that have
been inflicted upon the citizens of a coramonwealth allied to
the States of the South by the strongest social, political, and
commercial ties.
"They have seen, with profound indignation, their sister
State deprived of every right, and reduced to the condition of
a conquered province.
"Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but
in violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have
been arrested and imprisoned upon no charge, and contrary to
all forms of law. The faithful and manly protest against this
outrage, mado by the venerable and iUustrious Marylanders,
to whom, in better days, no citizen appealed for right in vain,
was treated with scorn and contempt. The government of
your chief city has been usurped by armed strangers; your
Legislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of its
merabers ; freedom of the press and of speech have been sup
pressed ; words have been declared offences by an arbitrary
decree of the Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be
tried by a military commission for what they may dare to-
speak. " Believing that the people of Maryland possessed a spirit
too lofty to submit to such a government, the people of the
South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this for
eign yoke, to enable you again to enjoy the inalienable rights
of freemen, and restore independence and sovereignty to your
State. •
"In obedience to this wish our army has come among you,
. 9*

202 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms in
regaining the rights of which you hav« been despoiled.
"This, citizens of Maryland, is our mission, so far as you
are concerned.
" No constraint upon your free will is intended — no intimi
dation will be allowed.
"Within the liraits of this array, at least, Marylanders shall'
once raore enjoy their ancient freedora of thought and speech.
" We know no enemies aiuong you, and will protect all, ot
eveiy opinion.
" It is for you to decide your destiny, freely and without
constraint. " This array will respect your choice, whatever it may be ;
and while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to
your natural position among thera, they wUl only welcome you
when you come of your own free will. " R. E. Lee,
" General Commanding^

The campaign in Maryland was thus undertaken to aid the
people of that State in " throwing off the foreign yoke"
which had so long weighed down their necks; in "regaining
the rights of which they had been despoiled ;" " to enable
them again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and re
store independence and sovereignty to the State."
No citizen would be coerced ; no man's property taken from
him ; if he joined the Southern array he would be welcome,
but if he remained at home he would not be molested. To
each and all was accorded the right to " decide his destiny,
freely and without constraint."
When the impartial Genius of History comes to survey the
events of this period, and compares the infaraous dragoonade
orders of John Pope, with the calm, just, and stately procla
mation of Robert E. Lee, what will she say ?
When a great cause has such leaders, it is already won.
Certain persons have put themselves to the trouble of
attempting to discover a profound ruse in_this address. Such
a construction of the grave and statesmanlike paper is simply

LIFE OP STONEWALL JACKSON, 203
absurd. The advance into Maryland was made for the pur
poses stated by Gen. Lee, and circunistances wholly beyond
his control — against the force of which he could not contend —
dictated his subsequent operations. What these circumstances
were, will be briefly but accurately stated in the ensuing pages
of this work.
Gen, Lee had thus advanced without resistance into the
enemy's country, and his eagles already began to open their
broad wings for fiight toward the rich fields of Pennsylvania.
But one serious cause of delay existed, which changed the
whole face of affairs. This was the fortress, as it may appro
priately be called, of Harper's Ferry. At Harper's Ferry, a
force of 11,000 of the eneray, with 73 pieces of artillery, re
mained, directiy in Gen. Lee's rear ; and it was necessary be
fore proceeding to enter on greater movements, to root out
this nest of the enemy, and gain possession of this strong point
which they then held.
On his trial. Gen. McCleUan, in reply to the question, " Will
you give a statement of the principal events connected with
the'Maryland campaign ? " said :
" When at Frederick, we found the origina,! order issued to
Gen. D. H. Hill by direction of Gen. Lee, which gave the
ciders of march for their whole army, and developed their in
tentions. The substance of the order was, that Jackson was
to move from Frederick by the main Hagerstown road, and,
leaving it at some point near Middleburg, to cross the Poto
mac near Sharpsburg, and endeavor to capture the garrison of
Martinsburg, and cut off the retreat of the garrison of Har
per's Fervy in that direction. Gen. McLaws was ordered, with
his own command and the division of General Anderson, to
move out by the sarae Hagerstown road and gain possession
of the Maryland Heights, opposite Harper's Ferry. General
Walker, who was then apparentiy somewhere near the mouth
of the Monocacy, was to move through Lovetlsville and gain
possession of Loudoun Heights, thus completing the invest
ment of Harper's Ferry. Gen. Longstreet was ordered to
move to Hagerstown, with Hill to serve as a rear-guard. Their
reserve trains to Manassas, &c., weve ordered to take position

204 LIFE OP STONEWALL JACKSON.
either at Boonsboro' or Hagerstown, I have now forgotten
which. It was directed in the same order, that after Jackson,
Walker, McLaws, &c., had taken Harper's Ferry, they were
to rejoin the main array at Hagerstown or Boonsboro'. That
order is important iu another sense. It shows very clearly
that the object of the eueray was to go to Pennsylvania, or at
least to remain in Maryland,"
Let us see now what movements were made by the enemy
to check the advance of Gen, Lee, reUeve Harper's Ferry,
and defeat the projected invasion of Pennsylvania. After
the battle of Manassas, confusion reigned for a brief period
in the Federal councils at Washington ; and the advance of
the Southern army was regarded with a terror which even the
official documents betray. Not only the people, but the gov
ernment also were filled with dire forebodings of the terrible
events about to come to pass. Troops were hurried forward
from various points in the North ; the remnants of the army
which had been defeated at Manassas were collected and reor
ganized ; all the reserves which had not arrived in time to
participate in those great contests were put in requisition,
and another army, heterogeneous in character but vast in
numbers, was at once ready to take the field. McCleUan was
assigned to the comraand, and the entire force was rapidly
sent forward by railway toward Frederick. Never had the enor
mous resources of men and raaterial of the Federal govern
raent been more strikingly displayed ; and the Southern army
was called upon speedily to meet a new swarm of foes, brought
forward to Washington, and thence to the front, from the
populous hives in which — the refuse' of all nations — they had
been harboring. McClellan depended, however, upou his old
levies — that reserve which had not been engaged at Manas
sas — for the hard fighting ; aud with the huge mass, old sol
diers and new, veterans and conscripts, hurried forward toward
Hagerstown. Meanwhile, Gen. Lee had commenced his operations, look-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 205
ing to the reduction of Harper's Ferry. tGen. McLaws was
sent to occupy Maryland Heights, a powerful position just
opposite the town, and cut off the eneray's retreat if they
attempted to faU back toward Frederick; while Gen. Jackson
was directed to raarch straight across the country to Williams
port, take possession of Martinsburg, and intercept their re
treat if they moved up the river, or demand the instant sur
render of Harper's Ferry. Gen. Jackson could take care of
himself, but Gen. McLaws was liable to be, assailed in the rear,
driven from his position, and the garrison thus relieved. A
strong force was accordingly posted at South Mountain, on
the m^in road from Frederick to Boonsboro', under the com
mand of Gen. D. H. Hill, to receive the attack of McClellan,
then known to be advancing ; and Gen. Longstreet's corps
was held in reserve to move in any direction which the exi
gencies of the occasion demanded.
The enemy appeared in front of the position occupied by
Gen. D. H. Hill, on Sunday, Sept. 14th, and iramediately
assailed him with greatiy superior nurabers. A severe con
flict ensued, the eneray's numbers enabling hira to gain posses
sion of the commanding ground on HiU's left, and by over
lapping both wings of his force, to press him back. Couriers
were imraediately sent to Gen. Lee, announcing the position of
affairs, and Longstreet was hurried forward to Hill's assistance.
His appearance at once changed the face of things, and the
eneray who were rapidly driving Hill back, were driven back
in turn, and the pass in the mountains held.
Receiving information that Gen. Jackson's moveraent had
entirely succeeded, and that Harper's Ferry would fall on the
next morning. Gen. Lee determined to withdraw Gen. Long-
street and Gen. Hill, and retire toward Sharpsburg, where his
communications would be uninterrupted, and his army cculd
be concentrated. The trains were accordingly sent forward,
and the army foUowed, entirely unmolested by the enemy,
reaching Sharpsburg about dayUght on Monday morning.

206 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Gen. McClellan lastened soon after dawn to pass throngh
the mountains, and push forward to the relief of Harper's
Ferry. But he was too late. "The golden moment had passed
away — the strong arm of Jackson had struck.
Gen. Jackson had performed the work allotted to him by his
great commander-in-chief,, with that rapidity, accuracy, and
fatal certainty -of calculation and execution which never failed
to characterize his movements. While Hill was contending
with McClellan near Boonsboro', on Monday evening. Harper's
Ferry was already invested. The summons to surrender was
at first refused, and tirae was asked for. But delay was not a
favorite word with Gen. Jackson. He posted his guns so as to
command the town on every side, and opened upon it with i
fire so steady and irresistible that the eneray's guns were soon
silenced. The result is told in the following dispatch sent on
the next day ; " Headquarters Valley District, )
September 16,.1862. j
" Colonel, — rYestei'day God crowned our arras with another
brilliant success on the surrender, at Harper's Ferry, of Brigar
dier-general White and 11,000 troops, an equal number of
small-arms, 73 pieces of artillery, and about 200 wagons.
" In addition to other stores, there is a large amount of camp
and garrison equipage. Our loss was very sraall. The meri
torious conduct of officers aud men wiU be mentioned in a
more extended report.
"I am colonel,
" Your obedient servant,
"T. J. Jackson, Major-general.
"Col. R. H. Chilton, A. A. General."
It has been truthfully declared that the'capture of Harper's
Ferry was worth the entire campaign in Maryland ; and the
splendid results achieved induced the belief, above aUuded
to, that General Lee had no other end in view when he
advanced into that country. Such a supposition is exceedingly
absurd; but the capture of 11,000 prisoners, 73 pieces

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 207
of artillery, and 200 wagons, is an amount of damage done to
an enemy, which few victories result in.
No good fortune, however, is entirely, without alloy, and the
movement against Harper's Ferry had withdrawn from General.
Lee a force at that moraent infinitely precious. With Jackson's
and McLaws' commands detached from the main body, he had
been compelled to fall back to Sharpsburg, in order to unite
his army, and thus instead of occupying the aggressive attitude
of an invader, to stand on the defensive.
General Jackson left a force under General A. P. Hill, to
hold Harper's Ferry, and retracing his steps, rapidly hastened
to rejoin General Lee near Sharpsburg,

CHAPTER XXVL
sharpsburg.
The battle near Boonsboro' took place on Sunday, Septem
ber 14th. Harper's Ferry surrendered on the morning of the
15th. Tuesday, the 16th, was occupied by both combatants
in concentrating their detached forces, for the great battle
which was to ensue.
On Wednesday, September l7th, the two armies were in
front of each other, in the valley of Antietam creek. One
who was present thus describes the ground :
"The battle was fought in the valley immediately west of
that portion of the Blue Ridge known as the South Moun
tains, and to the east and north of Sharpsburg, almost in a
semicircle, the concave side of which is to the town. Unlike
most of the valleys in this Blue Ridge' country, this valley
has not a Ifevel spot in it, but rolls into eminences of all di
mensions, from the littie knoll that your horse gallops easily
over, to the rathCr high hills that raake hira tug like a mule.
Many of the depressions between these hills are dry, and af
ford admirable cover for infantry against artiUery. Others

208 LIFE OF SIONKWALL JACKSON.
are watered by the deep, narrow, and crooked Antietam, a
stream that seems to observe no decorum, in respect to its
course, but has to be crossed every ten minutes, ride which
way you will. Sharpsburg lies on the western side of the
valley, and a little to the south frora our point of view. Right
across the valley from the northeast runs the turnpike from
Boonsboro' to Sharpsburg. Two little villages — Poterstown
and Keetersville, or KeedysviUe — lie on the eastern side of
the valley, at the foot of the South Mountains. Nuraerous
fine farm-houses dot the valley in every direction, some stand
ing out plainly and boldly on the hill-tops, others half hidden
dovvn thc Utile slopes ; and with the large, comfortable barns
about them, and their orchards of fruit-trees, these hitherto
happy and quiet homes greatly enrich the view, at least to
the eyes of old campaigners. Nearly every part of the valley
is under cultivation, and the scene is thus varied into squares
of the light green of nearly ripened corn, the deeper green of
clover, and the dull brown of newly ploughed fields. Toward
the north are sorae dense woods. Iraagine this scene
spread in the hollow of an amphitheatre of hills that rise in
terraces arouud it, and you have the field of last Wednesday's
battle." Such was the field upon which the two leaders who had
already met upon the banks of the Chickahominy were again
to contend in one of those bloody conflicts, which will throw a
glare so lurid and baleful upon the annals of this period. But
the circumstances under which the present battle would be
fought were very different, at least in reference to the army of
Lee. Before Richmond he was in command of a large force,
well provisioned, and in good flghting trim. Here he had
only the remains of an army, which the immense rapidity of
the marches had scattered all along the roads, and not even
the whole of this force, from incompetence or neglect of or
ders, was available. While General Lee was fighting at Sharps
burg, all Northern Virginia was filled with stragglers, preying
upon the inhabitants; and if the Maryland campaign achieved
no more, it was beyond all value to us in thig, that it inaugu
rated a system which permits to-day no stragglers, and has
given us an army.

LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON. 209
But this is not the place for a liscussion of tho events
which took place in Maryland. History will tell the tale —
our pages refer only to one actor. Of the battle of Sharps
burg we present the following animated account, taken from
the letters of " Personne.'' This graphic and generally correct
writer presents the picture of the eye-witness, and from his
narrative an idea may be obtained of the desperate character
of the contest :

"With the first break of daylight the heavy pounding of
the enemy's guns on their right announced the battle begun,
and for an hour the sullen booraing was uninterrupted by
aught save their own echoes. McClellan had .initiated the
attack. Jackson and Lawton (commanding EweU's division),
always in time, had come rapidly forward during the night,
and were in position on our extrerae left. What a strange
strength and confidence we all felt in the presence of that
man, 'Stonewall' Jackson. Between six and seven o'clock
the Federals advanced a large body of skirmishers, and shortly
after the main body of the enemy was hurled against the di
vision of General Lawton. The fire now became fearful and
incessant. What were at first distinct notes, clear aud consec
utive, merged into a tumultuous chorus that made the earth
tremble. The discharge of musketry sounded upon the ear
like the rolling of a thousand distant druras, and ever and
anon the peculiar yells of our boys told us of some advantace
gained. We- who were upon the centre could see little or
nothing of this portion of the battle, but from the dense pall of
smoke that hung above the scene, we knew too well that
bloody work was going on.
" The Federals there outnumbered us three to one. Their
best troops were concentrated upon this single effort to turn
our left, and for two hours and a half t^e tide of battle ebbed
and flowed alternately for and against us. Still our boys
fought desperately, perhaps as they never fought before.
Whole brigades were swept away before the iron storm, the
ground was covered with the wounded and dead. EweU's old
division, overpowered by superior nurabers, gave back. Hood,
with his Texans, the 18th Georgia, and the Hampton Legion,
rushed into the gap and retrieved the loss. EweU's men, ral
lying on this support, returned to the fight, and adding their

210 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
weight to that of the fresh, enthusiastic troops,, the enemy in
turn were driven back. Reinforced, they made another des
perate effort on the extreme left, and here again was a repe
tition of the scenes I have described. For a time they flanked
us, and our men retired slowly, fighting over every inch of
ground. It was a trying hour. The Federals saw their ad
vantage, aud pressed it with vigor. Eight batteries were in
full play upon us, and the din of heavy guns, whistling and
bursting of shells, and the roar of musketry, was almost deaf
ening. " At this juncture Lee ordered to the support of Jackson
the division of General McLaws, which had been held iu re
serve. And blessing never came more opportunely. Our
men had fought, until not only they but their ainmunitiou
were well nigli exhausted, and discomfiture stared them in the
face. But thus encouraged, €»ery haan rallied, and the fight
was redoubled in its intensity. Splendidly handled, the rein
forcement swept on like a wave, its blows falling thick and
fast upon the audacious colurans that had so stubbornly forced
their way to the position on which we originally commenced
the battle. Half an hour later and the enemy were retreat
ing. At one point we pursued for nearly a raile, and last
night a portion* of our troops on the left slept on the Yankee
ground. The success, though not decisive, as compared with
our usual results, was coraplete as it was possible to make it
in view of the peculiar circumstances of the battle and the
topography of the country. Certain it is, that after the ces
sation of the fight at half-past ten, the Yankees did not renew
it again at this point during the day. They had been de
feated, and all they could do thereafter was to prevent us from
repeating in turn the experiraent which they bad atterapted
ou our line. It was beyond all doubt the raost hotiy contested
field on which a battle has taken place during the war.
"The Fight upon the Centre. — Soon after the cessation of
the fight on the left, the enemy raade a strong demonstration
upon our centre, in ftout of the division of Gen. D. H. Hill.
Here, for a while, the contest was carried on raainly by artil-
kry, with whioh both the eneray and ourselves were abundantly
supplied. The only difference between the two, if any at all,
was in the superiority of their raetal and positions, and on our
part the lack of sufficient ammunition. Battery after batteiy
was sent to the rear exhausted, and our orduauce wagons,

LIFE OP STONEWALL JACKSON. 211
until late in the day, were on the opposite side ofthe Poto
mac, blocked by the long commissary trains, which had boon
ordered forward from Martinsburg and Shepherdstown to re
lieve the necessities of the army.
"As indicated in the former part of this letter, our artillery
was posted on the summits ofthe line of hills which ran from
right to left in front of the town. That of the eneray, with
one exception, was on tbe rising ground at the base of the
Blue Ridge, and upon the various eminences this side. A
single- Federal battery was boldly thrown over the Stone
Bridge, on the turnpike, cine hundred or a thousand yards
in our front, and held its position until disabled, with a hardi
hood worthy of a better cause. I cannot now name all the
positions of the different batteries — only those which I saw.
Altogether, we may have had playing at this tirae one hun
dred gnns. The enemy having- at least an equal number, you
may imagine what a horrid concert filled the air, and how un
reraitting was the hail of heavy balls and shells, now tearing
their way through the trees, now bursting and throwing their
murderous fragments on every side, and again burying them
selves amid a cloud of dust in the earth, always where they
were least expected.
" This exchange of iron compliments had been kept up from
early raorning, but at eleven o'clock the fire began to concen
trate and increase in severity. Columns of the enemy could
be distinctly seen across the Antietam on the open giound be
yond, moving as if in preparation to advance. Others were
so far in the distance that you could recognize them as troops
only by the sunlight that gleamed upou their arras, while con
siderable nurabers were within cannon-shot defiantly flaunting
their flags in our faces. At twelve o'clock the scene from the
apex of the turnpike was truly magnificent, and the oye em
braced a picture such as falls to the lot of few men to look
upon in this age.
" Frora twenty different stand-points great voluraes of smoke
were every instant leaping from the muzzles of angry guns.
The air was tilled with the white fantastic shapes that fioated
away from bursted shells. Men were leaping to and fro, load
ing, firing, and handling the artillery, and now and then a
hearty yell would reach the ear, araid the tumult, that spoke
of death or disaster from sorae well-aimed baU. Before, us
were the enemy. A regiment or two had crossed the river,

212 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.^
and, running in squads from the woods along its banks, were
trying to form a line. Suddenly a shell falls among them,
and another and another, until the thousand scatter like a
swarui of flies, and disappear in the w,oodSi A second tirae
the effort is made, and there is a second failure. Then there
's a diversion. The batteries of the Federals open afresh ;
heir infantry try another point, and flnally they succeed in
eft'ecting a lodgment on this side. Our troops, under D. H.
Hill, meet them, and a fierce' battle ensues in the centre.
Backwards, forwards, surging and swaying like a ship in a
storm, the various columns are se^n in motion. It is a hot
place for us, but is hotter still for the enemy. They are di
rectly under our guns, and we mow them down like grass.
The raw levies, susiained by the veterans behind, come up to
the work well, and fight for a short time with an excitement
incident to their novel experiences of a battle ; but soon a
portion of their line gives way in confusion. Their reserves
came up, and endeavor to retrieve the fortunes- of the day.
Our centre, however, stands firm as adamant, and they fall
back. Pursuit on our part is useless, for if we drove the
enemy at all on the other side ofthe river, it would be against
the sides of the mountain, where one man fighting for his
life and liberty, disciplined or undisciplined, would be equal to
a dozen. "Meanwhile deadly work has been going on among our
artillery. Whatever they may have made others suffer, nearly
all the companies have suffered severely themselves. The
great balls and shells of the enemy have been thrown with
wonderful accuracy, and dead and wounded men, horses, and
disabled caissons are visible in every battery. The instruc
tions from General Lee are, that there shall be no more artil
lery duels. Instead, therefore, of endfeavoring to silence the
enemy's guns. Col. Walton directs his artillery to receive the
fire of their antagonists quietly, and deliver their own against
the Federal infantry. The wisdora of the order is apparent
at every shot, ibr with the overwhelming numbers of the
euemy, they might have defeated us at the outset, but for the
powerful and well-directed adjuncts we possessed in our heavy
guns. " Time and again did the Federals perseveringly press close
up to our ranks, so near indeed that their supporting batteries
were obliged to cease firing, lest they should kill their own

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 213
men, bnt just as often were they driven back by the cora
bined elements of destruction which we brought to bear upon
thora. It was an hour when every raan was wanted. The
sharpshooters of thc .enemy were picking off onr principal
officers continually, and especially those who made themselves
conspicuous in the batteries. In this manner the company of
Captain MiUer, of the Washington Artillery, was nearly dis
abled, only two out of his four guns being fully manned. As
it occupied a position directly under the eye of General Long-
street, and he saw the valuable part it was performing in de
fending the centre, that officer disraounted himself frora his
horse, and assisted by his Adjutant-general, Major Sorrel,
]\lajor Fairfax, and General Drayton, worked one of the gnns
until the crisis was passed. To see a general officer wielding
the destinies of a great fight, with its cares and 'its responsibili
ties upon his shoulders, performing the duty of a coraraon
soldier, in tbe thickest of the conflict, is a picture worthy of
the pencil of an artist.
"The result of this battie, though at one time doubtful, was
finally decisive. The enemy were driven across the river with
a slaughter that was terrible. A Federal officer who was
wounded, and afterward taken prisoner, observed to one of our
officers that he could count almost the whole of.his regiment
on the ground around him. I did not go over the field, but a
gentleman who did, .and who has been an actor in all our
battles, inforraed me that he never, even upon the bloody field
of Manassas, saw so many dead men before. The ground was
black with them, and, according to his estimate, the Federals
had lost eight to our one. Happily, though our casualties are
very considerable, most of them are in wounds.
"There now ensued a silence of two hours, broken only by
the occasional discharges of artillery. Itwas a sort of breath
ing time, when the panting combatants, exhausted by the
battle, stood silently eyeing each other, and raaking ready —
the one to strike, and the other'to ward off another staggering
blow. " The Fight on the Right. — It was now about throe o'clock
in the afternoon, but notwithstanding the strange lull in the
storm, no one believed it would not bc renewed before night.
Intelligence had come from the rear that General A. P. HiU
was advancing frora Harper's Ferry with the force which
Jackson had left behind, and every eye was turned anxiously

214 LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON.^
in that direction. In a little while we saw some of his troops
moving cautiously under cover of the woods and. hills to the
front, and in an hour raore he was in a position on tho right.
Here about four o'clock the eneray had raade another bold
•deraonstration, Fifteen thousand of their troops, in one raass,
had charged our lines, and after vainly resisting them, we
were s]owly giving back before superior numbers. .
" Our total force here was less than six thousand men, and
had it not been for tbe admirably planted artillery, under com
mand of Major Garnett, nothing until the arrival of reinforce
ments could have prevented an irretrievable defeat. I know
less of this portion of the field than any other, but from
those who were engaged heard glowing accounts of the excel
lent behavior of Jenkins' brigade, and the 2d and 20th
Georgia, the latter under tho coraraand of Colonel Curamings.
The last two regiments have been especial subjects of com
ment, because of the splendid raanner in which they succes
sively met and defeated seven regiments of the enemy, who
advanced across a bridge, and were endeavoring to secure a
position on this side of the river. They fought until they
were nearly cut to pieces, and then retreated only because
they had fired their last round. It was at this juncture that
the immense Yankee force crossed the river, and made the
dash against our line, which well nigh proved a success. The
timely arrival of General A. P. Hill, however, with 'fre.sh
troops, entirely changed the fortunes of the day, and after an
obstinate contest, which lasted from five o'clock until dark,-
the enemy were driven into and across the river with great
loss. During this fight the Federals had succeeded in flank
ing and capturing a battery, belonging, as I learn, to the
brigade of General Toombs. . Instantly, dismounting from his
horse, and placing himself at the head of his command, the
general, in his effective way, briefly told them that the bat
tery raust bo retaken if it cost the life of every man in
his brigade, and then ordered them to follow him. Follow
him they did into what seemed the very jaws of destruction,
»and after a short but fierce struggle, they had tbe satisfac-
'tion of capturing the prize, a-nd restoring it to the original
possessors. " Throughout the day there occurred many instances of
personal valor and heroic sacrifice on the part of both officers
and men ; but at this early hour it is impossible to gather

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 216
from crude statements, those truthful narratives whioh ought
to adorn the page of history.
"The results of the battie may be briefly sumraed up.
Judged by all the riiles of warfare, it was a victory • to our
arms. If we failed to rout the enemy, it was only because the
nature of the ground prevented him from running. Whcrevet
we whipp.ed him, we either drove hira against his own massas
on the right, left, and centre, or into the mountains ; and
against the latter position it would have been impossible to
operate successfully. Nowhere did he gain any perraanent
advantage over the Confederates. Varying as raay have been
the successes of the day, they left us intact, unbroken, and
equal masters of the field with our antagonist. Last night we
were inchned to believe that it was a drawn battle, and the
impression generally obtained among the men, that, because
they had not in their usual style got the enemy to running,,
they had gained no advantage ; but to-day the real facts are
coming to light, and we feel that we have, indeed, achieved
another victory. Twenty thousand additional men could not,
under the circumstances, have made it more coraplete.
" We took few prisoners, not raore than six or seven hun
dred in all. The Federals fought well, and were handled iu
a masterly manner, but their losses have been immense — prob
ably not less than twenty thousand killed and wounded.
They had the advantage not only of numbers, but of a posi
tion from which they could assume an ofi'ensive or defensive
altitude at will ; besides which, their signal stations on the
Blue Ridge, commanded a view of our every movement. We
could not make a manosuvre in front or rear that was not in
stantly revealed to their keen look-outs, and as soon as the in-
telligerice could be communicated to their batteries below,
shot and shell were launched against the moving columns.
It was this information conveyed by the little flags upon the
raountain top, that no doubt enabled the eneray to concentrate
his force against our weakest points, and counteract the eft'ect
of whatever similar movements may have been attempted by
us. Our loss is variously estimated at from five to nine
thousand." The above narrative sufficientiy describes the great battle
of Sharpsburg, ¦ in which our forces contended against over
whelming odds, but after the long and exhausting conflict, re-

216 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKBON.
mained in possession of the field. The enemy — great as were
their numbers^made no attempt to renew the conflict ; and
Gen. McCleUan's stateraent on his trial, sufficiently shows how
powerless the Federal army was for another assault. "The
next morning," says McClellan, "I found that our loss had
been so great, and there was so much disorganization in some
of the commands, that I did not consider it proper to renew
the attack that day." This was the ISth, and during the
whole of that day Gen. Lee' remained drawn up in line-of-
battle, ready to renew the conflict if the enemy advanced.
His army had suffered serious loss, however ; reinforcements
were constantly reaching the Federal commander; and Lee
determined to recross the river, and await at his leisure those
additions to his own force, which he expected and so much
needed. Accordingly, on the night of the 18th, having previously
sent across all his trains, artillery, and stores of every descrip
tion, he raoved his army to the south bank of the Potomac,
entirely unmolested ; and, taking up a strong position near
Shepherdstown, bade the enemy deflance. The army finished
crossing on the morning of the 19th, and throughout the day,
a heavy cannonade with long-range guns was kept up across
the river — Gen. Pendleton commanding our artillery. On the
next morning, a considerable force succeeded in crossing, but
being promptly met by a portion of Jackson's corps, under A.
P. Hill, were utteriy routed. " With no stop or hesitation,"
says an eye-witness, " using no artillery, sending his men in,
steadily. Gen. A. P. Hill drove the enemy into and across tiie
river, taking 300 prisoners, and making the river. Wue wilk
their dead."
This engagement was brief, but one of the most deadly of
the war. It stunned the eneray, reassured ouc troops, and
discouraged all future attempts to disturb them.
When the array went into camp in the beautiful region
along the banks of the Opequon, it did so with the certainty,

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 217
of not being molested — the enemy had learned a lesson, and
were quiet.
The Maryland campaign had ended in one of those retreats
which ruin an opponent. Gen. Lee had pierced the enemy's
territory unresisted ; had cut hira off when he appeared, from
all coraraunication with Harper's Ferry ; had captured that
place, together with 11,000 prisoners, and 73 pieces of artil
lery ; had defeated his enormous forces in a pitched battie of
incredible fury ; had remained in line-of-battle during the
whole succeeding day ; and then, determining of his own mo
tion, to retire, had done so at his ease, without losing a wagon,
and wholly unmolested. Such a retreat after such successes,
was a victory, and there were many persons at the North even,
candid enough to concede the fact. " He leaves us," growled
the N. Y. Tribune, " the debris of his late camps, two dis
abled pieces of artillery, a few hundred of his stragglers, per
haps two thousand of his wounded, and as many more of his
unburied dead. Not a sound fleld-piece, caisson, ambulance,
or wagon ; not a tent, box of stores, or a pound of ammuni
tion. He takes with him the supplies gathered in Maryland,
and the rich spoils of Harper's Ferry."
Gen. Lee's address to his army upon their return to Vir
ginia, will appropriately conclude our brief account of the
great campaign to which ho refers :

" Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, )
October 2d, 1862. J
." General Orders, No. 116.
" In reviewing the achievements of the army during the
present campaign, the Commanding General cannot withhold
the expression of his admiration of the indomitable courage
it has displayed in battle, and its cheerful endurance of pri
vation and hardship ou the march.
''Since your great victories around Richraond you have de
feated the enemy at Cedar Mountain, expeUed him from the
.Rappahannock, and, after a conflict of three days, utterly re-
10

218 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
pulsed him on the Plains of Manassas, and forced him to take
shelter within the fortifications around the capital.
" Without halting for repose you crossed the Potomac,"
storming the heights of Harper's Ferry, made prisoners of
more than eleven thousand men, ahd capturing upwards of
seventy pieces of artillery, all their small-arras, and other mu
nitions of war.
" While one corps of the army was thus engaged, the other
insuied its success by arresting at Boonsboro' the combined
armies of the eneray, advancing under their favorite general
to the relief of their beleagued comrades.
" On lhe field of Sharpsburg, with less than one-third his
numbers, you resisted, flora daylight until dark, the whole
army of the enemy, and repulsed every attack along his entire
front, of more than four railes in extent.
" The whole of the foUowing day you stood prepared to re-
surae the conflict on the same ground, and retired next morn
ing, without molestation, across the Potoraac.
'¦ Two atterapts, subsequently raade by the enemy, to follow
you .across the river, have resulted in his complete discomfi
ture, and being driven back wilh loss.
" Achievements such as these demanded much valor and
patriotisra. History records few examples of greater fortitude
aud endurance than this army has exhibited; and I ara com-
raissioned by the President lo thank you, in the name of the
Confederate States, for the undying fame you have won for
their arms.
" Much as you have done, much more remains to be accom
plished. The eneray again threatens us with invasion, and to
your tried valor and patriotism the country looks with confl
dence for deliverance and safety. Your past exploits give as
surance that this confidence is not misplaced.
R. E. Lee,
General Commanding."
This just ano admirable sumraary, makes further comment
upon the glories of the Army of Northern Virginia, useless.
These words have inscribed its name in fadeless characters
upon the eternal tablets of Fame.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 219
CHAPTER XXVIL
the ARMY resting.
General Jackson's corps passed the beautiful month of
October in the picturesque Valley of the Shenandoah — that
region which their great leader had already made so famous.
There, in the bright October days, the army rested, and
recovered its strength and spirits. The bracing raountain
breeze, the beautiful skies, the liberty to engage in every
species of fun and frolic, within the limits of military disci
pline, seemed to pour new life-blood into the frames of the
men, exhausted and worn down by the iraraense marches
which they had made frora Cedar Run to Sharpsburg, and
the toils, privations, hardships, and excitements which they
had undergone.
Once or twice only in all that time did the enemy appear —
at Martinsburg and Leetown, on reconnoissances. But Gen.
Stuart drove them back with cavalry and artiUery, and a
brigade of Gen. Jackson's — thenceforth they did not corae.
The gay-hearted " boys" of the corps returned to their frolics
and camp amusements.
That region must have aroused many memories in the
hearts of Jackson's men — especially in the members of the
" Old Stonewall Brigade," which had fought the enemy all
along frora FaUing Waters to the sources of the Shenandoah.
They had encountered Patterson in one of the earhest en
gageraents of the war, near Martinsburg, but a few railes
distant — on the road by the side of which they were now
encamped, they had retreated before the huge columns of the
same general — and along that road they had pressed after
Banks, when, routed and overthrown at Winchester, he had
hastened to recross the Potomac. Since those old days, they

220 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
had fough'; at Cross Keys, Port RepubUc, Cold Harbor, Mal
vern HiU, Cedar Ruu, Biistow, Manassas, Ox Hill, Harper's
Ferry, Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown, and Kerneysville. Com
rade after corarade had lain down to die upon those bloody
fields — face after face had "gone into the darkness," amid
the war smoke hovering abo/e the swamps of the lowland,
the pines of Manassas, the Valley of the Antietara. They
were still alive, and, after all their wanderings, had returned
to the land where they first learned the art of war under their
now illustrious chief — returned to it, too, at a season when
the face of nature is glorious with that beauty which seems
to reach perfection just when it is passing— when the fields
and forest, wifh their tints of gold, and red, and yellow, are
more lovely than the dreams of poets. Here, in the fine and
beautiful Valley of the Shenandoah, on the banks of the
Opequon, which murmurs under its tall trees, as it lapses
gently toward the Potomac, did the weary soldiers of the
Stonewall Corps find rest and refreshment; and the bracing
air, as we have said, made them boys again, filling every
pulse with health and joy. The jest, the practical joke, the
ready laugh passed around ; and for a tirae the whole army
of Northern Virginia was in extravagant spirits, cheering
upon the least provocation like a party of hoys, and permit
ting no occasion for indulging in laughter to escape them.
We have a letter written by one of the corps about this time,
which conveys a very accurate idea of the manner in which
Jackson's men amused themselves ; and its careless style and
homely details may serve to interest the stay-at-home reader,
who is not familiar with the " goings on" of an army. Here
it is:" 'Cock-a-doodle-doo-ool' sounded the 'shrill clarion' of a
neighboring hen-roost before day this morning; a wakeful
soldier caught up the strain, and he and a hundred others
forthwith repeated bogus cock-a-doodle-doos, until they had
efl'ectually 'murdered sleep' throughout the- entire regiment.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 221
To pass the time till breakfast (!) — i. e., till some ' solid shot
biscuit' and leather steaks of lean kind be cooked — 1 will ' re
taliate' on you and your readers.
" The campaign having apparently ended, there are no mov
ing accidents by flood or fleld of interest, and therefore, noth
ing left to record but the routine of daily camp life; this shall
be true to history, however, to let the old folks at home know
how we live 'sure enough' while here. At this particular
season, though, it is particulariy dull —
' No mail, no post,
No news from any foreign coast ;
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel iu any member,
No shade, no sunshine, no butterflies, no bees,
November !'

" Our camp not being regulated by military rule for want
of material in tents, <fec., is left to illustrate the variegated,
architectural, and domestic tastes of the thousand different
individuals concerned. Hence, although a wall tent or Sib
ley graces an occasional locality, the most of the men en
sconce themselves in bush-built shelters of various shapes, in
fence-corners, under gum-blankets eked out by cedar-boughs,
or burrow senii-snbterraneously, like Esquimaux. If, as is
said, the several styles of architecture took their origin from
natural circumstances _ and climate, &c., as the curving orien
tal roofs, from the long reeds originally in use — the slanting
Egyptian, from the necessity of baking their unburnt bricks in
the hot Sim — the Corinthian, from its own flowery clirae, &c.,
&c. — an architectural genius might flnd enough original de
signs in this camp to supply a century to come.
" The only ' useful occupation' of this brigade for some
time past has been to destroy all the railroads in reach ; ap
parently, too, for no better reason than the fellow had for
kiUing the splendid Anaconda in the museum, because it was
his 'rule to kill snakes wherever found.' A soldier just
said, ' Old Jack intends us to tear up all the railroads in
the State, and with no tools but our pocket knives.' They
have so far destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio from Hedges-
ville to near Harper's Ferry, the Winchester and Potomac
almost entirely, and now the Manassas Gap from Piedmont to
Strasburg. " It is when idle in camp that the soldier is a great institu-

222 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
tion, yet one that must be seen to be appreciated. Pen can
not fully paint the air of cheerful content, care-hilarity, irre
sponsible loungings, and practical spirit of jesting that ' obtains,'
ready to seize ou any odd circumstance in its licensed levity.
A 'cavalryman' coraes rejoicing in iraraense top-boots, for
which in fond pride he had invested full forty dollars of pay ;
at once the cry frora a hundred voices follows him along th
line : ' Come up out o' them boots ! — come out ! — too soon tf
go into winter-quarters ! I know you're in thar ! — see your
arms stickin' out !' A bumpkin rides by in an uncommonly
big hat, and is frightened at the shout : ' Come down out
o' that hat ! Come down 1 'Tain't no use to say you ain't
up there ; . I see your legs hanging out !' A fancy staff
officer was horrified at the irreverent reception of his nice
ly twisted moustache — as he heard from behind innuraer
able trees — ' Take them mice out o' yer mouth ! — take 'em
out ! — no use to say they ain't thar — see their tails hanging
out !' Another, sporting immense whiskers, was urged to
' Come out of that bunch of har ! I know you're in thar ! I
see your ears a working I' Sometimes a rousing cheer is
heard in the distance, it is explained — ' Boys, look out ! — here
comes Old Stonewall, or an old hare, one or t'other' — they
being about the only individuals who invariably bring down
the house.
" And yet there are no better specimens of the earnest,
true soldier, than the men of this brigade. It is known in
the army, if not in print, as ' the fighting brigade.' It is
now constituted of the 13th, 25th, 31st, 44th, 47th, 52d, and
58th Virginia regiments — the 12th Georgia, one of the raost
gallant regiraents in the service, having, to the regret of all
their old comrades of ' the mountain brigade,' been transfer
red. The brigade has been represented, by sorae of its regi
ments, in nearly every battie-field in Virginia, — in Northwest
Virginia, in the Valley, on the Peninsula, around Richmond,
frora Cedar Run to Manassas Plains, at Harper's Ferry, and
when reduced to scarce five hundred men, and surrounded by
overwhelming numbers, it fought ,a bloody way clear out
through the Yankee lines at Sharpsburg. Four of its briga
diers have been wounded in the service. Generals Ed. John
son, Elzey, Stuart, and Eariy. Five of the regiments above-
named were united in one command under General Ed. John
son, whose conspicuous bravery at Greenbrier, Alleghany, and
McDoweU, has never lost its example upon his raen. The
13th and 49th Virginia have been since united with it. It is

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 223
at present commanded by Col. J. A. Walker, of the 13th,
a gallant officer and courteous gentleman, who has well de
served a brigadier's coramission.
"But the whole day of camp life is not yet described ; the
night remains, and latterly it is no unusual scene, as the
gloaming gathers, to see a group quietly collect beneath the
dusky shadows of the forest trees — ' God's first temples '-
whence soon arise the notes of some familiar hymn, awaking
meraories of childhood and of home. The youthful chap
lain in earnest tones tells his holy mission ; another hymn is
heard, and by the waning light of the pine torches, the weird-
like figures of the grouped soldiers are seen reverently moving
to the night's repose. The deep bass drum beats taps — the
sounds die out in all the caraps, save at times the sweet strains
from the band of the Fifth Stonewall regiment in a neighbor
ing grove, till they, too, fade away into the stilly night, and
soon — ' The soldiers lie peacefully dreaming.
Their tents in the rays of the clear autumn moon,
Or the light of the watch-fires are gleaming,
A tremulous sigh as the gentle night wind
Through the forest leaves slowly is creeping,
While the stars up above with their glittering eyes
Keep guard, for the army is sleeping.' "
During these days. General Jackson had his headquarters
near Bunkec's Hill, and was often seen moving to and fro
araong his troops on his old sorrel horse with the old uniform.
He was always greeted with cheers by his men, and the phrase,
" Jackson, or a rabbit," becarae universal in alluding to these
gay sounds, heard in the distance. A hundred anecdotes were
told — a hundred witticisms attributed to him. In Maryland,
where the ladies crowded around hira, he was represented as
saying, "Ladies, this is the first time I was ever surrounded,"
in spite of which, says a letter-writer, " they cut every button
off his coat, commenced on his pants, and at one time threat
ened to leave him in the uniform of a Georgia colouel — shirt-
collar and spurs." Another incident was related of him by
Colonel Ford, a Federal officer, who conversed with the gen
eral at Harper's Ferry :

224 LIFE OF STONKWALL JACKSON.
" While we were in conversation," says Colonel Ford, " an
orderly rode rapidly across the bridge, and said to General
Jackson, 'I am ordered by General McLaws to report to you
that General McClellan is within six miles with an immense
army.' Jackson took no notice of the orderiy, apparently,
and continued his conversation ; but when the urderly had
turned away, Jackson called after hira, with the question,
' Has McClellan any baggage-train or drove of cattle ?' The
reply was, that he had. Jackson reraarked, that he could
whip any army that was followed by a drove of cattle, aUud
ing to the hungiy condition of his men."
These anecdotes, and a thousand othe'rs, were passed about
from lip to hp, and " Old Jack " — a name by which the gen
eral had now become universally known — was immensely
popular. We have already referred to other and more solid
grounds of popularity in his character ; but these farailiar
anecdotes of his dry humor, truthful or not, had no small in
fiuence in rendering him the prime favorite of his men. Cer
tain it is that Jackson was never more popular than after the
Maryland campaign ; and no doubt this arose in a great meas
ure from the satisfaction which the corps experienced in hav
ing secured the really solid results of the movement at Har
per's Ferry.
The army remained in the Valley of Virginia,. watching the
movements of McClellan — who was in front of their position —
until November, when the enemy having commenced raoving
toward the Rappahannock, the troops were put in motion in
that direction.
. Jackson's corps formed the rear-guard, and slowly moved
up toward Millwood, parallel with the Federal advance from
Leesburg. His measured and deliberate movements undoubt
edly retarded their advance, suspicious as they at all times
were of some sudden and dangerous blow from his well-known
arm, and General Lee was thus allowed ample time to concen
trate his forces behind the Rappahannock.
Jackson remamed in the Valley of Virginia until about the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 225
1st of December, when the enemy having developec an inten
tion to cross at Fredericksburg, he was sent for, and .speedily
appeared. A rapid march brought hira to the fir-clad hills.
around Fredericksburg, and his corps encamped beyond the
Massaponnax, entirely out of sight, ready to take part in the
events which were soon to follow.

CHAPTER xxvm,
FREDERICKSBURG,
Foiled and driven back upon every line of advance — by
Manassas, the Peninsula, the Valley,, the Rapidan — the Fed
eral authorities had determined to try a new route, and assail
the Confederate capital from the direction of Fredericksburg.
General McClellan — just superseded in the command of the
army by General Ambrose Burnside — had always maintained
that this route was'irapracticable ; but President Lincoln and
the new coramander-in-chief thought differently, and the at
tempt was now about to be made with all the power of the
Federal Government,
Burnside moved his army down to the rear of the Stafford
Hills, just opposite Fredericksburg, in the latter part of t^
month of November; and General Lee, who, until that time,
had remained in the vicinity of Culpepper Court-house,
watching his opponent, raade a correspondent movement,
appearing again in front of the Federals, and ready whenever
they advanced to give them battle.
The position occupied by the Confederates was a command
ing one, and there could be littie doubt of the result if the
enemy assailed them in their stronghold. General Lee had
disposed his forces along the crest of hills which extends
from a point on the Rappahannock just above the town, down
to Hamilton's Croagjng on the railroad to Richmond, about
10*

226 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
four miles below. Here the crest sinks suddenly into a wide
plain, stretching off to the Massaponnax, which shuts it in a
raile or two away. In front of the hills occupied by the
Southern army, a broad flat reaches to the river, about a mile
distant, and upon this, just where the ground begins to rise,
the main portion of the battle was to be fought.
Up to the llth of December, no movement of any import
ance had taken place, though the enemy had made numerous
atterapts to produce the impression that they intended to cross
below, or above, not at Fredericksburg. Their troops were
seen moving to and fro on the Stafford Hills opposite, and the
river bank was heavily picketed down to Port Royal, and
above United States ford.
The Confederate generals awaited the threatened moveraent
wilh confidence, and a well-grounded belief, that in spite of the
nurabers of the Federal army, and the presence of such raen as
Sumner, Franklin, Hooker, and others in command of grand
divisions, they would be able to repulse any attack.
It would seem that the enemy were, on their side, equally
confident. The disraissal of McClellan had been very distaste
ful to the troops, but. they were thoroughly discipUned, and
ready to fight under any one ; and the Northern journals
extensively circulated among their camps, had sedulously in
stilled the conviction that the " On to Richraond" moveraent
was now certain of success. They were the best troops in the
Federal service — led by the best generals^n thorough fight.-
ing condition, and the Government at Washington appears lo
have looked forward to a " glorious success" at last, to make
amends for all the failures which had preceded it.
The Confederate commander finally rcQeived reliable intel
ligence that the enemy had finished their preparations for
crossing, and were putting their troops in raotion. General
Lee's order of battle had been determined upon. Long-
street's corps was to hold the hills from the extreme left lo a
point mid-way to HamUton's Crossing^ here Jackson's left

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 227
would join his right, while thc extreme right would be pro
tected by General Stuart with cavalry and horse artillery.
Before daylight, on the morning of Thursday, December
llth, the enemy commenced throwing two pontoons across at
Fredericksburg, one above, the other below the destroyed
railroad bridge. While engaged iu this attempt, and swarm
ing upon the boats like beavers, a destructive fire was opened
upon them from the southern bank of the river, where Briga
dier-general Barksdale was posted with his Mississippians,
and this fire was so deadly, that it at first drove the enemy
back. They quickly renewed the attempt, however, and push
ed on the work, in spite of the hail-storm of bullets from
Barksdale, whose gallant troops fought with desperation. The
heavy fog slowly lifted from the scene, and then commenced,
and was kept up- all day, one of the most terrific bombard
ments known in history. The writer of these pages had a full
view of the entire spectacle from " Lee's Hill," just to the
right of the telegraph road, where it descends toward the
town; and never before had such a sight greeted hira. The
enemy had planted more than a hundred pieces of artillery on
the hills to the northern and eastern sides of the town, and
from an early hour in the forenoon, swept the streets with
roundshot, shell, and case-shot — firing frequently a hundred
guns a miliute. The quick puffs of smoke, touched in the
centre with tongues of fiame, ran incessantly along the lin^
of the enemy's batteries on the slopes, and as the sinoko
slowly drifted away, the bellowing roar came up in one con-
tinuons roU. It was a " symphony of hell," truly. The
town was soon fired, and a dense cloud of smoke enveloped its
roofs and steeples. The white church spires still rose serenely
aloft, unharmed by shot or shell, though a portion of one of
them was tom off. The smoke was succeeded by lurid fiame,
and the crimson mass brought to mind the pictures of Moscow
burning. The incessant fire of heavy artillery on the doomed town

228 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
was kept up from daylight- until dark. Barksdale's gal
lant troops never ffinched, but held the place like heroes,
in spite- of the terrible enfilading fire sweeping the streets
with round-shot, grape, and shell, right and left. Amid
houses torn to pieces and burning, chimneys crashing down
and burying men in the ruins, amid a fire whioh might
have demoralized the finest soldiers in the world, they still
held it.
When night descended on the scene of this barbarity, the
fiames of burning houses still lit up the landscape, and the
roar of the batteries was hushed, except a random gun at in
tervals, seeming to indicate that their taste for bloodshed and
destruction was not glutted.
What had they accomplished ? They had gained posses
sion of the town, which may or may not have been intended,
and they had driven out and slaughtered citizens, women, and
children. One young girl was shot through the hip — hun
dreds of ladies and children were wandering, homeless and
shelterless, over the frozen highway, with bare feet and thin
clothing, knowing not where to find a place of refuge. Deli
cately nurtured girls, with slender forms, upon which no rain
had ever beat, which no wind had ever visited too roughly,
walked hurriedly, with unsteady feet, upon the road, seeking
only sorae place where they could shelter themselves. Whole
families sought sheds by the wayside, or made roofs offence
rails and straw, knowing not whither to fly, or to what friend
to have recourse. This was the result of the enemy's bom
bardment. Night had settled down — the lurid smoke, lit up
by burning houses, rested on a torn and shattered Virginia
city, fllled with Confederate and Yankee bq|,dies — that was the
" supreme result."
Such were the results of the cruel bombardment. The
enemy held the town, but they had only gained possession of
it at a frightful loss of life. Barksdale, fighting from street
to street, and disputing every inch of ground, fell back no

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 229
fiirther than the suburbs ; and here, posting himself behind a
stone fence, held his ground."
When the morning of Friday dawned, the enemy had
thrown across additional pontoons ; and their army was nearly
over. As yet they had not. been saluted by a single shot
from our artillery ; and they no doubt felicitated themselves,
in a very high degree, upon this circumstance. Thus Friday
ended — the night passed — ^the great day arrived.
Gen. Lee had disposed his forces in the manner already
indicated. Longstreet's corps was posted on the left, with
strong batteries along the hills by Marye's house. Jackson
held the right, with Gen. A. P. Hill in fiont and near Ham
ilton's Crossing ; Gen. Taliaferro, commanding Jackson's old
division, in his rear, and Gen. D. H. Hill, behind the crest
of hills, in reserve. On the slope of the hill, just where it
descends toward the crossing. Colonel Lindsay Walker was
posted, with Pegram's, Mcintosh's, and sections of Cren
shaw's, Lathara's, and Johnson's batteries — 14 guns. On the
left of the line, near the Bernard Cabins, Capt. Davidson
was stationed, with Rains', Caskie's, Braxton's, and David
son's batteries — 21 guns. To the right,, aud two hundred
yards in advance of these, Capt. Brockenbrough commanded
Carpenter's, ^iVooding's, and Braxton's batteries — 12 guns.
On Jackson's left was the right of Gen. Longstreet under
Hood; and this was just at the centre of the whole line.
On the extreme right, as we have said, beyond Hamilton's
Crossing, on the extensive plain, diversified by woods. General
Stuart had drawn up his cavalry and horse artillery, ready to
assist in repulsing the attack upon what was felt to be the
weakest portion of ^ur line.
Soon after daybreak, the troops were all in position, and
Gen. Lee rode along the lines accompanied by Gen.* Jackson,
to inspect in pei^on the disposition of the forces. On the old
"Richmond road," leading frora the Crossing to the Bowling
Green road, Gen. Stuart joined them, and they proceeded to

230 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the outer picket Hnes, close on the enemy. The movement
had already begun, and the enemy were seen advancing across
the bottom directiy upon Gen. Jackson's position. By
direction of Gen. Stuart, Major John Pelham, of the Stuart
Horse ArtUlery, immediately brought up a Napoleon gun, and
opened on their left fiank ; three batteries replied, and for
many hours this one gun fought thera all with unyielding
firraness. Major Pelham and Captain Henry, who both super
intended the working of the piece, were publicly compli
mented, and their obstinate stand, in an iraportant position,
unquestionably had a most valuable part in demoralizing the
Federal forces.
Soou after daylight the enemy began to feel our entire po
sition, frora left to right, with infantry and artillery. To one
who had witnessed their manner of proceeding, it was evident
that the Federal leaders were wandering in the dark, and
completely puzzled. There was no generalship displayed, no
power of combination or manoeuvring. Their lines were
pushed forward, and when mowed down by our artillery or
musketry, new ones took their places, and the wavering, un
certain character of their movements continued. The fight
was on much more equal terms than is supposed — with this
important difference, that the enemy very far outnumbered
us, opposing two or three to one at every point of attack.
Their artillery was most effectively handled, and did us much
damage, as the casualties in that arm will show. The writer
was present in this portion of the field, and recalls an in
stance. A Blakely gun was brought up, placed in position,
and opened npon the enemy. One of their guns was instantly
directed to the point, a shot crashed among the cannoneers,
and a boy exclaimed, " General, the very first shot has killed
two of om- men !"
About ten o'clock the fog lifted, and the epemy were seen
rapidly approaching in heavy force — at least 55,000 troops
being concentrated upon this important point. They were

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 231
commanded by Gens. Franklin and Hooker, whose orders
were to gain possession of the old " Richmond road," turn the
crest of hills at Hamilton's Crossing, and assail our right flank.
Encouraged by the silence of our batteries, the enemy pushed
forward directly upon Walker's position, and were suffered to
come within eight hundred yards before a gun was flred.
When they had reached that point, however, the fourteen
guns opened suddenly upon them, with terrific effect, and com
pletely broke and repulsed them. No troops could stand be
fore the iron storra, tearing through their ranks, and Frank
lin could not immediately re-form his men, and bring them
again to the assault.
About one o'clock, however, another attempt was made to
carry the position — this time preceded by a heavy fire of artil
lery directed against Col. Walker and Gen. A. P. Hill. Walker
opened all his • batteries in response, and was assisted by Pel
ham on the right. The enemy's force, consisting of Frank
lin's and Hooker's grand divisions, were evidently staggered
by the terrible fire ; but re-forming, pressed on and closed in
upon A. P. Hill in a fierce and bloody struggle. Unfortu
nately, an interval had been left between Archer's and Lane's
brigades, and of this the enemy took instant advantage.
Pressing forward, Hill's line was penetrated ; Lane's right and
Archer's left, turned ; and they were forced to fall back, though
not without desperate fighting. Gaining thus a position in
rear of that occupied by Lane and Archer, the enemy attacked
Gregg's brigade ; and in this contest Gen. Gregg, while at
tempting to rally Orr's Rifies, which had given way, fell mor
taUy wounded.
Seeing that his first line was rapidly being forced back by
the overwhelming numbers brought against it. Gen. Jackson
now ordered up his second line, consisting of the comraands
of Lawton, Early, Trirable, and Taliaferro. Their appearance
upon the scene operated an entire change iraraediately. In a
brief but decisive combat, they repulsed the enemy, and fol-

232 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
lowing up their advantage, drove him with great slaughter to
the railroad in' front of the first position, taking a number of
prisoners. So far was the pursuit carried, that Jackson's
forces came within full and deadly range of the enemy's artil
lery, and full upon their strong reserves of infantry. The
ground was not yielded, however, on that account ; and finding
that the enemy did not advance, Gen. Jackson determined to
do so himself Their artillery was so posted as to render the
movement an extremely hazardous one, but the stake was
great, and Jackson determined to take the -risks, and if possi
ble put the force of the enemy directly opposed to him to com
plete rout. Those who saw him at that hour, will never forget
the expression of intense but suppressed excitement which
his face displayed. The genius of battle seemed to have
gained possession of the great leader, ordinarily so calm ; and
his countenance glowed as from the glare of a great confla
gration. His design was to place his artillery in front, draw
up the infantry in rear of it, and make the movement just as
night descended, so that if necessary he might fall back under
the cover of darkness. This design was destined, hov>>ever,
not to be carried into execution. Delay occurred in making
the necessary preparations, and when, finally, the first guns
moved forward, the enemy, evidently fearing such a move
ment, opened a terrific fire of artillery, which caused the aban
donment of the project.
We have neglected to speak of the events which occurred
on Gen. Jackson's right. The batteries there were a part of
his command, though directed by Gen. Stuart, and throughout
the day fought with unyielding obstinacy. The enemy han
dled their guns with skill and nerve, but they were no match
for our cannoneers. Their immense reserves of artillery were
in vain brought up and put into action — they were encountered
and silenced. The duel between the opposing batteries was,
during the latter part of the day, most terrific. Col. Walker
was particulariy exposed, from the position of his guns, to the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 233
deadliest fire of the Federal batteries. Tho enemy directed
upon him a storm of shell, which, bursting incessantly around
and about him, presented a spectacle at once terrible and sub
lime. He had a caisson blown up, and many horses killed.
His loss was also considerable ; but the roar of his guns never
slackened. Major Pelham, and his gallant associate. Captain
Henry, ably seconded Col. Walker from the right. They re
turned the compliment by blowing up a caisson of the enemy,
and in- spite of three batteries in front, and an enfilading fire
from heavy guns across the river, the Napoleon and Blakely
continued to tear the opposing ranks, and " hold their own"
obstinately against the almost overpowering weight of metal
brought to bear upon them.
Toward evening the battle at this point became desperate.
The enemy seemed to be fighting with the madness of de
spair, and to be possessed by the devil of carnage. Every
species of projectile known to modern warfare was rained upon
the fields, from guns of every character, all sizes, and in every
position. Round shot, spherical case, rifle, Parrott — projec
tUes- of all classes, and each with a different sound in its pas
sage through the air, showered down. The enormous strength
of their artillery arm was never more fully displayed, and they
used it with desperation. They had now turned their atten
tion more particularly to our right, where the cavalry were
posted, and where they suspected our weakness in artillery.
The attempt made to turn our flank was vigorous, and with
troops less courageous than ours, might have succeeded. But
it utterly failed. In vain did they advance their guns, and
open a terrific fire parallel to the railroad, throwing forward
sharpshooters at the same moment to pick off our cannoneers.
Their challenge was accepted, and our guns were ready to
meet them. Pegram's, Latham's, Crenshaw's, Johnson's,
Mcintosh's, Braxton's, Letcher's, and other batteries, engaged
them at close range with unyielding obstinacy. To these were
added the second and third companies Richmond Howitzers—

234: LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
the first company being engaged on our left — the Staunton
Artillery, Lieutenant Garber, a section of Poague's battery,
Lieutenant Graham, Caskie's, Hardaway's, Louisiana Guard
Artillery, Captain D'Aquin, and others — all under the com
mand of Major Pelham, who fought them with heroic firra
ness and coolness. The whole of the artillery on the right,
including Captain Henry's horse artillery, of Major Pelham's
battalion, was under the immediate direction of General
Stuart, who was everywhere in the thickest of the fight — the
target of artillery and sharpshooters alike. The latter had
posted themselves two or three hundred yards off, behind a
hedge, and no doubt attracted by the plume and uniform of a
general officer, directed their fire upon him, striking him twice,
but not doing him injury. Meanwhile, the batteries never for
an instant relaxed in their fire. All through the afternoon
and into the night they continued the fight — those which were
disabled, or out of amraunition, retiring, to be replaced by
others. As night fell, the work was done. Some of our
bravest hearts were cold in death, or were lying with the life-
blood welling from their glorious wounds ; but the day was
ours. The enemy's guns slackened fire, retired, and one after
another were silenced — our own batteries regularly advanced,
and this whole portion of our line was pushed far toward the
fiont. General Stuart had well redeemed his grim dispatch —
that he was " going to crowd them with artillery.'' The cer
emony was too rough for them to stand, and when the voice of
the general in the darkness ordered the last advance, the com
bat had terminated in the silence of the foe.
His shattered columns had disappeared from vision with
the advent of darkness, and now no reply came from his guns.
In vain did our own send after him shot and shell as before —
no answering roar came back. Beaten, driven back, and
thoroughly disheartened, the great host which had advanced
in the morning with banners flying, and in aU the " pride,
pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," now sneaked away

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 235
toward its pontoon bridges, and gave up the " On to Rich
mond" movement as corapletely hopeless.
We have spoken of the contest on the Confederate right.
On the left, Longstreet had repulsed the enemy with heavy
loss; and recoiling from Marye's Hill — from tbe brigades of
Cobb and Cooke, and the batteries of Walton — as from Hill
and Walker on the crest to the right — they had fled, shattered
and too much disheartened to reuew the conflict. Thus the
battle had been in every portion of the field a Confederate
victory; and it might have been supposed that the eneray
would have taken advantage of the darkness to cross the river.
For some unaccountable reason, they did not do so, however ;
and on Sunday were drawn up directly beneath our batteries,
and even went through all manner of evolutions, apparentiy
for the amusement of Gens. Lee and Jackson, who looked on
in silence from Walker's Hill. On the same day they sent a
flag of truce, asking permission to bury their dead. As the
application was made by a major-general only, it was imme
diately sent back ; and not until Monday did the paper return
signed by Gen. Burnside's A. A. General. The application
was then granted, and while the white flag was floating and the
dead being borne off, the enemy commenced recrossing ihe river.
On Tuesday morning they were gone, and on the vast plain
only dead bodies remained, arranged neatly in long rows,
and — left for us to bury.
We shall not dwell upon the events which succeeded the
great battle of Fredericksburg — upon the howl of rage and
anguish which went up throughout the North — the deposition
of Burnside — the quarrel among the Federal generals, and
the mad resolve of the bankrupt governraent at Washington
to atterapt a new advance, destined in its turn to fail as all the
rest had done.
We have confined our attention to Gen. Jackson, and now
proceed to add, that having thoroughly perforraed his work,
as he always did, he went into retirement at Moss Neck, with

236 LIFE OP STONEWALL JAQKSON.
his corps hidden in the woods there, and applied himself to a
task for which he had never before found leisure — the prepa
ration of his official reports.
jjoTE.  Here, and in one or two other places, the writer has, for
the sake of convenience, used matter previously contributed by
him to the -papers of the day. This statement is made to prevent
misconception.

CHAPTER XXIX.
WINTER-QUARTERS AT MOSS NECK.
At "Moss Neck," some ten miles below Fredericksburg,
Jackson rested from his toils, during all those months of the
winter and spring of 1S62-3.
With his headquarters upon the crest of hills which here
runs along the right bank of the Rappahannock, dominating
the wide low grounds, and affording admirable positions for
artillery, if the enemy advanced, he remained for months;
watching the hills upon the opposite side of the river, and
ready at any moment to hurl his veterans of the old corps
upon the advancing Federals. From the hills near head
quarters the view was very attractive. To the right and left
the wooded range extended toward Fredericksburg on the one
hand, and Port Royal on the other; in front, the far-stretch
ing low giounds gave full sweep to the eye ; and at the foot
of ils forest-clad bluffs, or by the margin of undulating fields,
the Rappahannock calraly flowed toward the sea. Old man
sions dotted this beautiful land^for beautiful it was in spite
of the dull influences of winter, with its fertile meadows, its
picturesque woodlands, and its old roads skirted by long rows
of shadowy cedars, planted with the regularity of ornamental
shrubbery in a gentleman's garden.
Headquarters were near the " Corbin House ;" in front
was " Hayfleld," the residence of that Taylor family illnstra-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 237
ted in old days by " Colonel John Taylor of Caroline ;" near
at hand were the hospitable residences of the Baylors, Ber
nards, and others; and in the distance, toward Fredericks
burg, was " St. Julian," the ancient homestead of the Brooke
family, which Washington, Randolph, and the great statesmen
of the past always paused at on their journeys, to give the
news and discuss the men and things of the past century.
Another age had come now ; a baser foe than ever had in
vaded this fair land ; and the smiling flelds were disfigured
by the footprints of war. The meadows were crossed and re
crossed by roads which had cut up the soil into rnts and miry
holes. The steep banks — as the enemy have had an oppor
tunity of seeing — were fashioned into earthworks for sharp
shooters. The beautiful cedars were felled to supply firewood
for the troops ; and every thing betrayed the presence of the
huge, dark, bloody, dirty, brutal genius of battle.
On the crest of hills above. Gen. Jackson, as we have said,
had fixed his headquarters, with his brave troops posted in the
woods behind, ready at any moment to appear upon the wide
low-grounds and repulse the enemy if he attempted to cross.
If driven from the line of the river road, they would have
fallen back to the hills crowned with artiUery, and from that
position not all the power of the Federal army could have
made them budge one inch.
Gen. Jackson, as stated above, employed himself during
these moments of leisure in preparing the official reports of
his battles. The embodiment of the facts, as given in the
reports of officers engaged, was intrusted to Lieut-col. Faulk
ner, A. A. G., but Gen. Jackson carefuUy revised and cor
rected the statements before his official signature was ap
pended. He was exceedingly careful not to have any thing
placed thus upon formal record which was not established by
irrefutable proof. Truth was with him the jewel beyond all
price — and nothing discomposed him more than the bare sus
picion that accuracy was sacrificed to effect. He disliked all

238 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
glowing adjectives in the narratives of his battles ; and pre
sented to the members of his staff and all around him, a noble
example of modesty and love of truth. He seeraed, indeed,
to have a horror of any thing like ostentation, boasting, or self-
laudation, expressed or iraplied. Nothing was more disagree
able to him than the excessive praises which reached his ears
through the newspapers of the day ; and he shrunk frora the
attempts made to elevate him above his brother commanders
w ith a repugnance which was obvious to every one. His dis
Hke for all popular ovations was extreme. He did not wish
his portrait to be taken, or his actions to be made the subject
of laudatory coraraent in the journals-of the day. When the
publishers of an illustrated periodical wrote to him requesting
his daguerreotype and some notes of his battles for an engra
ving and a biographical sketch, he wrote in reply that he had
no picture of himself and had never done any thing.
So carefully did he guard all the statements in his reports
fiom error, and such was the rigid censorship which he estab
lished in relation to the most minute portions of these narra
tives, that the official reports revised and signed by him, may
be relied upon as the very quintessence of truth, and histo
rians may quote them, through all coming tirae, as the sworn
statements of a man who would have laid down his very life
before he would have attached his name to what was partial,
unfair, or aught but the simple, absolute truth. Those bat
tles were fought as Jackson's reports declare ; and almost the
sole merit of this poor record of his career consists in this,
that events are stated here, as they are stated there — with
nothing added to or taken from the record.*

* The only exceptions to this statement are the narratives of
the second battle of Manassas, and the battles of Harper's Ferry
and Sharpsburg. The official report of the latter engagements is
given in the Appendix. The report of the former is not at this time
accessible.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 239
These winter raonths of 1S62-3 were not entirely passed,
however, in laborious occupations connected with the general's
official position. Many pleasant incidents are related of hira,
at this period, which we could dwell upon at length, did
time and space perrait. Those who visited Moss Neck during
those days, give a humorous description of the surroundings
of the famous General StonewaU. Before his tent was pitched,
he established his headquarters in a sraall out-building of the
Corbin House ; and all who came to transact business with
Lieutenant-general Jackson, were struck by a series of head
quarter ornaments of the most unique and surprising descrip
tion. On the walls of tlfe apartment were pictures of race
horses, well known and dear in former days to the planters of
the neighboring region. Then there was a portrait of some
celebrated gaine-cock, ready trimmed ahd gaffed for conflict
to the death. A companion piece of these, was the picture
of a terrier engaged in furious onslaught upon an army of
rats, which he was seizing, tearing, and shaking to death as
fast as they came. These decorations of headquarters excited
the merriraent of the general's associates ; and one of thein
suggested to him that a drawing of the apartment should be
made, with the race-horses, game-cooks, and terrier in bold
.relief, the picture to be labelled, "View of the winter-quarters
of Gen. Stonewall Jackson, presenting an insight into the tastes
and character of the individual."
Hearty laughter on the part of Gen. Jackson greeted this
jest from the distinguished brother soldier who had stood be
side him upon so many bloody fields — whora he loved and
opened his whole heart to — and to whom, when struck down
by the fatal ball at Chancellorsville, his mind first turned as
his successor.
The children of the house, and in the neighborhood, will
long remember the kind voice and smile of the great soldier —
his caresses and affectionate ways. A new military cap had
been sent him just before the battle of Fredericksburg, which

240 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
was resplendent with gold braid and all manner of decorations,
General Jackson did not admire this fine substitute for that
old, sun-scorched head-covering which had so long served
him ; and when, one day, a little girl was standing at his
knee, looking up from her clustering curls at the kindly gen
eral, whose hand was caressing her hair, he found a better use
for the fine gold braid around the cap. He called for a pair
of scissors, ripped it off, and joining the ends, placed it like a
coronet upon her head, with smiles and evident admiration of
the pretty picture thus presented.
Another little girl, in one of the hospitable houses of that
region, told the present writer that -when she expressed to a
gentleman her wish to kiss Gen. Jackson, and the gentleman
repeated her words, the general blushed very much, and turned
away with a slight laugh, as if he was confused.
These are trifies, let us agree, good reader ; but is it not a
pleasant spectacle to see the great soldier amid these kindly,
simple scenes — to watch the stern and indomitable leader,
whose soul has never shrunk in the hour of deadliest peril,
passing happy moraents in the society of laughing children !
At the first battle of Manassas, while Jackson's wound was
being dressed, some one said, "Herer comes the President."
He threw aside the surgeons, rose suddenly to his feet, and
whirling his old cap around his head, cried, with the fire of
battle in his eyes :
" Hurrah for the President ? Give me ten thousand raen,
and I'll be in Washington to-night !"
It was the same man who blushed when a child expressed
her wish to kiss him.
The days passed thus quietly at Moss Neck, the enemy
making njiraerous demonstrations, but never crossing. Janu
ary, February, the greater part of March went by, and Jackson
still remained upon his crest of hills above the meadows of
the Rappahannock; but late in March he moved his head
quarters to a point near Hamilton's Crossing, just in rear of

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 241
the Dattle-field of Fredericksburg, on the southern side of the
Massaponnax, and not far from Gen. Lee.
The spring was now beginning to advance, and the season
for hostilities had returned. Gen. Jackson hastened the prep
aration of his reports, and had the satisfaction of knowing
that at last they were nearly complete.
It was while he was engaged in his revision of the report
of the operations of his corps in the Maryland campaign, that
the note of battle was again sounded, and from memories of
past events, and the battles already fought, he was recalled
to the present, and to the still more desperate confiict about
to take place — to the last, and what was to prove not the
least splendid, of his achievements.

CHAPTER XXX
HOOKER ADVANCES,
BuRNsinE, defeated and disgraced, had been long since suc
ceeded by Hooker, soon to join in his turn that great proces
sion of Headless Phantoms, the Yankee Generals, on their
march toward the River of Oblivion,
Gen. Hooker had noisily declared his ability to defeat the
rebel army ; had scoffed at McClellan and all preceding gen
erals, as incompetent ; and his shameless self-laudation, boast
ing, and bravado, had reaped from a congenial government
their full reward. He was assigned to the comraand of the
Federal army on the Rappahannock — and the time had now
come when he was about to exhibit those great qualifications
which he had so long and persistently claimed for himself
The first note of the coming confiict was sounded on the
l7th of March, from the upper Rappahannock. On that day
Gen. Averill, with three thousand cavalry, crossed the river
at Kelly's Ford, for an extensive raid on the coraraunications
11

242 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
of the army in the direction of Gordonsville. Hooker's de
sign in ordering this movement was undoubtedly to cut the
Central Railroad, and ascertain as far as possible, the strength
and position of Gen. Lee.
Bad fortune, however, attended the expedition. The Fed
eral general was met near Kelly's Ford, by Gen. Fitz. Lee,
with about eight hundred cavalry, and his advance so obsti
nately opposed, that, after a day of stubborn and bloody con
flict, he was forced to fall back, with heavy loss, and recross
the river. Our own loss was considerable; and among the
officers killed was Major John Pelham — the "Gallant Pel
ham," of Gen. Lee's report at Fredericksburg — who was pres
ent with Gen. Stuart during the battle. The fall of this
great artillerist was an irreparable calaraity, but the enemy
were completely checked ; and the Southern army had the
prestige of victory in the first battle of the spring campaign.
After the battle of Kellysville, which for hard and obsti
nate fighting, has scarcely been excelled by any encounter of
the war, the enemy reraained quiet until April. Toward the
middle of that raonth, every thing indicated an early advance
on the part of the Federal forces. It was known that Gen.
Hooker had been making extraordinary exertions to increase
the strength of his array, and to place every department of
the command upon a thorough " war footing " — these labors
were said to have secured the desired result — and, in the
month of April, the Northern journals repeatedly and confi
dently asserted Gen. Hooker's ability to overwhelra Gen. Lee
whenever he advanced.
This spirit of vainglorious confidence seems to have been
shared by Gen. Hooker and the raajority of his officers.
Whether deceived by spies, who coraraunioated false inteUi
gence, or misled by his own glowing anticipations, which
made " the wish the father of the thought," the Federal com
mander exhibited, in many ways, the raost unhesitating con
fidence in his ability to defeat Lee, and looked forward to the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 243
battie about to take place, as destined to annihilate the Con
federate army and terminate the war.
The advance of the Federal forces was preceded as usual
by raoveraents of cavalry. The enemy had largely increased
their force in this branch, and paid great attention to its arm
ament and equipment. The North had been ransacked for
horses ; the best patterns of carbines and pistols were fur
nished in profusion ; and great attention was given to the
organization of the force, tbe character of its officers, and its
efficiency in every particular. The commanders were given
to understand that much was expected of them ; and Gen.
Pleasanton, to whose command the whole was intrusted,
seemed anxious to recover the laurels which Averill had lost
in his encounter with Fite. Lee.
During the month of AprU, persistent attempts were made
by Pleasanton to penetrate into the county of Culpepper,' aud
beat up General Stuart's quarters there : his expectation
heing to gain information, and unmask General Lee's position.
These attempts, however, all failed. Our cavalry, under Gen.
Stuart, confronted them at every point, from United States
Ford, below the confiuence of the rivers, to the upper wa
ters ; whenever they crossed they were driven back with con
siderable slaughter ; and up to the moment when General
Hooker's army was put in motion, it may be declared with
truth, that the enemy's great cavalry force had proved com
pletely useless in gaining for the commanding general in
formation of Gen. Lee's movements, position, or designs. *
The position of 'our forces did not materially differ from
what it had been before, and subsequent to the battle of
Fredericksburg. The main body of the Southern army con
fronted the enemy's caraps opposite the town — occupying the
woods in rear of the old battle-field. A force was posted
opposite H. S. Ford, higher up the river, to watch the ene
my's movements in that direction; and the various fords from
U. S. to Hinson's, far up the Rappahannock, nearly opposite

244 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Orleans, were picketed by Stuart's cavalry, which, under the
supervision of that energetic coraraander, left no avenue of
advance unguarded. The exposed left fiank was rightly
regarded as the direction from which the enemy would attack
with a view to turning Gen. Lee's position, and* forcing him
to fall back. Extreme vigilance was accordingly enjoined
upon the cavalry pickets ; and no sooner had the Federal
forces put themselves in motion on the upper waters than
Gen. Stuart telegraphed the fact to Gen. Lee below.
It would seem that General Hooker decided to advance,
upon receiving inforraation that " the only army to oppose
him was «ne of forty thousand under Jacksoii, Lee bein
sick, and his army scattered." The presence of Gen. Long
street in front of Suffolk was well known to the Federal
comraander ; and it thus appeared that the absence of a very
considerable portion of the Confederate force was the circum
stance which induced Gen. Hooker, after all his boasts, to
undertake an advance.
All things were at last declared to be ready : the organiza
tion of the Federal army was completed— that is to say,
Gen. Longstreet was absent — and the movement which was
to " crush the rebellion" and end the war was commenced.
A writer in the New York World newspaper, who criticises
the operations of Gen. Hooker with great plainness of speech,
and apparent truth, says that the Federal plan was as foUows
''a portion of the array, about half of it, was to cross the
river near Fredericksburg, and pretend to renew the attempt
in which Burnside had been previously unsuccessful, and ac
coraplish two objects — first, to hold the enemy's force at that
point ; and second, to protect our communications and sup
plies, while the other half of the array should raake a cross
ing above the fortifications, and sweeping down with the
greatest rapidity to the rear of Fredericksburg, take a strong
position and hold it until they could be reinforced by the
portion of the array engaged in raaking the feint which was
to withdraw from its position, take the bridges to the point ot

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 243
the river which had been uncovered by the flank movement,
and the whole army was thus to be concentrated in the rear of
Fredericksburg," The writer thus continues :
" On Monday, the 26th, was commenced the execution of
this plan. Three corps, the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth,
were ordered to march with eight days' rations, to Kelly's
Ford, near the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, General Slo
cum, of the Twelfth Corps, was placed in command, and on
Tuesday night the force intrusted with the important part of
executing tbe flank movement had reached^he point at which
they were ordered to cross the Rappahannock. Tuesday
night, also, three other corps, the First, Third, and Sixth, were
sent to Franklin's crossing, three miles below Fredericksburg,
to be ready to undertake the crossing simultaneously with the
other corps at Kelly's Ford on Wednesday morning. The en
emy were evidently not prepared to resist the crossing at
either point, and the affair was so well managed that both di
visions of the army had estabhshed themselves on the west
bank of the river and covered these bridges without any se
rious opposition by the enemy.
" Gen. Sedgwick, who commanded the three corps of the left
wing, made no forward demonstration, except enough to at
tract the eneray and prevent them from turning upon the de
tachment which was forcing its way toward the rear of the
enemy's works in command of General Stoneman. General
Hooker had personally superintended the passage of the troops
at Kelly's Ford, and returned while they pushed on toward
the Rapidan at Gerraania Mills, where they crossed success
fnUy, and made some progress beyond before Wednesday
night." As soon as the designs of the enemy were developed in the
direction of KeUy's Ford, Gen. Stuart concentrated his cavalry
in front of that point, and observed their further movements,
communicating full information of their foirce and the direc
tion of their march to Gen. Lee. He fell back as the Fed
eral column advanced, and detaching a portion of his command
under Gen. W. H. F. Lee to oppose the Federal cavalry un
der Stoneman, who was moving in the direction of Rapidan

246 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Station, on the Orange aad Alexandria Railroad, proceeded
with the remainder toward Fredericksburg, hanging on the
flank of the enemy, and as far as possible impeding his move-
rnents. The following account of the subsequent operations of the
nght and left wings of the Federal army, iip to the night ci
Friday, April SOth, is taken from the same journal quoted
above, and will throw light upon the designs of Gen. Hooker,
which by this time had been completely penetrated by the
sagacious and far-seeing commander of the Confederate forces :
" Thursday. — Sedgwick still threatened the enemy, and
held them near Fredericksburg, while Slocum pressed on from
the Rapidan and took his position across the plank-road, the
enemy's line of retreat toward Gordonsville, at Chancelloris-
ville. Couch's Second Corps, which had reraained at Banks'
Ford, now moved up to the United States Ford, and crossed
to join General Slocum. General Hooker also rejoined, and
took coramand of the four corps thus concentrated in the rear
of Fredericksburg and across the line of the enemy's retreat.
It was now time for the detachment to take the defence and
hold their position until the other corps should join them,
and, the army thus united, be enabled to meet all the forces
which the enemy might bring against them. Thursday night
there was sharp work on both sides to out-manceuvre each
other. The enemy had now learned, with sufficient certainty,
that a large force was in their rear in the direction of Chan
cellorsville, and that Stoneman's cavalry was greatly endan
gering their railroa'd coraraunication, and they were moving
accordingly away from Sedgwick toward the rear of Hooker,
between ChancellorsviUe and the Rapidan, by the roads at the
South of the plank-road, which was in our possession. While
leaving Sedgwick's front the enemy made unusual demonstra
tions of camp fires, as if concentrating there, and similar de
vices were resorted to on our own side. But neither deceived
the other, for both were raoving away, and on our side a por
tion of the bridges were taken up iraraediately, and the Third
corps moved all night toward the United States Ford to join
with Gen. Hooker at Chancellorsville*
" Friday. — While-the First and Third Corps were moving
from the left wing to join Gen. Hooker at ChanceUorsviUe,

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 247
Sykes, of the Fifth Corps, and Williams, of the Twelfth, pushed
on nearer to the rear of Fredericksburg, skirmishing and
fio-hting with the enemy who showed shght resistance in that
direction. The enemy were thus driven before them for four
miles, when General Hooker, for some reason, ordered them
to fall back and rejoin his lines at Chancellorsville. By nigl t
his army was all concentrated, except the Sixth corps, au
ready for a forward raovement to the rear of Fredericksburg
heights. The raain body of the enemy had now moved away
from their works at Fredericksburg, and were preparing to
attack our army on the right in a direction from which, if
beaten, they could successfully retreat, and from which it was
hardly expected they would meet us."
Such was the rather bungling strategy by which General
Hooker expected to out-gener'al Lee ; turn his left flank ; and
force him to fall back from his strong position, or fight at an
enormous disadvantage. Let us see now what dispositions
were made .by the commander thus threatened. Our narra
tive concerns itself mainly, of course, with the operations of
Gen. Jackson, the only corps comraander on the field ; and
we shall trace his raovements from his camp upon the Massa
ponnax to the. disastrous moment when, amid the dense and
lugubrious shades of the Wilderness he fell, at the instant
when fuU victory crowned him.

CHAPTER XXXL
THE WILDERNESS  CHANCELLORSVILLE.
The left wing of the Federal army, coraposed of three
grand divisions under General Sedgwick, crossed below
Fredericksburg on Wednesday, April 28th, and Gen. Jackson
promptiy drew up his corps in line of battle to repel the ex-_
pected attack.
As the enemy did not advance, however, either on that day

248 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
or the next, it became apparent that General Sedgwick's
orders were to threaten Fredericksburg, while the raain body
of the Federal array was massed above, and moved down with
a view to out-flank General Lee, and drive him from his po
sition. Jackson was accordingly ordered, on Thursday evening, to
leave one division of his corps in front of the enemy at Fred
ericksburg, and proceed with the three others to the Taber
nacle, a point on the road to Chancellorsville, where he would
take command of Anderson's and a portion of McLaws' divi
sions, and " attack and repulse the enemy."
This order reached Jackson about eight o'clock in the even
ing, and at midnight the three divisions were on the road to
Chancellorsville. They were A. P. HiU's division, commanded
by that general ; D. H. HiU's, commanded by Gen. Rodes ;
and Trimble's, commanded by Gen. Colston.
On reaching the Tabernacle Church next morning, Ander
son's division was added to the comraand and placed in front,
.two brigades of McLaws' division being sent forward on the
road to U. S. Ford. The march was then resuraed — Posey's
and Wright's brigades, to which Ramseur's was afterwards
added, preceding the column in hne-of-battle, on the right and
left of the road.
The command proceeded thus until it approached Chan
cellorsville, when the advance became engaged with the enemy,
and was fired upon by a battery masked behind the dense
woods, and completely protected from attack by a complicated
abatis in front.
Finding the day far spent, and having had no opportunity
of observing the ground or ascertaining the enemy's position.
General Jackson ordered a halt, and employed the rest of the
afternoon in getting up his coramand, and seeing that'all were
in place for work the next morning.
• At night Gen. Lee arrived, and a consultation was
held. The position of affairs was such as to demand the

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 249
utmost promptness, sagacity, 'and generalship, to insure the
defeat of the enemy's plans. While Sedgwick was threaten
ing Lee's position below. General Hooker with the main body
of his army had rapidly advanced to Chancellorsville, a point
on the Old Plank-road, between Fredericksburg and Ger
manna, and opposite U. S. Ford. Here he had forraed a
double line of battle, reserabling the two sides of a square —
his right ranging along the plank-road, nearly east and west,
his left extending toward the river, nearly north and south —
the apex, where the two lines-of-battle joined each other, be
ing near the Old Chancellor House. In front of these lines the
dense timber of the region had been felled, so as to form an
almost impassable series of abatis : in rear of this were elabo
rate ranges of earthworks for infantry ; and behind, as upon
either flank — wherever, indeed, a position could be obtained —
the hills bristled with artillery, completely protected by felled
timber from attack.
Humanly speaking. Hooker's position was impregnable, ex
cept with a frightful loss of life in storming it, and the design
of assailing him in front was speedily abandoned.
An attack upon one of his flanks promised better results ;
and General Jackson's suggestion that he should move well to
the left and assail the enemy's right and rear near the Wilder
ness was speedily assented to by General Lee. By this move
ment the elaborate se'ries of defences thrown up by the eneray
would be rendered useless, their plan of battle reversed, and
they would be compelled to face to the rear. and fight, if they
fought at all, at a fatal disadvantage-
Those who are familiar with the bent of Jackson's genius
w'ill easily comprehend the alacrity witii which he proceeded
to carry out General Lee's orders. These sudden and mortal
blows struck at an enemy, rejoicing in the strength of his
defences, and prepared to hurl destruction on the assailant,
while he himself is protected, always possessed an inexpressi
ble charm for the great leader who had delivered so many

250 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
such ; and General Jackson now saw the field open for a su
preme exhibition of military genius, and a decisive blow.
He knew the importance of celerity 'and secrecy of raoveraent,
and every preparation was made for the march at an early
hour on the succeeding morning. We have already quoted
his words, " Mystery ! mystery is the secret of success I" — and
on this occasion no precautions were omitted, calculated to
mask the movement from the eneray. General Fitz. Lee's
brigade of cavalry was disposed in such a raanner as to guard
the front and flanks of the coluran as it advanced, frora the
observation of the Federal comraander, by driving off scouting
parties, and acting as pioneers ; and by this and other precau
tions General Jackson did not doubt his ability to reagh the
point where he intended to attack, without having his design
discovered by the enemy.
He was early in the saddle, and the march commenced —
the cavalry keeping well on the flanks and to the front. Di
verging to the left from the plank-road, the command, which
now consisted of Jackson's three divisions only, and tho
cavalry, moved to and passed the point known as " The Fur
nace," and thence proceeded toward the plank-road from
Chancellorsville to Orange Court-house, crossing it near its
junction with the road leading up to Germanna Ford. It
was along this latter road that the right wing of the enemy's
Hne-of-battle was posted — and to reach their right and rear
it was necessary to move still further to the left. The march
was accordingly continued, the cavalry moving as well upon
the flank as the dense undergrowth which had given the
region the name of the Wilderness, permitted ; ahd the head
of the column, completely screened from the enemy, thus
reaohed the Germanna Ford road about half a mile east of
the Old Wilderness Post-office.
At this point. Gen. Fitz. Lee informed Gen. Jackson . that
by ascending a neighboring hill, he could obtain a view of the
position of the enemy, who would take him for a simple cav-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 251
airy vidette, and pay no attention to hira. He accordingly
proceeded to the point indicated, accompanied by one or two
of his staff, and saw at a glance the position of the Federal
line-of-battle. He turned instantly to one of his aids ; said
briefly, " Tell my coluran to cross that road ;" and hastening
back, placed himself at the head of his command, and 'ad
vanced without delay to the Old Turnpike running to Chan
cellors vUle.
The movement had been a complete success. Jackson had
reaohed a position where he had the enemy in flank and re
verse, and orders were instantly given to prepare the troops
for action. The order was promptly obeyed, and the lines
formed. Gen. Rodes' division was formed in front ; next came
Gen. A. P. Hill's, three hundred yards in rear ; and Colston's
was drawn up the same distance behind Hill. This disposi
tion of the forces was subsequently changed, however, owing
to the dense undergrowth, which greatly fatigued the men ;
and Rodes only advanced in line-of battle, the two other divisions
with the artillery, marching in column along the road. This
manner of moving his artillery, by a commander, so prudent
and skilful as Gen. Jackson, will more than all else serve to
show the almost impassable character of the ground over
which he now advanced.
The Old Turnpike ran straight into the rear of the enemy,
and Jackson followed it, extending his line-of-battle well to the
left — his design being to swing round with his left, and thus
cut off the enemy from U. S. Ford, and destroy them.
No intimation of the steady, inexorable advance of " Jack
son's men" had yet reached the doomed Federals. The
movement was so bold and unexpected,' ¦and had been accom
phshed with such consummate skill, that now when the venge
ful Confederates were sweeping forward, and had almost come
into actual collision with their foes, their presence was not
even suspected, and the fate of the corps opposed to them was
sealed.

. 252 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
It was the "Eleventh Cprps" of the Federal army, cel
ebrated inthe Northern journals as " Siegel's Veterans," before
whose onslaught the Southern troops would melt away as
frost before the flame. It was now coramanded by Gen How
ard — and Fate that day decreed for it and him the unenviable
notoriety of receiving the last assault of Jackson.
That assault was sudden, unlooked for, terrible. Frora the
first instant it was a rout — perfect, decisive, ignominious. The
mercenaries who composed the corps, fied before the onset of
their enemies with a precipitation which was ludicrous.
Whole regiments ran without firing a shot. Batteries went
off at a gallop, ran iuto trees and fences, and were captured
and turned upon the enemy. At one blow. Gen, Jackson had
paralyzed a powerful portion of the Federal force, and they
were rushing, raad with terror, upon the reserves. Let their
own friends describe the scene, A write? in a Northern
journal, says :
" The flying Gerraans came dashing over the field in crowds,
stampeding and running as only men do run when convinced
that sure destruction is awaiting thera. I must confess that
I have no ability to do justice to the scenes that followed. It
was ray lot to be in the centre of that field when the panic
burst upon us. May I never be a witness to another such
scene. On one hand was a solid column of infantry retreat
ing at double quick ; ori the other was a denfee mass of beings
who were flying as fast as their legs could' carry them, fol
lowed up by the rebels, pouring their raurderous volleys in
upon us, yelling and hooting, to increase the confusion ; hun
dreds of cavalry horses, left riderless at the flrst discharge
from the rebels, dashing frantically about in all directions;
scores of batteries flying from the field ; battery wagons, am
bulances, horses, men, cannon, caissons, all jumbled and tumbled
together in one inextricable mass — and the murderous fire of
the rebels still pouring in upon them ! To add to the terror
of the occasion, th'ere was but one means of escape from the
field, and that through a little narrow neck or ravine washed
out by Scott's creek. Toward this, the confused mass plunged
headlong. For a moment it seemed as if no power could

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 253
avert the frightful calamity that threatened the entire array.
On came the panic-stricken crowd, terrified artillery riders
spurring and lashing their horses to their utmost ; arabulances
upsetting and being dashed to pieces against trees and stumps ;
horses dashing over the field ; men flying and crying with
alarm — a perfect torrent of passion apparently uncontrollable.
The men ran in all directions. They all seemed possessed
with an instinctive idea of the shortest and most direct line
from the point whence they started to the United States Mine
Ford, and the majority of them did not stop until they had
reached the ford. Many of them, on reaching the river,
dashed in and swam to the north side, and are supposed to be
running yet. The stampede was universal; the disgrace
general." Jackson saw at a glance the immense results to be achieved
by vigorously following up this success. The eneray were
pressed toward Chancellorsville, and A. P. HiU's division was
ordered to hasten forward and take tKe place of Rodes's.
The wood of this strange Wilderness was so thick, however,
that to advance in line-of-battle, was impracticable, and Gen.
HiU's forces were accordingly disposed in and on each side of
the road, in the best manner possible, for attack. •
We now approach the fatal moment; the hour of sorrow
and loss to all this nation. God had limited the great man's
days ; had decreed that his career should here end ; and it is
not without a sort of awe that we proceed to record, in a.few
brief sentences, the details of this irreparable public calamity.
Gen. Jackson ordered Gen. Hill to advance with his di
vision in the manner described, reserving his fire unless cavalry
approached from the direction of the enemy ; and then, with
that burning and intense enthusiasra for conflict whioh lay un
der his calm exterior, hastened forward to the line of skir
mishers who were hotly engaged in front. Such was his
ardor, at this critical moment, and his anxiety to penetrate
the raovements of the eneray, doubly screened as they were
hy the- dense forest and gathering darkness, that he rode ahead
of his skirmishers, aud exposed himself to a close and dan-

254 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
gerous fire from the enemy's sharpshooters, posted in the
timber. So great was the danger which he thus ran, that one of his
staff said : " General, don't you think this is the wrong place
for you?" He replied quickly :" The danger is aU over;
the enemy is routed. Go back and tell A. P. Hill to press
right on 1" Soon after giving this order. General Jackson
turned, and accorapanied by his staff and escort, rode back at
a trot, on his well-known " Old Sorrel " toward his own men.
Unhappily in the darkness — it was now nine or ten o'clock at
night — the little body of horseraen was mistaken for Federal
cavalry charging, and the regiments on the right and left of
the road fired a- sudden volley into them with the most lament
able results. Capt. Boswell of Gen. Jackson's staff was killed,
and borne into our Ijnes by his horse ; Col. Crutchfield, Chief
of Ai'tillery, was wounded ; and two couriers were killed.
Gen. Jackson received one ball in his left arm, two inches
below the shoulder joint, shattering the bone and severing the
chief artery ; a second passed through the same arm, between
the elbow and wrist, raaking its exit through the palm of the
hand ; a third ball entered the palm of his right hand, about
the middle, and passing through, broke two of the bones. ""
He fell from his horse, and was caught by Capt. Wormly,
to whom he said, "All my wounds are by my own raen."
The firing was responded to by the eneray, who made a sud
den advance, and, the Confederates falling back, their foes ac
tually charged over Jackson's body. He was not discovered,
however, and the Federals being driven back in turn, he was
rescued. Ready hands placed him upon a litter, and he was
borne to the rear, amid a heavy fire from the enemy. One of
the litter-bearers was shot down, and the general fell from the
shoulders of the men, receiving a severe contusion, adding to
the injury of the arm and injuring the side severely. The
eneray's fire of artillery on the point was terrible. General
Jackson was left for five minutes untU the fire slackened, then

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 255
placed in an ambulance and carried to the field-hospital at
Wilderness Run. He lost a large amount of blood, and at
one tirae told Dr. McGuire he thought he was dying, and
would have bled to death, but a tourniquet was immediately
applied. For two hours he was nearly pulseless from the
shock. As he was being carried from the field, frequent in
quiries was made by the soldiers, "Who have you there?"
He told the doctor, " Do not tell the troops I am wounded."-
To conceal his fall from the troops was important ; but there
was a juore important point still — the officer to succeed to the
command. Gen. Hill had also been wounded, and the" briga
diers were inexperienced in such great comraands. General
Jackson immediately expressed a desire that General Stuart
should direct the subsequent movements of his corps ; and by
a coincidence of sentiment Gen. Rodes, to whom the command
fell when Gen. HUl was wounded, had already dispatched a
messenger to Stuart. When he arrived. General Stuart re
quested Major Pendleton, A. A. Gen., to go to Gen. Jackson
and ask what his dispositions and plans were, as he "knew
that what Gen. Jackson had designed was the very best that
could be done." When this message was delivered to the
wounded hero, he replied, " Go back to General Stuart and
tell him to act upon his own judgment, and do what he thinks
best ; I have implicit confidence in him."*
General Stuart assumed command of the corps, and was
busily engaged throughout the night in preparing for a con
tinuation of the confiict on the morrow. The battle of the
Wilderness had been fought, and the battle of Chancellors
ville was to succeed, though it is probable that in spite of the
separate scenes and days, the whole will hereafter be known
by the latter name. The exertions of Stuart were unceasing
throughout the night, and when the signal for the advance
* These details are given upon the authority of Major A. H. Pendle
ton, who recalls the exact words used by General Jackson.

256 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
was given on the following morning, it was the prelude of
victory. No official reports of these great battles have yet been
made, and in the absence of detailed and strictly reliable ac
counts, we present the following narrative from the New York
World. It is the enemy who speaks, and when he describes
the Confederates under Stuart " sweeping slowly, but confi
dently, determinedly, and surely through the clearings," and
acknowledges " their superiority in the open field to our
men" — that is the Federals — we cannot; attribute these state
ments to the partiality of a Southerner, who feels bound to
commend his own people, and uphold them under all circum
stances. The writer speaks first of the movements on Satur-
day, which we have just described :
" Saturday. — General Hooker occupied the day in awaiting
the attack of the enemy, which was evidently expected in
front. The movements of the enemy seemed to indicate that
they were retreating, and as the main line of their retreat was
occupied by our forces, an attack to recover that line was con
fidently expected. What was the surprise, then, to find
Stonewall Jackson, on Saturday afternoon, upon our extreme
right and rear, between Chancellorsville and Gerraania Mills ?
A most furious and desperate attack was made, and the right
of our lines, which was held by the Eleventh Corps, was
almost instantly broken, and the panic-stricken men, in utter
confusion, with and ^without muskets, hats, and coats, rushed
headlong from under fire down the only road which led to the
bridges, and no power on earth could have stopped or pre
vented the complete and disgraceful rout of the soldiers who
have hitherto shown better qualities under their former com
mander. General Howard could have no control over the
cowardly fugitives, who stopped not to look back until they
reached the Rappahannock, So disgraceful a panic has not
been seen in this army.
" The Third Corps, under General Sickles, was interposed
in the breach thus made, and the excellent coolness of this
officer, with the better qualities which his corps exhibited,
saved the further progress of the panic and the rout, and the
evil was temporarily stayed. But the poison wa%infused ; the

LIFE 0» STONEWALL JACKSON, 257
other corps had witnessed the utter confusion and panic of one
full corps, and their enthusiasm was fiom that moraent damp
ened, and the confidence they had hitherto felt in their success
under General Hooker was lost in the reflection that they
could place little confldence in one another,
'• But a little ground was lost in this event, yet all had an
ill-boding sense of fear that our men would not prove reliable,
and that our successes thus far were but to prove fruitless in
tiie end. This rout of the Eleventh (formerly Siegel's) Corps
was the crisis. This was the turning point, from which our
succeeding misfortunes can be most distinctly traced. Satur
day closed the operations of the first week, with doubtful pros
pects of the final result, and the previous successes of the right
wing seemed destined to end in disaster.
" Sedgwick, with the Sixth Corps, had, at this time, with
drawn to the east bank of the river, taken Up his bridges, and
replaced them again directly in front of Fredericksburg, and
prepared for an assault on the morrow of the earthworks back
of the town.
" Sunday. — The assault of General Sedgwick upon the
heights of Fredericksburg was coraraenced on Sunday morn
ing. A more determined and desperate attack has not been
made. No raan ever attacked the fortifications of an eneray
with more enthusiasm or vigor. The bank was steep, the fire
of shot and shell was terrific, and the slaughter of General
Sumner's Corps, four months ago, gave little promise of suc
cess. To almost certain death the men charged up and car
ried the works, driving the artillerists from their guns, cap
tured twelve pieces of the best and heaviest artillery, and many
prisoners of war in their trenches. With the heaviest losses,
Sedgwick followed up his success with the boldest energy,
and pursued the enemy toward ChanceUorsviUe with the pur
pose of uniting with General Hooker at that place.
"But this brilliant success came too late, for the enemy
held the plank-road which the rout of the Eleventh Corps
had yielded to them on the previous night, and the enemy
was enabled to throw any sufficient force against hira to pre
vent his junction with Hooker. This was speedily done, and
soon Sedgwick's fine corps, the largest, and perhaps the best
of ¦ the army, was cut. off froin communicatioh either with
Hooker or with Fredericksburg, and, thus isolated, was cora
pelled to faU back upon the river at Banks' Fordj where

258 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
bridges had been thrown over, by which, if severely pressed,
he could make safe his retreat across the Rappahannock again.
Thus followed misfortune on misfortune, not for lack of skill or
bravery, but for the conduct of the miscreants who had fled
from their position on the previous night almost upon the first
attack of the enemy,
"But another repulse was sustained on Sunday morning
by the army near Chancellorsville. The enemy renewed the
attack, and again drove back our lines for half a mile. From
the large brick house, which gives the name to this vicinity,
the enemy could be seen sweeping slowly, but confidently,
determinedly, and surely, through the clearings which extend
ed in front. Nothing could excite more admiration for the
best qualities of the veteran soldier than the raanner in which
the eneray swept out, as they moved steadily onward, the
forces which were opposed to them. We say it reluctantly,
and for the first time, that the enemy have shown the fiqest
qualities ; and we acknowledge, on this occasion, their superi
ority in the open field to our own men.
" They delivered their fire with precision, and were appar
entiy inflexible and immovable under the storm of bullets and
shell which they were constantly receiving. Coming to a
piece of timber, which was occupied by a division of our own
men, half the number were detailed to clear the woods. It
seemed certain that bete they would be repulsed, but they
marched right through the wood, driving our own soldiers
out, who delivered their fire and fell back, halted again, fired
and fell back as before, seeraing to' concede to the enemy, as
a matter of course, the superiority which they evidently felt
themselves. Our own men fought well. There was no lack
of courage, but au evident feeling, apparently the result of
having been so often whipped, or of having^ witnessed the rout
on the night previous, that they were destined to be beaten,
and the only thing for them to do was to fire and retreat.
The enemy felt confident that they were to be victorious, and
our men had, from some occasion, imbibed the same impres
sion. Our men showed lack of earnestness and enthusiasm,
but no want of courage. All that they needed was the inspi
ration of a series of victories to look back upon, and an earnestr
ness and confidence in the success of the cause for which "they
were fighting. Thus ended the Sabbath and another chaptei
in the series of our disasters.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 259
"Monday — Another day of misfortune ; and the day was
'hardly ushered in before the enemy in force came down upou
the detachments which had been thought sufficient to hold
the works upon the heights- of Fredericksburg. First a bri
gade, then a division, then a larger force came in upon thera,
and, after strongly contesting the position, they wero com
pelled to yield and fall back under the protection of the town.
The enemy formed their Hue of battle on the outskirts, and
within the town the two brigades of General Gibbon held
them in check as long as could be. Many wounded meu
were here in the hospitals, and the position was raaintained
as long as possible. At length the ground was given up, tbe
troops were withdrawn, the bridges taken up, and Fredericks
burg was given back to the eneray.
" They were now at liberty to turn their attention to Sedg
wick, and they lost no tirae in concentrating their forces
against him. They were too strong for him.
" After a most obstinate fight, in which the enemy alraost
were successful in destroying his bridges, and the possibility
of his escape, he made good his retreat also to the east bank
of the Rappahannock. His losses were appalling. He suf
fered terribly, and in their retreat there was rauch confusion
and disorder among the troops. A few at the first onset laid
down their arms and yielded themselves up prisoners without
firing a rausket, but generally the men of this corps displayed
the greatest gallantry in fighting, and only yielded when
overpowered by superior nurabers.
" Tuesday — By this tirae the aspect of affairs had becorae
exceedingly dark. The troops were much dispiritefl, and al
though they had held their position on Monday, the prospect
of meeting the combined forces of the euemy with large re
inforceraents, which they were known to have received, was
exceedingly unpronjising. A severe storm appeared also on
Tuesday afternoon, swelling the Rappahannock to a torrent,
and threatening to carry away the bridges. Tuesday night
the arniy of the Rappahannock was withdrawn, and our en
tire force brought again to this side of the river, with the
exception of many dead and wounded, who were left behind
to the tender mercies' of the enemy."
Such is the history of the battle of Chancellorsville given
in a NorthoKi journal. Let us conclude with the comment

260 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
of the editor of that journal — the New York World. It is
a morsel which should not be lost; and we rescue it from the
oblivion of newspaper literature for the benefit of the future
historians of this epoch. Here is the criticism :
"In view of the pleasing delusions which the administra
tion is now endeavoring to propagate, it would be well, per
haps, to outline some of the leading facts in this short cam
paign, from which the reader- can draw his own moral :
" 1. It is not true that Lee was surprised or deceived by
Hooker's raovement across the Rappahannock. From the
Richmond papet's of last Saturday, it is clear that the Con
federate military leaders understood it perfectly, and deliber
ately aUowed our army to cross, confident of their ability to
defeat, if not destroy it. Forney, in the Philadelphia Press,
states that Hooker was induced to cross by the assurances of
his spies and scouts that the only array to oppose him was one
of forty thousand under Jackson, Lee being sick and his
army scattered. The Baltimore Secessionists had the same
report, and believed it. Gen'. Hooker, therefore, at the very
start, was the deceived party, and walked straight into the
trap prepared for hira.
" 2. The great cavalry raid, which was an entire success,
did Gen. Hooker no good, because it did not preceed instead
of accompanying his movements. Lee's reinforceraents had
all arrived before the destruction of the railroads and bridges.
To him this is now only a temporary inconvenience. Had
Hooker retained his cavalry with his array, it would have
been far better for him. He could have captured several
housand more prisoners when Fredericksburg was taken, and,
more, than all, could have prevented Jackson's surprise of his ^
fiank and rear. They might have changed the coraplexion of
the fight.'
" Gen. Hooker's division of his army was as disastrous in
this instance as have been all such in former military history.
It is known that Gen. Halleck utterly disapproved of this
dispersion of the Union forces, and the result proved that in
this case, at least, he was right. If Lee had furnished Hooker
with a plan, it could not have been more to his liking. He
first hurled all his forces upon Hooker, and beat hira ; this
was on Saturday and Sunday, and then on Monday he re
possessed the heights of Fredericksburg, and drove Sedgwick

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 261
across the river, with the loss of one-third of his foice^ Thus
Lee, with one great army, beat two smaller armies in detail.
" 4. The battles of Saturday and Sunday were indisputable
rebel victories, as the enemy's attack upon Sedgwick on Mon
day proved. The latter was defeated alraost before Hooker's
eyes, and the latter could not even make a diversion to save
him. Lee and Jackson drove our army steadily from point to
point until it was crowded back upon the south bank of the
river. Our artiUery, which, according to the rebel accounts,
was splendidly served, no doubt saved what remained of the
army. " 5. The retreat across the river, according to Lee's dispatch
to Jeff. Davis, comraenced on Sunday night, and was in con
sequence of his signal victory. The administration's statement
is that it was commenced on Tuesday night, simply as a mat
ter of precaution on account of the storm and the rising
stream. Lee's account has all the known facts and the proba
bilities on its side. The Union correspondents all agree that
the stores and baggage were moved to the north bank on
Monday, leaving nothing but the artillery and infantry to cross
on Tuesday. The fierce storm of that day probably saved the
bulk of our army, which was passed over at night.
" 6. Gen. Hooker's statement of his losses reads as if it
was made by Gen. Wadsworth. He says his total loss in
kiUed, wounded, and missing, will not be more than ten thous
and men. If this be true, there are several circumstances
that need explaining badly. Gen. Sedgwick alone, all the ac
counts agree, lost one-third his force, or about six thousand
men ; but call it five thousand. The capture of Fredericks
burg, and the storming of the heights in its rear on Sunday,
lost us eight hundred men in killed and wounded. This
would leave but little over four thousand to have been killed,
wounded, and captured in the tremendous battles of Saturday '
and Sunday, when, at the very least, one hundred and fifty
thousand men met in deadly confiict, If Hooker and Lee
commanded Chinese armies, this might have been possible ;
bnt as they were Americans on both sides, it is simply incredi
ble. The rout of the Eleventh Corps, and the driving back of
our whole lines for two days in succession, must have cost us
¦ — we will not say how many men, but certainly more than
four thousand. Judged by the other battles of the war, this
fight ought to, Bave put twenty-five thousand men hors du com
bat. Gen. Hooker may be right in his estimate, but if he is,
the fighting on both sides was disgraceful.

262 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
" But the theme is too painful to dwell upon. The whole
management of the carapaign shows a painful lack both of
capacity and true courage, of mental force and a high sense
of honor. Our rulers are alike incapable and unveracious."
Such was the epitaph of Gen. Hooker 1

CHAPTER XXXIL
" IT IS ALL RIGHT."
All day long on Sunday, while the great conflict was roar
ing around ChancellorsviUe, Jackson lay at Wilderness Run,
faint, motionless, but thriUing at thi» sound so long faraUiar to
his ears.
Never before had the famous soldier been compelled to re
tire from the fleld — for at Manassas, though wounded, he still
retained the command of his brigade ; and it must have stirred
his flery soul to its very depths to find himself thus prostrate
and powerless as an infant while the great battle, big with
weal or woe for his beloved country, was being fought a few
miles distant from the couch on which he lay.
But there was no choice left him. The fatal balls had
torn through flesh, and muscle, and artery. His life was
even then ebbing away ; and he could only submit his spirit
humbly to the decree of that merciful God who had never
deserted him, and to whom he bowed with simple, childlike
humility. He had lost so much blood before a surgeon could be found
in the confusion and darkness, that he was for a long time
nearly pulseless. But reaction finally took place ; he revived ;
and a thorough examination was made of the nature and ex
tent of his injuries. They were found to be veiy serious, and
the result of a consultation between Drs. McGuire, Black,

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 263
Coleman and Walls, was that amputation of the arm should
be immediately resorted to.
This decision of the surgeons was guardedly communicated
to him. He was asked — "If we find amputation necessary
shall it be done at once ?" He replied with alacrity and that
cheerful disregard of pain which was a part of his manly spirit :
"Yes! certainly. Dr. McGuire do for me whatever you
think right."
Preparations were accordingly made for performing the
operation, and the patient having been put under the influ
ence of chloroform, his arm was taken off without subjecting
him, apparently, to very great pain. He slept well after the
operation, and when he woke asked for Mrs. Jackson, and re
quested that she might be sent for.
His thoughts then turned to the battle which was at the
time in progress, and he seemed to have no doubt that it
would result in victory for the Confederates. He spoke of
the attack which he had made on the preceding evening, and
said with a glow of martial ardor and a proud smile :
" If I had not been wounded, or had had one hour more
of daylight, I would have cut off the enemy from the road
to United States Ford ; we would have had them entirely
surrounded ; and they would have been obliged to surrender
or cut their way out — they had no other alternative. My
troops may sometimes fail in driving an enemy from a posf-
tion ; but the enemy always fails to drive my men frora a
position." He did not complain of his wounds, and never referred to
them unless a direct question was addressed to him on the
subject by some one. He spoke, however, of the fall from
the litter as he was being borne from the field ; and, although
no contusion or abrasion was perceptible from this accident,
declared that it had done him injury.
About this time he had the great satisfaction of receiving
from the commander whom he loved and admired so warmly

264 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
that note which we have placed as a motto on the titie page
of this book. It was in these words :
" I have just received your note, informing me that you
were wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occur
rence. Could I have directed events, I should have chosen,
for the good of the country, to have been disabled in your
stead. I congratulate you on the victory which is due to
your skill and energy."
This supreme recognition from his commanding general of
the loss which the cause had sustained when he was wounded,
proved most grateful to his feelings, and will remain his no
blest epitaph.
The regret of Gen. Lee at this deplorable event was in
deed poignant. The soul of the great commander was moved
to its depths ; and he who had so long learned to conceal emo
tion, could not control his anguish. " Jackson will not — he
cannot die !" General Lee exclairaed, iu a broken voice, and
waving every one from him with his hand — " he cannot die !"
But the hours were hastening on — Sunday passed ; the
wounded man sleeping well in the afternoon ; and Monday
came. His physicians now deemed it advisable to remove him to
some point where he could be more quiet ; and, accordingly,
he was carried to Mr. Chancellor's, near Guinea's Depot, on
the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad, about
eight miles from Hamilton's Crossing, where every arrange
ment was made to insure his comfort and careful treatraent.
During the ride from the Wilderness to Guinea's, he com
plained greatly of the heat of the day, and in addition to the
wet applications applied to his wound, begged that a wet cloth
might be laid upon his stomach. He declared that this gave
him great relief, and on Monday night he slept well, and ate
with relish in the raorning.
During the ride to Guinea's, he had raaintained his serene
and cheerful bearing, and talked much'' in reference to tho

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 265
battle of Saturday. He spoke of the gallant bearing of Gen.
Rodes, and said that his commission as Major-general ought
to date from that day ; and of the grand charge of the old
Stonewall Brigade in the battle of Sunday, which he had
heard of. He asked after all his officers, and said :
" The men who live through this war will be proud to say,
' I was one of the Stonewall Brigade ! ' to their children."
With that grand modesty which ever characterized him, he
hastened, however, to guard this declaration even from the
appearance of egotism ; and earnestly declared that the name
of "StonewaU" did not belong to him; it was the name
given to his old brigade, and their property alone.
On Tuesday his wounds were doing very w^l, and he evi
dentiy looked forward to a speedy recovery. He said to his
physician : " Can you tell me, from the appearance of my
wounds, how long I will be kept from the field ?" and when
told that they were doing remarkably well, he exhibited very
great satisfaction. He had no pain in the side, and thought
himselfwell enough to see and converse with his staff; but he
was advised against this by his attendants, and did not persist.
On Wednesday, his wounds continued to look remarkably
well, and he was now regarded as so far out of danger, that
preparations were made to carry him by railroad to Richmond.
A rain, however, which had set in, prevented this design,
and he was not removed. On this night, while. Dr. MeGuire,
who had not closed his eyes for three nights, was snatching a
Httle rest, the general complained of nausea, and ordered his
body-servant, Jim, to place a wet towel on his stomach. This
was done, but with bad results. The surgeon was waked by
Jim at daylight, and informed that his master was suffering
very much. The pain was in the right-side, and was due
partly to the heavy fall from the litter while being borne from
the battle-field, and partly to incipient pneumonia, which
now began to develop itself.
This was on the morning of Thursday, and later in the day
12

266 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
Mrs. Jackson arrived. The presence of his wife seemed to
afford the general very great joy, and thenceforth she nursed
him to the moment of his death.
The remainder ofthe sorrowful record wUl not fill much
space, or occupy the attention' of the reader many moments.
The Supreme Ruler of the destinies of humanity, had decreed
that this pure and majestic spirit should pass from earth to a
happier and more peaceful realm ; the hours of the great sol
dier were numbered ; he had fought his last battle, finished
his work, and now was about to receive that crown laid up for
those who believe in Him who governs all things.
On Thursday evening all pain had ceased; but a mortal
prostration came on, from which he never recovered. He stiU
conversed feebly, and said :
" I consider these wounds a blessing ; they were given me
for some good and wise purpose, and I would not part with
them if I could."
From- this time he continued to sink, and on Sunday morn
ing it was obvious that he could only live a few hours longer.
His mind was still clear, however, and he asked Major Pen
dleton, his adjutant-general, " who was preaching at head
quarters on that day ?" Mrs. Jackson was with him during
his last raoraents, and conversed with him fully and freely.
She inforraed him that he was about to die, and his reply was :
" Very good, very good ; it is all right !"
He then sent messages to all his friends, the generals and
others, and murmured in a low voice his wish to be buried in
" Lexington, in the Valley of Virginia."
His mind then began to wander ; and that delirium which
seizes upon the most powerful rainds, the most vigorous brains,
at the mysterious moment when the last sands fall from the
glass, began to affect him. He gave orders to the' commissary
of his corps, the surgeons, and the commanders. Among the
last words whioh escaped his lips were :
"A. P. Hill, prepare for action!"

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 267
After this, he speedily sank ; and at fifteen minutes past
three in the evening, he tranquilly expired.
Such was the death of Jackson ; serene, resigned, hopeful.
He who had passed through a thousand perils expired of
disease upon his bed, surrounded by weeping friends, who
were taught by that august spectacle how a Christian soldier
can die.
The body of the dead hero was conveyed to Richmond ;
and here a great and solemn pageant raarked the universal
sense of loss. The body, embalraed and prepared during the
night, was placed in a metallic coffin in the reception-room at
the Governor's. Bouquets of flowers, and wreaths, the tributes
of the tender hearts of women, covered the pall ; and around
the coffin was wrapped the snow-white banner of the Confed
erate States.
At the hour appointed the coffin was borne to the hearse,
a signal gun was fired from near the Equestrian Statue in the
Square, and the great procession began to move to the solemn
strains of the Dead March in Saul. The hearse was preceded
by two regiments of General Pickett's division, with arms
reversed; that general and his staff; the Fayette artiUery,
and Wrenn's company of cavalry. Behind came the horse of
the dead soldier, caparisoned for battle, and led by a groom ;
his staff officers ; members of the Old Stonewall Brigade, in
valids and wounded, with downcast looks ; and then a vast
array of officials. President Davis, merabers of the Cabinet,
Generals Longstreet, Elzey, Winder, Garnett, Keraper, Corse,
Commodore Forrest, with the judges, citizens, and good people
generally of the city.
Thc procession, nearly a mile in length, moved down Gov-
ernor's-street, aud up to the head of Main-street, whence it
returned to the western gate of the Capitol Square, where a
countless multitude had assembled to see it enter. The hearse
moved to the steps of the Capitol, the band playing a low
dirge; and lifting the coffin, the paU-bearers, General Long-

268 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
street and othei-s, bore it into the haU of the House of Rep
resentatives, where it was deposited upon a sort of altar, cov
ered with white Hnen, looped up with crape, in front of the
Speaker's chair. The crowd was then adraitted ; and old and
young, the gray-haired man and the child — 20,000 persons it
was estimated — looked upon the wan countenance of the great
soldier. " The face of the dead," says a writer in one of the journals,
"displayed the same indoraitable lines of firmness, with the
long, slightly aquiline nose, and high forehead, of marble white
ness ; but the cheeks presented a deep pallor. The eyelids
were firmly closed, the mouth natural, and the whole contour
of the face composed, the full beard and moustache remaining.
The body was dressed in a full citizen's suit, it being the ob
ject of his friends, and we doubt not, the nation's wish, to pre
serve the uniform in which he fought and fell."
From the Capitol the remains of Jackson were borne to
Lexington, where he had lived so long, passed so many happy
hours in other years, and to which his thoughts went back in
those last moments when he murmured, " Bury me in Lexing
ton, in the Valley of Virginia."
" Lexington !" That town has witnessed the peaceful labors
of the professor ; the calm researches of the quiet student ;
the serene enjoyments of the good husband and friend.
Thence he had departed to enter upon the career which was
to make his name a famous one forever, in the annals of a
mighty nation and a tragic epoch — to crown hira with glory
and honor as the right arm and chief hope of a great people.
From Lexington, where he had been so happy, he went upon
that path of danger and trial which was to render 'him so
famous. He murmured " Lexington ! Lexington !" as the
German exUes are said to murraur, " The Rhine ! the Rhine !"
" The Valley of Virginia !" Those words too had, doubt
less, a magical influence upon the stern and unimaginative
soul of the celebrated -leader. They conjured up visions of

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 269
his chief glories won upon that old familiar, long-loved soil.
They meant Kernstown 1 McDowell ! Winchester ! Cross
Keys ! Port Republic 1 There was scarce a foot of the great
highways of that region but had been trodden by him and his
soldiers ; scarce a mile over which he had not fought. There
his steps had been clogged with battles — and almost every
encounter was a victory. For that sacred earth he had fought
so long and persistently ; thence he had so frequently driven
the hireling invader ; every foot was dear to him from the
mouth of the beautiful Shenandoah to its source ; and for its
freedom he had cheerfully risked all that man possesses. He
had delivered that lovely land from all its foes ; and, lying
powerless there near Fredericksburg, his heart turned fondly
to the scene of his happiness and his fame. In that earth
which he had redeeraed — ^the soil of the VaUey of Virginia-
he desired his ashes to repose.
There they now rest. The same great honors which had
saluted the remains of the famous general in Richmond, were
paid them at Lexington ; and there his body was coramitted
to the mother-earth.
The journals report that sorae loving hand planted on his
grave a piece of laurel brought from the grave of Napoleon
at St. Helena ; and if a comparison of the military genius
of the two was meant, the tribute was not inappropriate. But
a greater than Napoleon slept in the graveyard near the quiet
Virginia town — one allied to him in capacity for making war,
nor his inferior ; — in aU else wholly and incomparably supe
rior. On their death-beds, these two men. Napoleon and Jack
son, displayed their radical difference of character and senti
ment. Napoleon died with the fierce cry, " Tke d'armSe !" npon
his Hps.
Almost the last words of Jackson were, " It is all right !"
As long as his thought went wandering to the field of bat-

270 LIFE OF STONEWALL JAOKSON.
tie, his muttered words were busy with those scenes of duty.
" A. P. Hill, prepare for action 1" carae from the dying man ;
but soon a greater subject absorbed his attention.
" It is aU right," expressed his sublime trust in God : his
submission to the divine decree which had struck him down.
Napoleon trusted in his star — Jackson in God. Napoleon
was a pure and siraple fatalist: Jacksou's motto was, "Do
your duty, and leave the rest to Providence."
One was a great soldier of imperial genius — but no more.
The other was a mighty leader, but an humble, faithful child
of God, as well.
He accepted the lot decreed him by the Almighty Father
with submission and an hurable hope, beUeving that what
ever God perraitted was the best.
Let us, too, trust that all is weU, and look beyond the
storm — beyond the darkness, blood, and raourning of the pres
ent — with serene trust in Him who rules the destinies of
men and nations.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
JACKSON, THE SOLDIER AND THE MAN.
Our poor, brief record of this splendid career is finished.
" Would it were worthier !" — but one merit it at least pos-
seses, that of truth.
Thus fought and fell the great leader who had attracted to
himself so much of the affection, the respect, the adrairation
of his countryraen — thus passed before the eyes of the world,
and into the shadow of the torab, the lofty figure which will
live forever in the raemories of the Southern people, as in
every heart.
It is hard to convey an adequate idea of the effect produced
bythe death ofthe iUustrious general. When the f invin
cible StonewaU Jackson" was thus conquered by a stronger

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 271
enemy than man, something of strength, of hope, of life ap
peared to be removed from every hijart. Falling, he seemed
to. take away the charm and prestige of victory. The sun
shine seemed less bright, the future dark with clouds and
gloom. His name had been a tower of strength to all, and
when this mighty bulwark of the Southern cause was over
thrown. Heaven seemed to frown upon us, and to punish us.
It was not the loss of the leader only that men mourned ;
it was the friend, the benefactor, the father who was taken
from the people. -No one remembered that Jackson was not
forty when he died — nor regarded him otherwise than as the
mature patriot of age and experience, with all the wisdora of
gray hairs. Men looked up to hira, as of old the Greeks did
to the wise Ulysses or the thoughtful Nestor — as to one who
was competent to hear and decide, as well as to act, in every
emergency. "There was something childlike in the sentiraent
with which the whole nation mourned his death. They lis
tened to the announcement with a hush of awe, with that
silence which salutes a great and irreparable public calamity.
Strong men wept for him, with a sense of loss and desola
tion, as children weep for the great head of their house, who
crowned with honors, and in the fulness of age, descends
into the tomb. -His veterans mourned as men do rarely —
dumb and still before this terrible fatality ; and General Lee,
who knew his incomparable value more than all other raen,
exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, " He is better off than I am.
He lost his left arm, but / have lost my right !" All classes
shared this sentiment. " Jackson is dead !" sounded like the
tolling of great bells, like the death-knell to every heart.
Dead ? He who had been so long the King of combat ? —
upon whose banner victory had perched whenever he delivered
battle ? — the invincible StonewaU Jackson dead and gone Hke
a common every-day raortal ? The truth could scarcely be
realized ! Who could supply his place ? Who could lead his
veterans to victory as he had led them? His form had

272 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
towered in the van so long, that men began to look upon him
as the man of Fate, predestined not to fall until his work was
finished, and seeing that the conflict was not ended, they were
struck with wonder.
Did God decree his death to administer a rebuke to this
man-worship ? — to show that all men were His instruments,
and that He could raise them up or strike them down ? We
cannot solve the problera, and bow in humble submission to
the inexplicable decree, well satisfled that " all is right." We
only know that the hand of God beckoned to him, and he
went from us — humble, childlike, with supreme trust in Him
whom he had so long looked to. Let us take comfort from
the circumstances of his death, and be glad that he thus
passed away — that the hero of a hundred battles died in his
bed, with loving friends around him — ^not upon some wild
stricken field — died very tranquilly, without the racking
pains of dissolution, but as calmly as a child, his great life
ebbing wave after wave away.
The aim of this sketch has been to supply in a convenient
form, and without delay, the facts of the illustrious soldier's
career. The full delineation ofthe individual in his characters
of soldier and citizen — husband, father, and friend — must be
left to other times and more competent hands. It will not be
inappropriate, however, to hazard, even here, and pressed by
the emergencies of the moment, some notices of the peculiari
ties of Gen. Jackson's character and genius.
Where the opposing forces are any thing like equal, war is a
contest of brains. It is the. generals who do the fighting, so
to speak, and not the soldiers. If one overcomes the other,
and defeats or destroys his army, the inquirer will not have to
go very far to discover the reason. One side is victor because
the general was a better master of the art of making war than
his opponent — because his plans were deeper, his insight into
those of the enemy more penetrating, his execution more
rapid, or his nerve more steady and indomitable. As at chess

LIFE OF STONEWALL JAOKSON. 273
— the opponents may start equal, without advantage on either
side ; but the brain of Morphy will easily win the game.
Advance another step : let us say that the armies, instead of
equal, are greatly unequal — that huraanly speaking, one is
sure to be defeated by the other, unless some force sufficient
to turn the balance be thrown into the scale against numbers.
Then the general who wins the day is a general indeed !
" These were soldiers indeed !" Jackson said at Cold Har
bor, as he looked at the ditch and abatis over which the
Texans charged on the enemy's batteries, and took them, at
the point of the bayonet. " He was a soldier indeed !" will
be the verdict of history in summing up the career and char
acter of Jackson.
The fate of many distinguished soldiers had been his. Col
onel Jackson of the early days of Patterson in the Valley
was acknowledged to be a hard man to deal with at close
quarters, and all that was necessary it was said, was a brain
to think for him — a competent superior to plan his movements
and tell him when to attack or retire. That opinion lasted
for some time. Colonel Jackson could fight harder than any
other man— was a veritable bull-dog indeed, and invaluable
in his place — but he was in his proper place, and should be
kept therfi.
Then he fought his way to the command of a brigade. The
old criticism followed him. Brigadier-general Jackson was
an excellent officer, had handled his command with distin
guished success, but he had now, it was certain, touched his
limit. A few regiraents were not beyond his faculties, and
his success with this "Stonewall Brigade," which people
began to 'hear about, was unquestionable ; but the coramand
of a division was quite another thing — above all, of a division
detached from the rest of the array, and constituting an army
in itself The responsibility would be far too great for the
man ; he could not safely be intrusted with ihat comraand.
He was soon intrusted with it, however, and how he deported
13*

274 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
himself in his new sphere is well known. The critics began
to discover that this eccentric, erratic Colonel Jackson had
been misunderstood, under-estimated, and when the appoint
ment of Lieutenant-general was sent to him, they found
it perfectly natural and proper.
In every sphere of action, and under ever-increasing cora
mand and responsibility. General Jackson had proved him
self equal, and more than equal, to the call upon his faculties,
and the fashion of talking about his being " only a fighter"
became, somehow, obsolete.
The truth is that the great soldier shone conspicuously
wherever he was placed. He was a good Colonel, a better
Brigadier, and as Major and Lieutenant-general, best of all.
His entire campaign against Banks in the lower Valley —
the execution of the plans of General Lee on the Chicka
horainy and Rapidan — and the splendid manoeuvring of his
corps before Pope at Manassas, when he retired in face of the
enorinous columns of the enemy, chose his ground to fight,
and, while waiting for General Longstreet, turned savagely,
Hke a lion at bay — these raoveraents undoubtedly reveal mili
tary genius of the first order, and vindicate the claim of the
leader who executed them to the title of a great general.
In that noble letter which he wrote to President Davis just
before his death. Gen. Sydney. Johnston declared that, after
all, he agreed with the popular verdict, that success was the
test of merit. If Jackson's career be subjected to that test,
his excellence will be estabUshed. No soldier of the war was
more uniformly successful in his undertakings. He never
failed to achieve his object, from the day when, with 2,700
men, he held in check 11,000 at Kernstown, to the raoment
when, moving by that bold and stealthy march through the
Wilderness, he struck the enemy with the suddenness of the
thunderbolt, and determined the fate of Gen. Hooker's ad
vance. Such successes as those which mark the career of
Jackson, are not ^cpidental. They are the tests of general-

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 275
ship, and indicate the possession of faculties which God vouch
safes to few of his creatures. General Jackson was uudoubt-
edly a man of very extraordinary military genius ; and in his
whole career, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find a
serious error of judgment or fault of execution. The old
faded cap of the general covered a brain which revolved deep
thoughts — the penetrating eyes beneath could not be deceived..
The wiliest foe could not outwit the simple-looking personage ;
no feint or trick mislead the clear judgraent presiding serenely
over the fiery soul. Indeed, the enemy who tried to under
mine him, secretly, found a mine beneath him — which, almost
before he knew of its existence, was sprung upon him. It is
not too much to say that the victor of Port Republic was
more than a match for all his foes combined,' in strategy, and
their best friends might have advised them to depend upon
numbers and hard fighting, rather than mUitary manoeuvre, if
they wished to snatch laurels from Jackson.
Unfortunately, however, that very "last resort" of hard
fighting was the strong point of this general. If Jackson
was famous for any thing at all, it was for an inborn and inerad
icable tendency to stubborn, unyielding combat, against any
odds. Of this there is no question. He had little ^of the
fiery dash of Rupert, at the head of his cavaHers — but the
very bull-dog pertinacity and iron nerve of Cromwell — sworn
to conquer or die. He was in favor of advancing upon Mc
Clellan at Harrison's Landing ; 'on Burnside at Fredericks
burg — he was always in favor of advancing. To advance and
fight appears to have been the military philosophy of General
Jackson — and to go on fighting until the enemy was whipped.
The extraordinary success of his career can only be ex
plained upon one hypothesis. He was a born soldier. This
he showed in all that he undertook; more especially in that
brief but decisive carapaign of the Valley, to which we
have so frequently referred. The details of his moveroents
at this time cannot be too attentively studied — and it is

276 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
difficult to conceive of a campaign more consummately skilful
in design and execution. Hopelessly outnumbered by the Fed
eral forces, beset by a swarm of foes in front, and hemmed
in by a vast cordon on every side, he defeated or eluded them
with matchless skill, and bore off all the m'ost substantial fruits
of victory. Nothing but the possession of incoraparable mili
tary genius could have made this campaign the magnificent
success which it proved ; it is doubtful if any other general
on the continent could have conducted it, through obstacles
apparently so overwhelming, to an issufe so triumphant. The
more deeply it is studied by the military student, the more
wonderful will that famous series of manoeuvres appear. It
will be understood how critical the situation was — ^how nice
were the calculations of time, of material, of chances. One
broken link would have burst the great chain — one wheel neg
lected would have thrown into disorder the complicated ma
chinery of Jackson's movements. After Kernstown, he fell
back step by step^but it was to fight the battle of McDowell.
After Winchester, he pressed on to the Potoraac, but victory
had not lulled hira into fatal security ; and when Fremont
and McDowell clashed together near Strasburg to cut him off,
they struck only his rear-guard — his main force having marched
away with all the prisoners and captured stores to the upper
VaUey. At Port Republic, he terminated this immortal cam
paign by whipping his enemy in detail — and then descended
to his great work in the lowlands at Cold Harbor, Cedar Run,
and the second Manassas.
This campaign of the Valley, and the march to Manassas,
will remain the crowning glories of Jackson's career; and
they display a genius for war which will rank him with the
greatest generals of history. He was possessed by nature of
the distinguishing characteristics of the Leader of men — of
Alexander, of Csesar, of Napoleon. To make war against wily
and powerful enemies, was the occupation for which, by his
distinctive genius, he was fitted. He was an intense man —

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 277
concentrating all his faculties upon the object in view, and
striking hea-vy blows when, once the combat began. To go on
striking with all his force — to advance, to be the aggressor, to
fight to the death, was, as we have said, his philosophy of
war. His military Calculations oraitted no element of strategy,
but to the wise counsel was added indomitable combativeness.
His designs had a grand siraplicity about them — "Advance
and fight," seemed to be his motto. Personally, he loved ex
citement — even thirsted at times for battle ; and he once told
a distinguished officer of the cavalry, that he longed to accom
pany him upon one of his raids, and share the perUs and ex
citements ofthe occasion.
We have said that General Jackson was an intense man.
We mean that what he did, he did with all his might. When
he put his hand to the plough he never looked back, but bent
aU his energies to the work' before him, . His will was enor
mous, his strength of purpose invincible. He never paused,
or could tolerate the thought of pausing, until all opposition
was shattered, and the enemy overwhelmed and driven from
the field. At Winchester, his cry to the weary troops was,
" Press right on to the Potomac !" At Fredericksburg, after
the prostrating conffict of that hard-fought day, Jackson
thought of one thing, only — an advance before night, and a
more desperate attack than before. At Chancellorsville, the
very last words which he uttered before he feU, were, " Tell
A. P. Hill to press right on !"
The unconquerable will of the man seemed to defy all op
posing forces, and to wring victory from the very jaws of
Fate. Under the calm exterior, the sweet womanly smile,
was a tenacity of purpose so unbending — a resolution so stern
and obdurate, a will so gigantic — that to the present writer,
as to others who saw this great man at critical moments,
he seemed to possess the power of overwhelming all huraan
opposition, and compelling Destiny to crouch before him, and
obey him.

278 LIFE OF Sl'ONKWALL JACKSON.
He was a man of earnestness and singleness of purpose.
He did not .fritter away his strength upon sraall objects, or
uniraportant things. He had the faculty which has charac
terized the great judicial minds of the statesraen and lawyers
of England, — the power of discerning the -main obstacle in his
path, and of so disposing his forces as to assail it to the best
advantage. The fortress once overcome, the surrounding
country he knew must fall into his hands ; and he did not
trouble himself in reducing the villages.
He knew what was necessary to insure victory — was fer
tile in resource — of unfailing prudence in guarding against
disaster, never leaving unstrengthened that fatal weak point
in the dam, through which the flood will slowly but surely
work its way, sweeping every thing eventually before it. With
him there were no trifles — nothing was too small or unimpor
tant to guard against. Like the painter, who, when criticised
for his multitudinous touches, replied, " These may seem
trifles, but they secure perfection, and perfection is no trifle" —
he never rested until he had seen in person that all things
were attended to, down to the minutest details ; rightly think
ing that the grand result was worth any amount of trouble.
He never failed to keep his line of retreat open, and Idft
nothing to good fortune. All was calculation of forces, time,
and material.
His dispositions for attack were always perfect, thorough
and the very best that the tirae and place would admit of
He uniformly proceeded on the hypothesis that the assailing
force possessed from that circumstance an enormous advan
tage ; and, once in motion, he advanced with the utmost ra
pidity, and struck with all his strength. If one blow failed,
another was delivered ; if that was unsuccessful, every avail-
able.force whieh he could control was concentrated for another
and another. It was only when fhe overpowering numbers of
the enemy made the encounter hopeless, that he retired with
dogged, sullen deliberation — as dangerous in retreating as
when advancing.

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 279
His tenacity of purpose was invincible. Never has a soul
of more stubborn nerve been born into the world. He re
fused to recognize the possibility of defeat, and never knew
when he was whipped. At Kernstown he was flrraly con
vinced that if daylight had continued, his little handful of
weary troops, worn down by exhausting marches, and shat
tered by a day of terrible conflict, would have put to rout the
fourfold forces of Federals in front of them. At Manassas, he
believed that with 10,000 men he could have captured Wash
ington. In Charles City he was confldent that if McClellan
was attacked in his defences near Harrison's Landing, his
army would be forced to surrender. At Fredericksburg he
projected and nearly executed an audacious assault, with the
bayonet, upon Burnside's entire force in front of our position
at nightfall. Who shall say that on any of these occasions
Jackson miscalculated his strength, or over-estimated his abili
ty ? History has recorded the battles which he won. Who
shall say that those which he declared his ability to win would
have resulted in defeat ?
He struck boldly, but formed his plans in secret. Mystery
is the favorite resort of charlatans ; but with Jackson it was
the herald of victory. He talked Httle, and measured his
words when speaking of military affairs. No one knew
whither he was going ; what he designed. He proceeded
npon the sound and exceUent maxim that ,a secret is always
guarded from indiscretion when confined to a single person —
and the person whom he selected as the sole repository of his
plans was himself. He even put himself to great trouble to
mask his designs — camping often when he arrived at cross
roads, and leaving thus that body of quidnuncs, which are
found in every army, profoundly puzzled as to what direction
he would take with his command upon the morrow. On one
occasion he reprimanded an officer on the march for engaging
dinner for headquarters at a house a few miles in advance,
upon the highway which the troops were pursuing ; it af-

280 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKBON.
forded information of his line of march to that extent, and
so was reprehensible. A favorite device with him was to in
stitute inquiries in the presence of the crowd around him as
to roads and watercourses in a direction which he did not
intend to take ; even to order maps to be prepared, and roads
laid down, as though for instant use. Having thus set every
gossip talking and predicting his intentions, he would calmly
march directly in the opposite direction.
" Mystery, mystery, is the secret of success !"
He was just to his officers and men, taking up prejudices
rarely for or against persons, and measuring out equal justice
to all. No man could say that he had treated him with
conscious unfairness ; and if a calm examination of those
cases wherein he is said to have acted from personal dislike,
be instituted, it will be found that he proceeded upon
grounds which appeared to him incontrovertible, and not
from haste and ill-temper. Ill-tempered, in the proper mean
ing of the phrase, he never was. He was stern, abrupt,
harsh at times, but the occasion always demanded plain
speech — and his object of reprimand, correction, or repulse
of ill-advised interference once attained, the offence was en
tirely forgotten, and the offender restored completely to Ifis
former position.
He had the faculty of calculating forces, rarely developed.
He always knew his strength and his weakness. When he
attacked, it was because he knew that victory was, humanly
speaking, in his grasp. He based his calculations not upon
numbers only, but upon position, material, the morale of his
troops, and the effect of the situation upon the morale of the
enemy. He estimated to their full extent the decisive char
acter of a sudden, bold, and obstinate attack. He trusted
most to the bayonet, but had a marked fondness for artillery.
He did not overestimate its value in inflicting injury upou the
enemy, but he trusted greatly to its influence upon the mo
rale of his opponents. To " demoralize" the enemy was a

LIFE OF S'IX)NEWALL JACKSON. 281
large part of his military philosophy, and he rightly thought
that a foe disheartened is a foe half beaten.
In summing up, briefly and generaUy, the peculiarities of
Jackson's military genius, it may be said, without unmeaning
panegyric, or the least disposition to over-estimate his facul
ties as a leader, that he was profound and comprehensive in
his plans — as rapid and mortal as a thunderbolt in execution ;
that he possessed a courage in the face of danger which no
peril could affect, no possible reverse, however sudden, unex
pected, and disheartening, deprive him of; that he was cau
tious, prudent, judicious in all his dispositions; lastly, that
he possessed the native faculty of penetrating the intentions
of the enemy, of guarding himself wholly from surprise, of
delivering his blows upon the weakest point, and of making
war on all occasions and against the most dangerous oppo
nents, with the mastery, precision, and success of the greatest
leaders which the world has yet produced. This illustrious
soldier is just dead, and little of sound criticism has been
pubhshed in relation to him — ^few estimates of his genius
have been made. The present writer, though an humble and
obscure soldier of the Southern army, had the inestimable
privilege of knowing this great man, and seeing him in bat
tle ; and the profound conviction of his mind is expressed in
the stateraent that Gen. Jackson was one of the three or four
great masters of the art of war which the world has known.
The century, the material, the field of operations were all dif
ferent, but this was Alexander, the conqueror of the East ;
Csesar, the greatest leader of all ages ; Napoleon, the supreme
'master of the art of fighting armies — contending with a Httle
army, and against mighty disadvantages, for the liberty of
his country. It was the New World and the Nineteenth
Century which saw this struggle, and the force with which
the great Virginiafi operated was small; but the mastery
of his art was just the same, the faculty of the brain as per
fect in proportion and as great as in his predecessors — the re-

282 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
suit the same. Jackson overcame his eneraies as Csesar and
Napoleon did, by inexhaustible resources both of brain and
nerve: by that superiority which God had given him for His
own wise purposes ; and if he was not spared to exhibit greater
faculties upon a larger arena,-it was because the Almighty, in
His wisdora, thought best to reraove him, leaving the great
struggle in the hands ofhis associates.
To-day, when the smoke has scarcely Hfted from the field,
and forms are seen but dimly, these words may appear ab
surd, and dictated by a weak spirit of eulogy and hero-wor
ship ; but the time will corae when the immense military
genius of the Conqueror of the Valley will be accurately esti
mated, and his statue placed beside those of the greatest
captains of history.
Personally, General Jackson was awkward, and, in his
movements, constrained and ungraceful. He was tall, raw-
boned, and had a peculiar stride in walking. He was absent-
minded : would often pause suddenly and fix his eyes upon
the ground; and iu riding had a habit Of slapping his side
and raising his arm aloft; — whether from some physical ail
ment which he thus relieved, or in prayer, is not known. His
address wanted ease ; his manner was shy and constrained,
like that of a student who has so long secluded himself in
libraries that the faces of men annoy and discompose him.
He talked little with strangers, and was brief of speech, but
never failed to return the salute of the humblest person,
treating all men with the most kindly courtesy. His eyes
were dark, penetrating, and had a peculiar brightness when
he was aroused, which the most casual observer noticed. The
remainder of the countenance was not remarkable, but his
sraile was very sweet — a lady who had conversed with him,
applied to it the word " angelic." It was, indeed, full of attrac
tion, and indicated the wealth of kindness which lay under the
calra, soraewhat cold exterior.
The result of the great soldier's immense popularity lay in

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 283
the universal conviction of his siraplicity and goodness. Sin
cerity, purity, truthfulness in thought and word and deed, lit
np the path upon which he walked, and made hira beautiful
in the eyes of the good men and women of the laud. The
people, generally, admired him for his military successes ; but
the character of the individual was the passport to that truly
extraordinary love and admiration which saluted him where-
ever he moved. His enemies even shared this sentiment ; and
gentiemen who remained in Winchester during the Federal
occupation of that town, assure us that the eneray uniformly
spoke of him with the utmost admiration, and declared that
nothing could induce thera to kill a raan like Stonewall Jack
son. Sorae singular details are given of the feeling of the
Federals toward him in that region. We are told that they
regarded it as Jackson's property, his private domain ; and
believed that he would return at any moment to "his own
again." . He had told the people, in his cool, brief speech,
" that he would corae again, and as certainly as now " — and
when the eneray were informed of this, they gave impUcit
credence to the promise, and were seen on more than one oc
casion to start suddenly at the very report that "Jackson was
coming." But all these anecdotes must be reserved for another occa
sion. We hasten to the end of our sketch.
Few huraan beings have been purer, or raore guileless. H
had the simphcity of a child ; and the renown, which ever
increased as his great services were more fully recognized,
seemed only to raake him more modest and retiring. All the
ends he airaed at were his country's ; and that profound affec
tion and respect which all the world had for him will last al
ways, for it was based upon the eternal foundations of truth
and goodness.
To say that he was a pure and humble Christian is unne
cessary. Piety was the absorbing and controlling sentiment
of his being. He seemed to look to God in all that he did.

284 LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
and thought, and uttered. He was a raeraber of the Presby
terian Church, but no sectarian. So great a spirit could not be
tinged with bigotry ; and a gentleraan of high character, long
serving on his staff, assured the present writer that he was
wholly free frora any trace of illiberaUty or dograatism in his
religious creed. His " fatalism " has been, dwelt upon persist
ently ; his cool, brave bearing in the heat of battle, set down
as the result of some strange Oriental fatalistic sentiment,
which made him insensible to fear.
Such was the idle talk of those who did not know the great
soldier. The truth may be stated in very few words : Jack
son believed in the doctrine of predestination, as all rational
minds believe in it. Looking fervently to an overruling
Providence, and trusting to the goodness of an omnipotent
Creator, he gave himself no concern, except as to tbe perform
ance of his duty. The issues of life and death, he felt, were
iu a mightier hand than man's ; and to that omnipotent
Power — to the " King eternal, unchangeable, invisible" — he
was content to leave the .decision whether he was to live or
die. The shell that burst in iron spray around him did not
move the stern, calm nerve ; the storm of bullets which he
passed so often through was powerless to shake the heroic
courage of the soldier of God. Whatever was, was best with
him ; and when they told him he was going to die, his words,
"Very good, very good; it is all right!" expressed the deep
and changeless faith of one who left all issues to the King
of kings and Lord of lords with calm and abiding trust.
Prayer was the breath in his nostrils, and he never failed
in going into battle to raise his heart to the Lord of Hosts,
beseeching him on bended knee to prosper the cause of truth
and right. This phase of the great leader's character need
be only touched upon here. The world has been glad to
hear that a corapetent writer, possessed of araple materials
will ere long present a full and coraplete view of the religious
character of General Jackson. Let us here say, in concluding

LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 285
our sketch, that profound submission of his whole heart to
the wiU of God, was Jackson's never-failing sentiment in all
the scenes of his arduous and exciting career — that the great
heutenant-general was as humble, simple, and confiding as a
chili who reaches out weak hands for help toward its father ;
and that the mighty intellect, the stern, unshrinking will
bent with humility before that God in whom he trusted with
supreme faith in every hour of trial.
For such a man to die was gain. Through the Valley of
Shadows his path led surely to that realm where neither
wars nor rumors of wars — nor wounds, or suffering, or anxi
ety — can ever come. In the darkness of the trying hour the
rod and the staff of the Almighty Father comforted him.
He had no regrets', no longing for life. Earth possessed for
this sublime and noble soul no attractions which could blind
him to the greater joys which awaited him. He had fought
the good fight, had finished his course, and kept the faith.
God called him in the hour of victory ; and his pure and
childlike spirit passed away in the tranquil hours of that
Sabbath season which he had so long loved.
The poet paints the happiness of his hero dying "in the
arms of victory ;" but the lot of Jackson, the patriot, the
hero, the humble Christian, was far better. He fell asleep
with the " everlasting arms beneath him," in the assurance of
blessed immortality.

APPENDIX.

I.

OPERATIONS OF GENEEAL JACKSON'S COMMAND FKOM
SEPTEMBEE 6th TO SEPTEMBER 27th, 1862.— OFFICIAL
REPORT.

Headquarters 2d Corps A. N. V., )
AprU 23d, 1863. $
General, — I have the honor to submit a report of the op
erations of my command from the Sth to the 27th of Septem
ber, 1862, embracing the capture of Harper's Ferry, the
engagement at Shepherdstown, and so much of the battle of
Sharpsburg as was fought by my command.
My command comprised A. P. Hill's Division, consisting
of the Brigades of Branch, Gregg, Field, (Colonel Brocken
brough commanding,) Pender, Archer, and Colonel Thomas,
with the Batteries of the Division, under Lieutenant-colonel
R. L. Walker; EweU's Division, under Brigadier-general
Lawton, consisting of the Brigades of Early, Hays, (Colonel
Strong,) Trimble, (Colonel Walker,) and Lawton, (Colonel
Douglas,) with the Artillery under Major Courtney ; and
Jackson's Division, under Brigadier-general Starke, consist
ing of the Brigades of Winder, (Colonel Grigsby,) Jones,
(Colonel B. T. Johnson,) Taliaferro, (Colonel Warren,) and
Starke, (Colonel Stafford,) with the Artillery under Major
Shuraaker, Chief of Artillery,
On the 5th of September my command crossed the Poto
mac at White's Ford, and bivouacked that night near the
three springs in the State of Maryland. Not having any
cavalry with me except the Black Horse, under Captain Ran-

290 APPENDIX.
dolph, I directed him, after crossing the Potomac, to take a
part of his company and scout to the right, in order to pre
vent a surprise of the column from that direction. For the
thorough and efficient manner in which this duty was per
formed, and for the valuable service rendered generally whilst
attached to my headquarters, I desire to make special men
tion of this company and of its officers, Captain Randolph,
and Lieutenants Paine, Tyle, and Smith, who frequently
transmitted orders in the absence of staff-officers.
The next day we arrived in the vicinity of Frederick City.
Jackson's division encamped near its suburbs, except the
brigade of General Jones, (Colonel Bradley T. Johnson com
manding,) which was posted in the city as a Provost Guard,
EweU's and Hill's divisions occupied positions near the rail
road bridge, on the Monocacy, guarding the approaches from
Washington City, In obedience to instructions from the
commanding general, and for the purpose of capturing the
Federal forces and stores then at Martinsburg and Harper's
Ferry, my coramand left the vicinity of Frederick City on
the 10th, and passing rapidly through Middletown, Boonsbo
rough, and Williamsport, recrossed the Potomac into Vir
ginia at Light's Ford, on the llth. General Hill moved with
his division on the turnpike direct from Williamsport to Mar
tinsburg. The divisions of Jackson and Ewell proceeded
toward the North Mountain depot, on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, about seven miles northwest of Martinsburg.
They bivouacked that night in the vicinity of the depot. In
order to prevent the Federal forces then at Martinsburg from
escaping westward unobserved, Major Myers, comraanding the
cavalry, sent part of his troops as far south as the Berkeley
and Hampshire turnpikes. Brigadier-general White, who
was in coramand of the Federal forces at Martinsburg, be
coming advised of our approach, evacuated the place on the
night of the llth, and retreated to Harper's Ferry. On the
Diorning of the 12th our cavalry entered the town, as in the

APPENDIX. 291
course of the day did the main body of my command. At
this point, abandoned quartermaster, commissary, and ord
nance stores fell into our hands. Proceeding thence toward
Harper's Ferry, about 11 o'clock, a. m., on the following
morning (ISth), the head of our column came in view of the
enemy drawn up in force at Bolivar Heights. General Hill,
who was in the advance, went into camp near Hallstown,
about two miles from the enemy's position. The two other
divisions encamped near by.
The commanding general, having directed Major-general
McLaws to move with his own and General R. H. Anderson's
divisions, to take possession of the Maryland Heights over
looking Harper's Ferry, and Brigadier-general J. G. Walker,
pursuing a different route, to cross the Potomac and move up
that river on the Virginia side, and occupy the Loudoun
Heights, both for the purpose of co-operating with me, it be
came necessary, before making the attack, to ascertain
whether they were in position. Failing to learn the fact by
signals, a courier was dispatched to each of these points
for the required information. During the night the courier
from the Loudoun Heights -returned, with a message from
General Walker, that he was in position. In the mean time,
General McLaws had attacked the Federal forces posted to
defend the Maryland Heights, had routed it, and taken pos
session of that commanding position. The Potomac river
flowed between the positions respectively occupied by GeneraV
McLaws and myself, and the Shenandoah separated me from
General Walker ; and it became advisable, as the speediest
mode of communication, to resort to signals. Before the ne
cessary orders were thus transmitted, the day was far ad
vanced. The enemy had, by fortiflcations, strengthened the
haturally strong position which he occupied along Bolivar
Heights, extending from near the Shenandoah to the Poto
mac. McLaws and Walker, being thus separated from the
enemy by intervening rivers, could afford no assistance, be-

292 APPENDIX,
yond the fire of their artillery, and guarding certain avenues
of escape to the enemy, -And from the reports received from
them by signals, in consequence of the distance and range of
their guns, not much could be expected from their artillery,
so long as the enemy retained his advanced position on Boli
var Heights,
In the afternoon (14th), General Hill was ordered to move
along the left bank of the Shenandoah, turn the eneray's
left, and enter Harper's Ferry, General Lawton, command
ing EweU's division, was directed to move along the turn
pike for the purpose of supporting General Hill, and of
otherwise operating against the enemy to his left.
General J. R. Jones, commanding Jackson's division, was
directed, with one of his brigades, and a battery of artillery,
to make a demonstration against the enemy's right, whUst the
remaining part of his command, as a reserve, moved along the
turnpike. Major Massie, commanding the cavalry, was di
rected to keep upon our left flank for the purpose of prevent
ing the enemy from escaping. Brigadier-general Walker
guarded against an escape across the Shenandoah river. Fear
ing lest the enemy should attempt to escape across the Poto
mac, by means of signals I called the attention of Major-
general McLaws, commanding on the Maryland Heights, to
the propriety of guarding against such an attempt. The
demonstration on the left against the enemy's right was made
by Winder's brigade (Colonel Grigsby commanding). It
was ordered to secure a comraanding hill to the left of the
heights, near the Potomac. Promptly dispersing some cav
alry, this eminence, from which the batteries of Poague and
Carpenter subsequentiy did such admirable execution, was
secured without difficulty. In execution of the orders given
Major-general HiU, he moved obliquely to the right until he
struck the Shenandoah river. Observing an erainence, crown
ing the extreme left of the enemy's line, occupied by infantry,
but without artillery, and protected only by an abatis of fallen

APPENDIX. 293
timber, Pender, Archer, and Brockenbrough were directed to
gain the crest of that hill, while Branch and Gregg were di
rected to march along the river, and during the night to take
advantage of the ravines, cutting the precipitous banks of the
river, and establish themselves on the plain to the left and
rear of the enemy's works. Thomas followed as a reserve.
The execution of the first raovement was intrusted to Briga
dier-general Pender, who accompHshed it with slight resist
ance; and, during the night. Lieutenant-colonel Walker, Chief
of Artillery of Hill's division, brought up the batteries of Cap
tains Pegram, Mcintosh, Davidson, Braxton, and Crenshaw,
and established them upon the position thus gained. Branch
and Gregg also gained the positions indicated for them, and
daybreak found them in rear of the enemy's Hue of defence.
As directed. Brigadier-general Lawton, commanding EweU's
division, moved on the turnpike in three columns — one on the
road, and another on each side of it — until he reached Halls-
town, when he formed line of battle, and advanced to the
woods on School-house Hill. The division laid on their arms
during the night, Lawton and Trimble being in line on the
right of the road, and Hays on his left, with Early imraediate
ly in his rear. During the night. Colonel Crutchfield, my
Chief of ArtUlery, crossed ten guns of EweU's division over
the Shenandoah, and estabhshed them on its right bank so as
to enfilade the enemy's position on Bolivar Heights, and take
his nearest and most formidable fortifications in reverse. The
other batteries of EweU's division were placed in position on
School-house Hill, on each side of the road.
At dawn, September 15th, Gen. Lawton advanced his division
to the front of the woods, Lawton's brigade (Colonel Douglas
commanding) moved by flank to the bottom between School-
house HUl and Bohvar Heights, to support the advance of
Major-general Hill.
Lieutenant-colonel Walker opened a rapid enfilade fire
from all his batteries at about one thousand yards' range. Tho

294 APPENDIX,
batteries on School-house HiU attacked the enemy's line in
front. In a short time- the guns of Captains Brown, Garber,
Latimer, and Dement, under the direction of Colonel Crutch
field, opened from the rear. The batteries of Poague and Car
penter opened fire upon the enemy's right. The artillery
upon the Loudoun Heights of Brigadier-general Walker'
command, under Captain French, which had silenced the
enemy's artillery near the superintendent's house, on the pre
ceding afternoon, again opened upon Harper's Ferry, and also
some guns of Major-general McLaws, from the Maryland
Heights. In an hour the enemy's fire seemed to be silenced,
and the batteries of General Hill were ordered to cease their
fire, which was the signal for storming the works. General
Pender had commenced his advance, when, the eneray again
opening, Pegram and Crenshaw moved forward their batteries
and poured a rapid fire into the enemy. The white flag was
now displayed, and shortly afterwards, Brigadier-general
White (the comraanding officer, Colonel D. S. Miles having
been mortally wounded), with a garrison of about 11,000
men, surrendered as prisoners of war.
Under this capitulation we took possession of 13 pieces of
artillery, some 13,000 small-arms, and other stores. Liberal
terms were granted General White and the officers under his
command in the surrender, which, I regret to say, do not
seem, from subsequent events, to have been properly appre
ciated by their government.
Leaving General Hill to receive the surrender of the Feder ,
al troops and take the requisite steps for securing the cap
tured stores, I moved, in obedience to orders from the com
manding general, to rejoin him in Maryland with the remain
ing divisions of my command. By a severe night's march, we
reached the vicinity of Sharpsburg on the morning of the
16 th.
By direction of the commanding general I advanced on
the enemy, leaving Sharpsburg to the right, and took position.

APPENDIX. 295
to the left of Gen. Longstreet, near a Dunkard church, EweU's
division, (Gen. Lawton commanding,) forming the right,
and Jackson's division, (Gen, J, R, Jones, comraanding,)
forming the left of my command. Major-general Stuart, with
the cavalry, was on my left.
Jackson's division, (Gen. Jones commanding,) was formed
pardy in an open field and partly in the woods, with its right
resting upon the Sharpsburg and Hagerstown turnpike. Wind
er's and Jones's brigades being in front, and Taliaferro's and
Starke's brigades a short distance in their rear, and Poague's
battery on a knoll in front,
Eyell's division followed that of Jackson to the wood on
the left of the road near the church, Early's brigade was
then formed on the left of the line of Jackson's division to
guard its fiank, and Hays's brigade was formed in its rear;
Lawton's and Trimble's Brigades remaining during the even
ing with arms stacked near the church,
A battery of the enemy, some five hundred yards to the
front of Jackson's division, opening fire upon a battery to
the right, was silenced in twenty minutes by a rapid and well-
directed fire from Poague's battery ; other batteries of the
enemy opened soon after upon our lines and the firing con
tinued until after dark.
About 10 p, M,, Lawton's and Trimble's brigades advanced
to the front to relieve the comraand of Brigadier-general
Hood, (on the left of Major-general D. H. HiU,) which had
been more or less engaged during the evening. Trimble's
brigade was posted on the right, next to Ripley's, of D. H.
Hill's division, and Lawton's on the left.
The troops slept that night npon their arms, disturbed by
the occasional fire of the pickets of the two armies, who were
in close proximity to each other. At the first dawn of day,
skirmishing coraraenced in front, and in a short time the Fed
eral batteries, so posted on the opposite side of the Antietam
as to enfilade my line, opened a severe and damaging fire.

296 APPENDIX.
This was vigorously replied to by the batteries of Poague, Car
penter, Brockenbrough, Raine, Caskie, and Wooding. About
sunrise the Federal infautry advanced in heavy force to the
edge of the wood on the eastern side of the turnpike, driving
in our skirmishers. Batteries were opened in front from the
wood with shell and canister, and our troops became exposed,
for near an hour, to a terrific storm of shell, canister, and
musketry. Gen. Jones having been compeUed to leave the
field, the command of Jackson's division devolved upon Gen.
Starke. With heroic spirit our lines advanced to the conffict
and maintained their position in the face of superior numbers.
With stubborn resolution, sometimes driving the enemy before
them and sometimes compelled to fall back, before their well-
sustained and destructive fire. Fresh troops from time to time
relieved the enemy's ranks, and the carnage on both sides
was terrific. At this early hour Gen, Starke was killed. Col,
Douglas, (commanding Lawton's brigade,) was also killed.
Gen. Lawton, commanding division, and Col. Walker, com
manding brigade, were severely wounded. More than half of
the brigades of Lawton and Hays were either killed or
wounded, and more than a third of Trimble's, and all the regi
mental commanders in those brigades except two were killed
or wounded. Thinned in their ranks and exhausted of their
amraunition, Jackson's division and the brigades of Lawton,
Hays, and Trimble retired to the rear, and Hood, of Long-
street's command, again took the position from which he had
been before relieved.
In the mean time. Gen. Stuart moved his artiUery to a po
sition nearer to the main command and more in our rear.
Early being now directed, in consequence of the disabiUty of
Gen. Lawton, to take comraand of EweU's division, returned
with his brigade (with the exception of the 13th Virginia
regiraent, which remained with Gen. Stuart,) to the piece of
wood where he had left the other brigades of his division
when he was separated from them. Here he found that the

APPENDIX. 297
enemy had advanced his infantry near the wood in which was
the Dunkard church, and had planted a battery across the
turnpike near the edge of the wood and an open field, and that
the brigades of Lawton, Hays, and Trimble, had fallen back
some distance to the rear. Finding here Cols. Grigsby and
Stafford with a portion of Jackson's division, which formed
on his left, he determined to maintain his position there if
reinforcements could be sent to his support, of which he was
promptly assured. Col. Grigsby, with his small commaud,
kept in check the advance of the enemy on the left flank,
while General Early attacked with great vigor and gallantry
the column on his right and front. The force in front was
giving way under this attack, when another heavy column of
Federal troops were seen moving across the plateau on his
left flank. By this time the expected reinforcements, con
sisting of Semmes' and Anderson's brigades, and a part of
Barksdale's of McLaw's division arrived, and the whole, in
cluding Grigsby's command, now uuited, charged upon the
enemy, checking his advance, then driving him back with
great slaughter entirely from and beyond the wood, and gain
ing possession of our original position. No further advance,
beyond demonstrations, was made by the enemy on the left.
In the afternoon, in obedience to instructions from the com
manding general, I moved to the left with a view of turning
the Federal right, but I found his nuraerous artillery so judi
ciously established in their front and extending so near to the
Potomac, which here makes a remarkable bend, which will be
seen by reference to the map herewith annexed, as to render
it inexpedient to hazard the attempt. In this movement Ma
jor-general Stuart had the advance and acted his part well.
This officer rendered valuable service throughout the day.
His bold use of artillery secured for us an important position,
which, had the enemy possessed, might have commanded our
left. At the close of the day my troops held the ground

298 APPENDIX.
which they had occupied in the morning. The next day we
remained in position awaiting another attack. The enemy
continued in heavy force west of the Antietam on our left, but
made no further movement to the attack.
I refer you to the report of Major-general A. P. Hill for
the operations of his comraand in the battle of Sharpsburg.
Arriving upon the battle-field frora Harper's Ferry at half-
past two o'clock of the 17th, he reported to the commanding
general, and was by him directed to take position on the
right. I have not embraced the movements of his division,
nor his killed and wounded of that action in my report.
Early on the morning of the 19 th we recrossed the Potomac
river into Virginia, near Shepherdstown. The promptitude
and success with which this movement was effected reflected
the highest credit upon the skUl and energy of Major Harman,
chief quartermaster. In the evening the coramand moved
on the road leading to Martinsburg, except Lawton's brigade
(Colonel Lamar, ofthe 61st Georgia, commanding), which was
left on the Potomac Heights.
On the same day the enemy approached in considerable
force on the northern side of the Potomac, and commenced
planting heavy batteries on its heights. In the evening the
Federals comraenced crossing under the protection of their
guns, driving off Lawton's brigade and General Pendleton's
artillery. By morning a considerable force had crossed over.
Orders were dispatched to Generals Early and Hill, who had
advanced some four miles on the Martinsburg road, to return
and drive back the enemy.
General Hill, who was in the advance, as- he approached
the town, formed his line of battle in two lines, the flrst com
posed of the brigades of Pender, Gregg, and Thomas, under
the command of General Gregg; and the second, of Lane's,
Archer's, and Brockenbrough's brigades, under comraand of
General Archer. General Early, with the brigades of Early,

APPENDIX. 299
Trimble, and Hays, took position in the wood on the right and
left of the road leading to the ford. The Federal infantry
lined the high banks of the Virginia shore, while their artil
lery, formidable in nurabers and weight of metal, crowned the
opposite heights of the Potomac. General Hill's division
advanced with great gallantry against the infantry, in the
face of a continued discharge of shot and shell from their
batteries. The Federals massing in front of Pender, poured
a heavy fire into his ranks, and then extending with a view
to turn his left. Archer promptly forraed on Pender's left,
when a simultaneous charge was made, which drove the enemy
into the river, followed by an appalling scene of the destruc
tion of human life. Two hundred prisoners were taken. This
position on the banks of the river we continued to hold that
day, although exposed to the enemy's guns and within range
of his sharpshooters posted near the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. Our infantry reraained at the river until relieved by
caxalry under General Fitzhugh Lee.
On the evening of the 20th the command moved from
Shepherdstown and encamped near the Opequon, in the vi
cinity of Martinsburg. We remained near Martinsburg until
the 27th, when we moved to Bunker Hill, in the county of
Berkeley. The official lists of the casualties of my comraand
during the period erabraced in this report, will show that we
sustained a loss of 38 officers kiUed, 111 wounded; of 313
non-commissioned officers and privates killed, 1,859 wounded;
and missing 57 — making a total loss of 2,438, killed, wounded,
and missing.
For these great and signal victories our sincere and humble
thanks are due unto Almighty God. Upon all appropriate
occasions we should acknowledge the hand of Him who reigns
in heaven and rules among the powers of the earth. In
view of the arduous labors and great privations which the
troops were called on to endure, and the isolated and perilous
position whioh the command occupied whUe engaged with the

300 APPENDLX.
greatly superior force of the enemy, we feel the encouraging
consolation that God was with us and gave to us the victory,
and unto His holy name be all gratitude and praise.
I am, general, very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
T. J. Jackson,Lieutenant-general,

II.
"THE OLD STONEWALL BRIGADE."

A -WRrrER in the " Southem Illustrated News" has the fol
lowing paragraph in reference to the Stonewall Brigade, so
long commanded by Jackson :
" The Old Stonewall Brigade ! What a host of thoughts,
memories, and emotions do these words excite ! How like a
call to the charge sounds the siraple raention of the famous
band ! These veterans have fought and bled and conquered
on so many battle-fields, that memory grows weary almost of
recalling their glories. Gathering around Jackson in the old
days of Patterson in the Valley, when Stuart had but a hand
ful of cavalry to watch the whole border, and Ashby, our dead
hero, wa#a simple captain — they held in check an enemy
twenty times their number, and were moulded by the hand of
their great leader into that stern phalanx which no bayonet
could break, and no odds intimidate. They were boys and
old men, the humblest of the sons of toil, and the flower of the
land — ^but united, trained, and looking with supreme confi
dence to their commander.
"And then commenced their long career of glory — their
wonderful marches over thousands Of miles — their incessant
combats against odds that seemed overpowering — their con-

302 APPENDIX.
tempt of snow and rain, and cold and hunger, and want of
rest. The soul of their leader seemed to have entered into
every breast — and ' Stonewall's Band' became the terror of
the enemy. To meet that enemy, was to conquer hira, it
might almost be said, so obstinately did the eagles of victory
continue to perch upon the old battle-flag. The laws of the
human body seemed to have been reversed for these men.
They marched, and fought, and triumphed, like war machines,
which felt no need of rest, or food, or sleep.
" In one day they marched from Harper's Ferry to Stras
burg, nearly fifty miles. On the advance to Romney they
walked — many without shoes — over roads so slippery with ice
that men were falling and their guns going off all along the
column — and at night lay down, without blankets, on the
snow, with no camp-fires and no food.
"At the first great battle of Manassas they were nearly
starved, but fought with desperation. At the last battles
there I saw them by the road-side, where they had halted, and
one of my friends, a brave young officer of the command,
thanked me for a biscuit.
" The very rapidity of their marches separates them from
all soldier-comforts — often from their very blankets, however
cold the weather ; and any other troops but these and their
Southern comrades would long since have mutinied and de
manded bread and rest. But the shadow of disaffection never
flitted over forehead in that command. Whatever discontent
may be felt at times at the want of attention on the part of
subordinate officers to their necessities, the 'long roll' has
only to be beaten — they have only to see the man in the old
faded uniform appear, and hunger, cold, fatigue, are for
gotten. The Old Brigade is ready — ' Here !' is the answer
to the roll-call, all along the Hne — and though the eye is
dull from want of food and rest, the arm is strong, and
the bayonet is sharp and bright. Before those bayonets
no foe shall stand — to pass them, is to advance over the

APPENDIX. 303
bodies of dead heroes, grasping still the trusty musket, even
in death.
"The campaigns 'of the Valley; the great flank raovement
of the Chickahominy ; the masterly advance upon Manassas
in the rear of Pope — these are the fadeless glories of the Old
Brigade. Their path has been strewed all over with battles.
Incredible have been their marches ; countless their combats
— almost always against overpowering nurabers. The scythe
of death has mowed down whole ranks of them ; but the Old
Brigade still marches on, and fights and conquers. The war
worn veterans still confront the foe, though the thinned ranks
tell the tale of their glories and their losses. Many brave
souls have poured out their blood and fallen ; but they are
conquerors, and more than conquerors, in the world's great
eye. The comrades of these heroes hold their memory sa
cred, and have offered bloody sacrifices to their manes.
'Steady! Close up!' were the last words echoed in the dying
ears — and the aim of the survivors was only more steady, the
charge with the bayonet more deadly.
"Those survivors rilay be pardoned if they tell their chil
dren, when the war is ended, that they fought under Jackson,
in the ' Old Stonewall Brigade.' They may be pardoned even
if they boast of their exploits — their wonderful marches —
their constant and desperate combats — the skill and nerve
which snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and, even when
they were retiring before overwhelming numbers, made it truly
better that the foe had ' ne'er been born,' than meet their bay
onet charge.
"In speaking of this veteran legion, 'praise is virtue.'
Their history is blazoned all over with glory. They are
'happy names, beloved children' — the favorites of farae, if
not of fortune. In their dingy uniforms, lying stretched be
neath the pines, or by the road-side, they are the mark of
many eyes which see them not — the absorbing thought in the

304 APPENDIX.
breast of beauty, and the idols of the popular heart. In Hne
before the enemy, with their bristHng bayonets, they are the
terror of the foe, and the life-guard of their dear old mother,
Virginia. " The heart that does not thrill at sight of the worn vet
erans, is cold indeed. To him who writes, they present a
spectacle noble and heroic ; and their old tattered, ball-pierced
flag is the sacred ensign of liberty.
"Their history and all about them is familiar to me. I
have seen them going into action — after flghting four battles
in five days — with the regularity and well-dressed front of
holiday soldiers on parade. There was no straggling, no lag
ging — every raan stood at his work, and advanced with the
steady tramp of the true soldier. The ranks were thin, and
the faces travel-worn, but the old flag floated in the winds of
the Potomac as deflantly as on the banks of the Shenandoah,
That bullet-torn ensign might have been written all over, on
both sides, with the naraes of battles, and the list have then
been incomplete, Manassas, Winchester, Kernstown, Front
Royal, Port Republic, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Slaughter
Mountain, Bristow Station, Groveton — Ox Hill, Sharpsburg,
Fredericksburg, were to follow. And these were bnt the
larger names upon the roll of their glory. The numberless
engagements of minor character are omitted — but in these I
have mentioned they appear to the world, and sufficiently
vindicate their claim to the title of heroes,
" I seemed to see these great naraes, as the Old Brigade
advanced that day ; and my whole heart went to greet them.
Every heart that is true to our great cause, and loves its de
fenders, will do as much,
" For these men of the Old Stonewall Brigade have been
brave among the bravest — with their noble comrades of Gen.
Jackson's corps, they have turned the tide of battle upon many
hard-fought fields.

APPENDIX. 305
"They have 'done well for the Republic' — and let their
names be honored. Let the public salutation greet them —
salutation by the lip and pen, no less thau by the heart —
meet them and greet them, and call them glorious — children
of glory marching on to the Pantheon of Fame, in a great
and peaceful land 1"

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