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THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 GEN. THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 (" STONEWALL" JACKSON.) 
 
 BY 
 SARAH NICHOLAS RANDOLPH, 
 
 AUTHOR OP "THE DOMESTIC LIFE OP THOMAS JEFFERSON." 
 
 TSTITH ILLTISTR^TION^S. 
 
 C.C^: 
 
 2nsi 5. 
 
 !> H I L A D E L P H I A : 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 
 
 187 6. 
 
E^^^ 
 
 Il5l^'^ 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
TO 
 MY LITTLE FRIEND AND PUPIL, 
 
 WILLIAM CORCORAN EUSTIS, 
 I DEDICATE THIS BOOK, 
 
 HOPING THAT IN ITS SIMPLE STORY OF THE LIFE OF A GREAT 
 
 AND GOOD MAN HE MAY FIND INCENTIVES SO TO GUIDE AND 
 
 DIRECT HIS COURSE ON THE SMILING PATHWAY WHICH 
 
 LIFE OFFERS TO HIM, THAT DEVOTION TO TRUTH, 
 
 LOVE FOR GOD AND HIS FELLOW-MAN, AND HIGH 
 
 INTELLECTUAL ATTAINMENTS MAY MARK 
 
 HIM AS THE WORTHY HEIR OF THE 
 
 NOBLE GRANDSIRE WHOSE 
 
 NAME HE BEARS. 
 
PEEFAOE. 
 
 It is with extreme diffidence that I appear before the 
 public as the biographer of the great Captain whose 
 name stands on the title-page of this little volume. I 
 do not presume to rank my work with the great mili- 
 tary biographies in which the young soldier studies the 
 strategy of great leaders of great armies. Nor have I 
 ventured to approach the discussion of the causes of 
 the late war between the North and the South. I have 
 merely attempted to write a poj^ular life of Jackson by 
 telling the simple story of his brief but brilliant career 
 so that "he who runs may read.'^ Awkwardly as I 
 may have done this, the reader will find it a life, in its 
 beginning, in its silent growth, and in its glorious sequel, 
 full of instruction and of charm fo* the imagination. 
 
 The sifting events of years must pass, the unearthing 
 of material in anecdotes and side-lights which the very 
 appearance of different lives of Jackson will bring to 
 light must be known, and the records of that army in 
 whose achievements he played such a distinguished part 
 must be published, before a really full and standard life 
 of him can be WTitten. But, until that time comes, the 
 
 5 
 
6 PREFACE. 
 
 reader will find in the following unpretending pages the 
 faithful record of the life of one of the most remarkable 
 men this country has ever produced, and my task will 
 indeed has been poorly executed if he does not rise from 
 their perusal filled with admiration for Jackson's great- 
 ness, and with a reverence, almost approaching awe, for 
 a purity of heart and an earnest simplicity of faith such 
 as are rarely vouchsafed to the children of men. 
 
 I must here acknowledge the great assistance in the 
 preparation of this volume received from the valuable 
 " Life of Jackson,'^ by Dr. Dabney, whom I have in one 
 or two instances followed so closely that I might, but for 
 this frank acknowledgment, almost be liable to the charge 
 of plagiarism. 
 
 The vivid descriptions of battles foujid in the beauti- 
 fully written " Histoire de la Guerre civile en Amerique," 
 by the Comte de Paris, place me under obligations to 
 their royal author, whose enlightened pages no South- 
 erner can read without a sigh of regret that his materials 
 at hand for the Southern view of the question were not 
 as abundant as were those for the opposite side. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 Edge Hill, January, 1876. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY LIFE. 
 
 Jackson's ancestry — His great-grandfather — Death of his father — 
 His early childhood— His mother's death — Residence with his un- 
 cles—A youthful escapade — Character at school— Farm work and 
 rural pleasures — Becomes a constable — Conscientious discharge of 
 duties — Aspirations for a thorough education — Appointed a cadet 
 at West Point 13-29 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 WEST POINT. 
 
 First appearance at the Academy — Reminiscences of a class-mate 
 concerning him — His course as a student — Graduates — Is ordered 
 to take the field in Mexico — Joins the army at Vera Cruz — Applies 
 for and receives the post of second lieutenant in Magruder's bat- 
 tery — Distinguishes himself in the battle of Churubusco— Is bre- 
 vetted captain — Gallant conduct in the assault upon Chapultepec — 
 Is brevetted major — Commendations from his superior ofiicers — 
 Studies the Spanish language — Life at the Mexican capital . 30-42 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 LEXINGTOX. 
 
 Passes two years at Fort Hamilton, Long Island — Transferred to Fort 
 Meade, Florida — Accepts the position of Professor of Natural Phi- 
 losophy and Artillery Tactics in the Virginia Military Institute at 
 Lexington — Habits of study — Zeal in religion — His perfect trust in 
 God — Marries Miss Eleanor Junkin — Death of his wife — Trip to 
 
 7 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Europe — Thoughts of becoming a missionary — His deep prayer- 
 fulness — Second marriage — Jackson as a householder — Domestic 
 life — His tenderness of heart — Extracts from letters to his wife 43-54 
 
 CHAPTER lY. 
 
 APPOINTED COLONEL. 
 
 Formation of the Southern Confederacy — Virginia's attitude — Bom- 
 bardment of Fort Sumter — Secession of Virginia — Lee appointed 
 major-general — Organization of camps of instruction — The senior 
 cadets of the Institute ordered to Richmond — Jackson's departure 
 from Lexington in charge of them — Life at Camp Lee — He is ap- 
 pointed colonel, and ordered to take command at Harper's Ferry 55-62 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 harper's ferry. 
 
 Situation of Harper's Ferry — Rendezvous of the troops of the Valley 
 of Virginia — Jackson as a disciplinarian — He takes possession of 
 Maryland Heights — Richmond made the capital of the Confederacy 
 — General Joseph E. Johnston appointed to the command of Har- 
 per's Ferry — Jackson placed in command of a brigade — Harper's 
 Ferry abandoned by Johnston — Movements of the Federal general 
 Patterson — Destruction of railroad stock at Martinsburg — Fight 
 at Haines's Farm — Beauregard organizes an army at Manassas 
 Junction — Johnston withdraws to Winchester — Jackson is appointed 
 brigadier-general 63-75 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MANASSAS. 
 
 Hopes and expectations of the opposing parties — McDowell's ad- 
 vance — He is checked at Bull Run — Johnston summoned to the aid 
 of Beauregard— Enthusiasm of the Virginia troops— Halt at Paris 
 — Jackson acts as sentrj' — Arrival at the Junction — Disposition of 
 the Confederate army at Bull Run — Beauregard's plan of battle — 
 The Federals attack— Retreat of the Confederate left— Jackson's 
 new line of battle— Death of General Bee— Arrival of Kirby -Smith 
 — Defeat of the Federal army— Scenes in the retreat — President 
 Davis on the battle-field— Jackson wounded— Reception at Rich- 
 mond of the news of the victory 76-94 
 
CONTENTS. 9 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ROMNEY. 
 
 The colored Sunday-school — Incident at Manassas — Jackson's satis- 
 faction with his brigade— He is made major-general — Ordered to 
 Winchester— Takes leave of his brigade— Operations of the Fed- 
 eral troops in Northwestern Virginia — Fruitless efforts of the 
 Confederates to oppose them — New plans adopted by Jackson — He 
 cuts the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal— DiflBculties in the work— He 
 is joined by Loring's force — Expedition planned against Bath, 
 Hancock, and Romney — Hardships endured by the troops — The 
 enemy driven out of Bath — Ashby summons the town of Hancock 
 to surrender — Romney abandoned by the enemy — A desolated coun- 
 try — Jackson's return to Winchester — Telegram from the Secretary 
 of War — Jackson tenders his resignation, but afterwards with- 
 draws it 95-112 
 
 CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 KERNSTOWN. 
 
 Disasters to the Confederate arms in the early months of 1862 — Fall 
 of Forts Henry and Donelson — Affairs in Virginia— Magruder's 
 tactics on the peninsula — The advantages of the North— Gloomy 
 prospect for the South — Jackson at Winchester — He determines 
 to fall back to Strasburg— Receives orders to hold Banks in check 
 — Battle at Kernstown — Retreat of the Confederates — General 
 Ashby 113-130 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WINCHESTER. 
 
 McClellan's movement against Richmond — Jackson's position in the 
 Valley— He retreats to Harrisonburg— Movements after leaving 
 that place— March to Staunton— Battle at McDowell— Flight of 
 the enemy — Banks's movements — Front Royal surprised by the 
 Confederates — Pursuit of the Federals — Excitement of the inhabit- 
 ants of Winchester — Scenes during the Federal retreat . . 131-154 
 A* 
 
IQ CONTEXTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 
 
 In camp at Winchester— Starts for Charlcstown— Routs the enemy- 
 near that place— The Valley cleared of the invaders— lie prepares 
 to attack Harper's Ferry — Learns that Fremont and Shields are 
 moving against him — Retreats to Strasburg — Encounter with the 
 Federal cavalry near Harrisonburg — Death of General Ashby — 
 Jackson's grief — Makes arrangements to attack Fremont and 
 Shields separately — He narrowly escapes capture by the Federals 
 —The enemy repulsed at Port Republic — Battle of Cross Kejs — 
 He turns upon Shields and defeats him — The Confederate cavalry- 
 enters Harrisonburg — Bivouac in Brown's Gap — Religious ser- 
 vices 155-174 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 
 
 Battle of Williamsburg— Destruction of the ram Virginia— Repulse 
 of the Federal gunboats at Drewry's Bluff— Battle of the Seven 
 Pines — Jeb Stuart's raid — Jackson ordered to Richmond — The 
 enemy hoodwinked — Interview between Jackson and Lee at Rich- 
 mond — Jackson's command arrives at Ashland — McClellan's dispo- 
 sition of his forces around the Confederate capital — Lee's plan for 
 the capture of the whole Federal army — McClellan's change of 
 base — Jackson's deep sense of responsibility — Battle of the Chicka- 
 hominy — Brilliant charge of the Texan and Mississippi brigades — 
 The Federal army in motion towards the James — Battle near Sav- 
 age Station — Battle of Frazier's Farm — Unsuccessful assault of the 
 Federal position on Malvern Hill — The Federal army at Harri- 
 son's Landing — The siege of Richmond raised . . . 175-210 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 
 
 The astonished farmer — Formation of the Federal Army of Virginia, 
 under Pope — Jackson ordered to Gordonsville — Applies for rein- 
 forcements — Battle of Cedar Run — Defeat of the enemy — Death of 
 
CONTENTS. 11 
 
 General Winder — Preparations to capture Pope's army — Pursuit 
 of the retreating Federals — A touching tribute — Arrival of Jackson 
 at Manassas — Critical position — Second battle of Manassas — Total 
 rout of the enemy— Battle of Ox Hill 211-237 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SHARPSBURG. 
 
 On the march to the Potomac — Arrival at Dranesville — Incident at 
 Leesburg — Jackson's command crosses the Potomac — Halt at Fred- 
 erick City — McClellan restored to the Federal command— Lee calls 
 a council of war — Jackson detailed to capture Harper's Ferry — 
 Once more in the Yalley — Attacks and takes Harper's Ferry- 
 Arrives at Sharpsburg — Battle of Sharpsburg, or Antietam — Lee 
 ■withdraws into Virginia — Engagement at Boteler's Ford — Jack- 
 son's kindness of heart 238-256 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FREDERICKSBURG. 
 
 Appointed lieutenant-general — Religious services in camp — Destruc- 
 tion of portion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad — Stuart enters 
 Pennsylvania — Jackson's corps put in motion — McClellan replaced 
 by Burnside — Movements of both armies — Jackson at Fredericks- 
 burg — Lee's preparations for the fight — The Federals cross the 
 Rappahannock — A vivid war-picture — Repulse of the enemy — Nar- 
 row escape of Jackson — Death of General Gregg — Flag of truce — 
 The Federal retreats during the night— End of the campaign of 
 1863 257-279 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WINTER QUARTERS, 1863. 
 
 Sports in camp — Jackson's occupations during the season of inac- 
 tivity — Rigid adherence to duty — His interest in the affairs of the 
 Yalley — Visitors — Impressions upon strangers — His kindness to 
 his guests — Love for little children — His delight in the soldiers' 
 religious meetings — Visit from his wife and daughter . . 280-295 
 
12 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
 
 Preparations on both sides — Fight at Kelly's Ford — Jackson's impa- 
 tience for the opening of the campaign— Hooker's movements — 
 Strength of his position at Chancellorsville — Consultation between 
 Lee and Jackson — Jackson proposes to attack the enemy in the 
 rear— Routs llooker's Eleventh Army Corps — His enthusiasm and 
 reckless exposure to danger — Is fired upon in the darkness by a 
 party of his own men — Perilous position of the wounded general 
 and his friends — His last military order 296-325 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 DEATH AND BURIAL. 
 
 A curious incident — Chancellorsville — Jackson's opinion of his flank 
 movement against Hooker — Closing scenes — Dispatch from Lee- 
 Removed to Guinea's Station — Death — Lee's general order — Grief 
 of the people at the news — The remains escorted to Richmond 
 — Scenes at the funeral — Burial at Lexington — Review of his 
 life 326-357 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Bronze statue presented to Virginia by Jackson's English admirers 
 — Mr. Beresford Hope's letter — Acceptance of the gift — Inaugura- 
 tion of the statue 358-263 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 OP 
 
 GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY LIFE. 
 
 jN'ot quite half a century ago, a thoughtful-looking, 
 rather slender, blue-eyed little boy, about eight years 
 old, was seen walking along the road leading from 
 Clarksburg to Lewis County, in Western Virginia. The 
 sun was approaching the western horizon, and the boy 
 moved along wearily and mayhap with aching feet, for 
 he had walked eighteen miles that day. But the child 
 is father to the man ; a strong will and patient perse- 
 verance had borne him through the heat and toil of the 
 day. A few more minutes, and he has reached the goal 
 of his wishes, as, knocking at the door of a house at 
 which he stops, the homeless little traveler announces 
 himself to its owner as his nephew Thomas Jonathan 
 Jackson, and, though an unexpected guest, receives from 
 his kind-hearted uncle the affectionate welcome which 
 assured him that here at last he had found a resting- 
 place and a home which would be his as long as he 
 
 2 (13) 
 
14 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 needed one. Tliis extraordinary display of daring and 
 unyielding will and perseverance was indeed a fit open- 
 ing of the career of one who was destined to command 
 armies, make swift marches, win great victories, and to 
 fall upon the field of battle with liis name enrolled 
 among those of the great captains of the earth, and his 
 memory enshrined in the hearts of his countrymen. 
 
 The race from which this great man sprang were of a 
 sturdy stock of pioneers in the New World, whose ener- 
 gies and great probity won for them the esteem of the 
 early settlers with whom they lived. John Jackson, the 
 great-grandfather of " Stonewall Jackson," landed with 
 other British emigrants in 1748 in Maryland. There he 
 married Elizabeth Cummins, of London, and moved at 
 once with this estimable woman to the northern part of 
 Virginia. They lived for a short time in a beautiful 
 valley of the Potomac River where Moorfields is now 
 found. Having remained here three years, they moved 
 still farther west, and finally settled in a place in Up- 
 shur County, Virginia, which was once know^n as Fort 
 Jackson, but is now called Buckhannon. 
 
 The couple are represented as being of very unequal 
 stature, the wife towering above the husband, and being 
 as remarkable for her quick energy and great daring as 
 he was for his goodness, his industry, and his tranquil 
 courage. Tradition has preserved many instances of 
 the undaunted spirit which she displayed on different 
 occasions when the safety of the colonists was endan- 
 gered by the attacks — often formidable — of the In- 
 dians. We are told that she never quailed at the sound 
 of the savage war-whoop, but when shut up in a stock- 
 ade fort, to which the settlers fled in time of danger, 
 her voice, more frequently than that of any other, was 
 
EARLY LIFE. 15 
 
 heard soothing the fears of the women and children, and 
 exhorting the men to deeds of daring and self-sacrifice. 
 It is not now necessary to give a further account of 
 this worthy couple, and I will only add that, when the 
 American Revolution broke out, John Jackson fought 
 in it with his elder sons, that he afterwards made quite 
 a handsome fortune, and died in his eighty-sixth year. 
 His stout-hearted wife survived him twenty-four years, 
 and lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and 
 five. This good couple had eight children,— five sons 
 and three daughters. The second of these five sons, 
 Edward Jackson, left fifteen children, one of whom, 
 Jonathan Jackson, was the father of our hero. — -r; 
 
 Jonathan Jackson was a lawyer, and lived in Clarks- 
 burg. He married Julia Neale, of Parkersburg. She 
 was a tall, graceful girl, whose sweet countenance and 
 winning manners charmed all who met her, as in after- 
 years her good sense and earnest piety commanded their 
 respect. Her husband had inherited quite a snug little 
 fortune from his father, which he might easily have in- 
 creased by the labors of his profession, for he was quite 
 an eminent lawyer. Unfortunately, however, in un- 
 dertaking to assist some friends who were in trouble, 
 he lost much of his own fortune in trying to rebuild 
 theirs. The rest was lost at the card-table ; and thus it 
 happened that before he had reached the prime of life 
 he had lost all of his property except the house in 
 which he lived, and his family were dependent for their 
 support on what he could make by his profession. Jon- 
 athan Jackson had four children : Elizabeth, AVarren, 
 Thomas Jonathan, and Laura,— of whom only the last 
 is now living. He was a very devoted and affectionate 
 father, and lost his life by a fever which he caught 
 
^- 
 
 16 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 while nursing his daughter Elizabeth, who died of the 
 same disease. He had nursed her day and night, and 
 lioped on against hope as the progress of the disease 
 showed too plainly what the result would be. At last 
 the child died, and the heart-broken father, worn out by 
 his fatigue, his distress, and the misfortunes accumu- 
 lating upon him and his family, followed her to the 
 grave two weeks later. 
 
 '^ The little Thomas Jonathan was only three years old 
 at the time of his father's death, and at that tender age 
 the young child's troubles in life began. Happy it was 
 for him that he was too young to appreciate his mother's 
 desolate condition ! Her husband left her penniless, and 
 she found herself a widowed mother of three young 
 children, without a home, and without any means of 
 support. Kind friends were found who came to her 
 relief. The Masons, of which order her husband had 
 been an active member, gave her, soon after his death, 
 a small house, containing only one room; and in this 
 desolate little home, with her children around her, we 
 behold this young mother commencing her widowed life. 
 
 To enable her to support herself and children, she took 
 in sewing and taught a small school. The weight of 
 troubles resting upon her was almost too great for one 
 of her delicate health ; and yet she bore up patiently and 
 bravely, her bright and cheerful disposition only giving 
 way occasionally to fits of gloom and despondency. 
 
 It is said, by those who knew him best, that General 
 Jackson rarely spoke of his childhood, having so many 
 painful recollections of its trials and heartaches; and 
 when we think how many and how great these were, we 
 can well understand how he should have shrunk from 
 looking back on them. Three years after her husband's 
 
EARLY LIFE. 17 
 
 (leatli, Mrs. Jackson, who was still young and beautiful, 
 married again. Her second husband, a gentleman named 
 Woodson, was, like her first, a lawyer. He was very 
 poor, and her relations were violently opposed to her 
 marrying him, and threatened, if she insisted on doing 
 so, to take her children from her and support and edu- 
 cate them themselves. If, however, she would not 
 marry him, they would aid her with all the money they 
 could spare. But neither threats nor promises would 
 make her give up her second marriage. She had, how- 
 ever, been married but a short time when she found that 
 her husband was too poor to undertake the support of 
 her children, and she was forced to divide them out 
 among their father's brothers and sisters, who had offered 
 to take charge of them.* We can easily appreciate the 
 trial it was to her to give up her young children. Slie 
 was particularly distressed at parting with little Thomas. 
 He was then, it is said, a pretty, rosy-cheeked, blue-eyed 
 little boy, just six years old. Young as he was, he 
 never forgot his own nor his mother's distress at their 
 parting. His father had owned several slaves, but there 
 was now only one left, '^ Uncle Robinson,^' and he was 
 to take the child behind him on horseback and carry 
 him from his mother to his new home. The hour came 
 for his departure; his poor mother, with an aching 
 heart, put up with her own loving hands a lunch for 
 the little boy to eat on the road. " Uncle Robinson'^ 
 
 * Since the above was written, I have learned that Mrs. Jack- 
 son gave up her children not on account of want of support 
 for them, but because she went with her husband to Fayette 
 County, and the journey was considered too trying for them. 
 She herself had a presentiment of her own death when she left. 
 Part of the time after her first husband's d 'i.t'i she lived with her 
 father. 
 
 2* 
 
 f^ 
 
18 LIFE OF GESERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 rode to the door, and all was now ready for liim to 
 go. His mother bade him good-by, and the child was 
 lifted up and placed on the horse behind the faithful 
 slave. They had already started, when the poor mother 
 — doubtless to have an excuse to fold her little son once 
 more in her arms — called them back, to see whether she 
 had omitted anything which could add to his comfort. 
 But she had done all for him that her limited means 
 would allow. And it was perhaps some violent outburst 
 of grief at this second farewell which so impressed the 
 scene on the child's mind that as a man he looked back 
 to it as the most painful of his life. The horse's head 
 was once more turned away from the door; they again set 
 
 ^ out, and from that day his mother's home ceased to be his. 
 Mrs. Woodson did not live long after parting with 
 her children. A son was born a year after her mar- 
 riage, and two months later she died. Her children, 
 Warren and Thomas and their little sister Laura, were 
 summoned to their mother's bedside as soon as it was 
 discovered how ill she was, and remained with her until 
 her death. Thomas was seven years old when this took 
 place. She talked a great deal to him as she lay on her 
 death-bed ; and those dying instructions and prayers of 
 his mother were never effaced from his memory. She 
 sank at last quietly and peacefully to rest. Young as 
 he was when she died. General Jackson never forgot 
 his mother, and to the day of his death he continued to 
 think of her as of one who was beautiful, pious, and 
 lovable in every respect. 
 
 ^ Their father's sisters, Mrs. Brake and Mrs. White, 
 
 took charge of the little orphan children after their 
 mother's death. Thomas lived with Mrs. Brake, about 
 four miles from Clarksburg. He was a quiet, grave, 
 
EARLY LIFE. 19 
 
 and thoughtful child, and had been living \Yith his 
 uncle and aunt Brake only a year when one day he left 
 their house without any warning, walking, though only 
 eight years old, alone to Clarksburg. There he went 
 to the house of Judge Jackson, a cousin of his father, 
 and asked Mrs. Jackson to give him his dinner. She 
 kindly complied with his request, and while he was sit- 
 ting eating at the table he said, very quietly, " Uncle 
 Brake and I don't agree ; I have quit him, and shall 
 not go back any more.'' 
 
 Startled at this unexpected announcement, Mrs. Jack- 
 son tried to persuade him to return to his uncle Brake, 
 who, it seemed, had offended him by his sternness. But 
 he simply said, " No, he and I don't agree ; I have quit 
 him, and shall not go back any more." When he left 
 Judge Jackson's house, he went to that of a lady cousin, 
 to whom he was very much attached, and asked her to 
 let him stay all night with her. She gladly consented ; 
 and he soon made to her the same remark he had made to 
 Mrs. Jackson, and showed the same quiet determination 
 never to return to live with the uncle he had just left. 
 
 It was the next morning that he left Clarksburg, and 
 in that lonely walk of eighteen miles, already described, 
 showed so remarkably that quiet self-reliance which 
 characterized him in after-years, and which helped not 
 a little to make him famous. The uncle to whom he 
 went was Cummins Jackson, and from him, and two 
 aunts who lived with their brother Cummins, he re- 
 ceived the greatest kindness. In this new home he 
 had the pleasure of living with his brother Warren, 
 who had long been an inmate of his uncle's house. 
 
 To the two brothers Cummins Jackson fulfilled the 
 duties of a father, and his house was always a happy 
 
20 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 home from the time he came to it, as Ave have seen, a 
 forlorn little traveler, only eight years old, to the day 
 when he left it, a stalwart youth, to enter the Military 
 Academy of West Point. It would have been impos- 
 sible for a child to lead a life better adapted to physical 
 and moral development than the one Jackson led under 
 his uncle's care. From him he learned all sorts of 
 country games and occuj^ations, and, associating with him 
 more as a companion than as a child, became wonder- 
 fully independent and manly for his years. 
 
 Cummins Jackson gave to his two nephews every 
 advantage of education which the country then afforded. 
 Thomas was not quick in learning, but he was very in- 
 dustrious and devoted to study. His mind was clear 
 and strong, and what he learned he learned thoroughly. 
 His brother Warren did not like to study, and, disre- 
 garding his uncle's kindness, became impatient at being 
 forced to attend school regularly, and finally refused to 
 live any longer under his roof. His uncle, indignant 
 at his ingratitude and rebellion against his authority, 
 told him he might go ; and the unhappy boy left, taking 
 his younger brother with him. 
 
 Thomas, we are told, left his uncle's house with 
 unfeigned sorrow; but such was his attachment to his 
 brother that he could not bear to be separated from him. 
 
 The two boys accordingly, one fourteen and the other 
 twelve years old, left their uncle's sheltering roof to 
 seek their fortunes in the great world of which they 
 knew so little. They went first to the house of a kind, 
 maternal uncle; but he, like Cummins Jackson, insisted 
 on their going to school. Warren again rebelled, and 
 again persuaded Thomas to join him in leaving a home 
 where they had found nothing but kindness. 
 
EARLY LIFE. 21 
 
 The two children went down the Ohio River, and 
 their friends lost siglit of them. The fall months passed 
 away, and the winter set in, and still there were no 
 tidings of the young Avanderers. At length, in Feb- 
 ruary, they made their appearance. Their clothes Avere 
 travel-stained and worn, and their faces showed the 
 effects of sickness and hardship. Their relations, shocked 
 at seeing their condition, heard with dismay the tale of 
 their adventures. Their account was that they had 
 floated in a boat down the Ohio, making their living by 
 first one occupation and then another, until they reached 
 its mouth. They then went down the Mississippi until 
 they reached a lonely island opposite the southwestern 
 corner of Kentucky. There they landed and made a 
 bargain with some men to cut wood on this island for 
 the Mississippi steamers. They lived in a cabin which 
 barely protected them from the weather, and spent the 
 summer cutting wood, at which they worked hard. The 
 island was unhealthy, and they had chills and fever. 
 At last, when they found they could stand it no longer, 
 they asked a steamboat captain to take them back home. 
 This he kindly consented to do, and thus, weary and 
 worn, they were enabled to reach home once more. 
 
 Thomas Jackson returned to his uncle Cummins, and 
 in his house he was tenderly cared for, and soon regained 
 his health and strength. AYarren, ashamed perhaps to 
 return to the good uncle whom he had left so unceremo- 
 niously, went to live with his aunt, Mrs. Isaac Brake, 
 from whom he received great kindness ; but, never re- 
 covering from the effects of the hardships he had under- 
 gone, he died some years later, of consumption. 
 
 After his trip down the Mississippi, Thomas went 
 back, as we have seen, to live with his uncle Cummins, 
 
22 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 nor did he ever again show any desire to leave him. 
 He and his sister, after Warren's death, were the only 
 two of their father's children left ; the latter lived in 
 AVood County, where her mother's relations took care 
 of her. As soon as Thomas was separated from AYar- 
 ren, his desire to go to school was quite as great as his 
 uncle could have wished. Cummins Jackson owned a 
 mill, situated not far from his house, and close to it was 
 the school-house in which Thomas Jackson spent his 
 early school-days. 
 
 His mind, though clear and strong, was not a very 
 quick one ; but what he once learned was his forever. 
 Nothing could induce him to attempt the recitation of a 
 lesson which he did not understand. Of arithmetic he 
 was very fond, and it was the one of his lessons Avhich 
 he learned and understood most quickly. His anxiety 
 to learn and his fondness for study in no wise interfered 
 with his devotion to boyish games and exercise. In 
 games of base-ball he was generally chosen as captain 
 of one side, which most frequently proved the winning 
 party. He was not a fast runner, but was surpassed by 
 none of his companions in jumping and climbing. 
 
 A quiet and peaceful boy, he was yet quick to resent 
 an insult, and once, in a fight, preferred to receive a 
 whipping rather than cry out, " Enough !" 
 
 Perhaps the most striking characteristic of Jackson 
 as a child was his devotion to truth. From this neither 
 threat nor temptation could induce him to swerve for 
 an instant, and teachers and scholars alike admired and 
 respected his courage, honesty, and truth. Industrious 
 in and out of school, he was, however, always anxious 
 to join his uncle whenever he went on a chase. Cum- 
 mins Jackson, a fearless man and bold rider, enjoyed 
 
EARLY LIFE. 23 
 
 nothing more than a fox-hunt ; and in tliis exciting sport 
 he was joined by his young nephew as soon as he was 
 old enough. We can easily picture to ourselves this 
 uncle and nephew mounting their horses and sallying 
 forth in the bracing air of a bright, frosty autumn morn- 
 ing, and being soon engaged in a wild ride over hill and 
 dale, in which the boy was not surpassed by the man in 
 boldness and daring. In such a school young Jackson 
 could not fail to become a fine, fearless horseman, and 
 to learn that disregard for fatigue and exposure which 
 is so characteristic of the young men of the South. But 
 it was no part of his nucleus training that he should par- 
 take only of his amusements ; and he often had him to 
 assist in his labors on his farm. To a lad as industrious 
 as Thomas, this was no hardship, and his uncle found in 
 him an able and willing assistant. 
 
 Though owning slaves, Cummins Jackson had not 
 enough to perform all the work on his farm and at 
 his mill. He and his nephew, therefore, put their own 
 shoulders to the wheel. When Thomas was large enough 
 to undertake such a task, it generally fell to his lot to 
 take a team of oxen and haul logs from the Avoods to the 
 mill, where they were to be sawed into planks. He 
 soon learned to do this work so well, and showed so 
 much resolution in the discharge of his duty, that when- 
 ever a particularly large log was to be brought to the 
 mill he was sent to the woods with a party of men under 
 his command, and the log always reached its destination 
 safely. Thus he learned on his uncle's farm to work, 
 to do well what he undertook, and to control himself 
 and those under him. 
 
 An anecdote is told of him when he was quite a child, 
 which shows that he had both courage and resolution 
 
24 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 even at that tender age. When riding home late one 
 evening, a tall, white, ghostly figure suddenly rose from 
 the roadside. The boy and horse were both frightened; 
 the latter snorted and wheeled to run, but his young 
 rider, recovering himself, pulled him back into the road, 
 and, plying whip and spurs, galloped by the white figure, 
 which a few minutes later proved to be one of his young 
 uncles wrapped in a sheet. 
 
 In the school of such a life the boyhood of General 
 Jackson was passed. His love of independence led him 
 to try to support himself when still very young, as he 
 was anxious to be no longer dependent on his uncle. 
 
 His first occupation was that of a constable, a position 
 whose stern duties could be fulfilled only by a brave and 
 determined man, and Jackson was found to be well quali- 
 fied for the post. On one occasion he had to collect a sum 
 which the person to whom it was owed had in vain tried 
 to get. Jackson, having failed in several attempts to get 
 the money, finally made the man who owed it promise 
 that he would meet him in the little village of AYeston 
 on a certain day and be ready to pay the money down. 
 Having exacted this promise from the debtor, he pledged 
 himself to the creditor to pay the money on that day. 
 
 The day came, and Jackson went to Weston. The 
 creditor was there, in readiness to receive his money, 
 but not the man who w^as to pay it. Jackson kept his 
 promise w^ith the former by paying him the required 
 sum out of his own pocket. Determined, however, that 
 the other should be punished for failing to keep his 
 word, he quietly waited for him to make his appearance 
 in Weston, having made up his mind to seize and sell 
 his horse if he could get the money in no other way. 
 
 As he expected, the man arrived the next day ; but, it 
 
EARLY LIFE. 25 
 
 being considered in that country improper, under any 
 circumstances, to seize a man's horse while he was on 
 liim, the young constable w^aited until he saw him dis- 
 mount. He then went to him, reproached him for his 
 breach of faith, and, reminding him of how often he 
 had played him false, tried to seize his horse. The rider 
 resisted, and a violent fight and scuffle ensued, during 
 which the man succeeded in jumping on his horse. 
 
 For a moment Jackson was disconcerted, but he was 
 not to be outw^itted by his cunning adversary. Holding 
 the bridle firmly grasped, he looked around, and seeing 
 the door of a stable near by open, he deliberately led the 
 horse towards it. The door was too low for a man to 
 pass through on horseback, and Jackson quietly told his 
 adversary that he must dismount or be knocked off. 
 He resisted and entreated, but the horse was led steadily 
 on to the door, and as he reached it the man was forced 
 to slip off in order to save himself, and thus Jackson 
 w^as left in possession of the horse. 
 
 On the death of his brother AYarren we find Jackson 
 writing to his uncle, Mr. Neale, as follows : " I have re- 
 ceived no answer to my last communication conveying the 
 sad news of my brother's premature death. He died iu 
 hope of a bright immortality at the right hand of his 
 Redeemer. His last hours were spent in admonishing 
 his friends who wept around his bed to flee from the 
 wrath to come. ... As time is knowledge, I must 
 hasten my pen forward. We have received the smiles 
 of a bounteous Providence in a favorable spring. There 
 is a volunteer company forming here to march for Texas 
 in order to assist the noble cause of liberty." 
 
 Jackson's great devotion to his young sister has already 
 been alluded to. As a pleasing proof of this, it is re- 
 
26 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 lated that the first money he ever made Avas laid out in 
 a silk dress for her. 
 
 During these days of his early youth, whether assist- 
 ing his uncle on his farm or enjoying with him the 
 exciting scenes of a fox-hunt, — of which sport there 
 was danger of his becoming too fond, — or whether 
 l)usily engaged in discharging the duties of a constable, 
 there was one thought which possessed Jackson^s mind 
 above all others, one wish that was dearer to his heart 
 than any other ; and that was, to secure a good education. 
 His heart was so full of this that every one who was 
 thrown much with him saw how eager he was to learn, 
 and, as we shall soon see, even a poor blacksmith living 
 in his neighborhood found out his great desire to be well 
 educated, and sympathized with him in his efforts to be 
 so. But the difficulties to overcome were very great. 
 He was poor, and began to earn his living long before 
 it was time that he should have left school. The part 
 of the country, too, in which he lived offered no educa- 
 tional advantages, the schools being few and not very 
 good. But Jackson saw that no man could rise to great 
 distinction without education, and next to his desire to 
 be good was that of being great, and he determined to 
 leave no stone unturned in his effort to secure an edu- 
 cation which would enable him to attain honors for 
 which his soul so early thirsted. But his days of trial 
 on that subject were soon to have an end. His strug- 
 gles and perseverance in overcoming the obstacles in his 
 path had been witnessed by too many for some one not 
 to be ready to give him a helping hand when the oppor- 
 tunity came, which it did at last, and unexpectedly he 
 had the fond wish of his heart gratified in a manner 
 which he had never dreamt of. 
 
EARLY LIFE. 27 
 
 West Point, it is well known, has as many pupils or 
 cadets as there are Congressional districts in the country. 
 The expenses of this great military academy are paid by 
 the United States Government with the money that the 
 different States pay into its treasury. So that when a 
 young man from Virginia is educated at West Point 
 free of all cost to himself, it is no gift to him, but the 
 payment of a just debt which the United States Govern- 
 ment owes to his State. 
 
 In 1842 it happened that there was no cadet at West 
 Point from the Congressional district in which Jackson 
 lived. At the recommendation of ]\Ir. Hays, the mem- 
 ber of Congress from that district, a young man was 
 appointed. He had a quick mind, but so little self- 
 restraint and energy that, on seeing how hard the young 
 men had to study at West Point, and under what strict 
 rules they were obliged to live, he determined he could 
 not stand such a life, and returned home in disgust, re- 
 signed his appointment, and left the place to be filled by 
 one whose name and whose glory the world can never 
 forget. 
 
 Just about this time, Cummins Jackson, going to fhe 
 shop of a blacksmith, heard from him of this young 
 man's io-noble conduct, the blacksmith concluding: his 
 remarks by saying, ^' Here now is a good chance for 
 Thomas Jackson, as he is so anxious for an education." 
 The thought struck Cummins Jackson as a happy one, 
 and on returning home he told his nephew of the oppor- 
 tunity thus offered him of getting an api)ointment to 
 AVest Point. Young Jackson began eagerly to take 
 steps to secure this, and without a moment's delay went 
 to his friends and asked them to sign a letter of recom- 
 mendation for him to Mr. Hays. This they willingly 
 
28 
 
 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 did, as all were anxious to give liim a helping hand. 
 One gentleman to whom he applied asked him if he 
 thouglit his education sufficiently advanced for him to 
 enter West Point. For a moment his countenance fell, 
 but was again lit up as he said, calmly, " At least I am 
 determined to try, and I want you to help me do this/' 
 
 As soon as the letters recommending his appointment 
 were procured, they were forwarded to Washington. 
 While awaiting the reply, Jackson made the most of his 
 time by reviewing his studies. In this he was kindly 
 assisted by a lawyer in Weston, who acted as his tutor 
 but declined to receive any pay for his services. In due 
 time the reply from Mr. Hays came, in which he said 
 he would do all he could to secure the appointment for 
 Jackson. The latter, in his eagerness to lose no time 
 in entering West Point should he secure the appoint- 
 ment, determined to go at once to Washington in order 
 to be ready to receive it. His plain and scanty ward- 
 robe was accordingly packed in a pair of saddle-bags, 
 and, dressed in a full suit of homespun, he mounted his 
 horse and set out to make his entrance into the w^orld, 
 —that world which before his death was destined to 
 resound with the fame of this now obscure youth. 
 
 He was accompanied by a servant, who was to return 
 home with his horse when he took the stage, which he 
 expected to do at Clarksburg. To that place he pushed 
 forward, but found, on his arrival, that the stage had 
 passed by. Nothing daunted, he galloped after it, over- 
 took it, dismissed his servant with the horses, and con- 
 tinued his journey in the lumbering stage-coach. 
 
 On reaching Washington, he went directly to Mr. 
 Hays, who, pleased with the energy he had shown, took 
 him, all travel-stained as he was, to the Secretary of 
 
EARLY LIFE. 29 
 
 War, from whom he was to receive his appointment. 
 The Secretary, after a few minutes' conversation with 
 him, was so well pleased with his manliness and quiet 
 determination that he wrote the appointment out for 
 him on the spot. 
 
 Mr. Hays wanted Jackson to stay several days with 
 him in Washington and enjoy the sights and pleasures 
 of the city ; but the young man, who still thought only 
 of that longed-for education Avhich was now at length 
 within his reach, said no ; he only wanted to see the 
 view from the top of the Capitol, and then hurry on to 
 West Point. 
 
 To the top of the Capitol young Jackson accordingly 
 went. In a long and silent gaze he looked down upon 
 the city lying at his feet; upon the majestic river sweeping 
 by, that like himself had its origin among the picturesque 
 woods and rocks of Western Virginia ; and farther on 
 beyond its sparkling waters and dancing wavelets his 
 eye rested on the territory of his own loved State. There, 
 too, on a height overhanging the Potomac, he saw, em- 
 bowered in trees and reflecting the light of the morning 
 sun, the future home of the then modest but rising young 
 oflicer whose twin brother in glory he was destined to 
 be. Could his eye have seen a few miles farther into 
 that loved land, — could he in prophetic vision have 
 caught a glimpse of a not very distant future, — there, on 
 the field of Manassas, he would have seen, amid the din 
 and smoke of battle, the tall, calm figure of a Virginia 
 commander, whose steadfastness under fire and against 
 overwhelming odds caused a brother officer to point him 
 out to his men as a shining example, and to shout out 
 with his expiring breath the immortal name of Stone- 
 wall Jackson. 
 
 3* 
 
CHAPTER 11. 
 
 WEST POINT. 
 
 An old friend and comrade of Jackson thus describes 
 his arrival at West Point : 
 
 ^' Id June, 1842, A. P. Hill, George C. Pickett, B. D. 
 Fry, and the writer, having passed our first week at the 
 Military Academy, were standing together on the south 
 side of the south barracks at West Point, when a cadet- 
 sergeant came by us, conducting a newly-arrived cadet to 
 his quarters. He was apparently about twenty years of 
 age, and was full grown ; his figure was angular and 
 clumsy ; his gait was awkward ; he was clad in old- 
 fashioned Virginia homespun woolen cloth ; he bore 
 across his shoulders a pair of weather-stained saddle- 
 bags ; and his hat was one of those heavy, low-crowned, 
 broad-brimmed wool hats usually worn in those days by 
 county constables, etc. He tramped along by the side 
 of the sergeant with an air of resolution, and his stolid 
 look added to the inflexible determination of his whole 
 aspect, so that one of us remarked, ^ That fellow has 
 come here to stay.' His name Avas Thomas J. Jackson. 
 
 '^ He had a rough time in the Academy at first, lor 
 his want of previous training placed him at a disadvan- 
 tage, and it was all he could do to pass his first examina- 
 tion. We were studying algebra, and maybe analytical 
 geometry, that winter, and Jackson was very low in his 
 class standing. All lights were put out at ' taps/ but 
 30 
 
WEST POINT. 31 
 
 just before the signal he would pile up his grate Avith 
 anthracite coal, and, lying prone before it on the floor, 
 would work away at his lessons by the glare of the fire, 
 which scorched his very brain, till a late hour in the 
 night. This evident determination to succeed not only 
 aided his own efforts directly, but impressed his in- 
 structors in his favor, and he rose steadily, year by year, 
 till we used to say, ^If we had to stay here another year, 
 "old Jack" would be at the head of the class/ 
 
 " By the fourth year he attained a position in the first 
 section ; but his lower standing during the early years in 
 the course, and in drawing, French, and some other 
 studies of a lighter and more ornamental character, 
 brought his average below the point to which he had 
 actually attained by the end of our course. 
 
 " In the riding-hall I think his sufferings must have 
 been great ; he had a very rough horse, and when the 
 order came to ^ cross stirrups' and 'trot,' 'old Jack' 
 swayed about and struggled hard to keep his horse. 
 When he had advanced to riding at the heads, leaping 
 the bars, etc., his equitation was truly fearful ; but he 
 persevered through the most perilous trials, and no man 
 in the ridino;-house would take more risks than he, and 
 certainly no one had our good wishes for success and 
 safety more than he. 
 
 " I believe he went through the very trying ordeal of 
 the four years at West Point without ever having a 
 hard word or a bad feeling from cadet or professor; 
 and while there were many who seemed to surpass him 
 in the graces of intellect, in geniality, and in good fel- 
 lowship, there was no one of our class who more abso- 
 lutely possessed the respect and confidence of all than 
 he did." 
 
32 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Knowing how badly prepared Jackson was, Mr. Hays 
 wrote to the authorities and asked that his entrance ex- 
 aminations might be made as easy as possible. He also 
 stated that young Jackson's opportunities for receiving 
 an education had been very few, and that he was a most 
 excellent and promising young man. Moved by these 
 considerations, the authorities were very lenient in their 
 examination of him ; and he afterwards declared that 
 if they had not been he could not have entered the Mili- 
 tary Academy. As soon as he was numbered among 
 the cadets at West Point, he devoted himself most earn- 
 estly to his studies. The older cadets, who w^ere in the 
 habit of playing tricks upon the new-comers, did not 
 attempt anything of the sort with him, for he was so 
 quiet and dignified that there were very few w^ho would 
 venture to take any liberties with him. 
 
 After working hard at his books all day, he generally 
 went with some companion to take a ramble over the 
 wild, beautiful hills around AYest Point, or spent an 
 hour or two on the top of a bluff, watching the waters 
 of the Hudson dancing at his feet. His countenance 
 was grave when he was silent ; but if he spoke on a sub- 
 ject which interested him his face became animated, and 
 his eyes beamed with fire and intelligence. As the ex- 
 aminations at the end of the first term came on, he is 
 said to have suffered great agony of mind, fearing he 
 might be among those who, getting below a certain 
 mark, would have to leave. Years afterwards he used 
 to say that after entering West Point and finding what 
 amount of study was required, and how many cadets 
 were sent off annually, he fully expected to be dismissed, 
 and in anticipation suffered all the shame of going home 
 and being laughed at. He even })repared what he would 
 
WEST POINT. 33 
 
 say to his young friends and companions at home if he 
 was sent back, and how he would tell them ^'if they had 
 been there and found it as hard as he did, they would 
 have failed too." 
 
 But, trying as this period of his life was, Jackson's 
 patient perseverance and enduring courage enabled him 
 to pass triumphantly through it, and, not allowing him- 
 self to be down-hearted, he never flagged at his work. 
 
 While at West Point, he wrote down for his own use 
 certain rules of conduct and maxims by which he should 
 be guided. Among the latter we find the chief one to be: 
 " You May Be Whatever You Resolve To Be'^ 
 
 He had early determined to be great and good, and he 
 never ceased striving to accomplish whatever he under- 
 took. 
 
 In his intercourse with his fellow-students he was 
 invariably kind and courteous in his manners, and was 
 always ready to nurse and aid those who w^ere sick and 
 in trouble. The second year that he was at West Point 
 he received seven demerits, which the bad conduct of 
 others brought upon him. He remained silent and bore 
 unjust blame, which he might have throwai on others 
 had he not w^ished to shield them. 
 
 When he first entered West Point he w^as rather 
 small, and one of his relations describes him as being 
 " a slender lad, who walked rapidly, with his head bent 
 forward. He had a grave, thoughtful face, which gave 
 him a dull look usually ; but when anything interested 
 or excited him, his form became erect, his eyes flashed 
 like steel, and his smile, as sweet as a woman's, would 
 illumine his whole face." 
 
 The life he led at West Point, and the fine exercise 
 which the drilling gave him, soon developed his frame, 
 
34 LJFF^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 and he grew rapidly, and became a tall, fine-looking 
 soldier. He was extremely erect, and while studying 
 sat so bolt upright that he rarely touched the back of 
 his chair. 
 
 As the time drew near for his final examinations at 
 West Point, he became morg and more anxious about his 
 success, but more determined that if he failed it should 
 be from no want of eifort on his part. After they were 
 over, his aunt, Mrs. Neale, Avith whom he was always 
 very intimate, asked him how he felt about them. He 
 looked up with a bright smile as he replied, "Aunt, I 
 w^pt and studied and prayed.'^ 
 
 His day of trial was passed successfully, and he grad- 
 uated at West Point on June 30, 1846, and received the 
 brevet rank of second lieutenant of artillery. He was 
 then twenty-two years old. 
 
 He had only one personal difficulty while at West 
 Point, which arose from a certain cadet taking Jackson's 
 neatly polished musket and putting his own, uncleaned, 
 in its place. Fortunately, Jackson had a private mark 
 on his musket by which he could distinguish it from 
 any other, and going directly to the captain of his com- 
 pany he told him of the trick which had been played 
 upon him, and described to him the private mark on 
 his gun. That evening, when the arms were all in- 
 spected, Jackson's musket was found in the hands of a 
 cadet of bad standing both with professors and cadets, 
 and Avho was the very person whom Jackson in his own 
 mind had accused of taking his gun. When it was 
 found actually in his possession, and he was accused of 
 having taken it, he attempted to shield himself by a 
 falsehood. Jackson, whose devotion to truth knew no 
 bounds, had his indignation so aroused that for once he 
 
WEST POINT, 35 
 
 made no effort to control his anger, and, declaring that 
 such a cadet was a disgrace to West Point, said he would 
 ask to have him tried and dismissed; nor did he give 
 up his determination to do so until moved hy the en- 
 treaties and remonstrances of both cadets and professors. 
 As it turned out, however, the young man's disgrace 
 was only postponed, as a little later he was dismissed 
 for breaking his parole. After knocking about the 
 world for some time, and getting more and more steeped 
 in crime, lie finally wound up in the mountains of 
 Mexico, Avhere he became the chief of a band of roving 
 and thieving Indians who robbed and murdered travel- 
 ers. After being with them for some time, they quar- 
 reled with him about a poor peddler whom they had 
 murdered for his goods, and drove him from their band. 
 
 The war between Mexico and the United States had 
 already broken out when Jackson graduated at West 
 Point and received the brevet rank of second lieutenant 
 of artillery. The young soldier was at once ordered to 
 take the field, and from West Point went directly to 
 New Orleans, from which place he sailed for Mexico. 
 His company was with the little army of over thirteen 
 thousand men which landed near Vera Cruz with colors 
 flying, bands playing, and amid the enthusiastic shouts 
 of the soldiers, on a lovely spring day (March 9) in the 
 year 1847. The beauty and brilliancy of the scene were 
 long remembered by young Jackson, and he often spoke 
 of it in after-life. 
 
 Jackson first " smelt gunpowder" in the siege of Vera 
 Cruz, which city having surrendered after a heavy bom- 
 bardment on the 29th of March, the United States 
 troops under the command of General Scott were led 
 rapidly forward towards the city of Mexico. On this 
 
3G LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 march they attacl<ecl and routed the INIexican army under 
 Santa Anna at Cerro Gordo, where the plan of assault 
 was made by Captain Eohcrt E. Lee. In this battle 
 Captain John Bankhead Magruder greatly distinguished 
 himself as the commander of a battery of light field 
 artillery. He was considered a very strict commanding 
 officer, and the place of second lieutenant being vacant 
 in his battery after the battle of Cerro Gordo, there 
 were very few young officers who were anxious to fill it. 
 But young Jackson, thinking it Avas a position which 
 from exposure to danger and hardships offered great 
 advantages for winning distinction, asked for and re- 
 ceived it. 
 
 After the battle of Cerro Gordo, General Scott moved 
 first upon La Puebla, and after a short stay at that city 
 pushed on to the city of Mexico. He found the moun- 
 tain-ridge which was between his army and the plain in 
 the centre of w^hich the city stood so well fortified that 
 he would have lost nearly the whole of his army in 
 attempting to force his way through its passes. There 
 was, indeed, a route to the left, by following which the 
 ridge could be avoided ; but this was through a country 
 so rough and broken up by ravines that the Mexican 
 general, thinking it impassable, had not deemed it 
 worth w^hile to defend it either with troops or fortifica- 
 tions. He soon saw, however, that he had underrated 
 the energy and courage of the army he had to deal with ; 
 for its young engineers, pointing out this circuitous 
 route to their general, urged him to follow it, which he 
 did ; and after a rough and tedious march of several 
 days the vanguard of the LTnited States army was, by 
 August 19, at San Augustin, a village only eight miles 
 from the city of Mexico. 
 
WEST POINT. 37 
 
 The Mexican general, alarmed at the sudden and un- 
 expected appearance of his enemy so near the city, threw 
 a force into and fortified the village of San Antonio, 
 which lies between San Augustin and the city. Farther 
 on to the west stands an isolated hill at Contreras ; this 
 he also fortified, and on its summit placed a heavy force 
 of infantry and artillery. Most of his forces, however, 
 he stationed in and around a village called Churubusco, 
 just behind this hill, which was also fortified. Both posi- 
 tions, San Antonio and Contreras, w^ere well chosen, but, 
 unfortunately for the Mexicans, were too far apart to 
 support each other. General Scott, seeing his advantage, 
 marched around the hill of Contreras on the nio-ht of 
 the 19th of August, and at daylight on the 20th attacked 
 it in the rear, and after a fight of a few minutes' dura- 
 tion defeated and routed the force which held it. The 
 Mexican force which was at San Antonio, being now in 
 great danger of being cut off, fell back hastily, and 
 reached Churubusco in great confusion. After a fierce 
 battle of a few hours, this place was also taken by the 
 United States troops, and the Mexicans drcAV in their 
 lines closer to the city. 
 
 In the battle of Churubusco Jackson first won dis- 
 tinction. Magruder's battery was assigned to a post 
 within nine hundred yards of the enemy's works. His 
 first lieutenant, Mr. Johnstone, falling early in the 
 action, Jackson took his place and became second in 
 command. With what skill and courage he discharged 
 his duty I leave Captain Magruder to describe. In his 
 report he says, — 
 
 " In a few moments Lieutenant Jackson, commanding 
 the second section of the battery, which had opened fire 
 upon the enemy's works from a position on the right, 
 
38 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 hearing our fire still farther in front, advanced in hand- 
 some style, and, being assigned by me to the post so gal- 
 lantly filled by Lieutenant Johnstone, kept up the fire 
 ■with great briskness and effect. His conduct was equally 
 conspicuous during the whole day; and I cannot tod 
 highly commend him to the major-general's favorable 
 consideration/' 
 
 For his gallantry in the battle of Churubusco, Jackson 
 received the brevet rank of captain. On the 8th of 
 September the battle of Molino del Key was fought, 
 in which battle Jackson was only called upon to fire a 
 few well-directed shots at the enemy's cavalry. The 
 battle of Molino del Key being another victory for the 
 United States troops, and the Mexicans having been 
 steadily pushed back upon their devoted city, there was 
 only one obstacle left for the victors to overcome. This 
 was the castle of Chapultepec, which was situated on 
 a high hill, and commanded both roads by Avhich the 
 victors were to enter the city. Around this castle 
 were assembled the wrecks of the Mexican army, and 
 they were prepared to make a death-struggle for its de- 
 fense. The fields around, being covered with corn and 
 groves, besides being cut up by ditches, were almost 
 impassable for infantry, and quite so for artillery ; 
 while behind every tree and hedge the Mexican sharp- 
 shooters held themselves in readiness to fire. Terrible 
 as the assault of such a position would be, the officers 
 of the United States army felt that it must be made, 
 and that quickly, since, their troops being far from their 
 ships and their supplies running low, it was absolutely 
 necessary for them to enter the city of Mexico at once. 
 Officers and men, therefore, braced themselves up to the 
 coming conflict, which took place on the 13th of Sep- 
 
WEST POINT. 39 
 
 teraber. On the morning of that day, General Pillow, 
 in whose command Magruder's battery was placed, was 
 ordered to attack the castle on the west side, and Gen- 
 eral Worth was ordered to marcli around and attack it 
 on the north. 
 
 Magruder was ordered to send one section of his bat- 
 tery, under Jackson, to attack the northwest angle, while 
 he himself attacked in another direction. Jackson was 
 sent forward with two regiments of infantry under 
 Colonel Tronsdale. The latter ordering him to push 
 steadily on, he suddenly found himself right under the 
 enemy's guns. Instantly they opened fire upon him, 
 killing or disabling nearly all his horses, w^hile his men, 
 for the most part, were shot down or driven from their 
 guns. His rear was protected by a small party of infan- 
 try, who were already wavering under the murderous 
 fire. Just at this moment, General Worth, who had 
 been moving rapidly around to the north side of the 
 castle, came up, and, seeing Jackson's danger, ordered 
 him to fall back. Jackson replied that it would be more 
 dangerous to withdraw than to stand his ground, and if 
 the general would send him fifty brave soldiers he would 
 prefer to make an attempt to take the enemy's battery 
 in front of him which had so crippled his own. Ma- 
 gruder, in the mean while, having quickly accomplished 
 the task which had been assigned to him, w^as moving 
 rapidly forward to join his young lieutenant, when he 
 was informed of his danger. With his usual gallantry, 
 he dashed forAvard. His horse w^as killed and fell under 
 him as he reached Jackson, who had just lifted, by hand, 
 a single gun across a ditch and placed it in a position 
 from which it could hurl death into the enemy's ranks. 
 This gun, with the aid of a single sergeant, he was load- 
 
40 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ing and firing rapidly, while his men were lying aronnd 
 him, either dead, dying, wonnded, or skulking in the 
 ditch. The indefatigable Magruder by his own exertions 
 aided him in his efforts to silence tlie enemy's battery, 
 and, another gun being brought over and placed in posi- 
 tion, the Mexicans w^ere soon driven from their guns. 
 The other storm ing-parties having also succeeded in their 
 assaults on the castle, the enemy were soon in full retreat 
 upon the city. The order now Avas that the artillery 
 should pursue and harass the enemy's disordered and 
 flying columns. The horses attached to Jackson's guns 
 were all killed or crippled, but, not wishing to be left 
 behind in the pursuit, he quickly attached the guns to 
 the -limbers of his ammunition-box, and in a few minutes 
 was dashing on in the headlong pursuit of the enemy, 
 which stopped only at the very gates of the city. These 
 were closed upon them only for the night, for the next 
 morning (September 14) they were forced open by the 
 exultant victors, and the American flag waved in triumph 
 over the proud and beautiful city of the Montezumas. 
 
 In the assault on the castle of Chapultepec young 
 Jackson covered himself with glory. He often ex- 
 pressed gratitude to General Pillow for having divided 
 his battery and sent him off with a separate command, 
 as he thus had an opportunity of distinguishing himself. 
 For his gallant conduct he was rewarded with the bre- 
 vet rank of major, and received compliments from all 
 his superior officers in their reports of the battle. Gen- 
 eral Pillow says, — 
 
 "The advanced section of the battery, under com- 
 mand of the brave Lieutenant Jackson, was dreadfully 
 cut up, and almost disabled. . . . Captain Magruder's 
 battery, one section of which was served with great gal- 
 
WEST POINT. 41 
 
 lantry by himself, and the other by his brave lieutenant, 
 Jackson, in face of a galling fire from the enemy's posi- 
 tion, did invaluable service/' 
 
 General Worth speaks of him as " the gallant Jack- 
 son, who, although he had lost most of his horses and 
 many of his men, continued chivalrously at liis post, 
 combating with noble courage." 
 
 And Captain ^lagruder says, — 
 
 "I beg leave to call the attention of the major-general 
 commanding the division to the conduct of Lieutenant 
 Jackson, of the First Artillery. If devotion, industry, 
 talent, and gallantry are the highest qualities of a soldier, 
 then is he entitled to the distinction which their posses- 
 sion confers.'' 
 
 After the occupation of the city of Mexico, the Ameri- 
 can officers and soldiers mingled freely with the citizens, 
 many of whom received them very gladly and treated 
 them as guests. Jackson, not understanding Spanish, 
 could not carry on a conversation with the natives. To 
 overcome this drawback to the pleasure of his stay in 
 the city of Mexico, he determined to study the language. 
 He accordingly bought a grammar, and by dint of hard 
 study soon learned to read and speak the Spanish suffi- 
 ciently well to make himself understood. He devoted 
 a great deal of his time to study, but enjoyed very much 
 the delightful climate of Mexico and the beautiful scenery 
 around him. Among the friends he made in Mexico 
 there was a Spanish gentleman, at whose house he was 
 a frequent and always a welcome guest. He had several 
 daughters, who were so charming that the gallant major 
 confessed he had to suspend his visits to their father's 
 house for fear of leaving his heart behind him on his 
 return home. 
 
42 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 For the mere delight of living, Jackson considered 
 that the city of Mexico excelled all others in the world. 
 While there, he occupied one of the great chambers of 
 the imperial palace. He made the acquaintance of the 
 Archbishop of Mexico, and had several interviews with 
 him, the subject discussed being generally the Roman 
 Catholic religion. So little egotism had Jackson that 
 he never spoke to his family of his achievements in 
 Mexico. The only falsehood he ever remembered telling 
 was when leading his men through a pass infested by 
 Mexican guerillas. They became panic-stricken, and, 
 when ordered to advance, refused to go. He stepped 
 before them into the narrow pass, and, though he saw 
 the broad leaves of the tropical plants around him rid- 
 dled with balls, exclaimed, " Follow me, men ! Don't 
 you see there is no danger?'' Knowing how rigid he was 
 in after-life in his observance of the Sabbath, it sounds 
 strange to hear of his joining, as we are assured that he 
 did, in the Sunday evening dance in the gay capital of 
 Mexico. 
 
 From Mexico, Major Jackson was sent with his 
 command to Fort Hamilton, upon Long Island. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 LEXINGTON. 
 
 At Fort Hamilton, Jackson remained two years. 
 While there, his thoughts dwelt much on religious sub- 
 jects. In his intimate friend and commanding officer, 
 Colonel Taylor, he found an adviser, and one who sym- 
 pathized with him in his anxiety to know what church 
 it would be best for him to join. Having never been 
 christened, he at last determined to haye the rite ad- 
 ministered by Mr. Parks, an Episcopal minister, in whose 
 church he also took communion. 
 
 On leaving Fort Hamilton, Jackson was sent to Fort 
 Meade, near Tampa Bay, on the coast of Florida. There 
 he found the chansce from the harsh climate of Xew 
 York to the milder one of Florida very beneficial to 
 his health, which was far from strong. He had found 
 at Fort Hamilton that the life of a soldier shut up in a 
 fort is far different from what it is when he is in the 
 midst of all the excitement and activity of war. At 
 Fort Meade also his active and energetic spirit chafed 
 under the tedium of the idle, inactive life he w^as forced 
 to lead. 
 
 Jackson had not been many months at Fort Meade 
 when he was relieved from the irksome life there by 
 being elected Professor of Natural Philosophy and 
 Artillery Tactics in the Virginia Military Institute at 
 Lexington. Being weary of the idle life he was lead- 
 
 43 
 
44 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ing at the fort, he gladly accepted the appointment to 
 a position ^vhere, besides the pleasure of instructing 
 others, he would have an opportunity of continuing his 
 own studies and increasing his knowledge. He resigned 
 his position in the army, therefore, and went to Lex- 
 ington in July, 1851. There he received a salary of 
 twelve hundred dollars. He had had much bad health, 
 which left his eye-sight very weak, and he made it a 
 conscientious rule to take the best possible care of his 
 eyes, and so long as they remained weak nothing could 
 induce him to break the rule which he had laid down 
 for himself, never to use them at night, not even to 
 read a letter. As he had to study a great deal in order 
 to fit himself for his duties as a professor, this was ex- 
 tremely inconvenient, and, to any one with a less deter- 
 mined w^ill than his, would have been an obstacle not to 
 be overcome. 
 
 Not being able to study at night, he read over during 
 the day what he wished to study, and after tea moved 
 his chair to one side, and, sitting apart from his family 
 circle, at his desk, went over in his mind all that he had 
 read. He thus fixed it in his memory, and had a clearer 
 idea of it than if he had had the book before him. So 
 strict was he in his observance of the Sabbath that he 
 frequently did not read letters received on that day, for 
 fear of their distracting his thoughts. A few months 
 after going to Lexington to live, he joined the Pres- 
 byterian Church. In Lexington, as elsewhere, it was 
 the custom for members of this cliurch to meet in the 
 middle of the week to join in a religious service, which 
 was usually conducted by the pastor of the church. In 
 these assemblages he often called upon individuals to 
 lead in prayer. Jackson, though a constant attendant. 
 
LEXINGTON. 45 
 
 from his extreme diffidence could only think with dread 
 of being called on to pray before such a number of per- 
 sons. Butj feeling it to be his duty to do his part in 
 carrying on these services, he asked his pastor not to 
 allow any feeling for his modesty to prevent his calling 
 on him to pray. A short time afterwards, the pastor 
 called on him. He began his prayer with such em- 
 barrassment, and stammered through it with so much 
 difficulty, that it was painful to hear him. After this 
 attempt, several weeks passed without his being again 
 called on. Feeling sure this was owing to his failure, 
 he asked the pastor not to be deterred by this, but to 
 call on him again. The minister did as requested, and 
 Jackson's prayers in public were soon as good as any 
 others made on similar occasions. Indeed, his stern 
 sense of duty made him so far overcome his diffidence 
 in public speaking that he once delivered a course of 
 lectures on Christianity in the little village of Beverly, 
 where he found the people very much given up to un- 
 belief. He was zealous in discharging all the duties 
 imposed on him as a member of his church. On one 
 occasion, having to take up collections for the Bible 
 Society, he succeeded even in getting some small contri- 
 butions from free negroes, whom he persuaded to give 
 their mite to the good work. 
 
 There was no gloom in Jackson's religion. It shed 
 perpetual sunshine on his pathway through life, soothing 
 his cares and enlivening his joys. His perfect and child- 
 like faith in God's goodness made him think that nothing 
 could happen except for the best. A friend, who knew 
 how ha])py and contented his disposition was, once said to 
 him, "Suppose, major, you should lose your health with- 
 out any hope of recovering it : do you think you could 
 
4G LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 be liappy ?" " Yes, I should be happy still/' he replied. 
 ^'But/' continued his friend, "suppose you should lose 
 your eye-sight and become perfectly blind: would not 
 that be too much for you?" "No," he replied, calmly. 
 His friend, still persisting, then said, "Suppose, though, 
 that besides losing your health and becoming entirely 
 blind you should lose all your property, and so be 
 left lying in bed a helpless invalid, dependent for sup- 
 port on the charities of friends : -would not that be too 
 much for you ?" Jackson was silent for a moment, and 
 then said, in a reverent tone, " If it were the will of 
 God to place me there. He would enable me to lie there 
 peacefully a hundred years." 
 
 He had been in Lexington a little over two years, 
 when he married Miss Eleanor Junkin, on the 4th of 
 August, 1853. After spending fourteen months of un- 
 interrupted happiness with his young wife, she was torn 
 from him by death, in the autumn of 1854. His grief 
 for her was so great that his friends were alarmed about 
 him; yet in his moments of bitterest agony his resigna- 
 tion to God's will was unshaken. While still writhing 
 under this sorrow, we find him writing to a friend 
 (March, 1855), "Oh, do you not long to leave the flesh 
 and mingle with the just made perfect?" 
 
 The summer after his wife's death, Jackson went to 
 AVestern Virginia, to visit once more the scenes of his 
 youth. There he spent some time with his uncle and 
 aunt Xeale, under wdiose hospitable roof some of the 
 pleasantest days of his sad childhood had been passed. 
 How tenderly he loved his mother's memory will be 
 seen from the following extracts from a letter written 
 to Mrs. Neale on his return from this trip. The letter 
 is addressed to " Uncle and Aunt Neale." 
 
LEXINGTON. 47 
 
 " Lexington, Sept. 4, 1855. 
 
 " I stopped on my way to see the Hawk's Nest, and 
 the gentleman with whom I put up was at mother's 
 burial, and accompanied me to the cemetery for the 
 purpose of pointing out her grave to me. But I am 
 not certain that he found it: there was no stone to 
 mark the spot. Another gentleman who had the kind- 
 ness to go with us stated that a wooden head- or foot- 
 board with her name on it had been put up; but it was 
 no longer there. A depression in the earth only marked 
 her resting-place. When standing by her grave, I ex- 
 perienced feelings with which I was until then a stranger. 
 I was seeking the spot partly for the purpose of erecting 
 something to her precious memory. . . . 
 
 " On Saturday last I lost my porte-monnaie, and in it 
 was the date of mother's birthday. Please give me its 
 date in your next." 
 
 His friends, thinking change of scene might do him 
 good, — for his health had given way under his con- 
 tinued grief, — suggested that he should take a trip to 
 Europe; and he accordingly spent the summer of 1856 
 in traveling through England, France, Belgium, and 
 Switzerland. From his boyhood he had longed to visit 
 Europe and study the battle-fields of the great Napoleon, 
 whom he admired more than any other great military 
 leader the world had ever seen. He hastened to the 
 field of Waterloo, and studied with all the zeal of an 
 enthusiastic young soldier the positions of the armies 
 there. When the time approached for his return to his 
 post in Lexington, he sailed for America, leaving him- 
 self ample time to get back to his class at the opening 
 of the session. The steamer being, however, unexpect- 
 
48 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 edly delayed, he did not reach liome for a week or two 
 after the appointed time. Plis friends, knowing how 
 exact and punctual to the minute he was, thought this 
 would be a very great annoyance to him. On his reach- 
 ing home, one of them said to him, " Why, major, how 
 have you stood the delay in getting back to your post? 
 As you are so particular in keeping all appointments, 
 we have taken it for granted that you were beside your- 
 self with impatience.^^ " Not at all," he replied. " I 
 set out to return at the proper time; I did my duty; 
 the steamer was delayed by act of Providence, and I 
 w^as perfectly satisfied.'' 
 
 The idea of becoming a missionary must have often 
 occurred to so zealous a Christian as Jackson, and just 
 before leaving for Europe Ave find him, early in the sum- 
 mer of 1856, writing to his aunt, Mrs. Neale, as follows: 
 
 ^' The subject of becoming a herald of the Cross, to 
 which you alluded, has, often seriously attracted my 
 attention, and I regard it as the most noble of all pro- 
 fessions. It was the profession of our Divine Redeemer, 
 and I should not be surprised were I to die on a foreign 
 field, clad in the ministerial armor, fighting under the 
 banner of Jesus. What could be more glorious ? But 
 my present conviction is that I am doing some good, 
 and for the present am where God would have me be. 
 Within the last few days I have felt an unusual religious 
 joy. I do rejoice to walk in the love of God." 
 
 It was his habit to select some one with whom at 
 regular times he would join in prayer, in order to gain 
 the full benefit of the promise, " that if two of you shall 
 agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall ask, 
 it shall be done for them of my Father which is in 
 heaven." Some one complaining to him on one occasion 
 
 
LEXINGTON. 49 
 
 of not being able to understand what Avas meant by the 
 command to ^^ pray ahvays" and ^' without ceasing,'^ 
 he said, very modestly, that he would try to explain by 
 showing how he understood and acted upon it. " For 
 example/' he said, " when we take our meals, there is the 
 grace. When I take a draught of water, I always pause 
 as my palate receives the refreshment, to lift up my 
 heart to God in thanks and prayer for the Avater of life. 
 Whenever I drop a letter into the box at the post-office, 
 I send a petition along with it for God's blessing upon 
 its mission and upon the person to whom it is sent. 
 When I break the seal of a letter just received, I stop 
 to pray to God that He may prepare me for its contents 
 and make it a messenger of good. When I go to my 
 class-room and await the arrangement of the cadets in 
 their places, that is my time to intercede with God for 
 them. And so of every other act of the day. I have 
 made the practice habitual, and can no more forget to 
 pray at these different times than to forget to drink 
 wdien I am thirsty." One of the first things which he 
 did after joining the church was to build up a Sunday- 
 school for the negroes living in Lexington; and he was 
 most untiring in his efforts to give them religious in- 
 struction. Tliose wdio have undertaken this task know 
 how very disheartening it is; but Jackson's zeal in the 
 good work never flagged, and he was rewarded by hav- 
 ing a flourishing colored Sunday-school as long as he 
 remained in Lexington. 
 
 On the 15th of July, 1857, Major Jackson was mar- 
 ried a second time, to Mary Ann Morrison. Her father. 
 Dr. R. H. Morrison, is a gentleman of the old school, 
 and an eminent Presbyterian divine of IN^orth Carolina. 
 
 Jackson looked forward Avith inexpressible delight to 
 c 5 
 
50 LIl^E OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 the time when he could have a home of his own. In 
 writing to a friend, a short time after his marriage, he 
 says, " We are still at the hotel, but expect on the 1st 
 
 of January to remove to M 's home as boarders. I 
 
 hope that in the course of time we shall be able to call 
 some house our home, where we may have the pleasure 
 of receiving a long visit from you. ... I shall never 
 be content until I am at the head of an establishment 
 in which my friends can feel at home in Lexington. I 
 have taken the first important step by securing a wife 
 capable of making a happy home. And the next thing 
 is to give her an opportunity .'' 
 
 The opportunity was not long wanting. He soon 
 became the happy possessor of a house and garden; and 
 no man ever enjoyed the calm and sweet pleasures of 
 home-life more than himself. As times prospered with 
 him, he was enabled to gratify the desire which always 
 seems to be chief in the heart of every Virginian, — that 
 of having a fLirm. The purchase and cultivation of a 
 few acres proved him to be a most successful farmer. 
 His negro slaves were devoted to him, and were trained 
 by him to be excellent servants. 
 
 Only those who saw Jackson at home, where he in- 
 dulged freely in all the kind and tender feelings of his 
 great and noble heart, can form a just idea of the love 
 with which it was overflowing, or of the joyousness of 
 his nature. There was nothing dark and gloomy in his 
 disposition. The sunshine which dwelt in his heart 
 shed its kindly light on all around him. He loved to 
 use terms of endearment to those around him, and, as 
 the sound of the Spanish language was more musical to 
 his ears than that of the English, they were generally 
 spoken by him in that tongue. So overflowing was his 
 
LEXINGTON. 51 
 
 heart with love and tenderness for all, that the least 
 unkind or cross word uttered in his household grated 
 harshly on his ear and disturbed him not a little. On 
 such occasions his usual gentle rebuke was, " Oh, that is 
 not the way to be happy !" 
 
 He took the greatest delight in his garden and farm, 
 and most of his leisure hours were spent in working 
 with his own hands in the former. His vegetables were 
 the earliest and best of the neighborhood, and his farm, 
 which was a stony piece of land when it came into his 
 possession, became under his skillful management a 
 fertile spot, and he used to say that the bread made on 
 it tasted sweeter to him than that which was bought. 
 He gave a certain portion yearly of all he made to chari- 
 table objects. 
 
 His life at home was regular, and scarcely ever varied 
 from its daily routine. He rose at dawn, devoted a 
 certain length of time to secret prayer, and, if the weather 
 was not bad, took a solitary walk. At seven o'clock he 
 had family prayers, at which all his servants were ex- 
 pected to be present; but, with his usual punctuality, he 
 never waited a minute for any one. Pie was engaged 
 with his duties as professor from eight to eleven, at 
 which hour he returned to his study. After reading his 
 Bible attentively, he then prepared the lecture for his 
 class on the following day, and gave up the rest of the 
 time until dinner to his studies. From dinner until tea 
 he usually gave himself to the rural ])ursuits of his 
 garden and farm, which were so delightful to him. 
 After tea his chair was pushed aside from the family 
 circle, and he went over in his mind the studies of the 
 morning. That task over, he spent the rest of the even- 
 ing in conversation, which was frequently on literary 
 
52 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 subjects, or, Avhen the state of his eyes permitted, in 
 reading. He read generally on these occasions history 
 or English poetry. Now and then when an interesting 
 novel fell into his hands it was eagerly devoured by 
 him, and, if suffering too much with his eyes to read it 
 at night, some member of his family read to him, while 
 he Avas all attention. He never allowed such reading, 
 however, to take him from his regular studies, and the 
 novel was quickly thrown aside when it came in the 
 way of these. 
 
 We have a touching little anecdote preserved to us of 
 Jackson, which shows him to have been tender-hearted 
 and loving as a woman. A gentleman wdio once spent 
 the night at his house Avas accompanied by his little 
 daughter of four years. It w^as the first time that the 
 child had ever been separated from its mother, and Jack- 
 son, fearing it might miss the tender watchfulness of a 
 woman's heart, suggested that it should be placed under 
 Mrs. Jackson's kind care for the night. But the father 
 objecting, the little one was left to rest upon his pillow. 
 After the whole household had sunk into slumber, the 
 gentleman was aroused from his sleep by some one lean- 
 ing over his little daughter and drawing the cover more 
 closely around her. It was Jackson. Anxious lest his 
 little guest should miss her mother's tender care under 
 his roof, he could not rest quietly until he had assured 
 himself that all was well with the little one. 
 
 The following extracts from his letters to Mrs. Jack- 
 son speak for themselves : 
 
 "April 25, 1857. 
 
 " It is a great comfort to me to know that though I 
 am not with you, yet you are in the hands of One who 
 will not permit any evil to come nigh you. What a 
 
LEXINGTON. 53 
 
 consoling thought it is to know that we may with per- 
 fect confidence commit all our friends in Jesus to the 
 care of our heavenly Father, with an assurance that all 
 shall be well with them ! 
 
 " I have been sorely disappointed at not hearing from 
 you this morning ; but these disappointments are all de- 
 signed for our good. In my daily walks I think much 
 of you. I love to stroll abroad after the labors of the 
 day are over and indulge feelings of gratitude to God 
 for all the sources of natural beauty with which He has 
 adorned the earth. Some time since, my morning walks 
 were rendered very delightful by the singing of the 
 birds. The morning caroling of the birds, and their 
 notes in the evening, awaken in me devotional feelings of 
 praise and gratitude, though very different in their nature. 
 In the morning, all animated nature (man excepted) ap- 
 pears to join in active expressions of gratitude to God; 
 in the evening, all is hushing into silent slumber, and 
 thus disposes the mind to meditation. And as my 
 mind dwells on you, I love to give it a devotional turn, 
 by thinking of you as a gift from our heavenly Father. 
 How delightful it is thus to associate every pleasure and 
 enjoyment with God the Giver ! Thus will He bless us, 
 and make us grow in grace, and in the knowledge of 
 Him whom to know aright is life eternal.'' 
 
 "May 16, 1857. 
 
 " There is something very pleasant in the thought 
 of your mailing me a letter every Monday, and such 
 manifestations of regard for the Sabbath must be well- 
 pleasing in the sight of God. Oh that all our people 
 would manifest such regard for His holy day ! If we 
 would all strictly observe all His holy laws, what would 
 
 not our country be ! 
 
 5* 
 
54 1^1 l^J'^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON, 
 
 " "When in prayer for yon last Sabbath, the tears came 
 to my eyes. . ., . I felt that day as though it were 
 a commnnion-day for myself.'^ 
 
 In the following extracts we find him speaking to 
 Mrs. Jackson of the different things about his house — 
 the garden, fruits, horse, etc. — as '^ your garden," 
 "your peaches." It was a favorite Avay he had of doing 
 her a trifling honor. 
 
 "Home, April 20, 1859. 
 
 " Our potatoes are coming up. . . . We have had 
 very unusually dry weather for nearly a fortnight, and 
 your garden had been thirsting for rain till last evening, 
 when the weather commenced changing, and to-day we 
 have had some rain. Through grace given me from 
 above, I felt that rain would come at the right time; 
 and I don't recollect having ever felt so grateful for a 
 rain as for the present one. 
 
 " Last evening I sowed turnips between our peas. 
 
 '' I was mistaken about your large garden-fruit being 
 peaches. It turns out to be apricots, and I inclose you 
 one which I found on the ground to-day. And, just 
 
 think ! my little has a tree full of them. You 
 
 must come home before they get ripe." 
 
 So flowed by, peacefully and gently, the quiet life of 
 our hero at Lexington. He rarely left home, except for 
 a trip during the summer to the North or to the Virginia 
 Springs. The time is now at hand when we are to see 
 him go forth from the calm and hap]iy retreat of his 
 little home into the storms of battle and war, never to 
 return, but to leave a name honored and loved by a 
 grateful country, and one which all ages will revere. 
 
CHAPTER lY. 
 
 APPOINTED COLONEL. 
 
 Major Jackson spent the summer of 1860 in New 
 England. On his return home he declared that he 
 had seen enough to convince him that war between 
 the States was inevitable; and from that time he braced 
 himself up for the coming storm. He was a silent but 
 close observer of the stirring events which succeeded 
 one another so rapidly during the winter of 1860-61. 
 He early discerned the signs of the times, and fore- 
 saw the fierce tempest which was to sweep over his own 
 loved State. 
 
 South Carolina having, on the 20th of December, 
 1860, taken the lead in the solemn procession of States 
 as one after another they withdrew their allegiance from 
 the Union, others followed in rapid succession. On the 
 9th of February, 1861, a Provisional Government was 
 formed at Montgomery, Alabama, for a Confederacy 
 composed then of the States of South Carolina, Missis- 
 sippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Jef- 
 ferson Davis was chosen President, and Alexander H. 
 Stephens Vice-President, of this Confederacy. 
 
 Virginia remained undecided but calm during the 
 progress of these grave events. The oldest State in the 
 Union, and one whose statesmen had done more than 
 those of any other of her sisters to form the Constitution 
 which drew all the States under one general government, 
 
 55 
 
56 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 she was loath to withdraw from it. Unwisely, perhaps, 
 she delayed, hoping to heal the breach between the two 
 sections. In the mean time, she drew upon herself the 
 reproaches of her sister States in the South and the 
 taunts and threats of those in the North. But, holding 
 herself magnificently above both, she disregarded the 
 reproaches of the one, as she held up a finger of warn- 
 ing at the threats of the other. Events, however, were 
 hurrying on more rapidly than slie thought. 
 
 After the secession of South Carolina, the United 
 States troops that occupied Fort Sumter, in Charleston 
 harbor, were not Avithdrawn. After many delays, the 
 Governor of South Carolina was informed by the United 
 States Government that the garrison of the fort would 
 be reinforced, '^ peaceably if they could, forcibly if they 
 must.'^ The answer to this was the bombardment of 
 Fort Sumter, which in a short time was battered to ruins. 
 Then followed President Lincoln's proclamation de- 
 claring Avar against South Carolina and the Confederate 
 Government, and calling upon the States for seventy- 
 five thousand men to form an army of invasion. 
 
 Virginia now no longer saw" her course darkly. At 
 the first certainty of danger to her sister States of the 
 South, all hesitation vanished, and like a lioness she 
 leaped into the arena, ready to do battle in their defense 
 and in that of what she considered right. She did not 
 hesitate to bare her bosom to the invader and to offer 
 her fair fields as the battle-ground of a fierce struggle 
 which for four years was to rage within her borders. 
 On the 17th of April she seceded, and immediately 
 began her preparations for war. The enthusiasm with 
 which men of all ages and classes flew to arms was only 
 equaled by that with which they were urged on by the 
 
APPOINTED COLONEL. 57 
 
 women at home. As company after company marched 
 out to battle, the white arms of the maidens Avaved 
 them on to victory, while mothers and wives invoked a 
 blessing from above upon the defenders of a cause for 
 whose success all prayed with religious fervor. Devoted 
 to duty, and earnest in his love for his State, Jackson 
 had been no indifferent spectator of the strange and 
 rapid course of events. A month before the secession 
 of Virginia, and while in the opinion of many there 
 was yet a hope of averting from the land the fierce 
 scourge of war, Major Jackson, while lamenting the 
 bare chance of war, yet expressed the opinion that it 
 was inevitable. After alluding to all its horrors, and 
 his great desire that his people might be spared them, 
 he said, " It seems to me that if they would unite in 
 prayer, war might be averted and peace preserved.^' In 
 his public prayers after this that was one of the chief 
 subjects of his petitions. But Heaven decreed other- 
 wise, and he was destined to act a conspicuous part in 
 the war whose horrors his prayers were unable to avert 
 from his country. 
 
 Having seceded, Virginia bent all her energies to 
 make preparations for defense against the armies which 
 were being rapidly enrolled to invade the South. As 
 the news of her secession spread from one part of the 
 country to the other, her sons belonging to either the 
 army or the navy of the United States speedily resigned 
 their commissions and hurried home to offer their ser- 
 vices to their mother State, believing their first duty 
 belonged to her. Thus in her hour of peril her children 
 flocked into her borders from every clime, and she found 
 willing hearts and wise heads to direct her preparations 
 for defense. Foremost among her distinguished sons 
 
58 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 was Colonel Robert E. Lee. AVIien the news reached 
 Richmond that he had resigned his commission and had 
 declared his resolution never again to draw his sword 
 save in defense of his native State, men who were op- 
 pressed by the impending dangers breathed more freely. 
 They felt they had a great leader to direct their armies, 
 and from that moment until the day when he returned 
 a paroled prisoner from the ill-fated banks of the Ap- 
 pomattox he was the centre alike of the hopes and 
 the affections of his countrymen. Colonel Lee was ap- 
 pointed by his State major-general and made commander- 
 in-chief of her forces. In organizing the material for 
 her defense, one of his first steps was to form camps of 
 instruction, the chief of which was on the outskirts of 
 Richmond, and called after him Camp Lee. It was 
 decided to call to this camp from the Virginia Military 
 Institute the elder cadets, who could act as drill-masters 
 and assist in organizing into an army the patriotic but 
 untrained troops who poured in to offer their services in 
 the defense of the country. On Major Jackson devolved 
 the duty of taking the cadets to Richmond. In making 
 their preparations for sending their volunteer companies 
 into service, the people of Rockbridge had looked to 
 Major Jackson for aid and advice. Their unbounded 
 confidence in him as a man of sound practical sense, as 
 well as in his skill and experience as a soldier, made 
 them choose him as their counselor at this grave junc- 
 ture. He had taken the deepest and most anxious 
 Interest In the progress of events, and not without many 
 gloomy forebodings of the future. On one occasion, 
 about this time, having a friend as his guest, they sat 
 up late, discussing the news from Washington and the 
 South, which had become more and more exciting. 
 
APPOINTED COLONEL. 59 
 
 Both the host and guest retired depressed by the thought 
 that war was inevitable. The guest arose the next 
 morning with tlie same gloomy feelings, and was sur- 
 prised on meeting Jackson to find him in his usual calm 
 and tranquil state of mind, and on expressing his own 
 fearful forebodings, Jackson replied, "Why should the 
 peace of a true Christian be disturbed by anything 
 whicli man can do unto him ? Plas not God promised 
 to make all things work together for good to them that 
 love Him?" 
 
 The meeting of the Presbyterian Synod in Lexington 
 the week of the secession of Virginia had made the 
 time unusually busy for Major Jackson, and on retiring 
 to rest Saturday night he expressed the hope that the 
 morrow (April 21) might prove a quiet Sabbath to 
 him, which he could spend in undisturbed communion 
 with his God. But how vain were his hopes ! With 
 the early dawn came the order from Richmond for the 
 senior cadets to go at once to that place, and, as their 
 commander. Major Jackson busied himself with prepa- 
 rations for their departure. 
 
 Having concluded these, he called on his pastor, and 
 asked him to be at their rendezvous at twelve o'clock, 
 in order to give them some parting Christian counsel 
 and a prayer. He returned home at eleven o'clock, ate 
 a hurried breakfast, and retired with Mrs. Jackson to 
 his chamber, and there, taking his Bible, read the fifth 
 chapter of Second Corinthians, the eloquent words of 
 whose opening display such faith in that sublime prom- 
 ise of the resurrection : " For we know that if our 
 earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a 
 building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal 
 in the heavens." He then knelt in prayer, and in a 
 
QO LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 voice choked ^vith tears implored God, if it were His 
 will, to avert tlic horrors of war from his country. 
 
 Thus breathing peace and good will towards all men, 
 in close communion with lis ( ;od, and animated by an 
 earnest devotion which could know no shadow of turn- 
 ing, he went forth from his peaceful little home, and its 
 doors closed upon him forever ! 
 
 All things being in readiness, at twelve o'clock the 
 pastor, Dr. White, was asked by ^lajor Jackson to have 
 prayers, and also warned by him not to prolong them, 
 by the remark, " Doctor, we march at one o'clock pre- 
 cisely." The religious services being ended before the 
 hour for departure had arrived, one of the officers said 
 to Major Jackson, ^^ Major, everything is now ready; 
 may we not set out?" The only reply was for the 
 major to point to the dial-plate of the great clock; and 
 not until the hand pointed to the hour of one did his 
 voice ring out the order, ^' Forw^ard, march !" 
 
 The cadets marched to Staunton, and went thence by 
 rail to Richmond. From a depot east of the Blue 
 Ridge, where their journey Avas interrupted for a short 
 time. Major Jackson wrote to his wife, " Here, as well 
 as at other points of the line, the war-spirit is in- 
 tense. The cars had scarcely stopped here before a 
 request was made that I would leave a cadet to drill a 
 company." 
 
 Having reached Richmond, he wrote to ]\Irs. Jackson, 
 April 23, " Colonel Lee, of the army, is here, and has 
 been made major-general. His services I regard as of 
 more value to us than General Scott could render as com- 
 mander. ... It is understood that General Lee is to be 
 commander-in-chief. I regard him as a better officer 
 than General Scott. . . . The cadets are encamped at the 
 
APPOINTED COLONEL. Ql 
 
 fair-grounds, which are about one and a half miles from 
 the city. AY e have excellent quarters. So far as we 
 can hear, God is crowning our cause with success; but 
 I do not wish to send rumors to you. I will try to give 
 facts as they become known, though I may not have 
 time for more than a line or so. The Governor and 
 others holding responsible offices have not enough time 
 for their duties, they are so enormous at this date." 
 
 In the camp of instruction at Richmond, Major Jack- 
 son found no duties worthy of his experience as a sol- 
 dier. He was eager for active employment, and anxious 
 for promotion, which, however, he would not solicit. 
 But it could not be long withheld from such a man, 
 and while awaiting it he did not hesitate to act the part 
 of drill-master towards all the raw soldiers and officers 
 who thronged Camp Lee and who might ask his in- 
 struction. One day he was met by a man in the camp 
 who told him he had just been assigned as corporal of 
 the guard for the day ; that the officer who had given 
 him the order had left him without instructions as to 
 his duties, of which he was entirely ignorant, and that, 
 seeing from his uniform that he was an officer, he had 
 stopped him to beg his aid. Major Jackson at once 
 went with the soldier around the camp, and gave him 
 all the necessary instructions, and that with such kind- 
 ness and cheerfulness of manner that from that hour he 
 was the object of the soldier's love and respect. 
 
 A few days after he reached Camp Lee, ^lajor Jackson 
 was chosen by the Executive AVar Council to receive an 
 appointment in the engineer department, with the rank 
 of major. The place was the one of all others most 
 distasteful to him, offi}ring as it did but little hope of 
 promotion, and of that usefulness which he felt sure 
 
62 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 he could best render his country on the field of battle. 
 At the urgent request of his friends, therefore, the ap- 
 pointment was withdrawn, and he received instead a 
 commission as colonel of the Virginia forces, and was 
 ordered to take command at Harper's Ferry. When, 
 on the day following, his appointment was read out in 
 the Convention for confirmation, a member from the 
 floor asked, " Who is this JNIajor Jackson, that we are 
 asked to commit to him so responsible a post?" " He is 
 one,'^ replied the member from Rockbridge, " who, if you 
 order him to hold a post, will never leave it alive to be 
 occupied by the enemy.'' On the morning of Saturday, 
 April 27, his commission as colonel w^as placed in his 
 hands, and he at once set out for his command. After 
 joining it, he wrote the following letter to his wife : 
 
 *« Winchester, April 29. 
 " I expect to leave here about half-past two p.m. to- 
 day for Harper's Ferry. I am thankful to say that an 
 ever-kind Providence, who causeth all things to work 
 together for good to them that love Him, has given me an 
 independent command. To His name be all the praise. 
 You must not expect to hear from me very often, as I 
 expect to have more work than I ever had in the same 
 length of time before ; but don't be concerned about me, 
 as an ever-kind Father will give me all needful aid." 
 
CHAPTER Y. 
 
 HARPER S FERRY. 
 
 Harper's Ferry is surrounded by scenery the beauty 
 and magnificence of which must ever charm and awe 
 the beholder. The village lies on the declivities of a 
 ridge called Bolivar Heights, which runs along the neck 
 of land that separates the Potomac and Shenandoah 
 Rivers just before their junction. Standing on the 
 Bolivar Heights, the spectator sees on his right the 
 Shenandoah, which, having for a hundred miles hugged 
 the Blue Ridge in search of an outlet, at last approaches 
 one; on his left comes the Potomac; the two streams 
 unite and rush through the mountains, which at some 
 remote age has been cleft to its base by the rush of their 
 w^aters. Through the cleft is seen, stretching far away 
 into the distance, a broad, rich, and slightly undulating 
 plain, whose pale, faintly-seen horizon is in striking 
 contrast to the gigantic scenery of the foreground. The 
 Potomac, having broken through the Blue Ridge, con- 
 tinues on its way to the ocean. The heights on the Vir- 
 ginia side at this point are called the Loudon Heights, 
 and those on the opposite side the Maryland Heights. 
 Both tower above Bolivar Heights, and the village at 
 their feet. Harper's Ferry was selected by the Federal 
 Government as a point at which to establish manufac- 
 tures of fire-arms, and arsenals wherein to store them, 
 and the banks of both streams were lined with factories, 
 
 63 
 
(34 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 where thousands of arms were yearly turned out. As 
 soon as the war broke out, the possession of this place, 
 with its arms and munitions of war, became of immense 
 importance to Virginia, and the militia companies of the 
 surrounding country flew to arms to effect its capture. 
 But ihe officer in command of the Federal guard at the 
 place, receiving timely notice of their designs, set fire to 
 the arsenals and factories, and fled. The Virginia troops 
 entered the town to find the arms in the arsenals de- 
 stroyed, with the exception of those which had been 
 removed and secreted by patriotic citizens of the village ; 
 but the factories were saved. 
 
 Harper's Ferry now became the rendezvous of all the 
 troops of the Valley of Virginia, and it was the com- 
 mand of these, and of others sent to reinforce them, that 
 was given to Colonel Jackson when he received his com- 
 mission in the Virginia service. There were at Harper's 
 Ferry twenty-five hundred men, — four hundred being 
 Kentuckians and the rest Virginians. This force con- 
 sisted of eight companies of infantry, and four bat- 
 teries of field-artillery, with fifteen light guns. Three 
 regiments of the infantry were partially organized ; but 
 the rest of these hastily-assembled troops presented pretty 
 much a confused mass of men, many of Avhom had no 
 arms. To organize this force, to urge on the completion 
 of arms at the factories, and to keep possession of all 
 the roads leading to Washington, were the orders given 
 to Colonel Jackson by General Lee when he was sent 
 to Harper's Ferry. He Avent, accompanied by Major 
 Preston, Colonel Massie, and two young men whom he 
 employed as drill-masters. 
 
 The new commander lost no time in executing the 
 orders which he had received, and soon order prevailed 
 
HARPER'S FERRY. 65 
 
 where all had been chaos and confnsion. The troops, 
 who were raw recruits and were wearied with the con- 
 fusion and want of discipline of an unorganized com- 
 mand, had been clamoring for leave to go home ; but a 
 few days after Jackson's arrival they found that a new 
 man was in the saddle, and under his firm and wise rule 
 soon became disciplined troops. The few who made any 
 show of disobedience to orders were either so sternly 
 rebuked or so swiftly punished that none dared follow 
 their example. 
 
 The village of Harper's Ferry, being situated on the 
 slope of Bolivar Heights, Avas completely commanded 
 by the Maryland Heights, on the north side of the 
 Potomac, — those heights towering far above both the 
 village and Bolivar Heights. It was very important 
 then to the Virginians for the Maryland Heights not to 
 fall into the hands of the enemy. Maryland, however, 
 had not yet seceded, and it was suggested that it would 
 look too much like invasion for the Virginians to take 
 possession of them. General Lee, with his usual dislike 
 of anything approaching the violation of a country's 
 laws, proposed that the INIarylanders should be induced 
 to enlist in the Southern army, and then they should be 
 allowed to occupy and hold the important position; but 
 that plan was soon abandoned. Colonel Jackson, feel- 
 ing more and more the danger of his position so long 
 as the Maryland Heights were not in his possession, 
 quietly took the whole matter in his own hands and 
 seized them. He placed a few companies of soldiers on 
 the Heights, in block-houses which he had constructed 
 for their quarters, and, acting as his own engineer, threw 
 up a few in trench ments to aid in their defense should 
 they be attacked. 
 
QQ LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 On the 8th X)f May, lie wrote to Mrs. Jackson, " I 
 am living at j^resent in an elegant mansion, with Major 
 Preston in my room. Mr. Massie is on my staff, 
 bnt left this morning for Kichmond as bearer of dis- 
 ])atches, and is to return in a few days. I am strength- 
 ening my position, and, if attacked, shall, with the 
 blessing of the kind providence of that God w^ho has 
 always been with me, and who, I firmly believe, will 
 never forsake me, repel the enemy. I am in good 
 health, considering the great labor which devolves on 
 me and the loss of sleep to which I am subjected." 
 
 As matters then stood. Harper's Ferry w^as consid- 
 ered the most important position in Virginia. There it 
 was thought blood would first be shed, as the handful 
 of men whom Colonel Jackson commanded was con- 
 stantly in danger of being attacked by a large number 
 of United States troops that had been collected together 
 and placed under command of Major-General Patterson. 
 Colonel Jackson's spirits rose as the dangers of his po- 
 sition increased. In his dispatches to the Government 
 he expressed his intention of making a Thermopylae of 
 his position, should it be necessary, and declared that it 
 would be defended to the death. Like a true soldier, 
 he spoke but little of his plans, and kept the number of 
 troops under his command perfectly secret. On one 
 occasion, wdiile in command at Harper's Ferry, he was 
 visited by a committee from the Legislature of Mary- 
 land. They came to inquire into his plans. He re- 
 ceived them with perfect politeness and courtesy, but 
 they could not discover anything from him. When 
 they asked him how^ many troops he had, his reply 
 was, " I should be glad if Lincoln thought I had fifteen 
 thousand." 
 
HARPER'S FERRY. 67 
 
 On the 20th of ^lay the Confederate Congress ad- 
 joiirned from Columbia to Richmond, which place was 
 henceforth the capital of the Confederate States, Vir- 
 ginia having adopted the Confederate Constitution and 
 been received into the Confederacy. Thus the United 
 States Government received as a reply to its declaration 
 of war the removal of the seat of government of the 
 Southern Confederacy to a place almost within hearing 
 of the guns around its own capital. 
 
 All the Virginia forces and munitions of war were 
 turned over to the Confederate Government. One of 
 the first acts of this Government was to appoint as com- 
 mander of Harper's Ferry General Joseph E. Johuston, 
 a man whose skill and experience it was thought made 
 him the most suitable commander for such an important 
 post. But Colonel Jackson, having received no orders 
 from the Virginia authorities to surrender his trust, 
 declined to do so until he should receive an intimation 
 to that effect from General Lee. For a short time it 
 was feared that this determination on the part of Colonel 
 Jackson might bring about a disagreeable feeling between 
 General Johnston and himself; but, fortunately, a com- 
 munication was received soon after General Johnston's 
 arrival from General Lee, in which he referred to Gen- 
 eral Johnston as commander of Harper's Ferry. Col- 
 onel Jackson, considering this as a sufficient evidence 
 that he was to surrender his trust, hastened to hand 
 over the command to General Johnston, and in the 
 campaigns which they afterwards fought together their 
 intercourse was of the most agreeable and friendly 
 character. 
 
 On being relieved from the command of Harper's 
 Ferry, Jackson was put in command of a brigade com- 
 
68 LJFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 posed of the 2d A^irginia Regiment, commanded by 
 Colonel Allen ; the 4th, commanded by Colonel Pres- 
 ton ; the 5th, commanded by Colonel Harper ; the 27th, 
 commanded by Colonel Gordon ; and, later, the 33d, 
 commanded by Colonel Cummings. This was the 
 brigade which lives in history as the " Stonewall Bri- 
 gade.'^ Attached to it was a battery of light field-guns 
 from Lexington, commanded by the Rev. Mr. Pendle- 
 ton, an Episcopal clergyman, who had graduated at 
 West Point before studying for the ministry. Colonel 
 Jackson's brigade staff was composed of Major Frank 
 Jones, Adjutant ; Lieutenant-Colonel James W. Massie, 
 Aide-de-Camp ; Dr. Hunter INIcGuire, Medical Direc- 
 tor; Major William Hawkes, Chief Commissary ; Major 
 John Harmon, Chief Quartermaster; and Lieutenant 
 Alexander Pendleton. 
 
 In the mean time, the Federal general Patterson, who 
 had been threatening Harper's Ferry, moved off from 
 that point and approached the Potomac higher up, l)y 
 the Pennsylvania Valley. Harper's Ferry then became 
 useless as a point of defense against the Federal forces 
 under his command. These, it was suspected, he in- 
 tended to unite at Winchester with those under General 
 McClellan, who was then advancing from Northwestern 
 Virginia. General Johnston at once decided to take his 
 army to Winchester. He therefore abandoned Harper's 
 Ferry on Sunday, June 16, after having destroyed the 
 railroad bridge and Government factories, and having 
 removed all the heavy guns and stores. 
 
 This move was not made an hour too soon, for already 
 the advance of the Federal army from the northwest was 
 reported to be at Romney, only forty miles west of Win- 
 chester ; while General Patterson with eighteen thousand 
 
HARPER'S FERRV. (39 
 
 men was crossing the Potomac at Williamsport, about 
 the same distance to the north. General Johnston, after 
 marching eight miles in the direction of Winchester, 
 turned towards the west to oppose Patterson. With 
 this view, he chose a wooded range of highlands between 
 Winchester and Martinsburg, known as Bunker Hill ; 
 but General Patterson, hearing of his approach, hastily 
 withdrew to the north bank of the Potomac. Concern- 
 ing these movements Colonel Jackson thus wrote to his 
 wife : 
 
 " Tuesday, June 18. 
 "On Sunday, by order of General Johnston, the entire 
 force left Harper's Ferry, passed through Charlestown, 
 and halted for the night about two miles this side. The 
 next morning we moved towards the enemy, who were 
 between Martinsburg and Williamsport, Maryland, and 
 encamped for the night at Bunker Hill. The next morn- 
 ing we were to have marched at sunrise, and I hoped 
 that in the evening or this morning we would have 
 engaged the enemy ; but, instead of doing so, General 
 Johnston made some disposition for receiving the enemy 
 if they should attack us, and thus we were kept until 
 about twelve A.M., when he gave the order to return 
 towards Winchester. At about sunrise we reached this 
 place, which is about three miles north of Winchester, 
 on the turnpike leading thence to Martinsburg. When 
 our troops on Sunday w^ere marching on the enemy, 
 they wTre so inspirited as apparently to forget the 
 fatigue of ih^ march, and though some of them were 
 suffering from hunger, this and all other privations ap- 
 peared to be forgotten, and the march continued at the 
 rate of three miles per hour ; and when they Avere ordered 
 to retire, their reluctance was manifested by their snail- 
 
70 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 like pace. I hope the general will do something soon. 
 Since we have left Harper's Ferry, something of an 
 active movement towards repelling the enemy is, of 
 conrse, expected. I trust that through the blessing of 
 God we will soon be given an opportunity of driving 
 the invaders from this region.'' 
 
 His delight at having his brigade placed in the 
 advance-guard of this little army of the Valley is shown 
 in the following extract from a letter to Mrs. Jackson : 
 
 " The troops have been divided into brigades, and the 
 Virginia forces under General Johnston constitute the 
 first brigade, of which I am in command. I am very 
 thankful to our kind heavenly Father for having given 
 me such a fine brigade. He does bless me beyond my 
 expectations, and infinitely beyond my deserts. I ought 
 to be a devoted follow^er of the Redeemer." 
 
 The United States forces approaching from the north- 
 west had about this time retired before Colonel A. P. 
 Hill, who had been sent towards E,omney with a small 
 body of Confederate troops to oppose them. On the 
 19th of June, Colonel Jackson was ordered to move 
 with his brio^ade north of Martinsburir, and there watch 
 the enemy, Avho had regained courage enough to begin 
 once more to cross the Potomac. But on the approach 
 of Colonel Jackson they again beat a retreat. 
 
 At Martinsburg the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 Company had extensive workshops and depots, which 
 contained forty of the finest locomotives, together with 
 three hundred freight-cars. Instead of removing all 
 these to Winchester, and tliereby securing them for the 
 use of the Confederate Government, Colonel Jackson 
 received an order to destroy the whole. He had 
 
HARPERS FERRY. 71 
 
 nothing to do but to obey, and he writes of it to Mrs. 
 Jackson, — 
 
 " It was a sad work ; but I had my orders, and my duty 
 was to obey. If the cost of the property could have been 
 expended in disseminating the gospel of the Prince of 
 Peace, how much good might have- been expected!" 
 
 Colonel Jackson remained with his brigade and with 
 Colonel J. E. B. Stuart and his cavalry regiment, on 
 his front north of Martinsburg, until July 2, when 
 he first crossed swords with the enemy. The orders 
 given him by his commander were to watch the enemy, 
 and to fall back on the Confederate forces for support 
 should he advance in full force. At length, on July 
 2, for the third time. General Patterson ventured to 
 cross the Potomac, and advanced in the direction of 
 Jackson's camp. This bold officer at once moved for- 
 ward to meet him with the 5th Virginia Regiment, a 
 few companies of cavalry, and a single light field-piece 
 of Captain Pendleton's battery. He left orders to the 
 rest of his command to move their baggage to the rear, 
 and to be ready to march either forward or backward at 
 a minute's warning. 
 
 Half-way between Martinsburg and the Potomac, 
 near a little church called the " Falling Water Church," 
 he met the van-guard of the enemy, which he attacked 
 and drove back. Their reinforcements coming up, they 
 again moved forward, and were again driven back. He 
 had posted his infantry behind the buildings and in- 
 closures of a farm-house and barn which stood on either 
 side of the road, when he discovered that the enemy, 
 having found out how small was his force, were pushing 
 forward an extended line of infantry, with the intention 
 of surrounding him. 
 
72 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J JACKSON. 
 
 His little force, from the houses which they occupied 
 and from behind the fences, poured forth a galling fire 
 until the enemy were about to close them in. Then, 
 bringing up his little field-piece to cover their retreat, 
 he withdrew his men and retired, skirmishing with the 
 enemy until he met the army four miles south of Mar- 
 tinsburg hurrying to his support. This combat is known 
 as that of Haines's Farm, and in it Colonel Jackson had 
 only three hundred and eighty men engaged, and one 
 piece of artillery. To push this little force out of their 
 path occupied the enemy from nine o'clock in the morn- 
 ing until the middle of the day, with three thousand 
 men and a full battery of artillery. In this engage- 
 ment Colonel Jackson had two men killed and ten 
 wounded. The enemy, besides losing forty-five pris- 
 oners, had many killed and Avounded. It was the first 
 time that Jackson's men had ever "smelt gunpowder;" 
 yet he said that " both officers and men behaved beauti- 
 fully." His skill in handling his troops, his coolness 
 under fire, and his feeling for and kind attentions to the 
 wounded, proved to his men that they had a commander 
 who was as kind and unselfish as he was brave and 
 skillful, and from that time he could never lead where 
 they would not follow. 
 
 While these movements were going on, others of great 
 importance were being made in other parts of Virginia, 
 the chief of which was the organization of an army 
 by General Beauregard at Manassas Junction. This 
 point is about twenty-five miles southwest of Alexan- 
 dria, where the Orange and Alexandria Railroad is met 
 by the Manassas Gap Railroad, which runs west through 
 the Blue Ridge into the Valley of Virginia. The gap 
 through which this railroad passes, and from which it 
 
HARPER'S FERRY. 73 
 
 took its name, was called Manassas, after a poor Jew 
 bearing that name who once lived there. 
 
 Manassas Junction was at once deemed a place of 
 importance, as it commanded the road leading to Gor- 
 donsville, and thence south and west to Richmond and 
 Charlottesville, and also the JNIanassas Gap Road, which 
 led into the Valley. The United States troops which 
 were assembled to assail this point were commanded by 
 General McDowell, and to be in readiness for his attack 
 now became the aim of the Confederate authorities, and 
 to accomplish this all their energies were bent. General 
 Johnston was then acting in concert with Beauregard at 
 Manassas while directing the movements of his little 
 army at the mouth of the Valley. It was his aim so 
 to manoeuvre as to prevent General Patterson from with- 
 drawing his forces from the Upper Potomac and carry- 
 ing them to join McDowelPs army, Avhich already far 
 outnumbered the one under Beauregard. Besides Gen- 
 eral Patterson's army, there was another of equal size 
 under the United States generals McClellan and Rose- 
 crans in Northwestern Virginia, which was confronted by 
 a small Confederate force under General Garnett. This 
 force was enabled to hold its own until July, Avhen it Avas 
 utterly defeated, and its victors were left free to move 
 their forces, if they chose, to swell the ranks of McDow- 
 ell's army. But General Johnston's movements held 
 these forces also in check. We have already seen how 
 their van-guard was repulsed at Romney by General A. 
 P. Hill. Plad General Johnston remained at Harper's 
 Ferry, he could only have reached General Beauregard 
 by a circuitous route, Avhile General Patterson could at 
 any time have thrown his army into Washington by 
 means of the Baltimore Railroad so long as he remained 
 
74 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 near Harper's Ferry. Once in Washington, he would 
 have been at McDowell's back, ready to support hirn. 
 By ascending the Potomac, he left General Johnston 
 free to leave Harper's Ferry and to move in such a di- 
 rection as to shorten and make more direct the distance 
 between himself and Beauregard. 
 
 After the show of resistance made to the advance of 
 Patterson's army by Colonel Jackson in the engagement 
 at Haines's Farm, Jackson, as we have seen, retreated 
 before him to a point four miles south of Martinsburg, 
 where he was met by the rest of the Confederate forces. 
 General Patterson then occupied Martinsburg. General 
 Johnston was with his little army four miles distant, at 
 the village of Darkesville, and daily oifered him battle, 
 which he daily declined. The skillful Johnston, how- 
 ever, as persistently refused to gratify the wishes of his 
 men by attacking the enemy in Martinsburg. Thus 
 passed four days; at the end of Avhich time the Con- 
 federate commander fell back to Winchester. 
 
 On arriving in Winchester, Colonel Jackson received 
 the following note : 
 
 " KiCHMOND, 3d July, 1861. 
 
 " My dear General, — I have the pleasure of send- 
 ing you a commission of brigadier-general in tlie Pro- 
 visional army, and to feel that you merit it. May 
 your advancement increase your usefulness to the State. 
 "Very truly, R. E. Lee." 
 
 His pleasure and agreeable surprise at this promotion 
 are shown in the following extract from a letter to Mrs, 
 Jackson : " I have been officially informed of my pro- 
 motion to be a brigadier-general of the Provisional 
 army of the Southern Confederacy. My promotion is 
 
HARPER'S FERRY. 75 
 
 beyond what I anticipated, as I only expected it to be 
 in the volunteer forces. One of the greatest [grounds 
 of] desires for advancement is the gratification it will 
 give you, and of serving my country more efficiently. 
 Through the blessing of God, I now have all that I 
 ought to desire in the line of promotion. I would be 
 very ungrateful if I were not contented and exceedingly 
 thankful to our heavenly Father. May his blessing 
 ever rest on you, is my fervent prayer.'' 
 
 General Johnston's withdrawal to Winchester served 
 as a decoy to Patterson, who, on the 15th of July, ad- 
 vanced to Bunker Hill. As soon as he appeared, John- 
 ston marched out and offered him battle. He again 
 declined the challenge, and, pausing in his advance, 
 stretched out his left wing eastward in the direction of 
 the little village called Smithfield. This manoeuvre at 
 once unmasked his plans to General Johnston, who saw 
 he was endeavoring to steal a march U23on him and 
 reach Manassas first. But the Federal commander little 
 knew with whom he had to deal. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MANASSAS. 
 
 Manassas was now, alike for the North and for the 
 South, the centre of hope and expectation. The day on 
 wliich the two armies were first to meet in shock of 
 battle was anxiously expected by both sides, but with 
 far different feelings. The North looked forward to it 
 with all the impatient arrogance of a nation who, under- 
 rating the courage and resources of her adversary, and 
 intoxicated with the sight of her own wealth in men 
 and money, anticipated an easy triumph over an ill- 
 disciplined rabble. By the South the long-expected day 
 was awaited with calmness and confidence. Aware that 
 the North had the whole world open to her whence 
 to draw men and supplies, while the Southern ports 
 were all closed, the people of the South, though cut off 
 from all foreign aid, yet awaited with perfect self-reli- 
 ance the issue. They felt that the result of the first 
 combat must depend on the individual pluck of the 
 men composing each army, and, such being the case, 
 had no fear. But as the time for the struggle drew 
 near, the feeling throughout the country became deeper 
 and deeper, the pain of anxious suspense more and 
 more intense, until at last, on the 16th of July, silently 
 but swiftly the news ran through the South that the 
 enemy had begun their advance. 
 
 Around Manassas Junction itself there w^as only a 
 76 
 
MANASSAS. 77 
 
 simple circuit of earthworks mounted by a few cannon. 
 A few miles to the northeast is a high ridge, on which 
 lies the little village of Centreville ; between it and 
 the Ju-'ction runs a little stream called Bull Run, and 
 along its banks and heights the battle was to be fought. 
 This stream runs from west to east, and flows into Occo- 
 quan Hiver. The banks, as a general thing, are rocky 
 and steep, and are higher on the northern than on the 
 southern side, thus giving the advancing army the ad- 
 vantage of position. The little stream abounds in good 
 fords, which in summer are very shallow, so that it can 
 be. easily crossed at that season. 
 
 General Beauregard's advance-guard, which was sta- 
 tioned at Fairfax Court-House, was driven in by Gen- 
 eral McDowell's advance on the 17th of July. The 
 United States army, sixty thousand strong, splendidly 
 equipped, and exultant over their anticipated success, 
 moved forward as if to an easy victory. The cry of 
 " On to Richmond !" rose from their ranks, and was re- 
 echoed by the people in their rear. Never did an army 
 rush into battle more hopeful of success than did that 
 under General McDowell. Never did a people wait 
 more impatiently to hear the shouts of triumph than did 
 those of the North. Everything had been arranged for 
 a grand entrance into Richmond when the city should 
 be captured. Too eager for the ncAVS of triumph to 
 wait for it to be brought to them, many persons, of both 
 sexes, left Washington and followed in the rear of the 
 advancing army, that they might be, if possible, eye- 
 witnesses of the battle. 
 
 The enemy, having driven in the advance-guard of 
 Beauregard's army and marched through Centreville, 
 were on the 18th of July repulsed at every point at 
 
 "7* 
 
78 LJFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 which they attempted to cross Bull Ilun. This fight, 
 known as the battle of Bull Run, served to check their 
 advance, and left time for the Southern army to receive 
 reinforcements. 
 
 While watching General Patterson's movements, and 
 ready to move with his little army in any direction on 
 a minute's warning. General Johnston received at one 
 o'clock on the morning of the 18th of July a tele- 
 graphic dispatch informing him of the advance of the 
 enemy on General Beauregard, and calling on him to 
 hasten to his aid. His tents Avere therefore struck early 
 in the day on the 18th, and his army was ordered under 
 arms, — as the men all thought, to attack the enemy in 
 their front. Great, then, was their disappointment when 
 they were ordered to turn their backs on Patterson, and 
 were marched away from him. Colonel Stuart was left 
 to watch the movements of the harmless Patterson, and, 
 by presenting a bold front, to make him believe General 
 Johnston was still present with the rest of the army. 
 This was most successfully accomplished. Through 
 Winchester the Southern troops marched. The inhab- 
 itants watched their departure with troubled hearts, and 
 asked sadly if they were to be left to the mercy of the 
 enemy. The soldiers shook their heads sorroAvfully, 
 and reluctantly continued their march. When, how- 
 .ever, they had gone four miles beyond Winchester, 
 General Johnston ordered a halt, and an order in the 
 following stirring words was read : " Our gallant army 
 under General Beauregard is noAV attacked by over- 
 whelming numbers ; the commanding general ho2)Cs 
 that his troo])S v/ill step out like men and make a forced 
 march to save the country." Instantly the air was rent 
 with shouts of joy. Men who had lagged back before 
 
MAXASSAS. 79 
 
 now pressed eagerly forward. All was animation and 
 life where before there had only been sullen obedience. 
 The Shenandoah had to be crossed, and into it the men 
 rushed, though the water Avas waist-deep. On they 
 hurried in their forced march, and, reaching the Blue 
 Ridge, toiled up its sides where the road passes through 
 Ashby's Gap. They did not pause in their march until 
 they reached Paris, a little village on the crest of the 
 mountain. 
 
 Arrived at Paris at two o'clock in the night, the whole 
 command was halted to rest. Jackson's men were 
 marched into a beautiful grove inclosed by a fence, and 
 there, foot-sore and wearied with the long and hurried 
 march, the men threw theaiselves on the ground and 
 soon sank into profound sleep. In a little while one of 
 the officers approached Jackson, and, telling him that no 
 sentinels had been posted, asked if he should not waken 
 some of the men and put them on guard. '' No," 
 replied Jackson ; " let the poor fellows sleep. I will 
 guard the camp myself." And during the rest of that 
 quiet summer's night his tall figure was seen moving 
 around the camp to see that all was well, or sitting on 
 the fence calmly watching the peaceful slumber of the 
 brave men lying at his feet. His aides offered several 
 times to keep guard in his stead, but he would not give 
 up his post until a short time before the dawn of day, 
 when he lay down in a corner of the fence on a pile 
 of leaves, and was soon enjoying that rest which he had 
 so nobly secured to his wearied troops. At dawn he 
 was again up and arousing his men to continue their 
 march. They reached Piedmont Station, at the foot of 
 the Blue Ridge, a point about midway between Win- 
 chester and Manassas, and thirty miles from each, when 
 
80 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 they were placed on trains to take them to INIanassas on 
 Friday morning (July 19). But for a collision, which 
 was, perhaps rightly, attributed to treachery, the whole 
 army would have reached Manassas Junction on Friday 
 morning. As it was, however, General Jackson was 
 fortunate enough to be among the first, and to arrive 
 with his command at the Junction on Friday night. 
 
 After such a march, rest was absolutely necessary for 
 the men, and accordingly Saturday was given up to that, 
 they having been marched directly to Mitchell's Ford 
 from the Junction on Friday night. 
 
 The enemy, in the mean while, after the repulse at 
 Bull Run on the 18th, was rallying all his forces for 
 the great battle of the 21st. General Johnston reached 
 ^lanassas about noon on Saturday, the 20th, and, as 
 senior officer, was entitled to the command of the army 
 and the direction of all its movements; but the battle 
 was too close at hand for him to make himself suffi- 
 ciently acquainted with the nature of the ground and 
 of the enemy's positions. He therefore intrusted all 
 with perfect confidence to the skill and knowledge of 
 General Beauregard. That intrepid and energetic officer 
 had no intention of waiting for the enemy's attack. 
 His army was divided into eight brigades, which occu- 
 pied the southern banks of Bull Run, along Avhich they 
 were placed in the following positions : Brigadier-Gen- 
 eral Ewell's on the extreme right, at Union Mills 
 Ford ; Britvadier-General D. R. Jones's at McLean's 
 Ford; Brigadier-General Longstreet's at Blackburn's 
 Ford; Brigadier-General Bonham's at Mitchell's Ford; 
 Colonel Cocke's at Ball's Ford, about three miles above; 
 and Colonel Evans, with a regiment and battalion, 
 held the extreme left at Stone Bridge. In the rear 
 
MANASSAS. gl 
 
 of the right were placed two brigades in reserve. The 
 rest of the army of the Shenandoah was expected to 
 arrive in the night of Saturday. It was feared that 
 Patterson, having at length discovered that the bird had 
 flown, might push forward and unite his troops with 
 McDowell on the 22d. This made it of the utmost im- 
 portance to the Confederates that the battle should be 
 fought on the 21st. 
 
 General Beauregard proposed a plan of battle, which 
 General Johnston approved. Beauregard then drew up 
 the necessary order during the night, and it was sub- 
 mitted to General Johnston, and received his approval 
 at half-past four in the morning of the 21st. But the 
 remainder of the army of the Shenandoah did not arrive, 
 and that, with some early movements of the enemy's 
 troops on the Confederate left, prevented General Beau- 
 regard from carrying into execution his plan of attack. 
 He then proposed to alter the plan, and let the Con- 
 federate left stand on the defensive, while the right 
 made an attack. But the movements of the enemy's 
 lines now became too active to render such an attack 
 possible, and a battle followed diiferent from any that 
 had been planned by the Confederate commander. 
 
 The enemy began his firing upon the Confederate 
 lines soon after sunrise, and, while making a shoAV of 
 attack upon their centre and right, marched the mass of 
 his trooj)S around through the woods on his right, and 
 crossed Bull Run two miles above the Confederate left, 
 and thus threw himself upon their flank and rear posi- 
 tion. Fortunately for the Confederates, this move was 
 discovered in time for them to swing their line of battle 
 around and face the enemy, so that,, instead of its run- 
 ning along the bank of Bull Eun, the point on that 
 
82 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 stream held by tlie left became in reality their right, 
 while the line was formed at right angles to the stream 
 and made to extend to the south of it. 
 
 When Colonel Evans, who, as we have seen, held the 
 extreme left of the Confederate line, found that the 
 enemy had crossed Bull Run two miles above his posi- 
 tion and was marching down upon his left flank, he 
 moved to his left with eleven companies and two field- 
 pieces, and, under cover of the woods, arranged his little 
 force to receiv^e the attack of the enemy, who rushed 
 down upon him w^ith overwhelming numbers. 
 
 Generals Johnston and Beauregard placed themselves, 
 about eight o'clock, on a hill in the rear of General 
 Bonham's position at Mitchell's Ford, and, seeing the 
 enemy's forces coming down on the Confederate left, 
 they at once ordered General Bee, who had been placed 
 near Colonel Cocke's position. Colonel Hampton, and 
 General Jackson, to move immediately to the left flank. 
 General Bee, with a soldier's instinct, followed the sound 
 of the firing and formed his troops near the Henry 
 House. Finding, however, that Colonel Evans was 
 sorely pressed by the enemy, he crossed a little valley 
 which lay between his forces and those under Colonel 
 Evans, and, forming on his right and a little in advance 
 of his position, withstood with him the furious on- 
 slaught of the enemy. The Confederates were strug- 
 gling against immense odds, their numbers at this point 
 being only five regiments, with six howitzers, while those 
 of the enemy were over fifteen thousand. The deter- 
 mined valor of the Confederates was beyond all praise, 
 as they withstood one attack after another from the 
 enemy, who threw regiment after regiment on the fiekl 
 in \]\G, hope of enveloping this gallant little band. 
 
MANASSAS, 83 
 
 For one hour they stood their ground and held the 
 United States army at bay. In that immortal struggle 
 the 4th Alabama and the 8th Georgia covered them- 
 selves with glory. At last, shattered and broken, this 
 gallant little band were forced to retreat, but not until 
 so ordered by the heroic Bee. They then fell back to 
 General Bee's original position on the plateau of the 
 Henry House. General Jackson, in the mean time, had 
 reached the scene of action and formed his brigade under 
 the crest of this plateau. On the arrival of General 
 Bee and his shattered forces. General Jackson proposed 
 to him to form a new line, of which he should form the 
 centre, and Bee, after rallying his men in his rear, should 
 be on the right. The position chosen by General Jack- 
 son was one of great strength, being a long ridge run- 
 ning at right angles to Bull Ilun, the northern end com- 
 manding Stone Bridge, while the southern end and the 
 eastern slope were covered with woods, and the western 
 slope, which fronted the enemy, descended gently and 
 commanded the valley and every approach from that 
 side. On this plateau, in the space between the United 
 States and the Confederate lines, Avere situated two farm- 
 houses, now known in history as the Bobinson and 
 Henry Houses. With his flanks and rear protected by 
 woods. General Jackson then formed his line of battle 
 on this ridge. Two guns of Stanard's battery were 
 hastily placed in position, and, through the skill and* 
 precision with which they were handled, served to keep 
 the enemy's advance in check while the rest of the line 
 was formed. 
 
 The artillery was placed a^ong the crest of the ridge 
 in such a manner that while the guns swept the enemy's 
 ranks the gunners were still protected. As they came 
 
8-4 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 up, the cliiferent pieces of artillery were placed in po- 
 sition, until at last seventeen guns were in line along the 
 ridge. On the left of the batteries were placed the 
 2d and 33d Virginia Regiments, in such a manner as 
 to be concealed in the woods ; on the right was posted 
 the 5th Virginia Regiment, also partially protected by 
 the woods. Behind the line of the batteries were the 
 4th and 27tli Virginia Regiments, the men lying on 
 their breasts, to escape as much as possible the enemy's 
 fire. General Bee placed the fragments of his gallant 
 band on the right of Jackson's brigade. 
 
 During these moments of extreme peril to the forces 
 on the left, the two generals remained anxious spectators 
 from a knoll near the Lewis House, in the rear of the 
 centre ; but by eleven o'clock the continuous sound of 
 firing on the left fully revealed the enemy's plans, and 
 the time for action had arrived. General Johnston ex- 
 pressing to General Beauregard the conviction that the 
 enemy was massing his troops on the left, and General 
 Beauregard agreeing with him, they struck spurs into 
 their horses, and, followed by their staffs, dashed off at 
 full speed for the scene of battle. They arrived not 
 a moment too soon. Worn out by the long contest, 
 and beaten back by overwhelming numbers, the troops 
 of Bee's and Evans's commands were shattered and dis- 
 couraged ; but, inspired by the presence and example 
 of the generals, they turned upon the enemy with 
 rekindled ardor. It was at this moment that General 
 Johnston, finding the 4th Alabama stripped of field- 
 officers and much worsted, placed the color-bearer, who 
 refused to give to another his colors, beside him, and led 
 a charge to the front, followed by the devoted and heroic 
 men, who eagerly rushed forward. The two generals. 
 
MANASSAS. 85 
 
 after thus cheering on the staggered troops and re-form- 
 ing their wavering lines, held a hurried consultation 
 and divided the duties of the field. Beauregard, as 
 the younger officer, claimed the field of action on the 
 left, while Johnston hastened back to the line of Bull 
 Kun, to assume general direction of everything and to 
 hurry up reinforcements. These he met two miles off, 
 pushing eagerly forward to join their sorely-pressed 
 comrades. 
 
 The Confederate reserves and reinforcements being 
 several miles off, and those of the enemy right at his 
 back, he hurled his troops rapidly and fiercely against 
 the Confederate ranks. One line after another sw^ept 
 across the valley and surged up against the hill held by 
 the invincible Southerners. For four hours, from eleven 
 A.M. until three p.m., Jackson's command lay motion- 
 less and exposed to the raking fire of the enemy, which 
 every now and then made sad havoc in their ranlvs; 
 but still they were calm and unyielding. Jackson rode 
 from one end of his line to the other, — his cheering cry 
 of " Steady, boys, steady,'' the calmness Avith which he 
 exposed himself to danger, and the glow^ of confidence 
 and animation on his countenance making his men look 
 to him as to a war-god. 
 
 But there is an end to endurance. The enemy press 
 forward ; one fresh regiment after another is thrown on 
 the field and stretched out to the left, in the hope of 
 outflanking the Confederates. In the front his line 
 sweeps forward, and he takes the Robinson and Henry 
 Houses, in which his sharp-shooters lodge themselves. 
 On the Confederate left he moves forward a battery to 
 sweep the line of Jackson's guns ; but the devoted 33d 
 Virginia, who have so long lain in concealment, w^ait 
 
8G LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 until this detachment is right upon them, when, spring- 
 ing to their feet, they lire, rnsh forward with a yell, and 
 capture the battery. The nature of the road, however, 
 and the hot fire of the enemy, force them to abandon it. 
 
 On the right, the enemy's crushing forces press down 
 upon the lieroic band of Bee, who, feeling that he could 
 no longer bear up against them, rode up to General 
 Jackson, and exclaimed, in a tone of despair, "General, 
 they are beating us backl'V "Then we will give them 
 the bayonet," replied Jackson. It was then that the 
 devoted Bee, turning his horse's head and dashing back 
 to his men, pointed to Jackson's command, and uttered 
 the memorable words, ""There is Jackson standing like 
 a STOA^E WALL. Rally behind the Virginians. Let 
 us determine to die here and Ave will conquer. Follow 
 me !'^ To this appeal a few of the brave men w'ho had 
 so long stood their ground replied by following his lead 
 as he headed a charge. It was his last : the next mo- 
 ment he dropped dead. 
 
 The struggle for the possession of the ridge held by 
 Jackson's command was now drawing to a close. Pressed 
 on each flank by the enemy, whose numbers still rolled 
 up on his front, liis men wearied by the three hours' 
 action, and the ammunition running low, Jackson saw 
 that the time to bring his infantry into action had come. 
 The batteries in his front were divided, and, wheeling 
 to the left and right, passed to the rear, and left the 
 space in front of the infantry open. The men, Avho for 
 three hours had been under the ordeal of a murderous 
 fire without returning a shot, now hailed with delight 
 i\w. hour of relief. Jackson rode np in front of the 2d 
 Virginia lleginient, and cried out to tlie men, "Reserve 
 your fire till they come within fifty yards ; then fire and 
 
'-'^ ^ mi If 
 
 ^'f^- 
 /-;. 
 
 
MANASSAS. 87 
 
 give them the bayonet ; and Avheu you charge, yell like 
 furies !" The general signal was given, the men sprang 
 to tlieir feet, fired a volley, and dashed forward with a 
 loud and triumphant shout. Staggered by this furious 
 onslaught, the enemy's lines wavered, broke, and fled 
 from the field. 
 
 While Jackson thus pierced the enemy's centre, the 
 whole Confederate line was dashing forward and push- 
 ing the enemy back. Tlieir reinforcements, however, 
 being right at their backs, their lines were again quickly 
 re-formed in a crescent shape, and, presenting a formida- 
 ble array, they again moved forward to attack the Con- 
 federates, who, though worn down by incessant fighting 
 and hurried marches, gathered up the wrecks of shat- 
 tered regiments and broken brigades to withstand once 
 more the shock of battle. The enemy again charged, 
 and again the Confederate lines were pushed back. 
 
 By this time, however, the Confederate reserves from 
 the right, which General Johnston had been pushing 
 up, began to arrive on the field of action, and w^ere 
 rapidly thrown forward. Cheer after cheer broke from 
 the ranks of the weary but brave men who for so long 
 had borne up against such overwhelming odds, as they 
 saw that reinforcements had at last come up, and in time 
 to save the day. General Beauregard gave the order for 
 a second charge to be made, to attempt the recovery of 
 the plateau in front of the ridge which Jackson's men 
 had held so long. About this time — three o'clock — Gen- 
 eral Ivirby Smith arrived from Manassas with three 
 regiments of Elzey's brigade, being part of the Army 
 of the Shenandoah which had bee.i so long delayed. He 
 was ordered to fall on the right flank of the enemy, and, 
 following the sound of the firing, was successfully ex- 
 
88 LJFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ecuting this move wlien he fell dangerously wounded. 
 Colonel Elzey, being next in command, led the troops 
 forward in a furious charge on the enemy's exposed 
 flank. General Beauregard, seizing the opportunity to 
 throw his whole line forward in the second charge, 
 ordered the whole Confederate force, including every 
 regiment on the field, to sweep onward. The charge 
 was irresistible. The enemy was driven back from the 
 long-contested hill, and victory was no longer doubtful. 
 The persevering foe, however, made yet another at- 
 tempt to retrieve the day. Again he extended his line 
 with a wider sweep to the right, ho])ing to turn the 
 Confederate left; again he was reinforced by his inex- 
 haustible reserves. As he re-formed, however. Colonel 
 Early, with three regiments from the right of the Con- 
 federate line, came upon the field of action. He threw 
 himself upon the enemy's right, supported by Stuart's 
 cavalry and Beckham's battery. General Beauregard at 
 the same time once more moved forward his wdiole front, 
 and this combined attack was too much for the Federals. 
 Their lines broke under the charge. Their troops aban- 
 doned their artillery and fled disgracefully from the 
 field, and victory perched upon the Confederate banners. 
 Xever was there a victory more complete than the 
 Confederates', — never a rout more disgraceful than the 
 enemy's. Their whole force, being seized with a i)anic, 
 fled in the wildest dismay before a gallant little army 
 numbering not half so many men as did their own. 
 But there was no restraining them; all was confusion — 
 all terror. An eye-witness of the scene on the Federal 
 side thus describes the sight as the Confederate cavalry 
 pursued the flying host : 
 
 '^ By the time I reached the top of the hill, the re- 
 
MANASSAS. ^^ 
 
 treat the j^anic, tl,e heedless, lieadlong confusion was 
 now beyond a hope. I was near the rear of the move- 
 ment, with the brave Captain Alexander, who endeavored 
 by the most gallant, but unavailing exertions, to cheek 
 the onward tumult. It was difficult to believe in the 
 reahty of our sudden reverse. ' What does it all mean?' 
 I asked of Alexander. ' It means defeat,' was his reply. 
 We are beaten; it is a shan.eful, a cowardly retreat! 
 Hold up men ." he shouted; 'don't be such infernal cow- 
 ards ! And he rode backward and forward, placing his 
 horse across the road, and vainly trying to rally the run- 
 ning troops. The teams and wagons confused and dis- 
 membered everj corps. . . . Meantime, I saw office.^ 
 w, h leaves and eagles on their shoulder-straps, majors 
 and colonels who had deserted their comrades, pass me 
 galloping as if for dear life. No enemy pursued just 
 then ; bu I suppose all were afraid that his guns would 
 be tramed down the long, narrow avenue, and mow the 
 retreating thousands, and batter to pieces armv-wao-ons 
 and everything else which crowded it. 
 
 " But what a scene ! and how terrific the onset of that 
 tumultuous retreat! For three miles, hosts of Federal 
 troops-all detached from their regiments, all mingled 
 .n one disorderly rout-were fleeing along the road, but 
 mostly throngh the lots on either side. Army-wagons 
 sutlers teams, and private carriages choked the passage,' 
 tumbhng against each other, amid clouds of dust, and 
 sickening sights and .sounds. Hacks containing nnluckv 
 spectators of the late affray were smashed like glass and 
 the occupants were lost sight of in the debrk. Horses 
 flying wildly from the battle-field, many of them in 
 death-agony, galloped at random forward, joinino- in the 
 stampede. Those on foot who could catch them rode 
 
 8* 
 
90 T-IFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 them bareback, as much to save themselves from being 
 run over as to make quicker time. AYounded men lying 
 along the banks, tlie few either not left on the field or 
 taken to the captured hospitals, appealed, with raised 
 hands, to those who rode horses, begging to be lifted 
 behind ; but few regarded such petitions. Then the 
 artillery, such as was saved, came thundering along, 
 smashing and overpowering everything. The regular 
 cavalry, I record it to their shame, joined in the melee, 
 adding to its terrors, for they rode down footmen with- 
 out mercy. One of the great guns was overturned, and 
 lay amid the ruins of a caisson as I passed it. I saw 
 an artilleryman running between the ponderous fore and 
 after wheels of his gun-carriage, hanging on with both 
 hands and vainly striving to jump upon the ordnance. 
 The drivers were spurring the horses ; he could not 
 cling much longer, and a more agonizing exj^ression 
 never fixed the features of a drowning man. The car- 
 riage bounded from the roughness of a steep hill leading 
 to a creek ; he lost his hold, fell, and in an instant the 
 great wheels had crushed the life out of him. Who 
 ever saw such a flight ! ... It did not slack in tlie least 
 until Centreville was reached. There the sight of the 
 reserve — Miles's brigade — formed in order on the hill, 
 seemed somewhat to reassure the van. But still the 
 teams and foot-soldiers pushed on, passing their OAvn 
 camp and heading swiftly for the distant Potomac, until 
 for ten miles the road over which the Grand Army h.ad 
 so lately ])assed southward, gay with unstained banners, 
 and flushed with surety of success, was covered with the 
 fragments of its retreating forces, shattered and panic- 
 stricken in a single day.'' 
 
 As a proof of how sure the enemy were of success, it 
 
MANASSAS. 91 
 
 is recorded that a splendid dinner in honor of the victory 
 liad been prepared at Centreville for those who had gone 
 over from Washington to witness tlie battle; but it re- 
 mained uneaten. One of the ladies, in her haste to get 
 into her carriage wdien the rout began, fell and broke her 
 leg. 
 
 The Confederate troops foUov/ed the flying foe for a 
 few miles, and then abandoned the pursuit. In the 
 mean time, the Confederate wounded and dead Avere 
 being tenderly cared for on the field which their valor 
 had made so victorious and so glorious. The great 
 fight had been fought and the battle w^on. For the first 
 time in the history of America, the peoj^le of the North 
 and South had confronted each other in battle-array, 
 Northmen in overwhelming numbers; but Southern 
 valor stood the terrible test, and the individual couraire 
 of the Confederates had proved more than a match for 
 the skillful generalship and overwhelming odds of the 
 enemy. This thought softened the sorrow felt for the 
 brave men who had fallen in the Confederate ranks. 
 
 AVith the keen instincts of a soldier and the devoted 
 enthusiasm of a patriot, it had been President Davis's 
 fond w^ish to share with the soldiers of his army the 
 danger and glory of that great day, and he accordingly 
 left Richmond early Sunday morning, hoping to reach 
 Manassas in time to witness the battle. On reaching 
 the Mantissas Junction, he mounted a horse and Avent 
 at full gallop to the scene of action. The declining 
 rays of the w^arm sun of July w-ere lengthening the 
 shadows across the now victorious and classic plains of 
 Manassas ere his cort'ge swept over them. But he ap- 
 peared then as the impersonation of the Confederate 
 cause, and, as his slight, manly figure came in siglit, cheer 
 
92 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J JACKSON. 
 
 after clicer rose from the wrecks of the galhint army 
 whose heroic efforts had been so gloriously crowned with 
 success. The wounded forgot their pains as they raised 
 their heads to join in the shout, and the dying spent 
 their last breath in the cheer for him who represented 
 the cause for which they had shed their life's blood. 
 
 But, in the mean time, where was Jackson? In 
 the rear of the Confederate lines the wounded were 
 the object of every attention, and the surgeons were 
 busily engaged plying the knife and saw and bind- 
 ing up broken limbs or gaping wounds. On the cool 
 and shady banks of a little stream in the rear, hun- 
 dreds of the Confederate wounded were collected, and 
 thither General Jackson made his way as soon as the 
 rout of the enemy was seen to be complete. Those 
 who had watched him closely during the fight had 
 noticed him once shake his hand impatiently and then 
 wrap it hastily in his handkerchief. It was when a 
 rifle-ball struck it and broke the middle finger and 
 lacerated one of the others. When he reached the spot 
 where the surgeons were so hard at work on the wounded, 
 one of them, Dr. McGuire, said, "General, are you much 
 hurt?'' "No," was the reply ; " I believe it is a trifle." 
 " How goes the day ?" was Dr. McGuire's second ques- 
 tion. "Oh," Jackson exclaimed, unable to restrain his 
 delight at the success of our arms, "we have beat them! 
 We have a glorious victory ! My brigade made them 
 run like dogs !" Two or three surgeons having come uj) 
 to him to offer their services, he quietly declined them 
 until those who were more seriously wounded were at- 
 tended to, and, sitting down upon the grass to rest, he 
 v/ould not allow his wound to be caressed until he saw 
 the surgeons had more leisure. Then they examined 
 
MANASSAS. 93 
 
 him, and, turning from one to the other, he found all but 
 Dr. McGuire thought he should have at least one of the 
 wounded fingers amputated at once. With an anxious 
 look he then asked Dr. IMcGuire what his opinion was. 
 '' General," he replied, " if we attempt to save the finger, 
 tlie cure will be more painful ; but if this were my hand 
 I should make the experiment.'^ " Then, doctor, do 
 you dress it/' he said, as he laid his mangled hand in 
 the doctor's. Dr. McGuire's advice proved judicious, as 
 the hand was healed without removins: the fin2:er. 
 
 It was while at this place, among the wounded, that 
 the President and his staff dashed by. Jackson arose, 
 and, waving his cap, called upon those around him to 
 give him a loud cheer, — which was quickly done. After 
 describing the rout of the enemy, he said that ^^with 
 ten thousand fresh troops he could enter the city of 
 AYashington." 
 
 So ended the day. By night the news of victory had 
 flashed along the electric wires to every part of the 
 South, carrying with it to many a home the sad tidings 
 of the death of some dear one, who had fallen, as all the 
 brave desire to fall, in defense of their homes and hearth- 
 stones. With grateful but saddened hearts the people 
 of the South retired to rest that night. In Richmond 
 the scene was most impressive. The full moon shone 
 down in undimmed splendor on the beautiful streets of 
 this most beautiful Southern city. In front of the tele- 
 graph- and newspaper-offices stood the silent crowd, fear- 
 ing, yet anxious, to hear from the brave soldier that each 
 had sent to the front. Before the private residences and 
 on the sidewalks were seen mothers and wives and sis- 
 ters, in anxious groups, or going from bouse to house to 
 hear who had fallen or who survived that terrible day. 
 
94 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Ill the i:)arlors of the hotels sat many an officer's wife, 
 cahnly and anxiously awaiting tidings from her husband, 
 all unconscious that he was sleeping his last sleep and 
 that the settino: sun had left her a widow. The shouts 
 of triumph which now and then burst from the crowd, 
 as news confirming the completeness of the victory was 
 received, were quickly repressed, as all felt the day had 
 been dearly won. The cup of sorrows which war brings, 
 even in its triumphs, had been pressed to their lips for 
 the first time, and with grateful yet awed and subdued 
 hearts they silently withdrew to their homes. 
 
 Twice during that memorable evening the writer of 
 these lines was in the company of General Lee, — once 
 to witness the bitterness of his regret as he announced 
 to a few friends around him that the Secretary of War 
 positively forbade him going to Manassas to offer his 
 services in leading forward the victorious troops, and 
 again, when a lady sitting opposite him asked if he 
 would pursue, to see him lean forward, and say, in tones 
 whose earnestness could never be forgotten, ^' Madam, I 
 would follow them into their very dens.'' Nor could 
 the tender sympathy be forgotten with w^hich he spoke 
 of the heart-broken wives and mothers whose loved ones 
 had just fallen. 
 
CHAPTEE yil. 
 
 ROMNEY. 
 
 The day after the battle of Manassas, Jackson's 
 pastor, tlie Rev. Dr. White, Avas standing in a crowd 
 assembled in front of the post-office in Lexington, anx- 
 iously awaiting the opening of the mail. A letter was 
 handed to him as soon as this w^as done. He recognized 
 Jackson's handwriting, and exclaimed to the anxious 
 and expectant group around him, ^*Now we shall know 
 all the facts." He opened it, and read : 
 
 " My dear Pastor, — -In my tent last night, after a 
 fatiguing day's service, I remembered that I had failed 
 to send you my contribution for our colored Sunday- 
 school. Inclosed you Avill find my check for that object, 
 which please acknowledge at your earliest convenience, 
 and oblige 
 
 " Yours faithfully, 
 
 ^^T. J. Jackson." 
 
 What a picture of the Christian hero ! As he sinks 
 to rest after the fatigues of a "day's service" whose 
 deeds had enrolled his name among the great captains of 
 the earth, he does not think of himself, nor, ambitious 
 as he was, of that fame which would follow, — he must, 
 with the instincts of awakening genius, have felt how 
 surely, — but of his colored Sunday-school scholars at 
 
 95 
 
96 I^JFF^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 home. Was he to be counted among the enemies of that 
 ill-starred race? Yet how many in the world thought 
 of the banner under which he fought, and on which his 
 simple faith cast such lustre, as the emblem of their 
 oppression ! 
 
 Among the many touching incidents of the battle of 
 Manassas, the death of two brothers — the two young 
 Conrads*— deserves to be mentioned. They were the 
 only sons of their parents, and both enlisted in the Con- 
 federate army as soon as the war broke out. Charming 
 in their youthful enthusiasm, their amiable domestic 
 virtues, and the singular purity of their lives, they were 
 the idols of their home circle and the favorites of all 
 who knew them. The eldest, Holmes, had enlisted and 
 was in the field w^hen the youngest. Tucker, came home 
 from college to follow his example. In despair at the 
 thought of both of his young masters rushing into the 
 dangers of war, an old family slave remonstrated with 
 him for joining the army, and said, '' Suppose Master 
 Holmes gets killed?'^ ^' Then,'' exclaimed his devoted 
 brother, ^^I will be right there to fall with him!" They 
 were members of the same company in the Stonewall 
 Brigade, and in one of its magnificent charges both fell 
 dead, killed by the same shot. 
 
 AYe find Jackson writing on the day after the battle 
 of INIanassas to Mrs. Jackson as follows : 
 
 "Yesterday we fought a great battle, and gained a 
 great victory, for which all the glory is due to God 
 alone. Though under a heavy fire for several continu- 
 ous hours, I only received one wound, the breaking of 
 the largest finger of the left hand; but the doctor says 
 
ROMNEY. 97 
 
 the finger can be saved. My horse was wounded, but 
 not killed. My coat got an ugly wound near the hip. 
 My preservation was entirely due, as Avas the glorious 
 victory, to our God, to whom be all the glory, honor^ 
 and praise. Whilst great credit is due to other parts of 
 our gallant army, God made my brigade more instru- 
 mental than any other in repulsing the main attack. 
 This is for your information only ; say nothing about it. 
 Let another speak praise, not myself.^' 
 
 And again, on August 5, he wrote to her, — 
 " You think that the papers ought to say more about 
 me? My brigade is not a brigade of newspaper corre- 
 spondents. I know that the First Brigade was the first 
 to meet and pass our retreating forces, to push on with 
 no other aid than the smiles of God, to boldly take its 
 position with the artillery that was under my command, 
 to arrest the victorious foe in his onward progress, to 
 hold him in check until reinforcements arrived, and, 
 finally, to charge bayonets, and, thus advancing, pierce 
 the enemy's centre. I am well satisfied with what it did, 
 and so are my generals, Johnston and Beauregard. . . . 
 I am thankful to our ever kind heavenly Father that 
 He makes me content to await His own good time and 
 pleasure for commendation, knowing that all good things 
 work together for my good. Xever distrust our God, 
 who doeth all things w^ell. In due time He will mani- 
 fest all His pleasure, which is all His people should ever 
 desire. If my brigade can always play as important 
 and useful a part as in the last battle, I shall always be 
 very grateful, I trust.'' 
 
 A few days after the battle of INIanassas, General Jack- 
 son moved forward with his brigade to a point about a 
 mile beyond Centreville, where he encamped, and set to 
 
98 I^tFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 work to perfect the discipline of his troops. The Con- 
 federate generals, having collected and re-organized their 
 forces and being reinforced, moved forward, some weeks 
 later, with an army of sixty thousand men. On reach- 
 ing Mason's and Munson's Hills, they were within sight 
 of Washington, and they hoped to tempt to battle the 
 Federal general McCIellan, who, after the defeat at 
 Manassas, had replaced General McDowell in command 
 of the Federal forces. Bat he declined every challenge to 
 battle. 
 
 In Avriting to his wife on the 24tli of September, 
 General Jackson says, — 
 
 " This is a beautiftd and lovely morning, beautiful 
 emblem of the morning of eternity in heaven. I greatly 
 enjoy it after our cold, chilly weather, which has made 
 me feel doubtful of my capacity^ humanly speaking, to 
 end are the campaign, should we remain longer in tents. 
 But God, our God, will do, and does, all things well, and 
 if it is His pleasure that I should remain in the field. 
 He will give me the ability to endure all its fatigues.'' 
 
 On the 7th of October, 1861, as a reward for his ser- 
 vices in the battle of Manassas, Jackson was promoted 
 to the rank of major-general. On receiving his com- 
 mission, he wrote to his wife, — 
 
 ^' I am very thankful to that good God who with- 
 holds no good thing from me (though I am so utterly 
 unworthy and so ungrateful), for making me a mnjor- 
 general of the Provisional army of the Confederate 
 States." 
 
 In another letter to her he says, — 
 
 " I trust that you feel more gratitude to God than 
 pride or elation at my promotion." 
 
 Shortly after being appointed major-general, he was 
 
ROMNEV. 99 
 
 assigned to take command, under General Johnston, of 
 tlie Valley district, and for that purpose was ordered to 
 Winchester. His brigade, however, was to be left with 
 the Army of the Potomac. His separation from this 
 brigade, whose men had displayed such valor under his 
 command, was a great grief to Jackson. When the day 
 came for him to leave, he ordered the brigade to be 
 paraded out under arms, and, riding down the line ac- 
 companied by his staflP, he stopped in their front. Pro- 
 found silence reigned through their ranks, their hearts 
 being too sad to greet him with the accustomed cheer. 
 Reining up his horse as he confronted them, he looked 
 from one end of the line to the other, and in a few ap- 
 propriate words expressed his attachment for the men 
 of this brigade, his admiration for their brilliant con- 
 duct while under his command, and the hope that they 
 might maintain i\\Q reputation which they had then won 
 by the achievement of still nobler deeds in the future. 
 Then, pausing, he seemed for a moment shaken with 
 emotion, and, dropping the reins upon his horse's neck, 
 extended his arms towards them and exclaimed, "In the 
 Army of the Shenandoah you were the First Brigade, 
 in the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade, 
 in the Second Corps 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 !'' 
 
 Gathering up the reins, he waved his hand and dashed 
 off the field at full gallop, amid such cheers as only 
 brave soldiers can give to a loved commander. His 
 departure from the Army of the Potomac took place on 
 the 4th of November, 1861. 
 
100 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON-. 
 
 Jackson had in tlie Valley district, though still under 
 General Johnston, a command to a great degree inde- 
 pendent. On reaching Winchester, he found the forces 
 under his command consisting only of a few companies 
 of badly-armed, half-organized cavalry and portions of 
 three brigades of State militia. His first step was to 
 issue immediately an order calling out at once from 
 the adjoining counties militia to fill out these brigades. 
 The people responded with the patriotic enthusiasm 
 characteristic of that section of the country, and in a 
 few weeks his force was raised to three thousand men. 
 But before we proceed with an account of his move- 
 ments we must glance at the advances of the enemy in 
 Northwestern Virginia. 
 
 The command of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 placed this region completely in the power of the Fed- 
 eral authorities, for by means of this road they could 
 send troops thither and supply them with provisions 
 or reinforcements, if needed. To penetrate into this 
 district, however, the Confederates, after leaving the 
 Central Railroad at a point Avest of Staunton, had to 
 toil for many miles over rough, mountainous roads, and 
 through a country which could afford them no pro- 
 visions or supplies of any sort. These had to be car- 
 ried after them, with great labor and expense, in Avagons. 
 Thus, in the contest in Northwestern Virginia, the odds 
 were all against the Confederates, while fortune favored 
 the success of the Federal arms. 
 
 Early in the season, after the first outbreak of the 
 Avar, a United States army of about tAventy thousand 
 men Avas sent under McClellan to invade Virginia in 
 the northAvest. To meet this Avell-armed and finely- 
 equipped army, a small force of five thousand men, 
 
ROMNEV. 101 
 
 under the command of General Garnett, Avas sent by the 
 Confederate authorities. It advanced as far as E-icli 
 Mountain, where, on tlie 11th of July, being far away 
 from all sources of supply, it was attacked by McClellan 
 while, unfortunately, divided into two detachments, and 
 utterly defeated. While still divided, the two portions 
 of this gallant little band were forced to make a retreat, 
 in which they lost their baggage and their heroic com- 
 mander his life. McClellan's reward for this victory 
 was to succeed ]\IcDowell in command of the Grand 
 Army of the Potomac after its defeat at Manassas. 
 
 After the disastrous results of this expedition under 
 Garnett, a second was sent out, under General Lee, to 
 oppose Rosecrans, who had succeeded McClellan. Gen- 
 eral Lee's high reputation caused much to be hoped for 
 from this expedition ; but all such hopes were doomed 
 to disappointment. This skillful commander found 
 himself and his fine force locked in on all sides by high 
 mountains, and an advance rendered impossible from 
 the nature of the country and the condition of the 
 roads. And so, after remaining powerless for some 
 months, he was ordered to take command of the more 
 important district of the Atlantic Coast. 
 
 The failure of these attempts to repel the invasion of 
 the portion of his State to which he was deeply attached 
 as the place of his birth and the home of his youth, was 
 a source of great grief to General Jackson. He had 
 been anxious to go with his men and join the Confed- 
 erate force sent under Garnett, under whom, he said, he 
 would cheerfully serve for the privilege of being allowed 
 to join the expedition. And when General Lee — from 
 whom he hoped much — went to take command in the 
 northwest, he again expressed the wish to be sent there 
 
 9* 
 
102 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 witli his brigade, saying, " It is natural for one's affec- 
 tions to turn to the home of his boyhood and family/' 
 
 General Loring succeeded General Lee in command 
 of the Xorthwestern Department. Early in October, 
 Brigadier-General Henry Jackson, of this command, sus- 
 tained most successfully, with a force ureatly inferior in 
 numbers, an attack made by a force of the enemy whicli 
 left their fastness at Cheat Mountain and attacked him 
 at the head of Greenbrier Kiver. On the 13th of De- 
 cember, Colonel Edward Johnson, of the same command, 
 won a still more brilliant victory in resisting witli only 
 twelve hundred men an attack made upon him at Alle- 
 ghany by five thousand of the enemy, who were not 
 only defeated but driven some distance from the field. 
 
 These successes, so cheering as coming from a quarter 
 where the Confederates had only known defeat, and 
 so gratifying as proofs of the skill and heroism of the 
 brave officers and men by whom they Avere accom- 
 plished, were destined to be fruitless, as the Confederate 
 forces Avere too small for them to be followed up. This 
 was too plainly proved a few weeks later, when the 
 enemy, having occupied Hardy and Hampshire Coun- 
 ties, thus threatened the rear of the little Confederate 
 army and forced it to fall back and take a position on 
 Shenandoah Mountain, forty miles to the rear. 
 
 This was the state of affairs in the Xorth western 
 Department when Jackson arrived in Winchester. He 
 had long before predicted that the Confederates could 
 not meet with success there as long as they continued to 
 follow the plan of defense which had been adopted for 
 that section, and even before reaching Winchester he 
 wrote to Richmond proposing a different plan and 
 urging its adoption. This plan was to organize a win- 
 
ROMNEV. 103 
 
 ter campaign, in which, starting from AYinchester, he 
 would move rapidly to the northwest, cut the Baltimore 
 and Ohio Railroad, and thus, having cut the enemy off 
 from supplies and reinforcements, he could fall upon his 
 rear. To accomplish this, he urged that the forces under 
 Loring and Johnston should at once be hurried to him. 
 
 The Confederate Government partly agreed to his 
 plan, and to furnish him with sufficient force his old 
 brigade — now known only as the Stonewall Brigade — 
 was sent to him about the middle of November. With 
 the brigade was also sent Pendleton's battery, under 
 Captain McLoughlin. Early in December he also re- 
 ceived other reinforcements, consistins; of several reo;i- 
 ments from the Army of the Northwest. He continued 
 to urge tliat the remaining forces of that army which 
 were now lying idle should be sent to him; but this was 
 refused, and he did not hesitate to say that the absence 
 of tliese troops would defeat his plan for a winter cam- 
 paign in Northwest Virginia. 
 
 Though he had failed to secure troops enough to carry 
 out his plan of a winter campaign in the northwest, yet 
 with the force which he had assembled at Winchester, 
 small as it was, he determined not to remain inactive, but 
 at once commenced those brilliant movements in the 
 Valley of Virginia which have rendered it so famous in 
 history and made it seem enchanted ground to the enemy. 
 This valley lies between the great North Mountain range 
 on the west and i\\Q Blue Ridge on the east. Its width 
 is at some points fifteen miles, at others thirty, but it is 
 widest where the Potomac crosses it, and then spreads 
 out from the sources of that stream away off in the Alle- 
 ghanies to Harper's Ferry. The surface of the country 
 lying between the two high mountain-ranges on eacli 
 
104 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 side of the valley is itself broken by hills and mountain- 
 ranges. A mountain called Massanutten Mountain, 
 which rises twenty miles southwest of Winchester, runs 
 parallel with the Blue Ridge for fifty miles, and the 
 valley lying between it and the Blue Ridge is watered 
 by the Shenandoah River, and is known as the Luray 
 Valley. The scenery of the Valley of Virginia, thus 
 intersected by smaller valleys and mountain-ranges, is 
 lovely beyond description. Its fertile fields, limpid 
 streams, lofty mountains, Avaving woods, and smiling 
 valleys form landscapes whose picturesque beauty is a 
 constant source of delight and pleasure to the traveler 
 passing through them. Nor is the race inhabiting the 
 Valley unworthy of the bounties which, in fertile fields 
 and beautiful scenery, nature has lavished on them. 
 Noted for their hospitalities and the grace with which 
 they Avere administered, they enjoyed in prosperity the 
 easy lives natural to those living in a country which is 
 the abode of plenty, and indulged in the manly sports 
 and simple pleasures characteristic of country life. But 
 it is in adversity that their noblest qualities shine forth. 
 Loyal unto death, patient under hardship and toil, calm 
 and undismayed amid the storms of war which devas- 
 tated and desolated their country and homes, the first to 
 rush to arms and the last to lay them down, the very 
 air they breathed seemed to inspire with fresh courage 
 and energy the forces sent to defend their beautiful 
 country, and to render it for their foes the Valley of the 
 Shadow of Death. 
 
 General Jackson determined to make with the small 
 force under his command a move which he thoufrht 
 might be a serious annoyance to the enemy. This was 
 to cut the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which ran down 
 
ROM NET. 105 
 
 the Potomac from Cumberland, Maryland, to Washing- 
 ton, and thus break the enemy^s communications by the 
 river, as they had — by the burning of the bridge at 
 Harper's Ferry — been broken by the railroad. The 
 point he selected for attack was Dam No. 5, near Mar- 
 ti nsburo^ ; for if this dam could be broken it would let 
 off the water which fed the canal. 
 
 AVith the Stonewall Brigade, his cavalry, and a part 
 of the militia, he went to Alartinsburg on December 10^ 
 and there completed his arrangements for carrying his 
 plan into execution. Sending the militia to make a feint 
 on AVilliamsport, he went with the rest of the troops to 
 the dam. A working-party composed of men from 
 Holliday's company, of the 33d Virginia Regiment, 
 and from Robinson's, of the 27th, were assigned to the 
 laborious task of breaking a gap through the dam. The 
 Stonewall Brigade was placed near them, behind a hill, 
 to prevent any attack upon them, while a mill near by 
 was also filled with Confederate riflemen ready to fire 
 upon any attacking party. There they worked from the 
 17th to the 21st of December, waist-deep in water, worn 
 down Avith fatigue, almost overcome with sleep, and with 
 the enemy's cannon-balls booming over their heads. 
 But still they labored on through the cold winter days 
 and the colder winter nights. The Federal general 
 Banks, at the head of a large force on the other side of 
 tlie Potomac, tliundered away with his cannon in the vain 
 attempt to drive the brave fellows from their task. On 
 the 21st the breach through the dam was finished, and 
 the waters of the Potomac rushed through and left the 
 canal drained to its bottom. In this affair only one man 
 was killed by the enemy. But who can describe the 
 sufferings of the men on such an expedition ? AVho can 
 
106 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 sufficiently admire tlie heroism and patriotic devotion 
 wliicli prompted the men who volunteered to enter the 
 chill Avaters of the Potomac on such a laborious work? 
 
 When General Jackson returned to Winchester on the 
 25th of December, he found awaiting him the remainder 
 of Loring's force. This increased the number of men 
 in his command to eleven thousand, including three 
 thousand militia. By order of the Government, Loring 
 was to retain command of the troops which had been 
 under him, but was to act under Jackson's orders. An 
 unfortunate jealousy which afterwards sprang up between 
 these two commands was a source of infinite trouble to 
 General Jackson, and in more than one instance served 
 to cripple movements which might otherwise have been 
 successful. 
 
 Had Loring's forces arrived earlier, and been only 
 accompanied by those under Colonel Edward Johnson, 
 Jackson would have been able to carry out his fondly- 
 cherished plan of invading Northwestern Virginia. As 
 it was, with such a fine body of men under his com- 
 mand, and tempted by the mildness of the weather, he 
 determined to start on an expedition which might ac- 
 complish a part of what he had hoped to achieve could 
 he have succeeded in sooner assembling a sufficient num- 
 ber of troops. This expedition was to sweep away three 
 separate detachments stationed in the counties west of 
 Winchester, where they were ruling the people w^ith a 
 rod of iron. These three detachments were stationed, — 
 one at Bath, in Morgan County, forty miles north of 
 Winchester; one at the little town of Hancock, on the 
 opposite side of the Potomac; and one at Romney, on 
 the south branch of the same river. The detachments 
 at the first two places Avere small, but the one at Pomney 
 
ROMNEY. 107 
 
 numbered ten thousand men, and the enemy had also 
 intrenched himself there. Jackson's plan was to move 
 swiftly upon Bath and Hancock, capturing the detach- 
 ment at each place, and then to attack Romney. The 
 success of this well-planned movement was destined, 
 however, to be marred by the jealousy which now broke 
 out between the two commands, and the disinclination 
 of the men and officers under Loring to enter upon a 
 winter campaign. 
 
 The morning of New Year's day of 1862 was as mild 
 and balmy as if it were in the month of May, and, with 
 a bright sky over his head, Jackson started from Win- 
 chester with his little army of eight thousand five hun- 
 dred men, with five batteries. But the weather, which 
 was so auspicious in the morning, became lowering and 
 threatening as the day advanced, and with the night 
 came a cold rain or sleet, and the balmy air of the 
 morning was exchanged for weather so intensely cold as 
 to be scarcely endurable for either man or beast. To 
 avoid betraying the movement to the enemy, the march 
 was conducted over roads but rarely used, and conse- 
 quently rough and in no order for traveling. Matters 
 grew worse as the march advanced, and the hardships 
 of the troo2:)S moving under a driving sleet or snow over 
 frozen roads were very great, and their sufferings in- 
 tense. Many of the men fell in their tracks, unable to 
 go on. For several nights they slept out under the cold 
 winter skies without blankets or tents. General Jack- 
 son shared all these hardships with his troops, and by 
 his patient endurance encouraged them to bear up and 
 push on. j 
 
 At last, at the end of a three days' hard march, this 
 little band reached Bath, and drove in the enemy's 
 
108 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 pickets on January 3. General Jackson arranged lils 
 forces so as to capture the enemy the next day and enter 
 the town. But here his plan was frusti^ated by the 
 sluggish movements of the troops, and his cavalry 
 dashed into the town just in time to see the enemy 
 escape, leaving behind him all his stores and provisions. 
 Tlie indefatigable Jackson at once ordered a pursuit, 
 and for this purpose divided his force and -sent a body 
 down each of two roads by which the enemy had taken 
 flight for the river. He was soon overtaken on the road 
 leading to Hancock, and his forces driven into that town. 
 The Confederate body moving down the other road also 
 came up with the enemy, but, not pressing the pursuit as 
 closely as they ought to have done, he was allowed to 
 cross the Potomac but little damaged, and to find refuge 
 in Hancock. A Confederate force had been sent by 
 Jackson down a third road leading to the railroad bridge 
 across the Capon, which they were ordered to destroy. 
 This they did, and thus Komney was cut off from Banks, 
 who was in command of a considerable force lower down 
 the river. 
 
 On the morning of the 5th, General Jackson sent 
 Colonel Ashby to summon the town of Hancock to 
 surrender. He was led blindfolded through the streets 
 into the i)resence of the Federal commander. Ashby's 
 heroic deeds had already spread his fame abroad, and, as 
 he was led through the streets, a crowd, curious to catch 
 a glimpse of the dashing cavalryman, followed close 
 after him, and he heard it whispered from mouth to 
 mouth, " That is the famous Ashby !'^ The Federal 
 commander having refused to surrender the town, Gen- 
 eral Jackson cannonaded it and drove the Federal forces 
 out. After this he hurried off on the 7tli towards Rom- 
 
ROMNEY. 109 
 
 ney. Late tliat day, his van-guard falling in with a 
 detachment of the enemy at Hanging Rock, fifteen miles 
 from E-omney, a skirmish took place, in which the Con- 
 federates lost two guns. At this point Jackson was 
 forced to halt to rest his jaded troops, and to have his 
 horses re-shod with rough shoes to enable them to keep 
 their footing on roads covered with ice. This caused a 
 delay of several days, and the march was not resumed 
 until the 13th. 
 
 On the 14th of January, Jackson entered Romney to 
 find the bird flown. Though having a greatly superior 
 force, the Federal commander, on hearing of Jackson's 
 approach with his little band, fled before him on the 14th, 
 and in such haste that he left his tents standing. Had 
 the Confederates come up in time to attack the enemy, 
 they would have rushed into battle with an eagerness 
 and a spirit of revenge never felt by them before, for 
 from Hanging Rock to Romney the country presented 
 a pitiable scene of desolation. The enemy had spread 
 fire and ruin everywhere. Not a house Avas left, and 
 only smoking ruins now marked the spot where they 
 had stood. The peasant's cot and the rich man's man- 
 sion had shared the same fate. The widow and the 
 orphan had been driven out from their homes as the 
 torch was applied to them. Old men w^ere shot down in 
 Avanton crueUy ; and even the domestic animals, horses, 
 mules, sheep, and hogs, were alike butchered. On that 
 dreary march of fifteen miles not one thing was seen 
 moving through fields that had so lately teemed with 
 life and given every mark of the highest rural pros- 
 perity. Now all was ruin and desolation ; the country 
 was like a smoking cliarnel-house, the ashes of burnt 
 houses and the bodies of dead animals being mingled 
 
 10 
 
110 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 together. One scene of ruin following another, the 
 Confederate forces moved on in tliis march, the sad 
 silence being only broken now and then as some scene 
 of ruin more horrible than the preceding came to view, 
 or by some fierce vows of vengeance as a soldier who 
 had come from that section came in sight of the ruins 
 of his once happy home. No wonder that men who had 
 committed such atrocities should be frightened at the 
 approach of the brave soldiers before whom they fled. 
 
 On finding the enemy gone, General Jackson ordered 
 an advance movement to destroy a very important rail- 
 road bridge; but so greatly had his troops been demoral- 
 ized by the hardships of their march, and so averse were 
 they to this move, that he was obliged reluctantly to 
 abandon it. 
 
 Leaving General Loring with three brigades and thir- 
 teen pieces of artillery at Komney, where he had made 
 all necessary arrangements for his defense should he be 
 attacked, General Jackson returned to Winchester on 
 the 24th of January, taking with him the Stonewall 
 Brigade, that he might be in readiness for any move of 
 Banks. 
 
 On this expedition General Jackson had had much to 
 contend with in the disaffection among both the officers 
 and men of Loring's command, but his unbending au- 
 thority and iron will had held it all in check, and in the 
 face of almost every kind of obstacle he had succeeded 
 with a handful of men in driving the enemy from each 
 of his positions which he attacked, and in chasing him 
 from a district in which he had been a scourge to the 
 unhappy people placed in his power. Having accom- 
 plished all this with but \\ii\Q or no aid from the Gov- 
 ernment, he was astounded by the receipt of the following 
 
ROMNET. Ill 
 
 telegram from the Secretary of War on the 31st of 
 January : 
 
 " Our news indicates that a movement is making to 
 cut off General Loring's command ; order him back to 
 Winchester immediately." 
 
 Jackson was too good a soldier to hesitate in carrying 
 out this order, but too independent a man to retain a 
 position where he would be responsible for success or 
 failure and yet be liable to have his plans and arrange- 
 ments for a campaign interfered with by orders sent from 
 the remote office of an official who could not judge of 
 what should or should not be done, and he accordingly 
 wrote at once to the Secretary of War as follows : 
 
 " Headquarters Valley District, 
 " January 31, 1862. 
 
 " Hon. J. P. Benjamin, Secretary of War. 
 
 ^'SiR, — Your order requiring me to direct General 
 Loring to return with his command to Winchester im- 
 mediately has been received and promptly complied 
 with. 
 
 " AVith such interference in my command I cannot 
 expect to be of much service in the field, and accordingly 
 respectfully request to be ordered to report for duty to 
 the Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute 
 at Lexington, as has been done in the case of other 
 professors. Should this application not be granted, I 
 respectfully request that the President will accept my 
 resignation from the army. 
 
 ^' Respectfully, etc., your obedient servant, 
 
 "T. J. Jackson.'' 
 
 When it became known that Jackson had resigned, 
 
112 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 he was besieged by letters and entreaties to withdraw 
 his resignation, from persons of all ranks in public and 
 private life, which showed plainly the hold he already 
 had on the hearts and imagination of his countrymen. 
 The Governor wrote a letter to him begging him to re- 
 consider, and sent one of the most influential men of the 
 State as a special messenger to urge him to withdraw his 
 resignation. But Jackson was firm. In his reply to 
 the Governor's letter he wrote, "The order was given 
 without consulting me ; it is abandoning to the enemy 
 what has cost nuich preparation, expense, and exposure 
 to secure ; it is in direct conflict with my military plans ; 
 it implies a want of confidence in my capacity to judge 
 when General Loring's troops should fall back ; and it 
 is an attempt to control military operations in detail from 
 the Secretary's desk at a distance." 
 
 He remained inexorable until he heard that the Gov- 
 ernor had withdrawn his letter of resie^nation in the 
 name of Virginia, and a few days later received as- 
 surances that the Government did not intend to interfere 
 with his military plans. 
 
 During this period of trial to him, Jackson preserved 
 his calm outward demeanor, and went frequently to dine 
 with a friend in Winchester whose young family afforded 
 him the pleasure he always enjoyed in playing with 
 children. Only once did he give vent to his feelings, 
 and then it was in an outburst of passion which awed 
 and impressed those around him, as he strode up and 
 down the room and expressed all he had suffered in 
 having his plans destroyed. 
 
CHAPTEE YIII. 
 
 KERNSTOWN. 
 
 The first two or three months of the year 1862 were 
 marked by a succession of disasters to the Confederate 
 arms which plunged the whole South into gloom and 
 depression. The first of these disasters was the loss of 
 the battle of Somerset, in Kentucky. In this battle fell 
 the noble-hearted Zollicoffer, who was so beloved by his 
 troops that their grief and terror at his death cost them 
 the victory which his skill and courage had almost com- 
 pletely secured. The defeat at Somerset was followed by 
 that off the North Carolina coast, on Koanoke Island, 
 in which a handful of Confederate troops were utterly 
 overpowered by a superior Federal force. This defeat, 
 which occurred on the 8th of February, was one of the 
 causes which later led to the evacuation of Norfolk. 
 Again, in Kentucky, one disaster followed quickly upon 
 the heels of another during this month of February. 
 The noble Albert Sidney Johnston was making there 
 the most heroic efforts to organize a force sufficiently 
 large to cope with the thousands which the Northwestern 
 States were pouring down the Mississippi, and which 
 were destined, for the most part, for Kentucky and Ten- 
 nessee. This skillful general was indeed one of the 
 lofty spirits of the earth, for while he worked day after 
 day with indefatigable energy and unflagging ardor, 
 resting at night on a bundle of straw, as did his lowest 
 
 10* 113 
 
114 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 soldiers, an impatient and ignorant country was taunting 
 him with sluiririshness and want of skill. Yet so earnest 
 was he in his efforts, so devoted in his patriotism, that 
 he received these reproaches as part of the trials which 
 a soldier must expect in discharging the duties of his 
 profession. " I observed silence, as it seemed to be the 
 best way to serve the cause and the country," he nobly 
 wrote in a letter to President Davis, — a calm, manly, but 
 touching letter, which was read by many of his country- 
 men after his death with tears. 
 
 To prevent the Federal forces from penetrating to the 
 heart of the country included in his command, it was 
 necessary for Johnston to keep them out of the Missis- 
 sippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers. To do this 
 he attempted to close the Mississijipi by batteries at Co- 
 lumbus, the Tennessee by Fort Henry, and the Cumber- 
 land by Fort Don el son. Fort Henry was attacked on 
 the 6th of February, and surrendered after a defense of 
 but little more than an hour. On the 15th of the same 
 month Fort Donelson, after a heroic resistance, fell, 
 many Confederate soldiers being captured with it. After 
 the fall of these two forts came the necessary evacuation 
 of Columbus, followed by that of Nashville and Mem- 
 phis. Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and Beauregard, 
 who had been sent to join his command, were thus forced 
 to fall back and assume a line of defense south of the 
 Tennessee River. 
 
 So much for affairs in the West. In A^irginia they 
 were but little more promising. 
 
 ^IcClellan, we have seen, was commanding and di- 
 recting the movements of the troops in front of John- 
 ston at Manassas. He was now just completing the 
 oro-anization of the immense force — over two hundred 
 
KERNS TO ]VN. 1 ] 5 
 
 thousand men — with which he expected to overcome the 
 thinned Confederate ranks and capture Richmond at 
 an early day. 
 
 General Johnston, with a greatly inferior force, had 
 to defend a long line extending from Evansport on the 
 Potomac, on his right, to Winchester, beyond the Blue 
 Ridge, on his left. Thus Jackson's little force held the 
 extreme left of this line. A strong force was ascending 
 the Peninsula from Fortress Monroe, and was only kept 
 in check by the audacity of General Magruder. This 
 dashing officer, by hurrying his little force from one 
 point to another, appearing first at one place and then 
 at another, and always ready for a fight, confounded the 
 Federal commanders by his boldness, and made them 
 think by this skillful handling of his troops that his 
 force was four times as numerous as it really was. 
 
 While the odds were thus fearfully against the Con- 
 federates on land, the Federal Government was sending 
 out from its ports immense armaments to ascend the 
 navigable streams and throw invading armies into the 
 very heart of the country. The North had the whole 
 world open to her. The eagerness of her peoi)le to in- 
 vade the South threw open to her Government inexhaust- 
 ible wealth with which to get men and material to equip 
 and sustain immense armies and extensive navies. The 
 South, on the other hand, being shut out from the rest 
 of the world, had to look to her own resources for help. 
 Her people, brave and high-spirited, patient and enduringi 
 under toil, hardship, and suffering, were yet impatient 
 under that restraint so necessary for the discipline of an 
 efficient army. The most domestic people in the world, 
 loving their homes with a love rarely surpassed, it re- 
 quired the greatest self-denial and sacrifice on their part 
 
116 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 to lie idle In camp. Hence the difficulty of retaining 
 the men in hand after a battle, and the consequent im- 
 possibility of reaping the full benefit of a victory. With 
 such material for armies, and with limited resources and 
 blockaded ports, it behooved the rulers of the South to 
 push the war vigorously forward. But they failed to 
 seize the propitious moment of their early success, when 
 the Southern people, animated by the loftiest spirit of 
 liberty and devotion to country which ever swelled the 
 breast of man, and flushed with victory, would have 
 rushed into battle with an elan which few armies could 
 resist. The precious time employed by the Federal 
 authorities in organizing immense forces was spent in 
 listless inactivity by those of the South. The inferior 
 forces that she already had were rapidly melting away. 
 No steps had been taken for the re-enlistment of the 
 men, most of whom had enlisted for only a year, and 
 they insisted on returning home, if only for a short 
 visit ; there seemed every probability of the whole army 
 being disorganized. It was this condition of affairs, 
 even more than the actual reverses to Confederate arms, 
 which made the situation of the South seem most ap- 
 palling. 
 
 When it became evident that General Johnston had 
 to fall back from IManassas, it also became evident that 
 his retreat would have to be accomplished with thinned 
 if not disorganized ranks; for, by an almost fatal law of 
 the Confederate Congress, the old officers in the army 
 were on the eve of being dropped and new ones elected 
 by the soldiers, and this in the face of a greatly superior 
 force and one enjoying every advantage botli in numbers 
 and in equipments. No wonder that men's hearts sank 
 ^\it]lin them wlien they thought of the coming cam- 
 
KERNSTOWN. 117 
 
 paign, and no wonder tliat they trusted as earnestly as 
 they did to Providence alone to crown a just cause with 
 success. 
 
 But, amid all this gloom and depression, where was 
 Jackson? At Winchester, undaunted and unshaken; 
 heading a forlorn hope as it were, and defying with six 
 thousand men the united forces of Lander and Banks, 
 — consisting of forty-six thousand men, — one thirty-five 
 miles north of him, and the other at Harper's Ferry. 
 He had orders from General Johnston by no means to 
 allow the enemy to ascend the Yalley and, slipping 
 through one of the gaps in the Blue Ridge, fall upon 
 his flank on his retreat from Manassas. He was to 
 handle his faithful little band of veterans in such a 
 manner as to keep the enemy in the Yalley. This was 
 the task set before him; and most nobly and heroically 
 did he accomplish it. 
 
 As Jackson had foreseen, on the retreat of Loring 
 from Eomney the Federal forces pressed forward, and 
 advanced so far as again to threaten the rear of Colonel 
 Edward Johnson's command. This forced him to fall 
 back, and he withdrew his force to Shenandoah Moun- 
 tain, within twenty-five miles of Staunton. Winchester 
 was now threatened on all sides, and, to make matters 
 worse for Jackson, Loring being ordered to another 
 command, part of his troops were sent east of the Blue 
 Ridge, and thus at the moment of the most imminent 
 danger Jackson's force was cut down to six thousand 
 men. But he was so far from despairing that he boldly 
 declared that should Lander with his eleven thousand or 
 Banks with his thirty-five thousand men move on him, 
 he would instantly march out and attack him. 
 
 Banks crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry on the 
 
118 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 25tli of February with four thousand men, and early in 
 Marcli liad his licadquarters establislied at Cliarlestown, 
 twenty miles from Winchester. General Shields was 
 now in his command, and these two generals very soon 
 had assembled an army of thirty-six thousand men. 
 
 As Johnston fell back on the eastern side of the Blue 
 Ridge, it became necessary for Jackson to fall back on 
 the western side, but the question was whether he should 
 retire to Front Royal, a village lying at the mouth of 
 tlie Luray Valley, which, as we have seen, stretches for 
 fifty miles between the Massanutten INIountain and the 
 Blue Ridge ; or wliether he should fall back to Stras- 
 burg, which village is situated at the head of the main 
 valley running down to Staunton. In their communi- 
 cations on the subject. General Johnston, while leaving 
 General: Jackson to act as he thought best, was in fav^or 
 of his falling back down the Luray Valley, as he would 
 there be next to the Blue Ridge and in a better position 
 to prevent Banks from crossing that ridge to fall upon 
 his flank than if he retreated down the main valley. 
 But Jackson said that Banks would never cross over the 
 Blue Ridge and leave him in the main valley, while by 
 staying there he would be in a good position to prevent 
 the Central Railroad, leading to Richmond, from being 
 cut at Staunton. He accordingly determined to take the 
 main valley as his line of retreat, and to fall back first 
 to Strasburg. In the mean time, he freed himself of all 
 unnecessary incumbrances and got his little army in 
 light marching order by sending all his sick and stores 
 to Mount Jackson, forty-five miles above AVinchester. 
 This was accomplished by the 11th of ^larch. 
 
 The good people of Winchester saw with dismay the 
 departure from their town of the stores and sick of Jack- 
 
KERNSTOWN. 119 
 
 son's army, for they knew too well that it betokened the 
 withdrawal at no distant day of the army itself, and the 
 relinquishment of their section of the country to the 
 invasion of the Northern troops. Gloom and depression 
 now filled hearts which had lately beat high with hope 
 and patriotic enthusiasm. 
 
 But it was no part of Jackson's plan to leave these 
 loyal people without striking a blow in their defense. 
 His force consisted now of only three Virginia brigades, 
 six batteries of field-artillery, and Colonel Ashby's cav- 
 alry regiment; yet on the 11th of March, when Banks 
 with a force four times as large marched within four 
 miles of Winchester, he did not hesitate to march out 
 of the town with his troops to meet him and offer 
 him battle. This the Federal commander declined, 
 and Jackson, after thus flaunting the Confederate colors 
 in his face, led his troops back to the town. But, still 
 eager for a fight, he was in no wise discouraged by 
 this failure to force one from the enemy, and he con- 
 ceived the bold idea of becoming the attacking party 
 himself. His plan was to allow his men time to re- 
 fresh themselves after the morning's march, and to lead 
 them back under cover of the night to the enemy's 
 front, and, having silently arranged his forces for the 
 attack, to fall unexpectedly upon him before dawn of 
 day on the 12th. This attack he was the more anxious 
 to make as Shields had not yet joined Banks with his 
 reinforcements. He summoned to a council of war the 
 commander and the colonels of the Stonewall Brigade to 
 lay his plan before them. In the mean time, while they 
 were assembling, he went, all booted and spurred, with 
 his haversack swung across his shoulders and ready for 
 the march, to the house of a friend whose hospitality he 
 
120 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 had frequently enjoyed while Winchester was his head- 
 quarters. He found his friend and his family oppressed 
 by the gloom which overspread the whole town. His 
 countenance radiant with hope, his eyes flashing with 
 the fire of genius and patriotic devotion, full-armed and 
 ready for the fray he appeared in their midst, his whole 
 bearing breathing the spirit of a war-god. His cheering 
 words and hopeful predictions that all would yet be 
 well soon dispelled the gloom which had settled on this 
 family circle, and after supping with them he asked his 
 host to have family prayers as usual, after which, having 
 first requested to have his haversack filled, he bade them 
 good-night, saying that he would perhaps return the 
 next day to dinner. The family, doubtless to share 
 with a neighbor the hopes with which his visit had 
 cheered them, went out to make a call. In an hour, 
 with anxious looks and rapid steps, Jackson returned. 
 The servant who answered his loud ring at the bell was 
 told to ask his master to come at once to his headquar- 
 ters. The gentleman on going there found Jackson 
 i:)acing his room in great agitation, and he quickly 
 learned from him the cause. He told him of his plan 
 of attack on the enemy, and that on laying it before his 
 officers they had disapproved of it, saying that the men, 
 already wearied with the ten miles' marching to and fro 
 of the day, were in no condition to make the march 
 back to the enemy's front and then fight a battle, and 
 that, in addition to this, the chance that the enemy's re- 
 inforcements might come up at a critical time during 
 the fight made the plan too hazardous to be undertaken. 
 Jackson then in rapidly-spoken words was revealing to 
 his friend, as he continued to pace the room, his deep 
 disappointment and the anguish it cost him to be forced 
 
KERNSTOWN. 121 
 
 to leave Winchester without striking a blow, when, stop- 
 ping suddenly, with his head thrown back and the light 
 falling full upon his countenance, which again became 
 animated with an expression of hope, he grasped the 
 hilt of his sword, and said, in the slow tones of des- 
 perate determination, " But — let me think — can I not 
 vet carry my plan into execution ?'' During the mo- 
 mentary pause which followed, his friend, who was 
 unused to seeing him with his battle-look upon him, 
 trembled, as he afterwards confessed, before the fire 
 which now glared from his eyes, as, peering into space, 
 he vainly sought some expedient to avoid a speedy re- 
 treat. The next moment the loftily-raised head dropped, 
 and to his fiery looks succeeded those of regret, as he 
 said, sadly, "No, I must not do it; it may cost the 
 lives of too many brave men. I must retreat, and wait 
 for a better time." 
 
 Jackson, after thus giving way for a moment to the 
 feelings which agitated him, recovered his usual calm- 
 ness, and proposed to return with his friend and bid 
 adieu to his family. His altered looks revealed too 
 plainly the change in his plans, and his farewell to these 
 kind friends was a sad one, though he expressed the firm 
 hope that a kind Providence would soon enable him to 
 return and free them from the rule of the foe. 
 
 The dawn of the 12th found the Confederate army 
 leaving ^yinchester for Strasburg, instead of attacking 
 the Federals, as its general had fondly hoped to do. 
 When General Banks found that he had now no foe to 
 dread, he entered Winchester slowly at nine o'clock the 
 same morning. The Confederate force had been so care- 
 fully withdrawn that he did not make a single capture, 
 though Colonel Ashby withdrew his troops deliberately 
 F 11 
 
122 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 before his advance, and did not himself leave the town 
 until the enemy ^Yere close at hand, Avhen, giving a part- 
 ing shont of defiance, he turned his horse's head and 
 dashed after his bold troopers. General Shields, with 
 his part of the Federal forces, did not reach Winchester 
 until the afternoon of the 12th. General Banks, having 
 occupied AVinchester, and having no fear of Jackson's 
 returning, left Shields in command of his army, and 
 returned to Washington, fondly hoping that his troops 
 could be sent across the Blue Ridge to fall on John- 
 ston's flank, or at least that he would hear no more 
 from Jackson until he should advance to beat him up 
 himself. 
 
 The night of the 12th found Jackson and his little 
 army at Strasburg, twenty miles from Winchester. Re- 
 tiring slowly up the Yalley, he arrived at Mount Jack- 
 son on the 17th, where he halted. Tw^o days after 
 reaching this place, he received a dispatch from General 
 Johnston, dated the 19th. That commander w^as just at 
 the most critical point of his withdrawal from before 
 McClellan, who, w^ith his immensely superior force, was 
 trying to cut him off, and for this purpose had already 
 issued orders calling the troops of Banks across the 
 Blue Ridge to attack Johnston's left. The latter gen- 
 eral in his dispatch to Jackson urged upon him the 
 importance of keeping the enemy in the Yalley and aAvay 
 from him, and for this purpose ordered Jackson to march 
 back down the Valley and hang as closely upon the 
 enemy as he could without risking the capture or de- 
 struction of his little army. The Federals had already 
 begun their march from the Valley to INIanassas, and 
 were moving in the direction of Snicker's Gap, where 
 they were to cross the Blue Ridge. 
 
KERNSTOWN. 123 
 
 The morning of the third day after this dispatch was 
 recdved found the indefatigable Jackson again on the 
 road and leading his little army back on the line of his 
 late retreat. A rapid and hard day's march of twenty- 
 six miles brought him on the night of that day, March 
 22, to Strasburg. Colonel Ashby, who was sent ahead 
 with his cavalry and a light battery, drove the enemy's 
 pickets into Winchester. The movement had been so 
 rapid on the part of the Confederates that they were 
 upon the Federals before they knew anything of their 
 approach. Shields, w ho was in command at Winchester, 
 had most of his troops encamped on the side of the town 
 opposite to that from which Ashby approached. This 
 officer, not seeing many in that neighborhood, and hear- 
 ino; throuo^h his scouts, Avho entered the town secretlv, 
 that many regiments had been sent off in the direction 
 of Snicker's Gap, was deceived as to the true size of 
 their force. He accordingly sent a courier to General 
 Jackson to tell him that there were only four regiments 
 in Winchester, and that they were on the eve of leaving 
 for Harper's Ferry. 
 
 On receiving this intelligence from Ashby, General 
 Jackson determined to push forward, and did so on 
 the morning of the 23d. The enemy, however, hav- 
 ing heard of his approach, drew out all of his forces, 
 which were encamped below the town, and recalled by 
 couriers the troops already on their way to Manassas. 
 Thus, Jackson, on reaching Barton's Mills, five miles 
 distant from Winchester, found Colonel Ashby driven 
 back by the advancing columns of the enemy, and him- 
 self and his little army in an open, rolling country, not 
 offering him any favorable position, and in the presence 
 of troops numbering more than four times as many men 
 
124 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 as be had in liis own command; for, many furloughs 
 having been given to officers and men after the late 
 retreat, when it had been thought a period of repose 
 would follow, and many being either sick or foot-sore 
 after the rapid marches which they had made, the little 
 army was reduced to two thousand seven hundred men, 
 while that of the enemy numbered eleven thousand. 
 
 With no favorable position which he could reach 
 within many miles, and yet too far advanced to retreat 
 in the face of such a superior force without almost cer- 
 tain destruction ; with only a handful of foot-sore and 
 wearied men, half of whose officers were absent, to meet 
 fresli troops so greatly outnumbering them, never was a 
 command in a more perilous situation than Jackson's. 
 But his energy and courage were equal to the emergency. 
 His spirits rose as the dangers of the situation thick- 
 ened around him, and he determined to attack the enemy 
 rather than to await an attack from him. 
 
 Running parallel with the turnpike leading to Win- 
 chester, and west of it, was a wooded ridge. Around 
 the southwestern end of this ridge sweeps the Opequon 
 Creek, which is at that point dammed up to form a mill- 
 pond. The ridge runs in a northeastern direction for 
 two miles, and then slopes down into the plain. On this 
 northeastern slope the enemy rested his right wing, while 
 his I'eft rested upon the little village of Kernstown. As 
 his infantry and artillery were massed on his centre, 
 Jackson saw that an attack made there would be the 
 certain destruction of his little band, and his soldier's 
 eye rested on the northeastern slope of the wooded ridge 
 as the only point at which he should begin the attack. 
 But being prevented by the mill-pond from ascending the 
 ridge at its southwestern end and marcliing along its crest. 
 
KERXSTOWN. 225 
 
 as would have been the safest approach for him, lie was 
 obliged to march his force under fire of the enemy's 
 guns in an oblique direction from the turnpike to the 
 northeastern slope. This movement was executed 
 speedily and in good order. 
 
 It was towards the close of the Sabbath-day— about 
 four o'clock in the afternoon — when the necessary ar- 
 rangements for the attack were completed. Jackson's 
 force — with the exception of a few Marylanders — con- 
 sisted entirely of Virginians. On his right, and front- 
 ing Kernstown, he placed Ashby, with most of his cav- 
 alry, a battery of three guns, and four companies of 
 infantry ; the 5th Virginia fronted the enemy's centre, 
 and a mile to its left were collected the rest of the troops; 
 and there, in an oblique line across and down the western 
 slope of the wooded ridge, was formed the main line of 
 battle. On a hill beyond the meadows at the base of 
 the hill were stationed four companies of cavalry. 
 
 The battle was opened by a brisk cannonade from 
 the Confederate batteries which silenced several of the 
 enemy's. Then the infantry attack was begun by the 
 27th Virginia, and fighting at close quarters was soon 
 raging along the whole line. The Confederate troops 
 engaged were, for the most part, men from the Valley; 
 they were fighting, many of them, in sight of their own 
 homes; and never did men rush into battle with greater 
 enthusiasm or sustain the shock with more heroic valor. 
 Twice did two of the regiments rout their assailants and 
 hold the entire Federal line in check until reinforcements 
 could be brought to them. As regiment after regiment 
 was led into the fight, the tall, commanding figure of 
 General Jackson was seen leading them on, and his voice 
 was heard ringing out in cheers to his men where the 
 
126 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 fire was hottest. The cannonade was raging fiercely, 
 and told the good people of Winchester the fierce combat 
 in which their friends were engaged, and they knew too 
 well the odds that were against them. On the right the 
 gallant Ashby thundered upon the enemy with his three 
 guns, and drove them steadily back. A body of the 
 enemy, moving around, attempted to outflank his position 
 and capture the guns, but the four companies of Virginia 
 infantry, under Ashby, dashed into the woods through 
 which they were advancing, and, cheering enthusiastic- 
 ally, drove them back while the guns were being moved 
 to a safer position. 
 
 On the left the battle still raged Avith unmitigated 
 fury. The enemy, feeling secure in his numbers, led one 
 regiment up after another as they were driven back by 
 the deadly fire of the Ylrginians, wdio three times drove 
 their line down the hill. The Federal officers were seen 
 in the rear of their men, driving them on to the fight 
 Avith the free use of their sabres. The regiments of the 
 two armies fired into each other often at a distance of only 
 a hundred paces. Colonel Fulkerson, who commanded 
 the Third Virginia Brigade, being engaged in a hot con- 
 test with a body of the enemy, perceived a stone fence 
 between himself and the foe. Both adversaries made 
 a rush for it, each hoping to use it as a breastAvork, but 
 the superior dash of the Virginians enabled them to 
 reach it first, when, throwing themselves on their knees 
 behind it, they fired just as the enemy's line was almost 
 at the muzzles of their guns. So deadly was this volley 
 that thiC enemy's line seemed, it is said, almost '4o sink 
 into the earth.'^ Many of their men threw themselves 
 upon their faces to escape the fire, vrhile others tried to 
 crawl back to their lines; but the unerring Virginia 
 
KERXSTO WN. 127 
 
 marksmen picked them off. The regiment which was 
 thus almost annihilated proved to be the 5th Ohio, which 
 more than any other had been engaged in the outrages 
 committed in the country around Romney. 
 
 The Virginians availed themselves of every tree and 
 ravine as a shelter from which to fire upon the enemy. 
 At length the ammunition began to give out, and as 
 each man fired his last round his officer permitted him 
 to go to the rear, until at last the thinned Confederate 
 ranks offered but a shadow of resistance to the fresh 
 troops which were constantly being brought up to attack 
 them. Finally, General Garnett, of the Stonewall Bri- 
 gade, finding his ammunition all gone, and his right 
 wing pierced, took upon himself the responsibility of 
 ordering the retreat of his command without orders 
 from General Jackson. 
 
 The retreat of the whole force now began, and the 
 gallant little band fell back from the well-contested field, 
 each man taking care of himself, and those who were 
 fortunate enough to have a round of ammunition left 
 taking advantage of the shelter afforded by every tree 
 or bush to reload and give- a farewell shot to the foe. 
 
 The retreat began at about nightfall. The two com- 
 panies of Confederate cavalry which Jackson had placed 
 on his extreme left now did good service in keeping 
 the enemy's cavalry in check, and finally put them to 
 flight. On the eastern side of the Opequon, the night 
 found a number of Confederate soldiers between the 
 mill-pond and the enemy, by whom they were captured. 
 The rest of the infantry, broken and shattered, but elated 
 at the glorious stand which they had made against the 
 foe, retreated a few miles that night to Newtown, where, 
 wearied and worn, they halted for the night. General 
 
128 ^>^^^ ^^ GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Jackson, having made good his retreat and gathered his 
 heroic little band around him, begged some food from a 
 party of his soldiers bivouacking around a fire, after 
 partaking of which he threw himself on the ground a 
 little in the rear of his outposts, and was soon lost in 
 profound slumber. 
 
 The gallant Ashby, who had been left to cover the 
 retreat, made a stand a mile in the rear of Barton's 
 Mills, and so annoyed the enemy that he held him in 
 check until ten o'clock the next day. The Federals 
 then, after pursuing Jackson cautiously for a few miles, 
 returned to their quarters. Jackson ordered his medical 
 director to send all his wounded to the rear ; and when 
 his surgeon said, " But that requires time. Can you 
 stay to protect us ?" " Make yourself easy about that," 
 he replied ; " this army stays here until the last wounded 
 man is removed.'' And then, in tones betraying deep 
 feeling, he added, ''Before I will leave them to the enemy 
 I will lose many men more." 
 
 In the mean time, the agony of the people of Win- 
 chester about the result of the battle, and their anxiety 
 to know who had friends among the dead or the 
 wounded, w^ere indescribable. As the Confederate pris- 
 oners taken in the fight passed through the streets, the 
 inhabitants turned out almost en masse, and made their 
 passage through the town lo the depot, where they w^ere 
 to take the cars for Baltimore, almost a triumphal march. 
 When leave was given to the mayor to send out and bury 
 the Confederate dead on the battle-field, persons of all 
 ages and all sexes flocked thither. An eye-witness says 
 of the scene, — 
 
 " This was Tuesday. The fight had taken place on 
 Sunday, and now, on the third day, preparations were 
 
KEBNSTO WX. 
 
 129 
 
 made for the burial of the Confederate killed. Under 
 the directions of the mayor of Winchester, some fifty 
 citizens collected the dead, dug a great pit on the battle- 
 field, and gently laid the poor fellows in their last rest- 
 ing-place. It was a sad sight, and sadder still to see 
 women looking carefully at every corpse to try and iden- 
 tify the bodies of their friends. Scarcely a family in 
 the county but had a relative there; and what torture of 
 anxiety must have been suffered, knowing only that their 
 friends were in the fight, and ignorant whether they were 
 prisoners at Baltimore, suffering in the hospitals, or lying 
 unburied on the sand !'^ 
 
 The attentions lavished by the women of Winchester 
 on the Confederate wounded brought there knew no 
 bounds, and, to their own honor be it said, and that of 
 tlie cause they loved so well, their attentions were not 
 withheld from the enemy's wounded. 
 
 Such was the glorious little battle of Kernstown, than 
 which there was no nob'er fight during the war. Gen- 
 eral Jackson himself said of the gallant men in it that 
 each man acted the part of a hero. The losses by the 
 fight were two guns, three or four caissons, and in killed, 
 wounded, and captured a little over seven hundred men, 
 or more than one-fourth of the force engaged, while the 
 enemy's losses, perhaps, were fully equal to the whole 
 number of men that Jackson had in the fight. 
 
 But, whatever were the losses on Jackson's side, this 
 battle secured for him what he had made the move to 
 get, namely, the recall of the troops sent to join those 
 under McClellan, and gave the enemy a proof of Vir- 
 ginian valor which he could not soon forjret. 
 
 On the 1st of April, Jackson fell back leisurely five 
 miles from Xew Market to a hill called Eeede's Hill, 
 
130 I-JPE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 where, taking position, he began to reorganize and re- 
 crnit his force. Banks soon followed him, and, taking 
 position on the opposite range of hills, cannonaded the 
 Confederates, without doing them any harm. 
 
 Ashby's fame was now so great that his name had 
 become a watchword in the Valley, and so many recruits 
 were added to his cavalry companies that they numbered 
 two thousand men. But this body of men, which might 
 have been such a powerful addition to General Jackson's 
 force, was hardly of any use except as scouts, or for a 
 raid. Their gallant commander had no talent for organ- 
 ization, and there was so little discipline among them 
 that they could never be held well in hand and ready to 
 strike a decisive blow. This state of affairs was ren- 
 dered still worse by the Government making the cavalry 
 in the Valley an independent command under Ashby, 
 who was thus, with the exception of a major, the only 
 field-officer of a regiment which contained eleven com- 
 panies of cavalry. Ashby — a man of singular purity 
 and amiability of character, brave and generous to a 
 fault — had a greater reputation for military talent than 
 he was able to support. His dash and coolness, and the 
 enthusiasm with which he inspired his men, made him 
 invaluable as the leader of a charge, or to make a bold 
 front in covering the retreat of a column. But his 
 discipline was too lax for him to have his command 
 always well in hand; and hence the inefficiency of the 
 cavalry attached to General Jackson's little army. 
 
 Jackson having received a small reinforcement, and 
 his men and officers who were on furlough returning, he 
 now had, including Ash by 's force, eleven thousand men. 
 
 After the battle of Kernstown, he wrote to Mrs. 
 Jackson, March 24, — 
 
KERKSTO IVN. 
 
 131 
 
 " Our God was my shield. His protecting care is an 
 additional cause for gratitude. . . . My little army is 
 in excellent spirits ; it feels that it inflicted a severe 
 blow on the enemy.'^ 
 
 And again, on April 7, — 
 
 "Our gallant little army is increasing in numbers, 
 and my prayer is that it may be an army of the living 
 God as well as of its country. Yesterday was a lovely 
 Sabbath-day. Though I had not the privilege of hear- 
 ing the w^ord of life, yet it felt like a holy Sabbath-day, 
 beautiful, serene, holy, and lovely. All it w^anted was 
 the church-bell and God's services in the sanctuary to 
 make it complete. . . . After God, our God, again blesses 
 us with peace, I hope to visit this country with you 
 and enjoy its beauty and loveliness.'' 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 WINCHESTER. 
 
 By the middle of April a general change was made in 
 the disposition of troops on both sides. General McClel- 
 lan, with a single eye to the good of his country, and with 
 consummate ability, had perfected early in the spring 
 the organization of the magnificent army with which he 
 was so soon to take the field. His plan was to move 
 on Richmond up the peninsula between the York and 
 James Rivers; and for this purpose he left eighteen 
 thousand men at Manassas, and embarked with the rest 
 of his army for Fortress Monroe. So perfect was the 
 organization of this immense force that he handled over 
 a hundred thousand men with the same ease that he 
 would have moved a regiment. The embarkation of his 
 troops began on the 17th of March, at Alexandria, where 
 he had assembled four hundred vessels of all kinds to 
 take them down to Fortress Monroe. By the 6th of 
 April he had landed on the Peninsula one hundred and 
 nine thousand four hundred and nineteen men, fourteen 
 thousand five hundred and ninety-two animals, forty- 
 four batteries, and all the material for such an army, 
 having lost in the embarkation only eight mules drowned, 
 and nine caissons that had been crushed. But, magnifi- 
 cent as this army was, it fell far short in numbers of 
 what he had intended it to be. Yielding to IMr. Lin- 
 coln's timidity, which was kept alive by the constant 
 132 
 
WINCHESTER. I33 
 
 representations of the exposed condition in which Wash- 
 ington would be left, made to him by McClellan's rivals 
 and enemies, the young commander-in-chief reduced his 
 force to its minimum to leave a strong guard of eighteen 
 thousand men at Manassas, where they were to face the 
 deserted camps of a departed foe. In the works around 
 Washington he had left a strong garrison, and other 
 divisions, as we shall see, were strung out in a line 
 reaching to the Alleghanies. Patiently submitting to 
 the useless withdrawal of so much material from his 
 army, McClellan left for Fortress Monroe on the 1st of 
 April, with the promise from Mr. Lincoln that all the 
 remaining forces waiting for transportation at Alexandria 
 should be sent after. His disappointment, then, was great 
 and bitter when it was announced to him that McDowell's 
 corps, the finest of his army, being thirty-eight thousand 
 strong and splendidly equipped, would not be allowed 
 to embark ; and this announcement was followed by a 
 short note from Mr. Lincoln simply stating that this 
 corps had been withdrawn from his command. Later 
 McDowell was sent to Fredericksburg, and there con- 
 fronted the Confederate general Anderson. 
 
 Upon the Rappahannock was stationed a division of 
 the Confederates under General Ewell, to check any 
 advance of the Federals on the Orange and Alexandria 
 Railroad. 
 
 West of the Blue Ridge was Jackson, with eleven 
 thousand men, at Reede's Hill. Banks confronted him 
 with tAventy-five thousand men, and a reserve at Stras- 
 burg of eleven thousand. He had orders from McClel- 
 lan to push on and capture Staunton as soon as he could 
 make an advance. Twenty miles west of Staunton, Gen- 
 eral Edward Johnson was strongly posted at Shenandoah 
 
 12 
 
134 I-JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Mountain with six regiments. In front of him stood 
 the Federal general Milroy, who Avas backed by a force 
 under General Schenck in the Yalley of the South 
 Branch of the Potomac. The two last-named generals 
 were acting under General Fremont, who was organ- 
 izing a large force in Northwestern Virginia at Wheel- 
 ing. So stood the different commands of the two armies 
 on both sides of the Blue Ridge. 
 
 Johnston having left Manassas, there was now no need 
 for Jackson to watch the mountain-gaps through which 
 the Federals might slip ; and, not expecting any sudden 
 call from Johnston to join him, he was enabled to be 
 freer and more independent in his movements. 
 
 By the 17th of April the fords of the North Fork of 
 the Shenandoah, which lay between Jackson and Banks, 
 were so far passable as to make it unsafe for the former 
 to remain with his small force so close to an enemy 
 superior to him in everything but valor. He therefore 
 gave orders for his little band to strike their tent-pins. 
 Leaving Reede's Hill on the 17th, he reached Harrison- 
 burg after a leisurely march of two days. General Banks 
 in the mean while pursuing him so slowly as to prove 
 that he dreaded nothing more than to overtake him. At 
 Harrisonburg Jackson turned to the east, and, crossing 
 the southern end of Massanutten Mountain, left the road 
 open before his adversary, and no obstacle between him 
 and Staunton. But he dared not continue his march to 
 that place, for fear of Jackson falling in some unexpected 
 way on his rear. Jackson continued his march, and, 
 having crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah, 
 halted at last in Swift Run Gap. 
 
 In that gap he rested for a fortnight, and during that 
 time corresponded with General Lee as to the plans for 
 
WINCHES TEE . 135 
 
 the movements in the Valley. General Lee leaving him 
 to act as he thought best, he suggested and adopted tlie 
 following plan. General Ewell should be called with his 
 force to Swift Run Gap, and there remain, while Jackson 
 going to Staunton should from there move on Shen- 
 andoah Mountain and join General Edward Johnson. 
 They would then capture or put to flight Milroy, and 
 with their united forces return to join Ewell. The 
 three combined would then clear the Valley of Banks 
 and his forces. 
 
 General Ewell was accordingly ordered to Swift Run 
 Gap, which he entered on the afternoon of the 30th of 
 April, just after Jackson had moved out. EwelPs force 
 consisted of eight thousand picked men. They were 
 filled with all the impatience for active service which 
 is felt by troops in fine condition and good heart who 
 have been long lying idle in camp ; they were therefore 
 eager for the fray. 
 
 Jackson, since his departure from Harrisonburg, had 
 been lost to Banks, who on the 20th telegraphed to 
 McClellan that Jackson's "flight from the Valley" 
 had been confirmed by scouts, and it was believed he had 
 gone by the mountain road to Gordonsville. Jackson, 
 wishing to conceal his march to Staunton, and to mystify 
 the Federal commander still more as to his movements, 
 did not march directly across the South Fork of the 
 Shenandoah to Staunton. He moved quietly up the 
 eastern bank of that little stream until he reached the 
 small village of Port Republic, when, facing to the east, 
 he ascended the Blue Ridge, and, passing through 
 Brown's Gap, dropped unexpectedly with his command 
 down into Albemarle County. He then moved rapidly 
 southward for a few miles along the eastern base of the 
 
136 ^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Blue Ridge until he reached the Central Railroad. Here 
 his troops were placed on trains and taken to Staunton. 
 In the march from the Valley into Albemarle, before 
 reaching the western slope of the Blue Ridge, the little 
 army had to cross a broad plain. The incessant rains 
 had rendered the roads traversing these flats almost im- 
 passable, and so great was the difficulty of moving the 
 wagons across these beds of mud — for they were nothing 
 more — that to a less determined and energetic com- 
 mander it would have been an insurmountable obstacle. 
 For a day and a half the wagons were floundering along 
 through the mud, and before they could be moved the 
 roads had sometimes to be paved. In this laborious 
 work no one took a more active part than Jackson him- 
 self. His uniform was bespattered with mud, as in his 
 eagerness to push the work forward he carried timber 
 and stones on his shoulders. After the last wagon had 
 crossed the muddy level and struck the firm stony roads 
 of the mountain-sides the troops had no further hin- 
 derance in their circuitous march to Staunton. 
 
 If an angel had dropped down in their midst, the good 
 people of Staunton could not have been more astonished 
 or delighted than they were by General Jackson's ar- 
 rival. Like Banks, they thought he had withdrawn 
 from the Valley and left them to fall into the hands of 
 the enemy. The rumor of his evacuation of the Valley 
 had even reached the Confederate commander at Shen- 
 andoah. The officer in command during a temporary 
 absence of General Johnson thought it necessary to 
 fall back before an enemy who was already sorely 
 pressing him. He accordingly retreated to West View, 
 a point within six miles of Staunton. Jackson, hearing 
 of this move on his arrival at Staunton, was impatient 
 
WINCHESTER. 1 37 
 
 to join Johnson's command, which he successfully ac- 
 complished. 
 
 He allowed his troops one day's rest, and on Wednes- 
 day, the 7th of May, the army marched forward to attack 
 the Federal forces under Milroy. A march of a few 
 miles brought the hostile armies face to face. A slight 
 collision occurred, and the enemy fell back before the 
 Confederate advance. He abandoned the position on 
 Shenandoah Mountain, and continued to retreat to the 
 village of McDowell. The Confederates slept that night 
 upon the sides of Shenandoah Mountain, and early the 
 next morning resumed their march and began to ascend 
 Bull Pasture Mountain, beyond which the enemy lay. 
 This mountain spreads out on its summit into a breadth 
 of two miles, which is studded by steep, precipitous hills. 
 The two Confederate generals rode ahead of the troops, 
 and, ascending this mountain, viewed the enemy's posi- 
 tion from its summit. Jackson's eye discovered a point 
 in the enemy's rear by gaining possession of which he 
 could cut off his retreat and make good his capture. 
 He accordingly gave orders for the artillery to be 
 moved forward to that point, and declined to have any 
 of it brought up on the summit of the mountain, from 
 whence he was making his observations. Not expecting 
 any engagement that day, he dismissed most of his 
 staff. 
 
 Milroy, however, having been reinforced by the ar- 
 rival of General Schenck with three thousand men, de- 
 termined to attack the Confederates and drive them from 
 their strong position. The engagement began at four 
 o'clock in the afternoon, and raged furiously until eight, 
 when the enemy, having been unable to make any im- 
 pression on the Confederates, ceased firing. In this fight 
 
 11- 
 
138 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 the Confederates used no artillery. They lost in killed 
 and wounded four hundred and sixty men. 
 
 The troops behaved with great gallantry, the 12th 
 Georgia being conspicuous for the daring bravery of its 
 men and officers. At one time dnring the fight they 
 stood on the crest of a hill, and their figures, being 
 thrown out in bold relief against the sky, offered good 
 marks to the enemy, who poured their fire mercilessly 
 into their ranks. Order after order was given by their 
 officers for them to retire beloAv the crest of the hill, but 
 they obstinately refused to yield an inch. At length one 
 of the officers succeeded in forcing back one wing of the 
 regiment; but as he moved along the line to force the 
 whole of it back, this wing swung back into its former 
 position, and was as nuich exposed as ever. The losses 
 in this regiment were more than one-third of the whole 
 loss sustained in the fight. 
 
 By nine o'clock that night the men, wearied by their 
 march and fight, began to bivouack and to seek that re- 
 pose so sweet to the wearied soldier. Jackson did not 
 leave the field until the last wounded man had been re- 
 moved. Having gazed long down the valley leading to 
 McDowell, and watched the enemy's camp-fires in a full 
 blaze of light, he at last retired to his headquarters an 
 hour after midnight, and threw himself on a bed. He 
 was so overcome by fatigue that, though he had eaten 
 nothing since morning, he exclaimed, "I want nothing, 
 — nothing but sleep," when his servant offered him food. 
 
 By early dawn he was again in the saddle, and the first 
 thing which greeted his sight was the smoking ruins of 
 Milroy's stores and provisions. That general, becoming 
 alarmed at the repulse he had met, had quietly Avith- 
 drawu his forces in the night, and was in full retreat. 
 
WINCHESTER. ]39 
 
 His plan was to move west for a few miles, and then 
 turn north and march down the valley of the South 
 Branch of the Potomac towards Franklin and Romney, 
 in the hope of meeting Fremont with his forces. 
 
 As soon as he found that the bird was flown, Jack- 
 son determined to give him chase; but before he left he 
 sent to Eichmond the following simple announcement 
 of his victory : 
 
 "God blessed our arms with victory at McDowell 
 yesterday." 
 
 The army was collected in the valley leading Avest 
 from McDowell, and the pursuit began. All the moun- 
 tain-passes on the east through which Banks might send 
 aid to the flying foe were obstructed, and the people of 
 the country were exhorted to cut the bridges in front of 
 him, and to do everything to obstruct his path. Milroy 
 was soon so hard pressed by the Confederates that his rear- 
 guard had to turn and make a stand. General Jackson 
 saw this with delight, and immediately gave orders for 
 a battle ; but before they could be executed the enemy 
 was again on the wing. He was now pressed so hard 
 by his eager pursuers that to impede their march and 
 conceal his own movement he fell upon the expedient of 
 setting fire to the woods. It proved a most fortunate 
 thing for him, for the country was soon so overclouded 
 with smoke that the pursuing army could not see whither 
 they were going nor what forces might be hanging unseen 
 on their flanks. But still ih^ cry was "Forward!" and 
 the line of skirmishers on each side of the road pushed 
 their way through the smoking forests, closely followed 
 by the army. Jackson himself, in his eagerness to catch 
 the enemy, was at times far ahead of his command. 
 Finally, seeing that he could not gain upon him at all. 
 
140 I-JPF- OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 and having driven him into the village of Franklin, by 
 Sunday night he determined to abandon the pursuit and 
 return to the Valley, whence he hoped to drive Banks. 
 He had, moreover, received a message from General Lee 
 calling him to him. 
 
 Before beginning his march on his return, he allowed 
 his soldiers to rest for half a day on Monday, and issued 
 the following order : 
 
 ' ^'Soldiers of the Army of the Valley and Northwest, 
 — I congratulate you on your recent victory at McDow- 
 ell. I request you to unite with me this morning in 
 thanksgiving to Almighty God for thus having crowned 
 your arms with success, and in praying that He will con- 
 tinue to lead you on from victory to victory, until our 
 independence shall be established, and make us that 
 people whose God is the Lord. 
 
 " The chaplains will hold divine service at ten o'clock 
 A.M. this day, in their respective regiments.'' 
 
 The early rays of the morning sun found the men re- 
 posing in cool pastures covered with the richest verdure 
 of spring, and the heavy dews of morning had scarcely 
 disappeared before their voices were heard singing hymns 
 of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord of Hosts and 
 God of Battles. The last sounds of these had scarcely 
 died away when the order was given to march, and, the 
 little army getting into motion, the picturesque scenes of 
 these mountains were once more left to silence and soli- 
 tude. The command reached ^IcDowell on Wednesday. 
 As soon as Jackson abandoned the pursuit of ^lilroy he 
 had sent a courier to General Ewell to inform him that 
 he was on his way back. 
 
 While Milroy and his army were thus being chased 
 like a fleck of frightened sheep through the mountains 
 
WINCHESTER. -j^l 
 
 of Virginia, where was Banks? When he discovered 
 that Ewell was occupying Swift Kun Gap, and that 
 Jackson was gone, no one knew whither, filled with 
 alarm lest some mysterious move was designed on him, 
 he determined to save himself by flight. With his 
 twenty thousand men— more than Jackson and Ewell 
 had together— he beat a retreat, and fell back from 
 Harrisonburg to Strasburg, closely pursued by Ashby 
 and his dashing troopers, leaving, however, in the neigh- 
 borhood of New Market a heavy rear-guard. 
 
 When this unlucky general heard of Milroy's retreat, 
 he hurried off to his assistance with Blenker's division,' 
 which reached him just too late to be of any use. By 
 another fatal mistake, he sent his two best brigades— 
 Shields's and KimbalFs, which together contained seven 
 thousand men— across the Blue Eidge to join the Fed- 
 eral forces on the Rappahannock. This was particularly 
 unfortunate for him, as Shields held the Xew Market Gap 
 in Massanutten Mountain, the only pass from the Great 
 Valley into the Luray Valley, which lies between Mas- 
 sanutten Mountain and the BJue Eidge. At the moment, 
 then, when Jackson was about to pounce upon him like 
 an eagle on his prey, his forces were scattered, and by the 
 evacuation of New Market Gap he left the Confederate 
 chief free to attack him in front and on his flank. 
 
 Ewell had just received the message from Jackson 
 telling him to hold himself in readiness to join him at 
 Harrisonburg and with their united forces move upon 
 thQ enemy, when an order came from the commander- 
 in-chief calling him with his force back to Gordons- 
 ville. Knowing what a blow this would be to Jackson, 
 destroying, as it would do, his plans, he determined to 
 have an interview with him before obeying the order. 
 
142 I-^FE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 He therefore mounted his horse, and, setting out without 
 an escort, rode night and day until he reached Mossy 
 Creek, where he found Jackson on Sunday, the 18th of 
 May. He told him of the order he had received, and the 
 grief it gave him to be compelled to w^ithdraw his force 
 at a time when, of all others, it would be most useful 
 and necessary to him. As Jackson listened, the vision of 
 the brilliant moves and splendid successes wdiich he had 
 planned vanished, but, with characteristic resignation, 
 and casting no blame upon any one, he said, sadly, 
 " Then Providence denies me the privilege of striking 
 a decisive blow for my country, and I must be satisfied 
 with the humble task of hiding my little army among 
 these mountains to watch a superior force." Ewell, see- 
 ing how keenly he felt the disappointment, said that if 
 Jackson, as liis ranking officer, would take the responsi- 
 bility, he would remain until the commander-in-chief 
 could at least hear the reasons for his detention. This 
 Jackson promptly consented to do, and it was then hur- 
 riedly arranged between them that they should join their 
 forces at New ^larket, a day's march below Harrison- 
 burg. In a short time Ewell was again in the saddle 
 and riding post-haste back to his division. 
 
 Ashby, in the mean time, was hovering on the enemy's 
 front, and his troopers scoured the country, and thus 
 cut him off from all news of Jackson's movements, so 
 that he was ignorant of the toils prepared to entrap 
 him. All was now ready for the advance ; and never was 
 an army in better heart for a fight. The forces under 
 Jackson had returned from their pursuit of Milroy, 
 flashed with victory and well trained for swift marches 
 and shar]) fighting. In Ewell's command they found 
 men chafing with impatience at their prolonged inactivity, 
 
WINCHESTER. 243 
 
 and eager to cross swords with the foe. The two com- 
 mands rushed forward with deh'glit to meet each other, 
 and, having joined forces, were ready to sweep down 
 the Valley with all the impetuosity of men confident of 
 success. This was particularly the case with the Loui- 
 sianians of this command in Taylor's brigade. The 
 fall of ^^ew Orleans, Butler's outrages, and the pub- 
 lished appeal from the defenseless women against whom 
 he was warring, all conspired to fire their hearts and 
 give them such incentives to march upon the foe as 
 happily for mankind, rarely occur in civilized warfare. 
 
 Banks was lying in fancied security in his intrench- 
 ments at Strasburg in the main valley, while silently 
 and swiftly Jackson and Ew^ell were moving upon him 
 down the Luray Yalley. 
 
 The little village of Front Royal lies, as we have 
 seen, at the mouth of the Luray Valley. On a line 
 with this place, and west of the northern termination 
 of Massanutten Mountain, lies Strasburg. Jackson's 
 object was to capture the Federal force at Front Royal, 
 and throw a part of his force forward on the road to 
 Winchester, while with the rest he would march west- 
 ward, and, striking the large Valley turnpike at some 
 point between Strasburg and Winchester, cut oif Banks's 
 retreat to this last place, or fall upon his flank should he 
 already have begun his march. 
 
 The advance-guard of the Confederate army, consisting 
 of the 1st Maryland Regiment and Wheat's battalion, 
 under command of General Stewart, pushed rapidly for- 
 ward for Front Royal. In order to make the surprise 
 of that place more complete, they turned off from i\\Q 
 turnpike, moving from ih^ south, and, marching to the 
 right, approached the town from the east along a rugged 
 
144 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 j^th leading over the hills. They arrived about two 
 o'clock in the afternoon of May 23; and so unexpected 
 was their arrival that the Confederate volley fired into 
 the town was the first information the enemy had of 
 their approach. Strangely enough, it happened that 
 the 1st Maryland Regiment of the United States army 
 was one of those which occupied the town, and when 
 the 1st Maryland of the Confederate army rushed in 
 they found themselves encountering in combat their 
 acquaintances and, in many instances, relatives. Two 
 brothers being on opposite sides, one was captured by 
 the other, each thinking himself the patriot and his 
 brother the traitor. So great are the horrors of civil 
 war ! The Federal forces were driven quickly through 
 the town, but on reaching a hill overlooking it on the 
 side next to Winchester they halted and made a stand. 
 They, began at once to cannonade the Confederates, who, 
 disregarding their fire, ran across the fields to attack 
 them. The main body of the army having now come 
 up, the advance-guard were wtII supported; but the 
 enemy w^ere driven from the hill by the skirmishers 
 before the support could get into action. General Jack- 
 son dashed forward to the summit of the hill, from 
 whence he got a full view of the enemy. Beyond the 
 hill flowed the South Branch of the Shenandoah, and 
 along its nearer bank w^ere the tents of the enemy's 
 camp, which, having been fired by them, were now in 
 full blaze. Stretching along the road leading up from 
 the opposite bank w^as the column of the enemy's infantry 
 in full retreat. As Jackson beheld their closely-serried 
 ranks, he exclaimed, in a tone of impatient regret, *^0h, 
 wdiat an opportunity for artillery ! Oh that my guns 
 were but here !" He knew that they were almost too 
 
WINCHESTER. I45 
 
 far behind for it to be possible to get them up in time, 
 but, hoping against hope, he turned quickly to one of his 
 aides and ordered him to dash to the rear and "order up 
 every rifled gun and every brigade in the army." The 
 guns were hurried forward, but before they could be 
 placed in position the enemy were out of range and the 
 Confederates were in hot pursuit. 
 
 General Jackson had sent a courier back from Front 
 Koyal to order the rest of the army to come up by the 
 turnpike leading directly to the town, and not to folloAV 
 the rough, circuitous route which the advance-guard had 
 taken. But the courier, being a timid boy unused to 
 war's alarms, became frightened at the roar of the can- 
 non, and slunk off into the mountains out of hearin<r, 
 and the rear brigades of the army toiled along without 
 guides over the track which had been followed by the 
 advance-guard, so that they did not reach the town 
 until nightfall, and were then too weary and foot-sore 
 to join in the pursuit. 
 
 After crossing the South Branch of the Shenandoah, 
 the enemy had to pass th6 North Branch. The Confed- 
 erate cavalry crossed the South Branch above the point 
 where they had crossed in order to cut off their commu- 
 nications with Strasburg, and now pressed down upon 
 the enemy retreating on the AVinchester road. The lat- 
 ter crossed the North Branch safely, and tried to burn 
 the bridge after them. The Confederates, however, ex- 
 tinguished the flames, though not before they had burnt 
 a span of the bridge. Colonel Flournoy, of the Confed- 
 erate cavalry, succeeded with great difficulty in getting 
 four companies of his regiment across the stream. With 
 them General Jackson crossed, and, leaving orders for 
 the rest of the cavalry to hurry on, with this small force 
 G 13 
 
146 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 he tliundered along in pursuit of the flying foe. They 
 overtook them at Cedarville, five miles from Front 
 Royal. The enemy, numbering about a thousand, fell 
 into line and formed in order of battle. " Charge !'^ 
 shouted Jackson as he saw this. The word thrilled 
 through the little Confederate band of two hundred and 
 fifty men like an electric shock. Their commander, 
 Colonel Flournoy, instantly dashed his force in a column 
 against the serried ranks of the enemy and broke their 
 centre. They soon re-formed, however, but were again 
 charged by the Confederate troopers, and again broken. 
 Xow, panic-stricken, their cavalry fled, the gunners 
 abandoned their guns, and the infantry threw down their 
 arms and were scattered. By this time the rest of the 
 Confederate force was arriving, and the enemy were cap- 
 tured, giving the Confederates seven hundred prisoners 
 and two guns. General Jackson was enthusiastic in his 
 expression of admiration of the gallant conduct of the 
 Confederate cavalry in this engagement. 
 
 In the mean while, General Ewell, who had been ad- 
 vancing on the road to Winchester, arrived within four 
 miles of that town. General Jackson determined to 
 move from Cedarville with the rest of his force still 
 farther across the Valley, to Middletown, a village be- 
 tween Strasburg and Winchester, six miles from the 
 former })lace and thirteen from the latter. 
 
 The force moved forward for INliddletown early on 
 Saturday morning, jMay 24. Ashby, with his cavalry, 
 and Chew's battery, led the van. About midway between 
 Cedarville and Middletown they were confronted by a 
 force of Federal cavalry, which a few shots from a sec- 
 tion of artillery scattered and caused to disappear. The 
 army now advanced rapidly to Middletown, General 
 
WINCHES TER. 147 
 
 Jackson hurrying everytliing forward. At length, when 
 he came in siglit of the town, he saw the long line of 
 Banks's army filling the streets and the road beyond, in 
 full retreat. Away dashed Ashby and his men, with 
 loud shouts, right down upon their flank, breaking 
 through their line, while the artillery poured shot and 
 shell into their ranks. Then came the infantry at a 
 double-quick, cheering as they ran, and firing deadly 
 volleys into the mass of terrified men and horses that 
 thronged the main street of the village. It is impossible 
 to describe the scene of confusion and carna":e that 
 followed. Numbers of the enemy's cavalrymen threw 
 themselves from their horses and sought protection be- 
 hind the stone fences, where they promptly surrendered 
 when summoned to do so. 
 
 In this encounter the Confederates captured two hun- 
 dred prisoners and horses, with their arms and equip- 
 ments. Upon inquiry, Jackson learned from the inhab- 
 itants of the village, that the enemy had been passing 
 through it since early in the morning. He could not 
 discover, however, what force was still left at Strasburg. 
 That the enemy still had some troops there soon became 
 apparent, for they began to shell Middletown from that 
 direction. General Jackson ordered a force to advance 
 and meet their attack ; but the enemy made no stand, and, 
 retreating hastily, burned the bridge over Cedar Creek, 
 which flowed between them and the Confederates ; and 
 so ended all further pursuit towards Strasburg. This 
 force left at Strasburg, which was probably small, after- 
 wards made good its escape towards the North. 
 
 All the Confederate forces were now pushing forward 
 and centring on Winchester. The enemy's wagon-trains 
 were here and there found deserted, and standing with 
 
148 LIFE OF GEXERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 tlie horses attached to tliein. Everything betokened a 
 disgraceful flight on their part. Jackson began now to 
 feel cruelly the inefficiency of the cavalry, and to see the 
 success of his movements marred by the want of horse- 
 men to press the retreating foe. After the fii'st engage- 
 ment, the fine body of horse which Ashby had around 
 him melted away like mist before the sun. Every man 
 had turned aside from the pursuit to plunder and secure 
 booty for himself out of the abundant stores left by the 
 enemy. So little was the enemy harassed by them that, 
 on reaching Newtown, a few miles from Winchester, 
 they were encouraged to make a stand, and, planting a 
 battevy on each side of the village, once more presented 
 a show of resistance. Nor could they again be put to 
 flight until sunset, by which time they had burned many 
 of their wagons and valuable stores. 
 
 Saturday night came, and found the enemy again on 
 the wing, and Jackson in pursuit. The stone fences 
 along each side of the road formed a good protection, 
 behind which their sharp-shooters fired on the Confeder- 
 ate advance and retarded their pursuit. General Jackson, 
 being always in advance, was in great danger, but in his 
 eao^erness rode ahead all nioht, surrounded bv a small 
 ca val ry escort. Once or tAvice they were surprised by a fi re 
 from a concealed party of the enemy. The first time this 
 occurred, General Jackson called out to the cavalrymen, 
 ''Charge them! chai^ge them !'^ and his indignation knew 
 no bounds when, after a timid advance, they turned and 
 fled at the second volley from the Federals. Skirmishers 
 were now ordered to be thrown out on each side of the 
 road and sweep away the enemy's riflemen, who lined 
 the fences. Thus the advance continued all night, the 
 skirmishers untiringly pushing their way through the 
 
WINCHES TER. 1 4 9 
 
 rank grass-fields, reeking with dew, which stretched out 
 on either side of the road. At Barton's Mill the Fed- 
 erals made another stand, and a sharp fight ensued be- 
 fore they could be dislodged. At length, when they 
 were within a mile or two of Winchester, Jackson 
 ordered a halt for a short rest, and the wearied men 
 threw themselves on the ground where they stood, and 
 slept on their arms, while their untiring and vigilant 
 commander stood as a sentinel at the head of the colamn, 
 in the chill night air, straining his ear to catch every 
 sound which might betoken an unusual move on the 
 front. 
 
 At dawn, Jackson gave in an undertone the command, 
 " Forward, march,'' which roused the men from their 
 deep slumbers, as one sentinel after another took it up 
 and passed it down the line. Dripping with the dew^s 
 of the night, they arose, and as every man took his place 
 in the ranks the first dim light of early dawn disclosed 
 the heights of Winchester, and on them the indistinct 
 forms of the enemy's skirmishers. A salvo of artillery 
 and the rattle of musketry resounded through the hills 
 and vales of this lovely region as the sun rose and 
 ushered in a Sabbath May morn. The enemy made a 
 fierce attack with their artillery, and Jackson, as he rode 
 forward to reconnoitre their position, had an officer shot 
 down on each side of him. 
 
 General Ewell's command, on the right, had slept 
 that night within two miles of Winchester, and they, 
 too, began with the daw^n to move forward, and their 
 guns were soon re-echoing the sound of those of their 
 comrades in arms on the left. All was now ready to give 
 the enemy a finishing blow. General Jackson, fearing 
 that they might seize a wooded height on the left, which 
 
 13* 
 
150 ^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 commanded liis position, sent a messenger to order the 
 Louisiana Brigade, held in reserve, under General Tay- 
 lor, to move forward in that direction. Since the sound 
 of the first gun, that officer and his command had waited 
 impatiently for the order to advance, and as he saw the 
 messenger approaching he spurred his horse forward to 
 meet him. Plis fine brigade rushed forward as soon as the 
 command to advance was given, and under the hottest fire 
 of shot and shell wheeled into line. Seeing them fairly 
 under Avay, Jackson rode again to the brow of the hill to 
 reconnoitre the enemy^s position, and as he reached its 
 crest beheld Swell's forces sweeping around on the right, 
 and the enemy, beaten out of their lurking-places, flying 
 frantically towards the town. "Forward after the 
 enemy !" shouted Jackson ; and the whole line dashed 
 ahead in the wildest enthusiasm. Into the streets of the 
 town rushed friend and foe. The surging mass rolled 
 on ; but as the inhabitants of the town caught the first 
 glimpse of the Confederate uniform and saw the Con- 
 federate banners borne so proudly aloft, they rushed into 
 the streets in the wildest joy and enthusiasm to welcome 
 their countrymen and deliverers. All ages and all sexes 
 mino-led tos^ether, and for a time the chase after the 
 enemy was impeded by the overjoyed inhabitants, who 
 rushed from their houses utterly regardless of the shots 
 that now and then rattled along the streets. Indeed, 
 the women of the town, running out, pushed aside the 
 bayonets of the gallant pursuers and pressed into the 
 ranks to welcome their friends. Thus the whole mass, 
 friend and foe, footmen and horsemen, surged along, 
 until, reaching at last the open fields north of the town, 
 the cohimn spread out over the country. Heading the 
 pursuit and cheering on his men towered the tall form 
 
WINCHESTER. 151 
 
 of Jackson, who, carried away by the enthusiasm of suc- 
 cess and the wild joy of their reception in Winches- 
 ter, his face flushed by the excitement of the scene, 
 dashed wildly forward, the impersonation of valor and 
 patriotic devotion. " What shall we do now, general?" 
 said one of his staff, as they reached the summit of a 
 hill, whence they saw the dense masses of the enemy 
 flying across the fields in front of them. '^Let us hur- 
 rah !'^ said the general, with the enthusiasm of a boy, 
 as, reining up his horse, he waved his hat over his 
 head. The shout which followed rent the air. But the 
 next moment Jackson was the soldier again, and, as he 
 watched the black masses of the enemy rolling over 
 the fields out of the reach of his fi\Int yet pursuing 
 infantry, he exclaimed, In a tone of bitter regret, '^ Oh 
 that my cavalry were in place ! IS'ever was there such 
 a chance for cavalry !" Alas ! Avhere was that recreant 
 cavalry? In the rear, plundering the enemy's deserted 
 train, or, loaded with booty, on their way to their moun- 
 tain homes. So ineflicient is undisciplined valor ! An 
 oflicer, standing by, suggested that the light field-bat- 
 teries should be brought up to bear upon the flying foe. 
 " Yes," he replied, eagerly ; " go back and order up 
 the nearest batteries you find." And again. In a few 
 minutes, turning quickly to a member of his staff, he 
 ordered him, in a tone whose sternness amounted almost 
 to fierceness, to '^ go to the rear and order every battery 
 and brigade forward to the Potomac." Then, as his 
 lonirino: eyes were turned back towards the fast-retreat- 
 ing ranks of the Federals, again the sight wrung from 
 him the exclamation, " Oh, for the cavalry ! Never was 
 it in the power of cavalry to reap a richer harvest of 
 the fruits of victory!" 
 
152 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 The 2d and 6tli Kegiments of cavalry, which were 
 intact, and might have been hurled upon the enemy, 
 did not receive orders to join in the pursuit until i\\Q 
 enemy were far advanced in their rush for the Potomac. 
 After pursuing them with infantry and artillery until 
 near noon, and seeing his wearied soldiers sinking ex- 
 hausted beneath the warm rays of the noonday sun. 
 General Jackson was obliged to abandon the pursuit. 
 The cavalry, as they came up, continued it until they 
 drove the enemy into Martinsburg or across the Poto- 
 mac. Among the first fugitives who entered Martins- 
 burg was the Federal general Banks. 
 
 General Jaclvson, as soon as he saw that his presence 
 was no longer needed on the field, turned his horse's 
 head towards AVinchester. On reaching the town, he 
 went directly to a hotel, and, refusing to stop to partake 
 of a repast, asked only for a room, into which he was 
 no sooner ushered than, throwing himself on his face on 
 a bed, all booted and spurred as he was, he had in a 
 moment sunk into profound slumber. 
 
 On the next day. May 26, he wrote to Mrs. Jackson 
 from Winchester, — 
 
 *'An ever-kind Providence blessed us with success at 
 Front Royal on Friday, between Strasburg and AYin- 
 chester on Saturday, and here with a successful engage- 
 ment yesterday. ... I do not remember having ever 
 seen such rejoicing as was manifested by the people of 
 Winchester as our army yesterday passed through the 
 town in pursuit of the enemy. The town was nearly 
 frantic with joy. Cur entrance into Winchester was 
 one of the most stirring scenes of my life. Such joy as 
 the inhabitants manifested cannot easily be described.'' 
 
 The confusion caused by the rush of the pursued and 
 
WINCHESTER. I53 
 
 pursuers through the town was increased by the burning 
 of some buildings which the enemy fired as they left. 
 The whole town might have been soon wrapped in flames, 
 but for the energy of some of the older inhabitants, who, 
 recovering from the excitement of the scene, began to 
 take steps to subdue the flames. The women joined in 
 the efforts, and, it is pleasing to record, were among the 
 foremost of those who, at the risk of their lives, rushed 
 into the burning buildings and dragged out some sick 
 and wounded Federal soldiers, who had been left by 
 their comrades to perish in the flames or save themselves 
 as best they might. 
 
 The following is a description of the flight of the 
 Federal troops through AVinchester, by one who witnessed 
 the scene and favored the success of the Federal army: 
 
 ^' During breakfast I heard the tramping of horses 
 upon the road and the heavy rolling of artillery over 
 the pavements. Certainly, I thought, there can be no 
 haste ; we shall not be compelled to leave AVinchester. 
 
 '^ Presently there was a commotion, a sobbing among 
 the women, and a running to and fro, which brought me 
 to my feet in time to find our forces were started on a 
 hasty retreat ; and, as I saw flames rising from the burn- 
 ing buildings not far ofl', and heavy volumes of smoke 
 roll upward from them, I began to realize that we were 
 to abandon AVinchester. The enemy were in the other 
 end of the town, as the rattle and echo of the musketry 
 up the streets and between the houses most plainly in- 
 dicated. All the streets were in commotion. Cavalry 
 were rushing disorderly away, and infimtry, frightened 
 by the rapidity of their mounted companions, were in 
 consternation. All ^vere trying to escape faster than 
 their neighbors, dreading most of all to be the last. 
 
154 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 " Presently the enemy's cannon boomed in the rear, 
 and a small cloud of smoke in the sky, suddenly ap- 
 pearing and then dissolving, showed where the ball had 
 exploded. Some shell fell among our men, and the 
 panic was quite general for a short time. Guns, knap- 
 sacks, cartridge-boxes, bayonets, and bayonet-cases lay 
 scattered upon the ground in great confusion, thr 
 away by the panic-stricken soldiers." 
 
 own 
 
CHAPTEE X. 
 
 THE RETREAT DOWN THE VAELEY. 
 
 On abandoning tlie retreat of Banks, General Jackson 
 ordered his army to go into camp at a point three miles 
 north of Winchester. Monday, the day after the en- 
 gagements around Winchester, was spent in repose and 
 religious services, the following general order being issued 
 by the commanding general on the morning of that day : 
 
 "Within four weeks this army has made long and 
 rapid marches, fought six combats and two battles, sig- 
 nally defeating the enemy in each one, captured several 
 stands of colors and pieces of artillery, with numerous 
 prisoners, and vast medical, ordnance, and army stores; 
 and, finally, driven the boastful host which was ravaging 
 our beautiful country into utter rout. The general com- 
 manding would warmly express to the officers and men 
 under his command his joy in their achievements, and 
 his thanks for their brilliant gallantry in action and their 
 patient obedience under the hardships of forced marches; 
 often more painful to the brave soldier than the dangers 
 of battle. The explanation of the severe exertions to 
 which the commanding general called the army, which 
 were endured by them with such cheerful confidence in 
 him, is now given in the victory of yesterday. He re- 
 ceives this proof of their confidence in the past with 
 pride and gratitude, and asks only a similar confidence 
 
 in the future. 
 
 155 
 
156 r^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 '' But his chief duty to-clay, and that of the army, is 
 to recognize devoutly tlie hand of a protecting Provi- 
 dence in the brilliant successes of the last three days 
 (which have given us the results of a great victory with- 
 out great losses), and to make the oblation of our thanks 
 to God for his mercies to us and our country in heartfelt 
 acts of religious worship. For this pur])ose the troops 
 will remain in camp to-day, suspending as far as prac- 
 ticable all military exercises, and the chaplains of regi- 
 ments will hold divine service in their several charges at 
 four o'clock P.M.'' 
 
 After allowing his army a rest of two days, Jack- 
 son, eager to reap the fruits of his victories, ordered 
 the advance to be coutinued, and on the 28th of May 
 the army started for Charlestown, eight miles from 
 Harper's Ferry. When within a mile of the town, the 
 Confederate advance on emcro^ins; from a wood found 
 the force of the enemy, about fifteen hundred strong, 
 drawn up in line of battle. The gallant Winder, in 
 command of the advance, without waiting for the rest 
 of the army to come up, made an immediate attack. A 
 few well-directed shots fired at the Federals from a field- 
 battery broke their lines, and, abandoning their arms 
 and baggage, they fled from the field in disorder. The 
 Confederates pursued them closely to wnthin two miles 
 of the Potomac, when, giving up the chase, they returned 
 to the neighborhood of Charlestown. The next day 
 the whole army advanced to Halltown, a mile or two 
 from the Potomac. 
 
 Thus Jackson in one week swept the Valley clear of 
 the enemy who had so plundered and outraged its peace- 
 ful inhabitants, and now stood, as it were, with his little 
 army thundering at the gateway of the avenue leading 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 157 
 
 to the Federal capital. For his plan was to threaten 
 an invasion of Maryland, and, by making the feint of a 
 move on Washington, to force the enemy to recall some 
 of his forces which were now assembled in such formi- 
 dable numbers around Richmond. He hurried a trusty 
 messenger off to Richmond to ask the authorities for 
 reinforcements, and to point out to them that the best 
 and surest way of breaking up the formidable lines with 
 which the enemy was now enveloping Richmond was to 
 give him a force with which he could attack the Federal 
 capital. ^' Tell them,^' he said, " that I have now but 
 fifteen thousand effective men. If the present opening 
 is improved as it should be, I must have forty thou- 
 sand.^^ But, as in the case of so many other Confeder- 
 ate victories, the fruits of his brilliant successes Avere 
 to be partially lost from want of force with which to 
 reap them, for the reinforcements so much needed by 
 him could not be withdrawn from the defense of Rich- 
 mond. 
 
 On the 29th of May, just after General Jackson had 
 begun to make the movements necessary for an attack on 
 Harper's Ferry, he received the startling intelligence 
 that Fremont was moving with a heavy force from the 
 northwest down to Strasburg, while Shields, having 
 been ordered to retrace his steps, was moving back 
 from the east for the Valley, and the two, forming a 
 union at Strasburg, were to fall upon his rear and cut 
 off his retreat. Already the advance-guard of Shields's 
 force had entered Front Royal, and, driving out the 
 12th Georgia, which had been left as a guard, had 
 recaptured the prisoners left there, and forced the Con- 
 federates to fire the captured stores to prevent their 
 being also retaken. 
 
 14 
 
158 LJFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 With a full appreciation of the perils of his situation, 
 General Jackson confronted them with an undaunted 
 spirit, and with his characteristic energy and skill at 
 once took steps to insure his escape from the trap which 
 had been laid for him. Orders were immediately given 
 for a speedy but orderly retreat, and by the afternoon of 
 the 30th the whole army was on the march. General 
 Jackson, going in advance, found on reaching Winchester 
 that the enemy were so close upon Strasburg, and bearing 
 down upon it so rapidly, that in order to save himself 
 from being cut off he must get his army safely through 
 that place by noon of the next day, — May 31. Orders 
 for moving rapidly forward were again given, and the 
 little band moved swiftly but steadily ahead. The 
 energy and enthusiasm inspired by their confidence in 
 their leader enabled the men to make marches scarcely 
 surpassed in the annals of war for their celerity. The 
 faithful Stonew^all Brigade marched thirty- five miles 
 over muddy roads and under spring showers without 
 pausing, while the 2d Virginia Kegiment, which was 
 farther in the rear, marched forty miles without rations. 
 In so orderly a manner was this skillful retreat begun 
 that not a man nor a gun was left behind. The 21st 
 Virginia started from Winchester on the 31st, in charge 
 of twenty-three hundred prisoners. The seven hundred 
 of the enemy^s sick and wounded wdio were left in the 
 town were paroled not to fight until exchanged. 
 
 On reaching Strasburg, Jackson found that Fremont 
 had already arrived on his right flank, for his troops had 
 poured through the gap leading across North Mountain 
 and were ready to fall upon him. Ewell was at once 
 ordered to face about to the west and offer him battle, 
 which he did ; but, after a skirmish in the mountain- 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 159 
 
 gorge, it was declined, and the Confederate retreat was 
 continued steadily but leisurely up the Valley. Jackson 
 knew that v^hields had been for two days at Front Royal, 
 where he was east of the South Fork of the Shenandoah, 
 and, to prevent his crossing the Massanutten Mountain 
 by New Manvct Gap and falling upon his left flank 
 while Fremont threatened his rear, he sent a detach- 
 ment of cavalry to burn the bridges across the South 
 Fork of the Shenandoah. This having been accom- 
 plished, he continued his retreat with less anxiety, and 
 its steady, orderly pace was a perpetual challenge to the 
 tardy Fremont on his rear, but one which he dared not 
 accept. The rear of Jackson's army left Strasburg on 
 June 1. It was covered by the cavalry and Chew's 
 light battery, under the command of the untiring 
 Ashby, who had just received his commission as brig- 
 adier-general. Fremont's cavalry followed the retreat- 
 ing army, and under cover of the darkness drew so near 
 at night that the men in the Confederate rear, hailing 
 them, asked who they were. They replied, '^ Ashby's 
 cavalry," and were thus allowed to draw closer, when 
 they charged a cavalry regiment and threw it into dis- 
 order. It was, however, re-formed, and, charging the 
 enemy, repulsed them and took some prisoners. On 
 the 2d of June the Confederate rear was again thrown 
 into disorder by a cannonade from the enemy's guns, 
 which were brought to bear upon them, followed by a 
 charge of their cavalry. Ashby, seeing this, threw him- 
 self from his horse, and, collecting a few riflemen who 
 were lagging behind, stationed them in a wood beside 
 the road, and as the enemy in their charge drew near 
 he ordered them to fire, which they did with such un- 
 erring aim that many riders fell from their saddles, and 
 
160 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 a part, turning their horses' heads, retreated in confu- 
 sion, while those in advance, being carried forward into 
 the Confederate rear, were all, with one exception, cap- 
 tured or killed. That night, when this adventure was 
 related to the general, one of the officers who had wit- 
 nessed it remarking that the men had charged so gal- 
 lantly he hated to kill them, Jackson said, quietly, ^'No; 
 shoot them all ; I do not wish them to be brave/' It 
 was by such occasional remarks that he betrayed the 
 intensity of his feeling towards those who fought against 
 the cause so dear to him and his countrymen. 
 
 By the 3d of June the retreating army had safely 
 crossed the North Fork of the Shenandoah. General 
 Ashby w^as left to burn the bridge over which it had 
 passed. This he successfully accomplished ; but so close 
 were the enemy upon him that they were on the opposite 
 bank before he could get out of their reach. His horse 
 w^as shot dead under him, while he himself barely escaped 
 the same fate. 
 
 The rebuilding of this bridge by Fremont consumed 
 a whole day, and thus the foot-sore Confederates could 
 continue more leisurely their retreat, and without attack, 
 to Harrisonburg. 
 
 All during the retreat, while Fremont w^as pressing 
 down on his rear, Jackson knew that east of the Massa- 
 nutten Mountain Shields was pushing up the Luray Val- 
 ley. The race was hot and close between them which 
 should get up the Valley and be able to turn the south- 
 ern extremity of the Massanutten Mountain first. If 
 Shields arrived first, he would be able to turn round the 
 base of the mountain, and, meeting Jackson, attack him 
 on the front while Fremont fell upon his rear. Jack- 
 son's soldiers knew of the trap that had been set for them, 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 1(31 
 
 and as they moved up the Yalley before crossing the 
 road leading across from the Luray Yalley through New 
 Market Gap, they watched with intense anxiety the sum- 
 mit of the mountain at that point, expecting every mo- 
 ment to see the road leading down from the gap dark- 
 ened with the blue coats of the enemy moving upon 
 their flank. The prisoners with whom the Confederate 
 army was encumbered were exultant at the prospect of 
 a speedy release, and tauntingly told their captors that 
 the tables would soon be turned, and that Shields would 
 be down upon them and bag Jackson's army. But the 
 Confederates, confident in their leader's ability to save 
 them from the lines with which the enemy was endeavor- 
 ing to envelop them, replied defiantly, and urged them 
 forward as they attempted to retard the retreat by lag- 
 ging sullenly behind. 
 
 A mile south of Harrisonburg, Jackson having reached 
 the southern terminus of the Massanutten Mountain, 
 and Shields not having yet appeared, he turned the 
 head of his advancing column eastward on the road to 
 Port Republic, a small village situated at the southern 
 end of the Luray Valley, upon the South Fork of the 
 Shenandoah, near the foot of the Blue Ridge. It was 
 not until the 6th that Fremont's cavalry were again upon 
 Jackson's rear. About two miles south of Harrison- 
 burg It was overtaken by a regiment of their cavalry, 
 led by Sir Percy Wyndham, an English adventurer, 
 who, having joined the Federal army, had expressed a 
 great desire to meet Ashby and overcome him In combat. 
 In the sharp encounter which now took place between 
 his regiment and Ashby's cavalry, the Federals were sig- 
 nally repulsed, and among the prisoners captured was 
 Sir Percy Wyndham himself. The sound of the firing 
 
 14* 
 
162 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 in this engagement made General Ewell turn back to aid 
 with reinforcements if necessary. The gallant Ash by 
 told him he was sure the enemy would return in a short 
 time to the attack, and asked for a small infantry force 
 to aid in repelling them. General Ewell accordingly 
 sent liim the 58th Virginia and the 1st Maryland Regi- 
 ments. Ashby placed the Maryland regiment in a wood 
 on the roadside, from which they were to fire upon the 
 flank of the enemy as they approached, while at the 
 head of the 58th Virginia he prepared to receive their 
 attack in front. Elated by the chase after the enemy 
 and by his late brilliant success, his countenance flushed 
 with excitement, his eyes flashing fire, and the tones of 
 his voice ringing out in unwonted clearness, Ashby had 
 scarcely arranged his force to receive the Federals when 
 they came in sight. They advanced across the open 
 fields, and, sheltering themselves behind a fence, fired into 
 the exposed ranks of the 58th Virginia. Ashby dashed 
 to the front and ordered the regiment to advance and 
 dislodge the enemy from their advantageous position. 
 Scarcely had he given the order when his horse was shot 
 and fell dead beneath him. Disentangling himself, he 
 sprang to his feet, and, seeing the regiment falter, ex- 
 claimed, as he waved his sword over his head, ^' Charge, 
 men ! for God's sake, charge !'' The words had scarcely 
 died on his lips when he fell dead, struck by a bullet 
 which pierced his breast. His men, seeing him fall, 
 rushed frantically forward and poured a galling fire into 
 the enemy^s front, while the Marylanders rushed upon 
 their flank. They broke and fled, — the Confederates 
 firing upon them as long as they were within musket- 
 ran ue. 
 
 But Ashby was dead. His name alone was worth ten 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 163 
 
 thousand men to the Confederate cause in the Valley, 
 so great was the dread with which he insp.red his foes, 
 and the confidence his presence kindled in the breasts 
 of his friends. No braver or more chivalrous knig.it 
 ever drew sword in defense of a noble «u,se. His 
 comrades in arms carried his body from the battle-field 
 and as it was borne through the country which he had 
 so nobly defended, the people flocked to see the face- 
 now still in death-of him they called the savior of the 
 Vallev Gentle women came to kiss his dead hands, and 
 VOun<^ children were held up to gaze with love and awe 
 upon the beautiful countenance of the hero whose simple 
 Christian faith sheds such lustre on his heroic deeds. 
 
 The sad and sorrowing little group of horsemen who 
 carried the body of their gallant leader swept swiftly 
 past the retreating army, and " Ashby is dead! wei-e the 
 sad words which ran along the lines in the subdued tones 
 in which men are wont to speak when in the presence of 
 the mi-hty dead. To Port Republic his body was taken 
 and there shrouded in his soldier's dress. To the heart 
 of no one did the news of his fall carry a bitterer pang 
 than to that of Jackson, for to no one were the virtiu^s 
 of the man and the untiring energy and skil ot the 
 soldier better known. On hearing of Ashby s death, 
 and of his removal to Port Republic, he hastened to the 
 house where the body lay, and, asking to see it, entered 
 the room and shut himself up alone with it. There 
 the young warrior lay, his slightly-built and graceful 
 fi.n,re now stifl" in the rigidity of death, his flashing 
 ..^ay eyes closed forever, and his thick black hair and 
 heavy raven beard looking darker than ever in the 
 contrast with the pallor of death which overspread his 
 noble countenance. Over this still figure bent the war- 
 
164 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 god of the Valley, ^yllo can tell what thoughts passed 
 through his great soul, or what prayers ascended from 
 his lips, as he paused thus on the eve of the brilliant 
 close of the most daring and skillful manoeuvring to 
 devote a few j)recious moments to silent communion 
 with the dead? 
 
 The news of the fall of her second son in defense of 
 the cause so dear to every noble Southern heart quickly 
 reached the home of Ashby^s widowed mother. AYIth 
 a sickened heart and wearied longing she watched for 
 the return home of his body ; but, the enemy being in 
 possession of her county, even that boon was denied her, 
 and his comrades bore it across the Blue Ridge to Albe- 
 marle, where it found an appropriate resting-place in the 
 grave-yard at the University of Virginia. From that 
 spot it has since been removed to be placed beside that 
 of the brave brother whoSe untimely death he avenged 
 so well. The tomb of these two brothers — models, as 
 they were, of all that is brave and knightly — is a monu- 
 ment to be pointed out by their mother-State with pride 
 and gratitude through all succeeding generations. 
 
 After the skirmish in which Ashby was killed, the 
 prisoners, and those of the wounded Confederates Avho 
 could bear the march, were quickly carried forward, 
 there being no time to lose, for the enemy were pressing 
 steadily on. To those of the wounded who could not 
 be moved. General Ewell was seen giving a few parting 
 words of cheer, and supplying them from his own purse 
 with money. 
 
 The repulse given the enemy in this last fatal attack 
 was so severe as to make them more cautious as to how 
 they pressed too closely upon the rear of a retreating 
 Confederate army. AVhen Ashby fell, the main body of 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 1G5 
 
 the army had reached Port Republic. This village is 
 situated at the western base of the Blue Ridge, and lies 
 in a triangle formed by the junction of the North and 
 South Rivers, whose union forms the South Fork of 
 the Shenandoah. On the eastern side of this stream, it 
 will be remembered. Shields was marching up the Val- 
 ley, while Fremont was dogging the steps of the retreat- 
 ing army. In the triangle formed by the junction of 
 the North and South Rivers, Jackson was safe from 
 both his pursuers. The South River could be crossed 
 by means of a passable ford, while a wooden bridge con- 
 nected the village with the Harrisonburg road on the 
 other side of the North River,— the deeper and larger 
 of the two. At Conrad's Store, fifteen miles below Port 
 Republic, there was a bridge over the Shenandoah by 
 which Shields might have crossed the river and joined 
 Fremont. Aware of its importance. Generals Shields 
 and Jackson each sent a detachment of cavalry, the one 
 to destroy and the other to hold it. The Federal cav- 
 alry reached the bridge first, but, instead of remaining to 
 guard it, dashed oif to capture some Confederate stores 
 which they heard were near by and but poorly guarded. 
 In the mean time, Jackson's cavalry came up and fired 
 the bridge, so that when Shields arrived in sight of it at 
 the head of his column it was a sheet of flame, and already 
 too far gone to be saved. With this bridge vanished his 
 last hope of joining Fremont. The game was now In 
 Jackson's hands, and he made his arrangements to attack 
 and defeat separately his two opponents. 
 
 Shields was at Conrad's Store, some fifteen miles from 
 Port Republic, while Fremont, with his army in the 
 neighborhood of Harrisonburg, was at about the same 
 distance. Thus Jackson was equidistant between the 
 
166 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 two. His plan was to attack Shields — who was on 
 the opposite bank of the South E-iver — first, and then 
 cross the North River and crush Fremont. On the 
 north side of this river, and near the Harrisonburg 
 road, he left General Ewell to guard against the ad- 
 vance of Fremont. Jackson had his headquarters at 
 Port Republic, and connection between him and Ewell 
 was kept up by means of the bridge across North River. 
 On the night of the 7th, a company of cavalry was sent 
 down the Shenandoah to reconnoitre the position of 
 Shields, who was reported to be advancing. Early the 
 next day the Sabbath stillness of a lovely morning was 
 broken by the noise and clatter of this company of Con- 
 federate cavalry dashing pell-mell into the town with 
 the Federal cavalry close upon their heels, accompanied 
 by artillery. The Federals dashed across South River, 
 and so unexpected was their arrival that General Jackson 
 came near being captured, and just had time to gallop 
 off towards the bridge and escape. Several Confederate 
 officers were captured in this dash, and one w^ho could 
 not get over the bridge collected a handful of stragglers 
 and poured a volley into the Federal cavalry as they 
 were dashing out of the village to capture Jackson's 
 ordnance-train. This check gave the Confederates time 
 to open upon them with two guns and increase their 
 discomfiture. 
 
 General Jackson, in the mean while, had dashed across 
 the bridge and up the hill on which his troops were en- 
 camped. He ordered the long roll to be beaten and the 
 men to be under arms, and the batteries to take position 
 on the hills which commanded the tow^n. Then, placing 
 himself at the head of the 37th Virginia Regiment, he 
 started back to the bridge, the possession of which was 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 1^7 
 
 of such vital importance to him, but which had now 
 fallen into the hands of the enemy. He saw with dis- 
 may that they had placed a gun at its farther end and 
 w^re prepared to sweep it with their fire. Seeing that 
 there was not a minute to be lost, he dashed down to the 
 bridge at the head of the regiment, and there ordered 
 them to fire upon the enemy at the other end of it, 
 and then, rushing across, sweep them away with the 
 bayonet. Their fire proved a murderous one, sweeping 
 the threatening gun of its cannoneers. Then, with a 
 yell, the gallant Virginians burst over the bridge, and it 
 was theirs. Jackson had no sooner given the order to 
 the regiment to fire than, throwing the reins upon his 
 horse's neck, he raised his hands to heaven and prayed 
 as he had never prayed before ; and never w^as prayer 
 more gloriously answered. Other troops dashed over 
 after the 37th Virginia, and, rushing upon the enemy, 
 captured their gun and drove their cavalry through the 
 town and across the village, while the batteries played 
 upon them from the hills north of the North Eiver. 
 The flying cavalry met a body of infantry coming up to 
 their support, but the spirited fire from the batteries 
 made them soon face about and follow in the tracks of 
 their discomfited horse down the eastern bank of the 
 Shenandoah. The light field-batteries of the Confed- 
 erates dashed along the heights on the w'est rn side for 
 about a mile, and poured shot and shell into their ranks 
 until they disappeared in a wood round the bend of a road. 
 In the mean time, the sound of Shields's guns roused 
 Fremont to activity, and the enemy had scarcely been 
 driven out of Port Republic before he was advancing 
 upon Ewell's front, dow^n the Harrisonburg road. The 
 Confederate picket on that road, the 15th Alabama, dis- 
 
168 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 puted tlieir advance so stubbornly that General Ewell 
 had leisure to select his own position. This was well 
 chosen, being on a commanding ridge, a rivulet and large 
 open field in front, a wood on each flank, and the road 
 leading to Port Republic passing through the centre of 
 his line. The batteries were placed in the centre, and 
 Trimble's brigade, which was destined to take the most 
 active part in the fight, Avas on the right, just under the 
 crest of the hill. At ten o'clock the enemy threw out 
 his skirmishers, and, placing his batteries in position, 
 began an animated and spirited fire, which lasted for 
 several hours on both sides. Under cover of this 
 fire a Federal brigade advanced on the Confederate 
 right, when General Trimble, holding his men well in 
 hand and making them reserve their fire until the enemy, 
 reaching the crest of the hill, were in full musket-range, 
 gave the order to fire. The volley Avas a withering one. 
 The enemy staggered, and fell back in confusion. The 
 order to charge with the bayonet was immediately given 
 to the Confederates, who, advancing with a shout and a 
 bound, drove the yielding enemy down the hill and across 
 Ibhe open meadow into the woods opposite. Then, per- 
 ceiving a battery about to be placed in position on the 
 enemy's left. General Trimble pushed forward to capture 
 it; but it was withdrawn before he reached the spot. 
 The enemy did not renew the attack, and later in the 
 day Ewell advanced, driving in the Federal skirmishers, 
 and that night his troops slept on their arms on ground 
 which had been held by the enemy in the morning. So 
 ended the battle of Cross Keys, a fight in which the 
 enemy's movements were so timid that General Ewell 
 remarked that he felt all day as if he were fighting the 
 feeble, semi-civilized armies of Mexico. 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 169 
 
 The Confederates had only six thousand men on the 
 field in this fight, and only thirty-five hundred actually 
 engaged. Their losses were forty-two killed and two 
 hundred and thirty-one wounded. 
 
 Having thus severely chastised Fremont, General 
 Jackson turned quickly to Shields. The echoes of the 
 guns of Cross Keys had scarcely died away on the 
 mountain-sides when Jackson, under cover of the night, 
 began to make a foot-bridge over the South River, by 
 which he could pass his infantry across and go in search 
 of Shields. The bridge was formed by driving wagons 
 into the stream until a line across was completed, and 
 on these planks were placed. Unfortunately, however, 
 just in the middle of the stream there was some bad 
 arrangement of the planks leading from one wagon to 
 another, and only one j)lank was found firm enough to 
 serve as a bridge, so that the whole army at that point 
 had to go over in single file, instead of two or three 
 abreast. This caused serious delay in the passage of the 
 whole force. 
 
 It was no part of Jackson^s plan to allow Fremont to 
 escape Avith only the defeat at Cross Keys. He intended 
 to attack and defeat Shields early enough in the day to 
 enable him to turn back on Fremont and crush him. 
 In giving his orders to Colonel Patton, commanding the 
 Second Virginia Brigade, and who was to conceal EwelFs 
 withdrawal from Fremont's front while he joined in at- 
 tacking Shields, he told him to hold his position as long 
 as possible, and concluded by saying, " I will be back 
 to join you in the morning.'^ This was spoken at two 
 o'clock in the morning of the 9th, while he was busy 
 making the necessary arrangements for the battle with 
 Shields. When Colonel Patton asked how long he would 
 H 15 
 
170 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 be expected to hold Fremont at bay, lie re])lied, " By the 
 blessing of Providenee, I liope to be back by ten o'clock/^ 
 
 General Ewell was ordered to move at an early hour 
 on the morning of the 9th, and cross the bridge leading 
 to Port Kepublie, Avhile the troops left to confront 
 Fremont Avere ordered, if hard pressed by him, to retire 
 across the North River and burn the bridge in their 
 rear. All things were now in readiness for the advance, 
 and by five o'clock in the morning of the 9th the Stone- 
 wall Brigade had crossed the South River; but the un- 
 fortunate defect in the hastily-constructed foot-bridge so 
 delayed the crossing of the oth.er troops that the hour 
 at v/hicli Jackson had hoped to whip Shields and be 
 ready lor a second brush with Fremont passed by before 
 all the troops had crossed South River. By ten o'clock 
 the last of the Confederate forces had crossed North 
 River, and the bridge was burnt, thus leaving Fremont 
 a helpless spectator of the coming fight. 
 
 In the mean time, the Stonewall Brigade, commanded 
 by the knightly Winder, had advanced far on its way 
 to attack the enemy. The latter was judiciously posted 
 near Lewiston, a mile or two down the Shenandoah, his 
 right resting upon the river, his left upon a thick wood, 
 while the inclosures and buildings of Lewiston sheltered 
 his centre. Near the edge of the wood, on his left, on 
 a rising ground near the Lewis house, he had planted a 
 battery of six guns, which commanded the level field 
 extending in front and the road to Port Republic. 
 
 Against this formidable position General Jackson led 
 the Stonewall Bri2;ade and the gallant Louisiana Brio^ade, 
 under General Taylor. The Confederate batteries directed 
 their fire against those of the Federals, but with little 
 effect. "Winder, being reinforced by a Louisiana regi- 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. 171 
 
 ment, determined to charge the enemy and capture his 
 battery, as the only means of silencing it ; but as his gal- 
 lant brigade swept across the field fronting the batteries, 
 they were met by such a furious fire from both artillery 
 and small arms that they Avere thrown into confusion 
 and fell back in disorder. The enemy, seeing this, dashed 
 forward with their infantry, and pushed the Confederate 
 infantry so far back that their artillery had to retire. 
 At this critical juncture, General Taylor, who had moved 
 to the right along the mountain acclivity, through a 
 rough and tangled forest, emerged from the woods on the 
 enemy's left. With loud cheers his brigade dashed for- 
 ward to seize the battery, and, though the enemy in vastly 
 superior numbers attacked them in front and flank, they 
 captured it. 
 
 This diversion made by Taylor enabled Winder to 
 reorganize his scattered force, while the Confederate 
 batteries were again placed in position. The Confed- 
 erate line being thus re-formed, they advanced and 
 drove the Federals steadily back to their original posi- 
 tion. But the struggle over the battery captured by 
 Taylor w\as long and fierce. A fresh Federal brigade 
 advanced under cover of a wood and fell upon his flank, 
 wdiile a galling fire of canister was poured into his ranks 
 from a piece placed in position at a distance of three or 
 four hundred yards. Under this fiery tempest the gal- 
 lant Louisianians had to abandon the battery and fall 
 back to the edge of the wood near which it was stationed. 
 Two of General Ewell's regiments novv' coming up to 
 their aid, the attack was again renewed. Never was 
 there a severer contest than over this battery. T^vice 
 the enemy lost it, and twice ^re-took it; but when it was 
 captured for the third time by the undaunted Confeder- 
 
172 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ates, the enemy began to witlidraw. Fresli troops coming 
 up to the Confederates, they made a general advance 
 and swept tlie Federals from tlie field. The cavalry now 
 dashed forward and converted their retreat into a dis- 
 orderly flight. 
 
 The Confederates continued the pursuit for eight miles, 
 and returned with several hundred prisoners. The losses 
 of the Confederates in this battle were ninety-one killed 
 and six hundred and eighty-six wounded. As the gal- 
 lant little army assembled its shattered ranks after the 
 fight and marched off the field of battle towards the 
 mouth of Brown's Gap, they beheld, on the heights on 
 the opposite bank of the river, Fremont, who, in conse- 
 quence of the burning of the bridge, could now only 
 watch as an idle spectator the flight of the Federals 
 and the triumphant march of the Confederates from the 
 field which their courage had avou. 
 
 Enraged at being outgeneraled and forced thus to 
 witness the defeat of his friends, General Fremont was 
 guilty of an act of barbarity as outrageous as any that 
 ever disgraced the records of civil warfare. Many of 
 the wounded had been borne from the battle-field and 
 placed in a house, over which the yelloAV flag was floating, 
 as a sio:nal to friend and foe that for the time beins; the 
 building was a hospital. There the surgeons w^ere busily 
 engaged binding up broken limbs and staunching the 
 ghastly wounds of the gallant soldiers, while the chap- 
 lains were soothing the last moments of the dying. On 
 this hospital General Fremont directed his guns to be 
 turned, and poured upon it such a heavy fire that those 
 of the wounded who could move fled in dismay from 
 their cots, while others more disabled had to stay and 
 undergo the terrible ordeal of lying helpless under fire. 
 
THE RETREAT DOWN THE VALLEY. I73 
 
 To add to the suffering caused by this cruel act, those 
 who were thus driven from shelter were exposed to a 
 cold rain which was just beginning to fall. Not only 
 the house, but the field in which many wounded were 
 still lying, was cannonaded, and many a poor fellow 
 who had escaped with his life from the storm and tem- 
 pest of the morning's battle was thus murdered ere the 
 close of the day. 
 
 The day after the battle of Port Eepublic, General 
 Fremont withdrew his forces and retreated down the 
 Valley. The Confederate cavalry, under Colonel Mun- 
 ford, entered Harrisonburg on the 12th, where they cap- 
 tured about two hundred of the enemy's sick and wounded, 
 besides medical stores, wagons, camp-equipage, and two 
 hundred small arms. The prisoners captured here and 
 at Port Kepublic numbered nine hundred and seventy- 
 five, the small arms about one thousand, and the artillery 
 seven pieces. 
 
 From the hard - contested but gloriously -won field 
 of Port Republic Jackson led his gallant troops into 
 Brown's Gap, where they bivouacked for two days. Early 
 in the morning of the 12th they were led down to the 
 pleasant green meadows on the banks of the Shenandoah, 
 where they rested for five days under bright skies and 
 safe from the fear of any approaching foe. On Satur- 
 day, the 14th, divine service was held in the army, to 
 render thanks to the God of battles for the brilliant suc- 
 cess with which He had crowned their arms. The ser- 
 vices were held in a w^ood, overarched by serene skies, 
 and the sound of hymns of praise and thanksgiving rose 
 from amidst mountains on whose sides the echoes of the 
 clash of arms and the cries of battle had scarcely died 
 away. The services were rendered more solemn by the 
 
174 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 administration of the holy communion. Among those 
 Avho on tliis occasion received the sacrament with the 
 lowly humility of a child was the chief of the little 
 army assembled around him^ — he who so lately had 
 fallen like a thunderbolt upon one foe after another, 
 crushing all who crossed his Avar-path. 
 
 The jaded troops were now encamped in grassy fields 
 on the beautiful banks of the Shenandoah, near AVeyer's 
 Cave. During this short period of sweet repose from 
 the din of arms. General Jackson wrote to Mrs. Jackson : 
 
 " Near Weyer's Cave, June 14. 
 " Our God has throAvn his shield over me in the 
 various apparent dangers to which I have been exposed. 
 This evening we have religious services in the army, for 
 the purpose of rendering thanks to the Most High for 
 the victories with which He has crowned our arms ; and 
 my earnest prayer is that our ever-kind heavenly Father 
 will continue to crown our arms with success until our 
 independence shall, through his divine blessing, be es- 
 tablished.'' 
 
 While Jackson's army was on one occasion resting 
 after one of his forced marches, two sentinels who Avere 
 on duty in a steady fall of rain were complaining of the 
 hardships of a soldier's life, when one of them exclaimed, 
 " I wish the Yankees were all in h— 1 !" " I do not," 
 said the other, quietly. " Why not ?" asked his com- 
 panion, impatiently. " Because, if they were, * old Jack' 
 would have his pickets at the gates before breakfast to- 
 morrow morning," was the reply. 
 
CHAPTER XL 
 
 BATTLES AEOUND RICHMOND. 
 
 Before we again take up the line of march with 
 General Jackson's little army, which we left reposing 
 amid the peaceful meadows and green pastures of the 
 Shenandoah Valley, it will be necessary to glance at the 
 operations of the two contending armies in the neighbor- 
 hood of Kichmond. 
 
 General Johnston had succeeded in transferring his 
 army safely from Manassas to the peninsula between the 
 York and James Rivers, and was early in April con- 
 fronting McClellan. With his greatly inferior force he 
 was compelled to fall back before the advances of the 
 able Federal commander, but not without contesting his 
 approach. On the 5th of May took place the battle 
 of AYilliamsburg, in which the Confederates were be- 
 lieved to have inflicted heavy losses upon the Federals. 
 This check was not sufficient, however, to delay their 
 advance long, and the inhabitants of Richmond saw the 
 theatre of war transferred to the very gates of their city. 
 
 On all the approaches to the city the Confederates fell 
 back before the steady advance of the Federals, who, 
 having now perfected their plans and arrangements, 
 seemed to have everything in their own grasp ; and in- 
 deed the Confederates appeared everywhere to be yield- 
 ing to their onward move. On the 11th of May, the 
 Virginia, which by her exploits in the mouth of the 
 
 175 
 
176 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 James liad been rendered so famous, was run ashore In 
 the vicinity of Craney Island and fired. After burning 
 fiercely for upwards of an hour, she blew up before five 
 o'clock in the morning. The destruction of this vessel 
 left the river open to the Federal gunboats as far up as 
 Drewry's Bluff, a few miles below Kichmond, where 
 the Confederates had powerful batteries commanding 
 the river. The Federals were not long in feeling their 
 way up the stream. Their gunboats appeared in sight 
 on the 15th of May, but the batteries at Drewry's Bluff 
 prevented their passage up the river, and so signally 
 repulsed them that they had to drop down the stream. 
 
 But, in spite of this repulse, McClellan at once saw 
 that the proi)er approach for attack on Richmond would 
 be by the James, now that the destruction of the Vir- 
 ginia had opened that river to the ascent of Federal 
 vessels and transports. To this idea he clung, and was 
 only prevented from changing his base at an early day 
 by the promise held out to him by Mr. Lincoln that 
 McDowell would be sent from Fredericksburg to join 
 him. This general and his fine corps were within sixty 
 miles of INIcClellan's right when that was established 
 on the north bank of the Chickahominy. Deluded by 
 the hope of soon joining hands with this able lieutenant, 
 the young commander-in-chief left this part of the army 
 on this side of that stream, and delayed taking the in- 
 itiatory steps for his change of base longer than he would 
 have done but for the false promises held out to him. 
 
 Johnston, in the mean time, continuing to fall back 
 before the Federal advances, finally settled down with 
 his army between Richmond and the Chickahominy. 
 As the Federals began to cross that stream, however, he 
 watched his chances to give them battle, and was not 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 177 
 
 long in finding one. Having learned that General Keyes 
 of the Federal army was encamped with his corps on 
 the Richmond side of the Chickahominy, he determined 
 to attack him, and did so, on May 31, with the divisions 
 of Major-Generals Longstreet, D. H.PIill, and G. W. 
 Smith. Major-General Huger was to have assisted in 
 this attack, but his division failed to get into position. 
 The Confederate advance was begun at two o'clock in 
 the afternoon, and by three the fighting was hot and 
 fierce. "The principal attack was made by Major- 
 General Longstreet, with his own and Major-General 
 D. H. Hill's division, — the latter mostly in advance. 
 Hill's brave troops, admirably commanded and most 
 gallantly led, forced their way through the abatis which 
 formed the enemy's external defenses and stormed their 
 intrenchments by a determined and irresistible rush. 
 Such was the manner in which the enemy's first line Avas 
 carried. The operation was repeated with the same gal- 
 lantry and success as our troops pursued their victorious 
 career through the enemy's successive camps and in- 
 trenchments. At each new position they encountered 
 fresh troops belonging to it and reinforcements brought 
 on from the rear. Thus they had to repel repeated 
 efforts to retake works which they had carried. But 
 their advance was never successfully resisted. 
 
 "Their onward movement was only stayed by the 
 coming of night. By nightfall they had forced their 
 way to the ^ Seven Pines,' having driven the enemy 
 back more than two miles through their own camps, 
 and from a series of intrenchments, and repelled every 
 attempt to recapture them with great slaughter."* 
 
 ^ Jcjhnston's Report. 
 
178 J^-JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 The next morning, June 1, tlie Federals were found 
 too strongly intrenched for the attack to be renewed, 
 and, after gathering up all the arms, the Confederates 
 returned that evening to their camps. 
 
 In this battle the Confederates captured ten pieces of 
 artillery, six thousand muskets, one garrison flag, and 
 four regimental colors. Their own losses in killed and 
 wounded were over four thousand, while the Federal 
 losses were estimated by their own papers at more than 
 ten thousand. 
 
 The great valor displayed by the Confederates in this 
 battle called forth the applause of the whole South. 
 General Johnston, having received a serious Avound in 
 the battle, was unable to resume command of the armies 
 around Richmond, and his post was filled by General 
 Lee. 
 
 General McClellan's forces were extended from the 
 James Kiver on the south to Mechanicsville and its 
 neighborhood on the north. His lines were pierced by 
 the Chickahominy, so that his army lay on both sides 
 of that stream, and he drew his supplies from a point 
 on the York River, with which he was connected by the 
 Richmond and York River Railroad. In order to ascer- 
 tain the exact positions of the enemy, General Lee or- 
 dered General J. E. B. Stuart — called from his initials 
 " Jeb Stuart" — to make a raid in the rear of the enemy 
 and find out how his troops were stationed. This dash- 
 ing officer set out at the head of a fine cavalry force, 
 numbering twelve hundred men, with a section of light 
 field-artillery, to make the required reconnoissance. He 
 started out from a point north of Richmond, and, riding 
 round the rear of the whole Federal army, re-entered 
 the city by the road running along the James, having 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 179 
 
 made a com])lete circuit of the enemy's lines. His march 
 extended as far to tlieir rear as the White House, where 
 his men fired three transports lying in the Pamunkey, 
 and destroyed other Federal property and stores. When 
 they reached the Chickahominy on their way back, they 
 found the bridge by which it was to be crossed de- 
 stroyed. This made their position most perilous, and 
 it was a life-and-death matter to restore the bridge as 
 speedily as possible, for its destruction told too surely 
 that the enemy were on their track and laying toils with 
 which to entrap them. With the enthusiastic energy of 
 men who felt that but one more effort had to be made 
 to secure success, they fell to work, and in a short time 
 the bridge was up, and soon a cloud of dust marked the 
 disappearance from sight of the troop as it clattered 
 along. The success of this brilliant exploit was now 
 secured, and General Stuart left his command and pushed 
 forward to report in person to the commander-in-chief 
 the brilliant result of his expedition. In a few days 
 the whole country was resounding with the news of this 
 daring feat, friend and foe alike awarding praise to the 
 skillful leader and the brave men under his command. 
 History, indeed, shows few exploits which can equal this, 
 and Stuart and his troopers w^ill live in its pages as bold 
 and dashing soldiers. 
 
 Among the many interesting incidents occurring on 
 this expedition was the death and burial of Captain 
 Latane. A body of the enemy being encountered near 
 Hanover Court-House, a squadron of the 9th Virginia 
 cavalry, commanded by young Latane, was ordered to 
 charge them, which they did in gallant style. Down 
 the road they dashed, the brave Latane ten paces ahead. 
 " Cut and thrust !" shouted the Federal commander, as 
 
180 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 he led bis troops boldly up. ^^On to them, boys!" 
 yelled Lataiie, and the meeting squadrons rushed together 
 in full shock. The front men of each column were 
 unhorsed, and the fight became instantly hot and bloody. 
 Captain Latane singled out the Federal commander, 
 aimed a blow at his head, and cut oft* his hat close to his 
 head, but the Federal, dodging the cut, rode past, and 
 as he did so discharged his revolver at Latane, Avho fell 
 dead from his saddle. The enemy soon broke and scat- 
 tered, when a private, dashing after the Federal com- 
 mander, clove his skull in twain. This short but fierce 
 and sanguinary fight being over, the victorious Confed- 
 erates dashed on in their exciting ride through the 
 enemy's lines. The body of their gallant comrade 
 in arms was left behind. It was carried to the house 
 of Mrs. Brockenbrough, where preparations were made 
 for its burial, but a Federal ofticer coming up ordered 
 the minister not to read the funeral service over the 
 dead soldier. Feeling deeply the insult thus intended 
 for her dead countryman, Mrs. Brockenbrough herself 
 presided over the touching scene of his burial, and 
 in clear, soft tones read the beautiful words of the Epis- 
 copal service for the burial of the dead. This scene — 
 the dead soldier Ivins: before the calm Viro;inia matron, 
 the sorrowing group around, consisting of the old and 
 young members of the family, from the little girl with 
 flowers for the young officer's body to the faithful slave 
 who had dug his grave, the whole illumined by the 
 last rays of the setting sun — has been the subject of 
 a picture to be found in many a Southern home and 
 cottage, and wdiich has made this touching incident one 
 of the most familiar of the war. 
 
 It was General Lee's intention to make no move against 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. Igl 
 
 McCIellaii until reinforced by Jackson, yet he knew that 
 if the Federal commander discovered that Jackson Avas 
 marching to Richmond, the authorities in Washington 
 could no longer refuse his oft-repeated request to have 
 McDowell — who was lying idle before Fredericksburg 
 — sent to him. With this heavy reinforcement to the 
 Federals, the odds against the Confederates would be as 
 great after Jackson's arrival as they had been before. In 
 order, therefore, to blind the Federals as to his real move- 
 ments, he sent to Staunton by Lynchburg and Charlottes- 
 ville seven thousand men, consisting of Hood's, Lawton's, 
 and Whiting's brigades, to make the Federals believe that 
 these reinforcements were sent to Jackson to enable him 
 to sweep once more down the Valley. This movement 
 had the desired effect, for when McClellan next applied 
 for McDowell's forces. President Lincoln replied that 
 they could not now be needed by him, since Lee's army 
 had been so much weakened by the reinforcements which 
 he had just sent Jackson. 
 
 This last officer seconded General Lee's efforts by de- 
 ceiving the enemy in the Valley as to his movements. 
 He ordered Colonel Munford, who, as we have seen, had 
 advanced to Harrisonburg, to arrest all persons going up 
 and down the Valley, and to press so closely upon Fre- 
 mont's outposts as to make him believe that the whole 
 Confederate army was close at hand. Colonel Munford 
 in moving forward met a flag of truce twelve miles north 
 of Harrisonburg, brought by a major, accompanied by 
 a number of surgeons and ambulances, to take back the 
 Federal wounded, whose release they demanded. Colonel 
 Munford, sto})ping this long train at his outposts, re- 
 turned to Harrisonburg, accompanied by the major and 
 surgeon, who enjoyed his hospitality until he could get 
 
 16 
 
182 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 General Jackson's reply to their demand. In tlie mean 
 time, tlie general havinij^ sent him word to do all he 
 could to make the Federals believe he was returning 
 down the Valley, he communicated this message to one 
 of his troopers, and told him to slip out of the village 
 and return as a pretended bearer of dispatches from 
 Jackson. The two Federal officers were very boastful, 
 and tauntingly told their host that Fremont and Shields 
 Avould soon unite and come back to sweep Jackson from 
 the Valley ; but they were soon to have their pride 
 lowered. The trooper returned in a short time disguised 
 as an orderly, and Colonel Munford received him pur- 
 posely in a room adjoining one in which the Federal 
 officers were. " What answer do you bring, orderly, 
 from General Jackson ?" he said, in a loud voice. " Why, 
 the general laughed at the demand for the surrender 
 of the wounded prisoners,'^ was the reply ; " he has no 
 notion of it." " Do you bring any good news ?" asked 
 Colonel Munford. " Glorious news !" he answered ; " the 
 road from Staunton this way is chock-full of soldiers, 
 cannon, and Avagons come to reinforce Jackson in his 
 march down the Valley. There is General Whiting, 
 General Hood, General Lawton, and General I don't 
 know who. I never saw so many soldiers and cannon 
 together in my life. People say there are thirty thou- 
 sand of them." 
 
 Colonel Munford, after listening to this, went out to 
 relate it to the citizens, in order to deceive more surely 
 the Federal officers. The town was thrown into a de- 
 lirium of joy by this news, and when the colonel dis- 
 missed the two officers with a refusal of their demand, 
 they returned rather dejected. Colonel INIunford pushed 
 after them with his advance as far as New IMarket, and 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 183 
 
 as soon as they reached their own cam]:> General Fremont 
 withdrew immediately to Strasburg, where he began to 
 fortify his position. 
 
 General Jackson, having taken these prompt measures 
 to deceive the enemy as to his real movements, was now 
 ready to act on General Lee^s orders, which were to move 
 quickly, and without letting any one know where he Avas 
 going, across the Blue Ridge and down to Kichmond. 
 So strict was he in keeping secret this move that he did 
 not reveal it even to General Ewell, his second in com- 
 mand, wdio was simply directed to move to Charlottes- 
 ville, while the rest were ordered to follow him. They 
 began to move on the 17th of June, and in two days' 
 march arrived in the neighborhood of Charlottesville. 
 The men, elated by the brilliant success of their late 
 campaign, stepped out to begin this march with the 
 alacrity of soldiers who are sure of being led to victory 
 by a beloved chief, and their march through the country 
 was a perfect ovation. Their grateful countrymen, 
 anxious to see the men who had achieved such prodigies 
 of valor, and anxious, too, to show their appreciation of 
 their brilliant achievements, thronged the line of their 
 march. This uprising of the country increased the en- 
 thusiasm of the troops, and as they moved swiftly along 
 they answered with cheers the blessings invoked upon 
 them by old men and old women, while from the hill- 
 tops the white arms of maidens waved them on to deeds 
 of greater valor and scenes of more fearful contest than 
 any they had yet witnessed. 
 
 " Where are you going ?" was the oft-repeated ques- 
 tion of the citizens to these travel-stained and foot-sore 
 soldiers. " We don't know, but old Jack does," was the 
 cheery reply, as regiment after regiment disappeared from 
 
184 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 the sight of the admiring eyes of their countrymen. Tlie 
 scenes witnessed on tliis march, the enthusiasm of the 
 troops, the outbursts of patriotism of tlie citizens, and 
 the rush of the inhabitants of all ages and each sex to 
 the highways to sec and to cheer the troops as they passed 
 by, every heart filled with patriotic devotion, every face 
 radiant with hope for the future and with the pride of 
 success in the past, and every thought directed to the 
 great events the certainty of whose near approach per- 
 vaded all ranks, the effect of the whole heightened by 
 the loveliness of the landscape and the surpassing beauty 
 of the country through which they moved, — these scenes 
 will form a brilliant page in the history of this civil 
 war, and the historian will have no more enthusiastic 
 or joyous march to describe than that of this little 
 band from the mountains to the sea. 
 
 After a day's delay at Gordonsville, caused by a rumor 
 of the approach of Shields, Jackson arrived on June 
 22 at Frederickshall, a point fifty miles from Rich- 
 mond. Here the army halted to rest. At Charlottes- 
 ville, under the strictest injunction of secrecy, Jackson 
 had confided to his chief of staff the destination of his 
 command. An advance-guard of cavalry preceded the 
 army to forbid all persons from going before it to Rich- 
 mond. Thus the appearance of the van-guard of the 
 army was the first notice the people of the country 
 through which it passed had of its approach. 
 
 After a day's rest, General Jackson rose at one o'clock 
 in the morning of June 23, and started with a courier 
 to ride express to Richmond, to have a private interview 
 with General Lee. He wished to keep this visit to Rich- 
 mond a profound secret, and few knew of his departure. 
 When he reached his outposts, the guard, not recognizing 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 135 
 
 lilm, refused positively to let him pass. The general, 
 eager to push forward, but anxious not to make himself 
 known, tried to pass first as an officer on military business, 
 and then as one bearing important intelligence to Gen- 
 eral Lee; but the faithful guard refused, saying his orders 
 were that he should allow neither officers nor citizens to 
 go through the lines. After some persuasion, he finally 
 agreed to send for the captain of the guard and let him 
 decide the question. When this officer came up, he recog- 
 nized the general, and at once let him pass ; but Jack- 
 son did not go on without praising the faithful guard 
 with great warmth for his strict obedience of orders. 
 After meeting General Lee and receiving from him a 
 full explanation of his plan of battle, Jackson returned 
 the next day to his command, with which he arrived 
 safely at Ashland, twelve miles from Richmond, on the 
 evening of the 25th of June. 
 
 Thus silently, swiftly, and secretly this little army 
 swept down from the mountains to the plains of Eich- 
 mond, to join there in the fierce contests which were to 
 rage at the very gates of that devoted city. Through 
 the information gained by Stuart in his rapid raid round 
 McClellan's camp. General Lee learned the exact position 
 of his forces, and speedily perfected his plans for driving 
 them from their intrench ments. To understand this plan, 
 the reader must have an idea of the direction in which 
 the Chickahominy flows, and also of the roads entering 
 the city. 
 
 The Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad starts from 
 Richmond on the western side of the city, the Central 
 Railroad from the northern, and the York River Rail- 
 road from the eastern. The first of these roads bends 
 towards the north and northeast and crosses the Central 
 
 IG* 
 
186 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Eailroad at Hanover Junction, twenty-five miles from 
 Riclimond. The Cliickaliominy rises west of the Fred- 
 ericksburg Railroad, and flows in an easterly direction. 
 It is crossed successively by the Meadow Bridge road 
 and the Mechanicsville road, and farther down still by 
 Grapevine Bridge. A short distance below this bridge 
 it turns more to the south, and crosses the line of the 
 York River Railroad. It continues for a few miles to 
 flow in a southerly direction, and south of the railroad is 
 crossed first by Bottom's Bridge and then by Long Bridge, 
 just above which latter point it bends back towards the 
 east, and, flowing sluggishly along in that direction, 
 empties into the James many miles lower down. The 
 country immediately on the course of this river is more 
 or less swampy, but this is particularly the case between 
 Mechanicsville and Long Bridge, which was destined to 
 be the theatre of the struggle between the two contend- 
 ing armies. 
 
 McClellau had the right Aving of his army resting on 
 the north side of the Cliickaliominy and the left on the 
 south side; several bridges and causeways erected by 
 him connected the two. His whole front was strongly 
 fortified by intrenchments, heavy guns, and abatis. The 
 approaches to his front were further impeded by felled 
 trees, so that an attack on him in that direction would 
 have resulted in a useless and cruel loss of life for the 
 Confederates, with little hope of success. To avoid this, 
 General Lee conceived the brilliant plan of crossing the 
 Cliickaliominy high up, and, after turning McClellan's 
 left, sweep down the north side of that stream, clearing 
 it of the Federal forces until he reached the point where 
 the stream bends more to the south, when, still keeping 
 along its northern, or rather at that point its eastern, 
 
BATTLES A ROUS D RICHMOND. 187 
 
 bank, he would seize all the bridges in McClellan's rear, 
 and thus cut off his retreat down the peninsula, while 
 Huger and Magruder, who confronted his left wing, were 
 to push down and attack his flanks should he attempt 
 to escape to the James, and thus effect the capture of 
 his whole command. 
 
 Everything being in readiness to carry this great plan 
 into execution, the commander-in-chief issued his gen- 
 eral order, giving a clear but short and simple statement 
 of what he wished iha different leaders and divisions of 
 his army to accomplish. The reader will remember that 
 the Meadow Bridge road crossed the Chickahominy high 
 up the stream, and that then came the Mechanics ville 
 road. The extreme left of ihQ Confederate army was 
 held by General Branch, of A. P. Hill's division, which 
 was stationed south of the Chickahominy, within a few 
 miles of Ashland, where, as we hate already seen, Jack- 
 son arrived on the evening of June 25. 
 
 In his general order, General Lee directed the move- 
 ments of the army as follows. Jackson was to move 
 forward from Ashland on the 25th and encamp for the 
 night at some point west of the Central Railroad. At 
 three o'clock on Thursday morning, the 26th, he was to 
 resume his line of march across the Central Railroad, 
 and in a line bearing to the left of Mechanicsville. He 
 was to communicate his march to General Branch, who 
 would immediately cross the Chickahominy and move 
 down the road leading to Mechanicsville. As soon as 
 General A. P. Hill heard that these two columns were 
 in motion, he was to cross the Chickahominy with the 
 rest of his division and march directly upon Mechanics- 
 ville. As he approached that point, the heavy Confed- 
 erate batteries on the Chickahominy were to open upon 
 
188 J^'^FE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 it to aid bis advance. The Federals being driven from 
 Meehaniesvillc, and tbe passage acrOvSS tbc bridge there 
 being thus opened, Generals Longstreet and D. H. 
 Hill, the heads of wliose columns Avere to be in readi- 
 ness at that point, would cross the stream and push for- 
 ward, Longstreet to support General A. P. Hill, and 
 D. H. Hill to support Jackson, — the four divisions to 
 keep in communication with one another. General Jack- 
 son bearing well to the left, turning Beaver Dam Creek, 
 which flowed into the Chickahominy below r.^echanics- 
 ville, and then to march towards Cold Harbor. They 
 were to press forward towards York Kiver Railroad, 
 closing upon the enemy's rear and forcing him down the 
 Chickahominy. 
 
 The divisions under Generals Huger and Magruder, 
 on the Confederate right, were to confront the Federals 
 there and hold their positions against attack. General 
 Jackson's left was covered by General Stuart and his 
 cavalry. 
 
 AVhile these plans were being rapidly developed, and 
 the orders for their execution issued at the Confederate 
 headquarters, was McClellan ignorant of the toils that 
 were spreading for him ? Not entirely ; for on the morn- 
 ing of the 24th a deserter informed him that Jackson 
 had left Gordonsville and was advancing to attack him. 
 Thinking it impossible that he should have escaped 
 through the seventy thousand men who, under pretense 
 of capturing him, had been withheld from his own army, 
 McClellan could not give this report full credence. But 
 the next day, in the hot engagement at Oak Grove, he 
 learned that the cavalry, which he knew was only clear- 
 ing Jackson's way before him, had arrived at Hanover 
 Court-House. The meaning of the Confederate move- 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 189 
 
 ments now became cnly too apparent to him, and at this 
 supreme moment, in preparation for which he had toiled 
 so many months in perfecting the discipline and organi- 
 zation of his fine army, he found himself still deprived 
 of the portion of his forces which he deemed necessary 
 for his success. This moment was one of great bitterness 
 to him, recognizing, as he did, the fact that his defeat 
 was certain. 
 
 He had to suffer what so many other generals have 
 had to suffer when there has been a weak or timid civil 
 power above them, able with a single stroke of the pen 
 to destroy all the hopes of a whole cam])aign. It must 
 be acknowledged that he met the trial Avith the manly 
 resignation of a brave soldier and true patriot. Seeing 
 now that instead of conquering there was left to him only 
 the humbler task of withdrawing his army safely from 
 the toils which had 1 een spread for it, he set himself to 
 work with skillful celerity to accomplish this. Clinging 
 to his fond hope of changing his base to the James, al- 
 ready the initiatory steps for that move had been taken, 
 and the combat at Oak Grove was but to beat up the 
 Confederate forces and see how the chano;e could be best 
 effected. Orders were given on the night of the 25th, 
 and with astounding audacity he cut himself off from his 
 base of supplies on the York and provisioned his army 
 for its march across to the James. All that it could 
 need was supplied, herds of cattle being in readiness 
 to accompany the army on its line of march, and vessels 
 with supplies ordered to the mouth of the James. 
 
 The night of the 25th General Jackson devoted to 
 prayer and to contemplation of the work before him. 
 Laboring under a deep sense of the responsibilities rest- 
 ing on him, feeling how much hung upon the success 
 
190 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 of the coming struggle, and yet knowing too well how 
 many accidents might occur, any one of which would 
 thwart the execution of the plan of attack adopted 
 by General Lee, the thought of sleep did not enter his 
 mind. To one general officer after another he gave the 
 necessary directions for their early advance in the morn- 
 ing, and QWGYy moment of solitude was devoted by him 
 to prayer. 
 
 An hour or two after midnight, while he was alone 
 and pacing his room anxiously, two of his generals came 
 to propose to him to move his army in two columns and 
 by two different roads instead of by one. He listened 
 to them calmly, and told them he would decide by the 
 morning. Tlie two officers left, and when they were 
 alone one said to the other, '' Do you know why General 
 Jackson would not decide upon our suggestion at once? 
 It was because he has to pray over it before he makes up 
 his mind." The next minute, the other officer, finding 
 that he had left his sword in General Jackson's room, 
 returned to get it, and when he entered found his great 
 leader upon his knees, engaged in prayer. 
 
 Jackson, as we have seen, was to have begun his march 
 by three o'clock in the morning ; and he made every 
 effort to start at the appointed hour ; but in vain. The 
 sun had risen before the march began, and, with its early 
 rays shining full in their faces, the men moved quickly 
 forward. At each cross-road which they reached was 
 a detachment of Stuart's cavalry, which silently swung 
 into line on their left and moved on, until at last Stuart's 
 whole command covered Jackson's left. At four o'clock 
 in the afternoon Jackson's command had reached the 
 neighborhood of Pole-Green Church, which stands on a 
 line with Mechanicsville, a few miles to the north of it. 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 191 
 
 General A. P. Hill had already been in position before 
 the enemy's works at this last place for several hours, 
 and was only waiting the sound of General Jackson's 
 guns on the north to make the attack. This welcome 
 sound now reached his ears, as Jackson had the woods in 
 front of him shelled in order to drive out McClellan's 
 pickets, and to enable the Confederates to repair the 
 bridge across the Tottopottamoy Creek, which lay in 
 front of them. 
 
 At the sound of the longed-for firing, General A. P. 
 Hill dashed forward, and soon carried the Federal Avorks 
 and swept the enemy from the little village and down 
 the Chickahominy across Beaver Dam Creek, where they 
 went into their strong intrenchments on its eastern bank. 
 The Confederates, impatient to drive them from this 
 position, would not wait until General Jackson's advance 
 could turn their flank and force them to retreat, but 
 attacked them that evening on their left. After severe 
 fighting, however, not being able to dislodge the Fed- 
 erals, the firing ceased, and the Confederates slept that 
 night on their arms. 
 
 Expecting Jackson to arrive on the enemy's right and 
 turn it, at early dawn on the morning of the 27th A. 
 P. Hill renewed the attack, and it was sustained with 
 great animation for two hours, when, Jackson having 
 crossed Beaver Dam above, the Federals abandoned their 
 intrenchments and retired rapidly down the river, de- 
 stroying a great deal of property, but leaving much in 
 their deserted camps. The bridges over Beaver Dam 
 being repaired, the Confederates moved quickly forward, 
 A. P. Hill and Longstreet keeping near the Chicka- 
 hominy, and Jackson and D. H. Hill still bearing to 
 the left. 
 
192 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Longstreet and Hill reached the neighborhood of 
 Kew Bridge about noon, the line of the Federal retreat 
 having been marked by the conflagrations of \tagons and 
 stores. It was now discovered that the Federals had 
 taken position behind Powhite Creek, which flows into 
 the Chickahoniiny just below New Bridge, and were 
 prepared to make a desperate stand ; and certainly never 
 did an army have a better position for such a purpose. 
 ''He [McClellan] occupied a range of hills, with his 
 right resting in the vicinity of McGeehee's house, and 
 his left near that of Dr. Gaines, on a wooded bluif 
 wdiich rose abruptly from a deep ravine. The ravine 
 was filled with sharp-shooters, to whom its banks gave 
 protection. A second line of infantry was stationed on 
 the side of the hill, behind a breastwork of trees, above 
 the first. A third occupied the crest, strengthened with 
 rifle-trenches and crowned with artillery. The approach 
 to this position w^as over an open plain about a quarter 
 of a mile wide, commanded by this triple line of fire, 
 and swept by the heavy batteries south of the Chicka- 
 honiiny. In front of his centre and right the ground 
 was generally open, bounded on the side of our approach 
 by a w^ood with dense and tangled undergrowth, and 
 traversed by a sluggish stream which converted the soil 
 into a deep morass. The woods on the farther side of 
 the swamp were occupied by sharp-shooters, and trees had 
 been felled to increase the difficulty of its passage and 
 detain our advancing columns under the fire of infantry, 
 massed on the slopes of the opposite hills, and of the 
 batteries on their crests. Pressing on towards the York 
 River Railroad, A. P. Hill, wdio was in advance, reached 
 the vicinity of New Cold Harbor about two p.m., where 
 he encountered the enemy. He immediately formed his 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 
 
 193 
 
 line nearly parallel to the road leading from that place 
 towards McGeehee's house, and soon became hotly en- 
 gaged. The arrival of Jackson on our left was moment- 
 arily expected. Under this impression, Longstreet was 
 held back until this movement should commence. The 
 principal part of the Federal army was now on the north 
 side of the Chickahominy. Hill's single division met 
 this large force with the impetuous courage for which 
 that officer and his troops are distinguished. They drove 
 the enemy back, and assailed him in his strong position 
 on the ridge. The battle raged fiercely, and with vary- 
 ing fortune, more than two hours. Three regiments 
 pierced the enemy's line, and forced their way to the 
 crest of the hill on his left, but were compelled to fall 
 back before overwhelming numbers. The superior force 
 of the enemy, assisted by the fire of his batteries south 
 of the Chickahominy, which played incessantly on our 
 columns as they pressed through the difficulties that 
 obstructed their way, caused them to recoil. Though 
 most of the men had never been under fire until the day 
 before, they were rallied, and in turn repelled the advance 
 of the enemy. Some brigades were broken, others stub- 
 bornly maintained their positions, but it became apparent 
 that the enemy was gradually gaining ground." * 
 
 But where was Jackson during these hours of deadly 
 struggle between his friends and his foes? After turn- 
 ing the enemy's right on Beaver Dam Creek, he con- 
 tinued his advance, and, meeting General Lee, had an 
 interview with that chief, who instructed him to march 
 on towards Cold Harbor, still bearing to the left, so as 
 to let the approach to that place be on his right. Jack- 
 
 * Lee's Eeport. 
 17 
 
194 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 son continued liis march, having for guides young men 
 Avho lived in tlie neigliborliood and were acquainted with 
 the roads of the country. Pie told tliem he wished to go 
 to Cold Harbor; and they, supposing he wished to get 
 there by the shortest road, on coming to a fork in the 
 road, took tlie one on the right hand, which, going by 
 Gaines's ]Mill, approached Cold Harbor on Jackson's 
 left instead of on his right. After moving along this 
 road for a mile and a half. General Jackson w^as startled 
 by hearing the sound of cannon directly in front of him. 
 Turning quickly to the guide near him, he asked, shar})ly, 
 ^' Where is that firing ?" The guide replied that it came 
 from the direction of Gaines's Mill. '' Does this road 
 lead there?" the general asked, in a startled voice. The 
 guide told him that it led by Gaines's Mill to Cold 
 Harbor. ^' But," exclaimed he, ^^ I do not wish to go to 
 Gaines's Mill ; I wish to go to Cold Harbor, leaving 
 that place on the right." ^^ Then," said the guide, *^ the 
 left-hand road was the one which should have been 
 taken ; and had you let me know what you desired, I 
 could have directed you aright at first." Thus, as he 
 had feared, from his want of knowledge of the country 
 a blunder had been committed, and at a crisis when no 
 man knew wdiat it might cost. General Jackson, how- 
 ever, bore himself with his accustomed equanimity, and 
 allowed no one to see the anxiety he felt. The column 
 was reversed with as little delay as possible and marched 
 back to the right road. When it was suggested to him 
 that this mistake might prevent him from reaching the 
 field of action in time to save the day, he said, '' No, 
 let us trust that the providence of our God will so over- 
 rule it that no mischief shall result." As it turned out, 
 the delay did not result in any serious mischief. Jack- 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 195 
 
 son continued his march, and reached the point nortli of 
 Cold Harbor in time to form a junction with General 
 D. H. Hill ; after which he pushed forward to the right, 
 and, passing Cold Harbor, ihiiy saw the enemy about 
 half a mile to the south, drawn up in battle-array. Gen- 
 eral Jackson rode forward, accompanied by many of his 
 officers, to reconnoitre the enemy's position, but very 
 soon, a heavy fire being opened upon them, they had to 
 retire. 
 
 Here again the want of good maps of the country, 
 which ought to have been made when the Confederates 
 were in undisturbed possession of it, was cruelly felt by 
 General Jackson. The thundering cannonade coming 
 from west of Cold Harbor told him that A. P. Hill was 
 engaged in fierce combat with the Federals ; but if he 
 led his troops forward to him, he feared, from the ap- 
 parent position of the enemy, that his own men might 
 be taken for the foe, and be fired into by their friends. 
 There was no time to make a reconnoissance, and the 
 forests prevented an extensive view of the country. 
 There was nothing then left but to advance cautiously 
 and fight the enemy wherever found. When he did 
 come in contact with him. General Jackson drew up 
 his line of battle on a road which formed an angle 
 with the enemy's position, so that the brigades on his 
 left (held by D. H. Hill) were near the enemy, while 
 those on the right were farther off, and had to sweep 
 around the arc of a circle to reach him, and thus had 
 some distance to traverse in striking his line. 
 
 The brigades on Jackson's left were soon hotly en- 
 gaged with the enemy, ancl, like the men under A. P. 
 Hill, they advanced to the charge with imdaunted valor. 
 Pushing their way through the morass, they ascended 
 
196 I^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 the hill and engaged the enemy in the forest. !N'ever 
 did soldiers move forward under a hotter fire; line after 
 line withered away under the storm of shot and shell 
 and bullets poured into their ranks; bnt the unfaltering 
 officers rallied their shattered troops, and the battered 
 regiments pressed on with undying courage. 
 
 While this deadly struggle was going on on Jackson's 
 left, the brigades which were on his right, being, as we 
 have seen, farther from the line of the enemy, were kept 
 idle there by a misconception of General Jackson's order, 
 — one which, but for the great intelligence and patriotic 
 devotion of his chief of staff. Colonel Dabney, might 
 have been a fatal error. That officer having been sick. 
 General Jackson was anxious to relieve him from the 
 arduous duties of that perilous day ; but, finding that he 
 could not be persuaded to leave the field of action on 
 the plea of health, he ordered him to go to the rear and 
 look for a brother whom he knew to be there. Colonel 
 Dabney obeyed reluctantly, and as he moved off from 
 the general was heard to say, " I am obliged to go, but 
 he will see I won't stay." 
 
 Colonel Dabney, a short while before, had wished to 
 carry an important message from the general to the 
 brigades in the rear, but the general, in his tender care 
 of him, refused to let him go, and the colonel heard 
 him give the order to another officer, who, it was ap- 
 parent, misunderstood the general. Colonel Dabney, 
 after making some pretense of looking uj) his brother, 
 turned his horse's head in the direction of the rear bri- 
 gades. He found, as he had suspected, that the order 
 had been given them to await further orders before 
 moving forward, instead of an order, as the general in- 
 tended, to go at once into action. There was not a 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 197 
 
 moment to be lost. One part of Jackson's force was 
 engaged in a llfe-and-death struggle with the enemy, 
 while the other was lying idle on the roadside. Colonel 
 Dabney acted in this emergency with a promptness and 
 decision worthy of his beloved chief. Going at full 
 gallop to one after another of the brigade commanders, 
 he laid the state of the case before them, and urged that 
 without delay they should move rapidly forward to the 
 aid of their comrades, for there was not a moment to 
 be lost. The commanders, comprehending instantly the 
 situation of affairs, got their troops into motion, and 
 one after another disappeared from sight as they moved 
 into the pine thickets or pierced the dense forests with 
 no other guide to the foe than the sound of the firing. 
 Such was the nature of the country, and so dense were 
 the tangled forests and thickets, that the different bri- 
 gades soon lost sight of one another, and, indeed, crossed 
 one another's track to the field of action. 
 
 In the mean time, the struggle on the field of battle 
 was raging with unmitigated fury. The Confederate 
 ranks were being rapidly thinned away, and their am- 
 munition, even, was running low. General Jackson, 
 unconscious that his order for the rear brigades to be 
 brought into action had been misunderstood, thought his 
 whole force was on the battle-field, and, seeing how slight 
 the impression they were making on the enemy, his 
 heart sank within him, and his whole bearing manifested 
 more agitation than he had ever before been seen to be- 
 tray. An eye-witness of the scene says of him, — 
 
 "He was in a state of excitement such as I never saw 
 him in, which transfigured his whole nature. His usual 
 self-possessed, business-like air in battle had given place 
 to a concentrated rage, l)y which his fiiculties were not 
 
198 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 confused, but braced. His face was crimson, the nerves 
 of his cliin and cheeks twitching convulsively, his lips 
 purple from sucking a piece of lemon Avhich he held in 
 his hand and applied to his mouth unconsciously, his 
 blue eyes blazing with a species of glare. He was riding 
 liither and thither as if almost carried away with an un- 
 controllable impulse to dash into one or another part of 
 his line of battle, but after a career of twenty or thirty 
 yards he arrested his horse with a sudden jerk which 
 almost threw him upon his haunches. His voice espe- 
 cially had undergone a peculiar change. Always rather 
 curt, it had now become actually savage, like the bark 
 of some beast of prey in furious combat: the very 
 tones made my blood tingle. Yet let not the reader 
 misunderstand me ; still there was no rant, no scolding 
 or declamation, no forgetfulness even of his ordinary 
 courtesy, and not a superfluous word or a shade of con- 
 fusion in his orders. There seemed to be in his single 
 body the energies of a volcano or a tempest, curbed by 
 his iron will. I thought then, and still think, that I 
 could conceive the cause of this unwonted excitement : 
 he believed that his last brigade had been engaged for an 
 hour, or possibly for hours, and that the enemy's force 
 was unbroken : hence his anxiety and anger. . . . Cap- 
 tain Pendleton, the assistant adjutant, and a favorite aid 
 of the general, came from the direction of the fight and 
 reported something. I surmised a message from Gen- 
 eral Lee. Jackson's answer was, ^ Very well.' After 
 a few moments he wheeled his horse upon him, and said, 
 in a tone of inexpressible sharpness and authority, ' Cap- 
 tain Pendleton, go to the line and see all the commanders. 
 Tell them this thing has hung in suspense too long. 
 Sweep the field with the bayonet !' . . . Before he had 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 199 
 
 gotten out of our sight, however, a rollhig cheer ran like 
 a wave along the line for more than a mile, and told us 
 that the day was won. As was apparent afterwards, the 
 six reserve brigades had now gotten well into action at 
 various points, and their overtasked comrades, with their 
 assistance, were enabled to drive in the enemy at almost 
 every point. The sun was now near the tree-tops.'^ 
 
 Chief among the brilliant charges of the day wiis that 
 of the Texan Brigade, under General Hood, and of a 
 Mississippi brigade under Colonel Law, of Whiting's 
 division, on the Federal left. General Jackson in his 
 report thus describes it : 
 
 " Advancing thence through a number of retreating 
 and disordered regiments, he came within range of the 
 enemy's fire, who, concealed in an open wood, and pro- 
 tected by breastworks, poured a destructive fire, for a 
 quarter of a mile, into his advancing line, under which 
 manv brave officers fell. Dashino; on with unfalterino- 
 steps in the face of these murderous discharges of canis- 
 ter and musketry. General Hood and Colonel Law, at the 
 head of their respective brigades, rushed to the charge 
 with a yell. Moving down a precipitous ravine, clam- 
 bering up a difficult ascent, and exposed to an incessant 
 and deadly fire from the intrenchments, these brave and 
 determined men pressed forward, driving the enemy from 
 his well-selected and fortified position. 
 
 " In this charge, in which upwards of a thousand men 
 fell, killed and wounded, before the fire of the enemy, 
 and in which fourteen pieces of artillery and nearly 
 a regiment were captured, the Fourth Texas, under 
 the lead of General Hood, was the first to pierce these 
 strongholds and seize these guns. . . . The shouts of 
 triumph which rose from our brave men as they, unaided 
 
200 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 by artillery, had stormed this citadel of their strength, 
 were promptly carried from line to line, and the tri- 
 umphant issue of this assault, with the well-directed 
 fire of the batteries, and successful charges of Hill and 
 Winder upon the enemy's right, determined the fortunes 
 of the day.'' 
 
 An extract from General Lee's report will close the 
 account of this fierce battle : 
 
 " The arrival of these fresh troops [Jackson's] enabled 
 A. P. Hill to withdraw some of his brigades, wearied 
 and reduced by their long and arduous conflict. The 
 line being now complete, a general advance from right 
 to left was ordered. On the right the troops moved for- 
 ward with steadiness, unchecked by the terrible fire from 
 the triple lines of infantry on the hill, and the cannon 
 on both sides of the river, which burst upon them as 
 they emerged upon the plain. The dead and wounded 
 marked the way of their intrepid advance, the brave 
 Texans leading, closely followed by their no less daring 
 comrades. The enemy were driven from the ravine to 
 the first line of breastworks, over wdiich our impetuous 
 column dashed up to the intrenchments on the crest. 
 These w^re quickly stormed, fourteen pieces of artillery 
 captured, and the enemy driven into the field beyond. 
 Fresh troops came to his support, and he endeavored 
 repeatedly to rally ; but in vain. He was forced back 
 with great slaughter, until he reached the woods on the 
 banks of the Chickahominy, and night put an end to 
 the pursuit. Long lines of dead and wounded marked 
 each stand made by the enemy in his stubborn resist- 
 ance, and the field over which he retreated was strewn 
 with the slain. On the left the attack was no less vig- 
 orous and successful. D. H. Hill charged across the 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 
 
 201 
 
 open grouiicl in his front, one of his regiments having 
 first bravely carried a battery whose fire enfiladed his 
 advance. Gallantly supported by his troops on his right, 
 who pressed forward with unfaltering resolution, he 
 reached the crest of the ridge, and, after a sanguinary 
 struggle, broke the enemy's line, captured several of his 
 batteries, and drove him in confusion towards the Chick- 
 ahominy, until darkness rendered further pursuit impos- 
 sible. Our troops remained in undisturbed possession 
 of the field, covered with the Federal dead and wounded, 
 and their broken forces fled to the river or wandered 
 through the woods. ^' 
 
 Thus ended, amid smoke and darkness, the shouts of 
 the victors and the flight of the conquered, the battle of 
 the Chickahominy. The following description of Gen- 
 eral Jackson's condition and appearance at the close of 
 this anxious day is from the pen of the eye-witness from 
 w^hom I have already quoted : 
 
 " The task was now to find the general again ; no 
 easy one in the confusion of the closing battle and gath- 
 ering darkness. The roads, the fields, were thronged 
 with bodies of infantry, trains of and)ulances, stragglers, 
 cavalry, artillery, and wagons. As we struggled hope- 
 lessly along, a voice was heard ten yards in front of us, 
 which we recognized as that of General Jackson, but 
 calm and subdued. On joining him, we found him 
 -leaning forward on the pommel of his saddle, his head 
 drooping, and his whole form relaxed with languor. 
 The fire of battle had burned out in him, and nature 
 asserted her rights to repose. After the exchange of 
 greetings and congratulations, he said, '1 must rest; 
 please find out a house where I can get some food and 
 sleep.' He then rode wearily towards the west, and 
 
202 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ultimately found a resting-place in the house of INIr. 
 Sydnor, above Gaines's Mill/' 
 
 On the morning of the next day, the 28th, it was 
 ascertained that none of McClellan's troops were con- 
 fronting the Confederates north of the Chickahominy. 
 It was not certain, however, in which direction he would 
 push his retreat, — whether down the peninsula or across 
 to the James. 
 
 To provide against the former course, a regiment of 
 Confederate cavalry, supported by EwelFs division, was 
 ordered to seize the York River Railroad. AVhen the 
 cavalry reached Dispatch Station, on that road, the Fed- 
 erals who were there withdrew to the southern side of 
 the Chickahominy and burnt the railroad bridge. Ewell 
 was ordered to proceed down the river to Bottom's Bridge, 
 to guard that point, while the cavalry were to guard the 
 bridges lower down the stream. 
 
 Thus far General Lee's admirable plan for defeating 
 and capturing McClellan's army had been well executed. 
 He had been swept from the northern bank of the 
 Chickahominy, and his retreat down the peninsula was 
 cut off. It now only remained for the Confederate 
 right wing to get between him and the James to com- 
 plete the success by the capture of the Avhole Federal 
 army. Magruder and Huger were therefore ordered to 
 use the utmost vigilance, and attack the enemy should 
 they discover that his forces in front of their commands 
 were retreating. But now came obstacles which human 
 skill could not overcome, and which were destined to 
 thwart, in part, plans that were so ably conceived, and 
 whose execution had been so brilliantly begun. Chief 
 among these was the nature of the country, which ren- 
 dered it impossible to obtain any certain Intelligence of 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 203 
 
 the movements of the Federals, covered as they were 
 by dense forests and impassable swamps. The bridges 
 across the Chickahominy were burnt by the Federals 
 as soon as they had crossed them. Late in the day of 
 the 28th, clouds of dust showed that the Federal army 
 was in motion, and later still it became apparent that 
 their line of retreat Avas towards the James River. By 
 Sunday morning they had burnt the bridges and gone. 
 The Confederate generals were now eager to pursue. 
 Longstreet and A. P. Hill Avere ordered to cross the 
 Chickahominy at New Bridge early on the morning of 
 the 29th. The Grapevine Bridge on Jackson\s front 
 was so broken down that there was necessarily con- 
 siderable delay in having it repaired, but it was suffi- 
 ciently repaired by a late hour on Sunday afternoon to 
 enable General Jackson and his staff, accompanied by 
 the Stonewall Brigade, to cross. He passed through the 
 wrecks of the camp which had been so hastily abandoned. 
 The whole country was strewn with deserted wagons, 
 heaps of half-destroyed meat and grain, ambulances, 
 medicine-wagons, axes, picks, torn clothing, vegetable- 
 cans, and every thing which an army could need, — all 
 more or less destroyed or injured. As he advanced, 
 General Jackson came up with the forces of Magruder, 
 with whom General Lee was present, watching the move- 
 ments of the enemy. It was decided upon consultation 
 that it was too late for General Jackson to brinor hjg 
 troops over the Chickahominy that night and make an 
 advance, and that he should return to them and renew 
 the pursuit early in the morning. 
 
 On reaching the northern bank of the Chickahominy, 
 Jackson soon heard the sound of guns, which betokened 
 the engagement between Magruder and the Federals. 
 
204 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Had Jackson been able to cany out General Lee's origi- 
 nal plan and cross the Chickahominy sooner, his route 
 would have brought him at this time to the rear and 
 flank of the Federal army, which by this joint attack 
 would have received a severe if not fatal blow. The 
 fight was severe, but not decisive, and the Federals con- 
 tinued their retreat under cover of darkness, leaving 
 behind many hundred prisoners, and their dead and 
 wounded. Jackson, chafing at being idle when such 
 activity was needed, gave orders for all to be in readiness 
 to move forward at early dawn, and lay down in the 
 0])en air to rest for a short time, but was awakened at 
 midnight by a shower of rain, which wetted him through 
 and through. Feeling that there would be no more rest 
 for his men that night, he ordered them to move at 
 once, while he himself rode forward; and when his 
 forces reached the battle-field near Savage Station early 
 on Monday, the 30th, they found him standing before a 
 camp-fire drying his clothes. 
 
 Kot stopping to get any food, he moved on, capturing 
 at Savage Station a field-hospital containing twenty-five 
 hundred sick and wounded. Other prisoners fell into 
 his hands at every step, until at last he sent a thousand 
 to the rear, saying, in reply to some one wdio remarked 
 that the maintenance of such a number would be a great 
 expense, " It is cheaper to feed than to fight them.'' 
 
 In the mean time, Longstreet and A. P. Hill were 
 advancing on the Darbytown road, followed by ^lagru- 
 der, while Jackson followed the road taken by the enemy. 
 Longstreet and A. P. Hill, continuing their advance on 
 the 30th, soon came upon the enemy strongly posted on 
 Frazier's farm, across the Long Bridge road. Huger's 
 route led to the right of this position, and Jackson's to 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 205 
 
 the rear. General Holmes had crossed from the south 
 side of James River the day before, and was moving 
 down the river road and coming upon the line of the 
 retreat. He was ordered to attack the column with 
 artillery. Finding that the batteries placed on Malvern 
 Hill, supported by a heavy force of artillery and aided 
 by the gun-boats in the river, commanded this point of 
 the line, he sent for reinforcements. Magruder was 
 ordered to him, but could not reach him in time to make 
 the attack that night. Huger, in the mean while, re- 
 ported that the roads were so obstructed that he could 
 not make his way to Longstreet and Hill. Jackson, who 
 was also to have been up in time to aid these two gen- 
 erals, was delayed by having his passage of White Oak 
 Swamp disputed, and they were left to engage ih^ enemy 
 alone. The fierce battle of Frazier's Farm ensued, and 
 raged furiously until nine o'clock at night. Here, again, 
 a serious but not fatal blow was given the Federal army. 
 Under cover of darkness it continued its retreat, and 
 again was lost an opportunity of annihilating it. 
 
 General Jackson, having found the bridge across White 
 Oak Swamp destroyed, could not push across, as we have 
 seen, on the 30th, for the men could not be induced to 
 repair the bridge, exposed as they were to the Federal 
 fire. Perhaps if General Jackson had not been so pros- 
 trated as he was by fatigue, he would have led his forces 
 across by two fords which were found not far from the 
 bridge. But flesh and blood could stand no more than 
 his had done, and, after an ineffectual effort to cross, he 
 gave it up, saying that night, as he dropped asleep, ex- 
 hausted and worn out, "Now, gentlemen, let us at once 
 to bed, and rise with the dawn, and see if to-morrow we 
 cannot do something:^ During the day he had written 
 
 18 
 
206 I^IFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 a note to Mrs. Jackson, expressing his gratitude to 
 Providence for the successful defense of Kichmond, and 
 venturing the hope that an honorable peace would soon 
 enable them to be together at home once more. 
 
 During that night the Federal forces were skillfully 
 and silently Avithdrawn from Jackson's front and moved 
 to Malvern HIllj which was destined to be on the morrow 
 the scene of another fierce and bloody, but to the Con- 
 federates fruitless, contest. Jackson crossed the Chicka- 
 homlny early on the morning of July 1. The wearied 
 and shattered troops of Longstreet and Hill had been 
 withdrawn, and replaced by Magruder's. Moving for- 
 ward for Malvern Hill, Jackson passed by these last, by 
 whom he was loudly cheered, and hastened on after the 
 enemy. He was not long in finding him, for he was 
 posted on a high and commanding ridge in front of Mal- 
 vern Hill. It would have been impossible for McClel- 
 lan to secure a better position to make a stand than the 
 one he there had, or for him to post his troops more 
 skillfully than he did on this ridge, wdiich towered above 
 all the surrounding country and was also under the pro- 
 tection of the gun-boats In the James River. He had col- 
 lected the remnants of his defeated but WTll-dlsciplined 
 army, and had there a hundred pieces of artillery. With 
 these guns and his whole force, he was prepared to stand 
 at bay and once more confront his assailants. Facing 
 the Confederates, this rklge sloped gently down to a 
 plain ; but to reach this plain they had to make their 
 Avay through a swampy wood. They then had to charge 
 across the plain exposed to the galling fire of McClel- 
 lan's powerful artillery, and, as they neared his formida- 
 ble intrenchments and position, that of his equally deadly 
 musketry. The line of battle was formed by Jackson 
 
BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND. 207 
 
 with "Whiting's division on his left, D. H. Hill's on his 
 right, and in the interval one of Ewell's brigades. On 
 Jackson's right two of Huger's brigades were placed, 
 and on the right of these Magruder's forces later took 
 position. So ignorant were the Confederate leaders of 
 the country, and so greatly were their communications 
 with one another impeded by the density of the forests, 
 that the whole line was not formed until late in the 
 afternoon. The same causes prevented a general ad- 
 vance at a given signal, so that General Hill, after dash- 
 ing forward in gallant style, sweeping the plain and 
 breaking and driving back the enemy's first line, found 
 himself unsupported, and was forced to yield the ground 
 so gallantly won. After several determined efforts to 
 storm the hill, brigade after brigade advancing over a 
 plain swept by a hundred guns, night put an end to the 
 conflict, and left the Federals still holding their position 
 and with the safety of their retreat now secured. 
 
 After the battle w^as over. General Jackson went to 
 the rear to rest. He found a pallet prepared for him 
 on the ground by his faithful servant in the midst of 
 wagons and ambulances. After taking some food, he 
 threw himself upon it, and was soon wrapped in profound 
 slumber. About one o'clock Generals Ew^ell and Hill 
 tried to rouse him to get orders for the coming day. So 
 sound asleep was he that it seemed almost impossible to 
 do so, and, turning away from General Hill, he said, in 
 an impatient tone, "Go away; the Yankees are all gone ; 
 you will find none of them to-morrow." His words were 
 prophetic. The 2d of July opened with a steady, pour- 
 ing rain, and all that was to be seen of the Federal 
 army, but a few days before so dazzling in the splendor 
 of its equipments and the magnificent array of its serried 
 
208 I^^^E OF GENERAL THOMAS J, JACKSON. 
 
 battalions, were the wrecks that marked the precipitate 
 retreat of a vanquished host. They had retreated during 
 the night, and in the morning the people living in the 
 neighborhood of Haxall's saw spreading over the open 
 fields a multitude of wearied and hungry soldiers, who, 
 without any organization, thought only of reaching the 
 slielter of their gun-boats. This they found at Harrison's 
 Landing, where, their position being flanked on both 
 sides by a creek and defended in front by intrench ments, 
 they were safe from pursuit of the wearied Confederates. 
 The 2d of July was spent by the Confederates In rest- 
 ing, and orders were given that the whole army should 
 set out next day in pursuit of the enemy. General Jack- 
 son Avas anxious to make an early start, but could not 
 rouse his staif; they were all Avearied out. Finally the 
 general, out of all patience, ordered his servant to pack 
 up everything, and to throw away all the coffee, Avhich, 
 having been captured from the enemy, was considered 
 a great luxury ; and he further declared that he Avould 
 arrest the whole staflP if they did not rise at once. This 
 threat eflPectually awakened them. 
 
 This move of the Confederate army proved to be use- 
 less ; the enemy Avas safe under the protection of his 
 gun-boats, the opportunity of effecting his capture w^as 
 gone, and, after sj^endlng a few days In gathering up 
 arms, the army AA^as marched back on the 8th of July to 
 the vicinity of Richmond. 
 
 General Lee, In the close of his report of these en- 
 gagements, says, — 
 
 " Under ordinary circumstances the Federal army 
 should haA'e been destroyed. Its escape AA^as due to tlie 
 causes already stated. Prominent among these is tlie 
 Avant of correct and timely information. This fact, 
 
BATTLES A ROUND RICHMOND. 209 
 
 attributable chiefly to the character of the country, en- 
 abled General McClellan skillfully to conceal his retreat 
 ■ and to add much to the obstructions with which nature 
 had beset the way of our pursuing columns. But retrret 
 that not more was accomplished gives way to gratitude 
 to the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe for the results 
 achieved. The siege of Richmond was raised, and the 
 object of a campaign which had been prosecuted, after 
 months of preparation, at an enormous expenditure of 
 men and money, completely frustrated. More than ten 
 thousand prisoners, including officers of rank, fifty-two 
 pieces of artillery, and upwards of thirty-five thousand 
 stand of arms, were captured. The stores and supplies 
 of every description which fell into our hands were 
 great in amount and value, but small in comparison 
 with those destroyed by the enemy. His losses In battle 
 exceeded our own, as attested by the thousands of dead 
 and wounded left on every field ; while his subsequent 
 Inpction shows In what condition the survivors reached 
 the protection to which they fled." 
 
 An extract from an account of this retreat, Avritten 
 by one who was with IMcClellan's army, will close this 
 chapter : 
 
 '^Huddled among the wagons were ten thousand 
 stragglers : for the credit of the nation be It said that 
 four-fifths of them were wounded, sick, or utterly ex- 
 hausted, and could not have stirred but for the dread 
 of the tobacco-warehouses (used as prisons) of the South. 
 The confusion of this herd of men and mules, wagons 
 and wounded, men on horses, men on foot, men by the 
 roadside, men perched on wagons, men searching for 
 water, men famishing for food, men lame and bleed- 
 ing, men with ghostly eyes looking out between bloody 
 
 18- 
 
210 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 bandages that hid the face, — turn to some vivid account 
 of the most pitiful part of Napoleon's retreat from Rus- 
 sia, and fill out the picture, the grim, gaunt, bloody 
 2)icture, of war in its most terrible features. 
 
 "It was determined to move on during the night. 
 The distance to Turkey Island Bridge, the point on 
 James River which was to be reached by the direct road, 
 was six miles. Commencing at dusk, the march con- 
 tinued until daylight. The night was dark and fearful. 
 Heavy thunder rolled in turn along each point of the 
 horizon, and dark clouds spread the entire canopy. We 
 were forbidden to speak aloud, and, lest the light of a cigar 
 should present a target for an ambushed rifle, we were 
 cautioned not to smoke. Ten miles of weary marching, 
 with frequent halts, as some one of the hundred vehicles 
 of the artillery-train in our centre, by a slight deviation, 
 crashed against a tree, wore away the hours till dawn, 
 when we debouched into a magnificent wheat-field, and 
 the smoke-stack of the Galena was in sight. Xenophon's 
 ten thousand o^reetins: ^The sea ! the sea !' were not more 
 glad than we. 
 
 "On reaching the river. General McClellan imme- 
 diately proceeded on board one of the vessels. He 
 appeared greatly perturbed. General McClellan met 
 General Patterson as he stepped on board, laid his hand 
 on his shoulder, and took him in a hurried manner into 
 the aft cabin or ladies' saloon. As he went in, he beat 
 the air with his right hand clinched, from which all 
 ])resent inferred there was bad news. To the astonish- 
 ment of all, it was explained ^that the whole Army of 
 the Potomac lay stretched along the banks of the river.' " 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 
 
 General Jackson always remained so closely in 
 camp that he Avas never seen by the citizens, except those 
 who happened to be near his war-path. They never, 
 however, missed an opportunity of showing their devo- 
 tion for him, and the host who could number him among 
 his guests considered his house blessed by his presence. In 
 the movements of the troops around Richmond, Jackson 
 and his staif were, on one occasion, forced to ride through 
 a field of uncut oats. The owner, seeing them, rushed 
 up in great anger, and, addressing the general, vented 
 all his rage on him, and wound up by asking his name, 
 that he might report him. To this demand the general 
 replied by saying, quietly, "Jackson is my name, sir.'^ 
 " What Jackson ?'' asked the farmer. ^' General Jack- 
 son,'' was the answer. "What!'' exclaimed the man, 
 after a pause, seeming dumfounded as the truth dawned 
 upon him, — "what! Stonewall Jackson?" '^That is 
 what they call me," Jackson replied. "General," said 
 the man, taking off his hat, and evincing in the tones of 
 his voice the deepest love and veneration, "ride over my 
 whole field ; do whatever you like with it, sir." 
 
 After the battles around Richmond, General Jackson, 
 seeing that McClellan's army was so crippled that several 
 weeks must elapse before it could be re-organized and' 
 again ready for service, was anxious that the Confed- 
 
 211 
 
212 ^-^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 erate forces should be moved northwards and threaten 
 Washington City. He urged this plan upon General 
 Lee, and, through a friend, it was also submitted to 
 President Davis. Events now took a turn which ren- 
 dered it necessary for the Confederate army to move 
 in the direction he desired. 
 
 After his defeat around Richmond, McClellan lay 
 inactive for a month at AYestover. In the mean time, 
 however, the Government at Washington formed a force 
 called the "Army of Virginia,'' out of the wrecks of the 
 commands of Shields, Fremont, and the troops of Banks 
 and McDowell. The army thus formed numbered about 
 sixty thousand men, and, being placed under the com- 
 mand of Major-General Pope, was ordered to march 
 from Alexandria upon Gordonsville, in order to seize 
 tliere the junction of the Orange and Alexandria and the 
 Centi-al Railroads. General Pope, on taking command, 
 issued an order in which he boastfully declared that he 
 had never seen anything of his enemies but their backs, 
 that his headquarters should be in the saddle, and that 
 his army should be fed from the country through which 
 it passed. He also gave permission to his troops to 
 plunder the citizens of the country, and announced that 
 those who would not take the oath of allegiance to tlie 
 United States Government should be driven from his 
 lines. After this order the counties through which this 
 army marched were of course subjected to indiscriminate 
 plunder and pillage. 
 
 To check the advance and the atrocities of this army, 
 General Lee ordered General Jackson, who had returned 
 to the vicinity of Richmond on the 10th of July, to 
 proceed with his command to Gordonsville. 
 
 While the command was preparing for this march, on 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 213 
 
 Sunday, the 13th, there entered Mr. Hoge's church in 
 Kichmond an officer, who was alone and apparently a 
 stranger to the place. He was dressed in a sunburnt 
 uniform, and, coming quietly into the church, took his 
 seat modestly near the door. He seemed absorbed in 
 his devotions and in attention to the services. As these 
 closed, it was whispered around that the stranger was 
 no other than General Jackson ; but he, not giving the 
 eager congregation an opportunity to feast their gaze upon 
 his warlike figure, passed quickly through the crowd as 
 he bowed to one or two acquaintances. He called on a 
 mother who had lost a son in his command, and then 
 returned to his tent. This was the only occasion upon 
 which the living hero was seen on the streets of the Con- 
 federate capital. 
 
 The next day he wrote to Mrs. Jackson, — 
 
 " Richmond, July 14. 
 " Yesterday I heard Dr. M. D. Hoge preach in his 
 church, and also in the camp of the Stonewall Brigade. 
 It is a great comfort to have the privilege of spending a 
 quiet Sabbath within the walls of a house dedicated to 
 the service of God. . . . People are very kind to me. 
 How God, our God, does shower blessings upon me, an 
 unworthy sinner !'' 
 
 Jackson arrived at Gordonsville with his command 
 on the 19th of July. The change from the heavy, un- 
 healthy atmosphere of the Chickahominy marshes to 
 the light, bracing air of Piedmont was very neces-ary 
 to him, for he reached Gordonsville jaded and worn 
 out, and seemed just to be feeling in their full force the 
 effects of the extraordinary fatigues and labors which 
 
214 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J, JACKSON. 
 
 he had undergone in the Valley campaign and in the 
 battles around Richmond. At Gordonsville he found 
 repose under the hospitable roof of the Rev. Mr. Ewing, 
 with whose family he spent his leisure moments after 
 the duties of the day were over. The children of the 
 household afforded him much j^leasure, and he delighted 
 to take notice of them. One of them in particular — a 
 little girl — was often caressed by him. She was fre- 
 quently found sitting on his knee, and took such pleas- 
 ure in playing with and admiring the bright buttons of 
 his uniform that she made him promise to give her one 
 for a keepsake when the coat was worn out. Nor did 
 he forget this promise to his little pet; for, months after- 
 wards, wiien the coat was laid aside, though burdened 
 with all the cares and anxieties of a great military leader 
 in the midst of a fierce war, he remembered her desire to 
 have the button, and sent it to her. It is needless to add 
 that she carefully preserved it among her most highly- 
 prized treasures. 
 
 While an inmate of Mr. Ewing's house. General Jack- 
 son was a constant attendant at family prayers, and some- 
 times conducted them himself Mr. Ewing says of his 
 prayers, ^' There was something very striking in his 
 prayers. He did not pray to men, but to God. His tones 
 were deep, solemn, tremulous. He seemed to realize 
 that he was speaking to heaven's King. I never heard 
 any one pray who seemed to be pervaded more fully by a 
 spirit of self-abnegation. He seemed to feel more than 
 any man I ever knew the danger of robbing God of the 
 glory due for our success." 
 
 Having spent a feV days in Gordonsville, he went 
 with his command into Louisa County, near by, where 
 his horses were refreshed by the abundant pastures he 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 215 
 
 found there. Fully appreciating the toil and anxiety 
 of the coming campaign, Jackson seemed weighed down 
 by the load of care and responsibility resting upon 
 him; but, though he alludes to this in his letters to 
 Mrs. Jackson, he at the same time administers a re- 
 proof to himself for his repining spirit by recalling the 
 toils of St. Paul, who " gloried in tribulation,'' and also 
 by saying how unlike a Christian it was in him to mur- 
 mur at any toil for his Redeemer. 
 
 Having received information that Pope's force was 
 very large, Jackson applied to General Lee for reinforce- 
 ments. General Lee sent him immediately A. P. Hill's 
 division. With this accession to his command he had 
 no intention of lying idle near Gordonsville while Pope 
 should collect his troops and perfect his plans for the cap- 
 ture of that place. This latter general was now at Cul- 
 peper Court-House, with only a part of his army, and 
 Jackson determined to strike him a blow before his re- 
 inforcements should arrive. For this purpose he gave 
 orders for an advance in the direction of the enemy on the 
 7th of August. Now, as on the eve of every other move, 
 Jackson devoted all his spare moments to prayer and to 
 petitions to the God of battles for guidance and sup- 
 port. His servant, Jim, had observed this, and when on 
 this occasion some gentleman asked him if he knew when 
 a battle was coming off, he replied, ^' Oh, yes, sir. The 
 general is a great man for praying, — night and morning, 
 and all times. But when I see him get up several times 
 in the night besides to go off and pray, then I know 
 there is going to he something to pay ; and I go straight 
 and pack his haversack, because I know he will call for 
 it in the morning." 
 
 The result of this advance of Jackson's was the battle 
 
216 I^IFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 of Cedar Run, which took place eight miles from Cul- 
 peper Coiirt-House. Ewell's divdsion, which formed the 
 advance, crossed the Rapidan on the 8th. Through 
 some misconception of orders, however, A. P. Hill did 
 not cross the river until the next morning, and the attack 
 on the enemy could not be made until that day. On 
 the morning of the 9th, therefore, Jackson was early 
 in motion, and when within eight miles of Culpeper 
 Court-House a body of Federal cavalry was seen drawn 
 up on a ridge in his front. This body was soon found 
 to have a heavy force at its back, and Jackson at once 
 made his dispositions for battle. 
 
 On the right of the road leading to Culpeper Court- 
 House stands Slaughter's Mountain. On the north- 
 eastern side of this ridge Jackson stationed Ewell, with 
 Lattimer's and Johnson's batteries. These batteries, 
 being by their position elevated about two hundred feet 
 above the plains below, had full sweep at the enemy, 
 and kept these plains free from them. Thus the Con- 
 federate right was secure. The centre was held by 
 General Early in advance, on the right of the road to 
 Culpeper, with Taliaferro on his left. The left extended 
 to the left of the road and alono- the edo-e of a wood. 
 This part of the line was held by the Second Virginia 
 Brigade, with the Stonewall Brigade in reserve as a sup- 
 port. In front of the Confederate left lay a stubble- 
 field, the shocks of wheat still standing, and beyond this 
 field was a wood. In Genei^al Early's front there was 
 a field of corn. 
 
 After a furious cannonade of two hours, the battle 
 began in good earnest at five o'clock in the afternoon. 
 At that hour, the Federals, pushing their skirmishers 
 through the cornfield in Early's front, advanced their 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 217 
 
 infantry to the attack, while another body of infantry 
 moved forward on his right. He thus was soon Avarmly 
 engaged on his right and front. Upon his calling for 
 reinforcements, Thomas's brigade of A. P. Hill's di- 
 vision came to his aid, and he stubbornly maintained 
 liis position. In the mean while, the main body of 
 the Federal infantry moved suddenly out of the wood in 
 front of the Confederate left, and, rushing across the 
 intervening stubble-field, fell in superior numbers and 
 with irresistible fury upon that part of the line. The 
 battalion holding the extreme left of the line, finding that 
 that of the enemy was overlapping theirs, fired a few 
 shots and gave way. The left regiments of the Second 
 Brigade, which stood next, now found the Federals on 
 their flank, and in the wood in their rear. Thus beset 
 on all sides, they fought like madmen ; but in vain. The 
 Federals fell on them in front and rear. Surely, but not 
 without desperate hand-to-hand fighting, the Confederate 
 line was doubled back. The whole Second Brigade fell 
 back in disorder; and the left of Taliaferro's brigade, 
 being exposed, yielded also to the impetuous attack of the 
 enemy, as did the left of Early's. The Federals seemed 
 to be sweeping everything before them. It was now one 
 of those moments in battle when an appeal has to be made 
 by the commanding general to the devotion of his sol- 
 diers to follow his lead and save the fortunes of the day. 
 Jackson saw it, and, having delivered a few necessary 
 orders, rushed forward, his countenance flashing with the 
 fires of undying courage and patriotic devotion. For 
 the first time during the war, he was seen to draw his 
 sword. Waving it around his head, he cried out, in a 
 voice whose ringing tones rose above the roar of battle, 
 " Rally, brave men, and press forward ! Your general 
 K 19 
 
218 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ^vill ]cad you ! Jackson Avill lead you ! Follow me !'^ 
 His cry was not in vain. His shattered veterans rallied 
 round his noble figure, which towered like that of a 
 war-god above them. With a handful of men, he rushed 
 forward to the fence which ran along the road, and from 
 behind it they poured a volley into the advancing column 
 of the enemy. Startled by this unexpected rally, the 
 Federals stao:o;ered back. The Confederates, who had 
 now all rallied at their general's command, followed this 
 blow by another, and, their reserves coming up, the 
 Federals found tliemselves in their turn attacked both 
 in flank and in rear. The Confederates pressed forward 
 with loud shouts, and drove back their lately victorious 
 adversaries. The Federal commander, in his maddened 
 attempts to retrieve the fortunes of a day which he had 
 so nearly won, threw forward a splendid body of cavalry. 
 On they rushed, men and heavy war-steeds, jarring the 
 earth beneath as they thundered along. The heavy 
 mass fell upon the Confederate front, and by its very 
 weight swayed it back. But the Confederates closed in 
 on either flank ; those in front rallied. On all sides a 
 murderous fire was poured into the splendid array of 
 men and horses. Volley followed volley. Baffled and 
 beaten, enveloped in the pitiless fire of foes eager to 
 avenge their late repulse, they soon became a mangled, 
 mutilated mass, and were pushed off the field. The 
 Confederates now rushed forward with shouts of victory 
 on the left and centre, while Ewell's brigades swooped 
 down from their lofty stand on Slaughter's Mountain 
 and fell with irresistible force on the Federal left, and 
 their retreat became a rout. Night closed on the vic- 
 torious Confederates two miles in advance of the field 
 of battle. Jackson was eager to push on to Culpeper 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF 3IANASSAS. 219 
 
 Court-House, and continued his advance after nightfall, 
 until the reply of the Federal batteries showed him that 
 Pope had been reinforced. He then ordered a halt, and 
 his soldiers bivouacked for the night. 
 
 After every battle, the excitement and fatigues of the 
 .day for Jackson seemed to be followed by a weariness 
 and prostration which in more than one instance wrung 
 from him the cry of "Rest; nothing but rest.'^ The 
 night was clear, but there was no moon, and he rode 
 back to the houses in the starlight, seeking a house 
 where he could repose. Finding, however, that every 
 one which he approached was filled with wounded men, 
 he refused to enter, saying that his place might be given 
 to some sufferer needing it more than he did. Just 
 after turning away from one of these houses, he came 
 to a little grass-plot, whose soft, inviting turf he could 
 not resist, and, saying that this must be his resting-place, 
 he dismounted. One of his staff spread a cloak on the 
 grass for him, and the weary chief threw himself on his 
 face upon it. There, beneath the stars, he slept ; the 
 din of battle faded from his ears, and he dreamt, per- 
 haps, of the distant wife, and of the home-joys, so much 
 longed for, which he was destined never again to expe- 
 rience. In his heart rested the heavenly peace of a 
 God-fearing man, and over his head hovered the angel- 
 blessings invoked upon him by a grateful and loving 
 country. 
 
 In this battle Jackson lost, in the fall of the knightly 
 Winder, one of his ablest lieutenants. While standino; 
 near a battery whose position he was directing, this 
 lamented officer was struck by a shell, which knocked 
 his field-glasses from his hand and inflicted a wound 
 from the effects of which he expired in a few hours. 
 
220 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Singularly gifted with graces of both mind and person, 
 Heaven seemed to have made him to captivate the hearts 
 of the brave men whom he so ably and so nobly led. It 
 was characteristic of the man, and a nobler song in his 
 praise than poet could sing, that when on the occasion 
 of this battle he was ordered by his surgeon, on account 
 of the state of his health, not to go into action, his only 
 reply was to buckle on his sword and place himself at 
 the head of his command. It is said that he never 
 looked so handsome as when borne, dying, on a litter 
 from tlie field of battle ; and the living still remember 
 with what regret the ncAVS of his death was received by 
 his countrymen. 
 
 Two days after the battle, General Jackson wrote to 
 Mrs. Jackson, — 
 
 "On last Saturday God again crowned our arms with 
 victory, about six miles from Culpeper Court-House. 
 All glory be to God for his unnumbered blessings! 
 
 " I can hardly think of the fall of Brigadier-General 
 C. S. Winder without tearful eyes. Let us all unite more 
 earnestly in imploring God's aid in figliting our battles 
 for us. The thought that there are so many of God's 
 people praying for his blessing upon the army which in 
 his providence is with me, greatly strengthens me. If 
 God be for us, who can be against us ?" 
 
 On the 11th of August, General Pope sent a flag of 
 truce to ask permission to bury his dead. The request 
 was granted; and during this day of truce the burial- 
 parties of the two armies, so lately engaged in deadly 
 combat, mingled in friendly converse Avhile engaged in 
 the discharge of their pious duty to their fallen comrades. 
 
 In this battle the Confederates had eighteen or twenty 
 thousand men engaged, and the Federals, according to 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 221 
 
 their own account, thirty thousand. Their loss greatly 
 exceeded that of the Confederates, which, in killed, 
 wounded, and missing, was a little over thirteen hundred. 
 They captured from the Federals one piece of artillery 
 and three colors, and several thousand small arms. 
 
 By this victory they inflicted such a blow upon Pope 
 that his farther advance was hindered until Lee could 
 bring up the remaining Confederate forces from around 
 Richmond, where they were now no longer needed. 
 Having been informed that Pope had been heavily re- 
 inforced. General Jackson sent his wounded and the 
 captured arms to the rear, and on the night of the 11th 
 of August quietly withdrew to Gordonsville. 
 
 After the battle of Cedar Pun, Burnside's corps, which 
 had been brought from Xorth Carolina by the Federals, 
 was marched to reinforce Pope at Culpeper Court- House. 
 It was also believed that McClellan's remaining forces 
 were to be recalled from James Piver and sent to Pope. 
 General Lee accordingly began to move his troops from 
 Richmond to Gordonsville. General Longstreet left 
 Richmond on the 13th of August, and marched directly 
 to Gordonsville. 
 
 In the mean time, Pope had his forces along the line 
 of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad ; but, in the 
 hope of turning Jackson's left, he moved his right up 
 towards Madison. This exposed his flank and rear, 
 and General Jackson was anxious to attack him while 
 thus exposed. As soon, therefore, as the troops began 
 to arrive from Richmond, he left Gordonsville, in obe- 
 dience to orders from General Lee, and, passing Orange 
 Court-House, halted near the eastern base of Clarke's 
 Mountain, where he massed his forces near the fords of 
 the Rapldan. General Lee, who was now on the ground, 
 
 19* 
 
222 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 was as impatient as Jackson to tlirow the Confederate 
 column forward and dash it against tlie exposed flank 
 and rear of his adversary, and accordingly he deter- 
 mined that the troops should advance across the Kapi- 
 clan at early dawn on the morning of the 18th. Could 
 he move before Pope suspected his design, he felt certain 
 of his capture or annihilation; for, shut up between the 
 Rapidan on the south, the Rappahannock on the north, 
 and the mountains on the w^est, and attacked suddenly on 
 flanks and rear by troops flushed with victory, his escape 
 would have been beyond the skill of man. But here, as 
 so often before and afterwards. General Lee's plan, owing 
 to the laggard movements of some of his subordinates, 
 could not be fully executed. It was found on the 18th 
 that the troops were not all in readiness to move forw\ard. 
 Jackson, chafing like a caged lion in sight of his un- 
 conscious prey, was eager to dash forward with such 
 troops as he had in hand. He saw^ that every moment's 
 delay involved the risk of the enemy's gaining informa- 
 tion of the intended move, the success of which Avould 
 thus bo thwarted. But General Lee, restraining both 
 his own and Jackson's impatience, put oif the advance 
 until the 20th, to give time for all the troops to be in 
 readiness. 
 
 This delay, as Jackson had foreseen, was fatal to the 
 success of the design of capturing the whole Federal 
 army, for on that night — the 18th — a party of negroes 
 made their escape to Pope's camp and gave informa- 
 tion of the movement of Confederate troops. The ill- 
 starred Federal commander instantly took the alarm, and 
 on the morning of the next day General Lee, from the 
 summit of Clarke's Mountain, whence could be seen the 
 whole Federal encampment across the Rapidan noticed 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 223 
 
 that their tents which were farthest west were gradually 
 disappearing. One by one the different commands 
 there were seen to be striking their tents and silently 
 stealing away. Pope, aroused to a full sense of his 
 danger, was in full retreat for the northern side of the 
 Rappahannock. 
 
 General Lee started at once in eager pursuit of his 
 retreating adversary, and early on the morning of the 
 20th the whole Confederate army was in motion. Gen- 
 eral Longstreet crossed the Rap i dan at Raccoon Ford, 
 while Jackson crossed it higher up, at Somerville Ford, 
 and moved rapidly on Brandy Stiition, on the Orange 
 and Alexandria Railroad. He encamped that night near 
 Stevensburg, and early on the morning of the 21st again 
 took up his line of march in the direction of Beverly's 
 Ford. On approaching the ford, the Federals were seen 
 on the opposite bank. A Confederate battery was im- 
 mediately placed in position, and, opening fire upon them, 
 soon silenced their guns. General Stuart, who, with his 
 fine cavahy division, was now co-operating with Jack- 
 son, dashed over the Rappahannock, and, after skir- 
 mishing with the enemy a few hours and capturing some 
 prisoners, returned with the information that the Federals 
 were mo\ang in large force upon his position, there. 
 Pope, as was to be expected, was in full force on the 
 northern bank of the Rappahannock and ready to dis- 
 pute its passage with General Lee. 
 
 The Confederate commander-in-chief now ordered 
 Jackson to move up the Rappahannock, cross the stream 
 high up, and then, after moving north a short distance, 
 turn to the right and by a forced march reach Ma- 
 nassas Junction, where he would be in Pope's rear. 
 Longstreet was to follow in the same path, but in the 
 
224: L^FF. OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 mean time he was to tarry in Pope's front until that 
 general, having heard of Jackson's move, should fall 
 back to face him, to whose aid Longstrcet would then 
 march in all haste. 
 
 In carrying out this plan, Longstreet dragged his 
 march out along the southern bank of the Kappahan- 
 nock until the 26tli. Pope, with his army, kept pace 
 with him on the northern bank, — the two armies open- 
 ing fire upon each other with their artillery whenever the 
 opportunity occurred, and now and then a body of the 
 Federals dashing across the river, and, after a skirmish 
 with the Confederates, again retiring to the north bank. 
 
 With his men in light marching order, three days' 
 rations in their haversacks, their hearts full of eagerness 
 for the fray, and reposing unbounded confidence in their 
 beloved leader, Jackson was far advanced on his brilliant 
 march. 
 
 On the morning of the 22d he resumed his line of 
 march up the south side of the Rappahannock, a force 
 of the enemy moving abreast with him on the north 
 side. A^ter crossing the Hazel River, a tributary of the 
 Rappahannock, his wagon-train was surprised by a small 
 party of the enemy, who captured a few ambulances and 
 mules, which, however, were soon recaptured. Contin- 
 uing the march up the stream, the command passed by 
 Freeman's Ford, which w^as found to be heavily guarded 
 by the enemy, and halted at a point opposite Warren- 
 ton Springs. There he found the bridge destroyed, and 
 every evidence that the Federals were close at hand. 
 In the afternoon. Early crossed with his brigade and 
 took possession of the Springs. Before other troops 
 could be passetl over to his support, a heavy fall of rain 
 suddenly raised the river so as to make it impassable. 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 225 
 
 Cut off from his friends, and surrounded by the enemy, 
 the darkness of the night rendering every move un- 
 certain, and the rain j^ouring down in torrents, Early's 
 situation was extremely critical. But, with admirable 
 skill and coolness, he concealed his troops from the Fed- 
 erals, whom he kept at bay with his artillery during the 
 23d, while General Jackson on his side of the stream 
 hurried up the construction of a temporary bridge, and 
 before dawn on the morning of the 24th, Early had 
 safely recrossed the Rappahannock, without the loss of a 
 single man. 
 
 While a heavy cannonade was going on between A. 
 P. Hill's artillery and the Federals, Jackson bent his 
 line of march away from the river to the village of Jef- 
 fersonton, a few miles off. He was thus lost sight of 
 by the enemy, who, through Longstreet's presence at 
 that point, was led to believe that the Confederate army 
 would attempt the passage of the river at Warrenton 
 Springs. 
 
 Disembarrassed of the enemy, Jackson's path was 
 cleared before him, and he girded himself up for the 
 race. Leaving his wagons and taking only his ambu- 
 lances, he started from Jeffersonton early in the morning 
 of August 25. He was to move SAviftly and silently 
 with his command across the Rappahannock, and then 
 northward for a short distance between the Blue Ridge 
 and the Bull Run range of mountains, when, turning 
 eastward, he would cross the latter range through Thor- 
 oughfare Gap and strike the Orange and Alexandria 
 Railroad behind Pope, between whom and Washington 
 he would thus be with his whole command. His men, 
 forgetting the fatigues which they had undergone in 
 fighting and marching since the 20th, pressed eagerly 
 
22G LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 forward. ]\Iany of them were without rations, and the 
 green corn which they had hastily gleaned from the 
 fields along their route was the only food they had. 
 Having crossed the Rappahannock, after a march of 
 twenty-five miles they ai)proached the village of Salem 
 about sunset on the evening of the 25th. 
 
 It was at the close of this day's march that Jackson's 
 men paid him as touching a tribute of devotion as gen- 
 eral ever received from his soldiers. He had gone in 
 advance of his column, and, dismounting, stood upon a 
 large stone by the roadside, his cap in his hand, and the 
 last rays of the setting sun playing around his noble 
 head and brow. His position, the magnificent repose 
 of his figure in the midst of such stirring scenes, and 
 the glow of his countenance already beaming with the 
 assured hope of victory, made him the impersonation of 
 patriotic devotion and military zeal. No wonder that 
 when the advancing column caught sight of him an 
 outburst of cheers rose from his devoted soldiers. By 
 a gesture to the officers, he at once tried to suppress 
 it, as to observe silence was one of the most necessary 
 means to conceal their movements from the enemy. 
 When the officers made his wishes known to the men, 
 instantly the words ran along the line, ^' No cheering, 
 men ; the general requests it." The noisy outburst 
 ceased, but the far more touching silent cheer followed, 
 for, amidst a silence broken only by the dull sound of 
 the soldiers' weary tread, their heads were uncovered and 
 their caps waved in the air as they passed their beloved 
 commander. As regiment after regiment and brigade 
 after brigade made this unwonted display of devotion, 
 Jackson turned to his staff, and exclaimed, with emotion, 
 "Who could not conquer with such troops as these?" 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 227 
 
 With the early dawn the line of march was again 
 taken np on the 26th, and, turnln;^ to the right on leav- 
 ing Salem, Jackson led his troops throngh Thoroughfare 
 Gap and down to Bristol Station, on the Orange and 
 Alexandria Eailroad, which place he reached after sunset. 
 He was now between Pope and AYashington, and cut off 
 from his friends in front by the whole Federal army. 
 General Stuart was protecting his right. This gallant 
 officer had attacked the enemy on the night of the 22d 
 at Catlett's Station, and, in spite of darkness and a heavy 
 storm of rain, captured several hundred prisoners. Pope 
 barely escaped capture, losing not only his uniform 
 and money-chest, but also, what was of far more value, 
 his dispatch-book, which revealed to General Lee the 
 strength of his army, its position and movements. 
 
 On reaching Bristol Station, General Jackson's first 
 thought was to effect the capture of Manassas Junction, 
 and he gladly accepted General Trimble's offer to move 
 on it that night, in spite of the lateness of the hour and 
 the fatigues of the day's long march. Trimble accord- 
 ingly advanced to the work. General Jackson sent Gen- 
 eral Stuart to his support, who, being ranking officer, 
 thus took command of an expedition which was entirely 
 successful, and resulted in the dispersion of the force at 
 the Junction, and the capture of several hundred pris- 
 oners, eight guns, and immense supplies of commissary 
 and quartermaster stores. 
 
 On the morning of the 27th, Jackson arrived at Manas- 
 sas with two of his divisions,— the third, Ewell's, being 
 left at Bristol to w^atch Pope, with orders to resist him 
 as long as he could if attacked, but when too closely 
 pressed to fall back to Manassas. 
 
 Soon after reaching Manassas, having in the mean 
 
228 ^^^'^^ ^^ GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 time driven off a Federal battery which had fired into 
 his troops, Jackson perceived a body of the enemy 
 advancing on him with great s^iirit along the railroad 
 leading from Alexandria. They had just arrived in all 
 haste by a train from that place, having been sent, with 
 tlie gallant General Taylor at their head, to clear Pope's 
 rear of the Confederate force which was now upon it. 
 They were ignorant that the said force was Jackson's 
 whole corps, and, thinking it to be only a light body of 
 horse, they dashed forward with all the impetuosity of 
 men sure of an easy victory. The hot fire which greeted 
 them both in front and in flank showed them the toils 
 in which they were now hopelessly entangled. Volley 
 after volley was poured into their ranks, until General 
 Jackson, moved by their pitiable situation, rode towards 
 them nlone and at the risk of his life and waved his 
 handkerchief as a sign that he wished to save them from 
 slaughter. Their reply was a volley of musketry. His 
 advances of mercy thus repulsed, he returned quickly 
 to his men and ordered them to finish tlieir bloody 
 work. The enemy were instantly routed and pursued 
 from the field, on which they left their commander 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 After this brief engagement, the w^eary Confederate 
 troops had leisure to refresh themselves out of the vast 
 captured stores. The two days' subsistence on green corn 
 was now followed by a feast on the spoils of the enemy. 
 The troops, after bountifully supplying their wants, 
 destroyed the remaining supplies and stores, to prevent 
 their recapture by the enemy. 
 
 In the mean time, Ewell, wdio had been left at Bristol 
 Station with orders to fall back to Manassas should he 
 be too heavily pressed by the Federals, had been attacked 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 229 
 
 by them in full force on the afternoon of the 27th. 
 Finding from the fresh troops constantly arriving that 
 their whole army was upon him, he fell back as ordered, 
 General Early bringing up his rear, and with consum- 
 mate skill withdrawing the infantry and artillery in 
 perfect order from the engagement. 
 
 That night Jackson sent one of his divisions across 
 the Warrenton and Alexandria turnpike, which it crossed 
 near Groveton, and then halted near the battle-field of 
 the first Manassas. This division was joined by the 
 remaining two divisions of Jackson's corps on the 
 morning of the 28th. His whole command, together 
 with Stuart's cavalry, was now concentrated north of 
 the AYarrenton turnpike; his left Aving rested on Bull 
 Eun ; his right extended towards the road leading from 
 Thoroughfare Gap, to which point his eyes were now 
 anxiously turned, hoping every hour to see the head of 
 Longstreet's column coming in sight. Jackson's posi- 
 tion was becoming more and more critical, for, although 
 he had been brilliantly successful in the execution of the 
 movement intrusted to him by General Lee, yet by it he 
 had roused the Federal commander to a sense of the 
 dangers thickening around him, and had placed him- 
 self with the whole Federal army between him and 
 his friends. Should Longstreet's march be seriously 
 delayed by any unforeseen danger, Jackson would be 
 crushed by the sheer weight of superior numbers. 
 
 He had scarcely placed his troops in position north of 
 the Warrenton turnpike before the enemy were seen ad- 
 vancing in full force down that road. Jackson, fearing 
 that they were in full march for Alexandria in order to 
 escape a battle, did not hesitate to risk his own safety by 
 attacking them. He could not see the game slip thus 
 
 20 
 
230 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 easily from the toils so skillfully spread for it, and he 
 instantly prepared to attack the Federal column on the 
 flank as it passed. It Avas soon seen, however, that its 
 line was bending southward away from the Warrenton 
 turnpike towards Manassas Junction. Jackson lost not 
 a moment in ordering an advance on his right, and, 
 having gained a commanding position, opened fire upon 
 the enemy. They returned the fire very fiercely, and a 
 bloody conflict ensued. The Federals obstinately held 
 their ground until about nine o'clock, when, having suc- 
 ceeded in protecting the exposed flank of their column 
 as it passed slowly, they fell back and left the field to 
 the Confederates. In this engagement two of Jack- 
 son's three major-generals — Ewell and Taliaferro — were 
 wounded. Under cover of darkness the Federal army 
 moved that night farther to the east and to Jackson's 
 left, placing itself between him and AVashington. 
 
 The morning of the 29th dawned and revealed to 
 Jackson the enemy's position and his design, which was 
 manifestly to give him battle and crush him, if possible, 
 before the arrival of succor. The danger of their situa- 
 tion was plain now to both oflicers and men of the Con- 
 federate army. Once more, and with increased anxiety, 
 all eyes were turned in the direction of Thoroughfare 
 Gap ; but there were still no signs of the approaching 
 reinforcements. Early in the day, clouds of dust along 
 the Thoroughfare road excited hopes of their near ap- 
 proach; but these passed away with the clouds of dust, 
 from which emerged the dark lines of a body of Federal 
 troops. At ten o'clock the Federals opened fire from 
 their batteries on Jackson's right, whence his replied 
 with spirit. A general and fierce engagement was 
 threatened every minute. But now once more high 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 231 
 
 and dense columns of dust rose along the road, towards 
 which all Confederate eyes were turned, and couriers 
 dashed up out of breath to announce the near approach 
 of Longstreet. His men, wearied by a long forced 
 march, pressed forward with revived energies as their 
 ears caught the sound of Jackson's guns. Men and 
 officers saw that the race was now^ to the swift, and all 
 dashed forward. Stuart's horse met them and cleared 
 their path to Jackson : the union of the two corps Avas 
 com])lete, and the game was won. 
 
 After Longstreet's arrival on Jackson's right, the 
 Federals changed the face of their attack to his left. 
 Jackson's troops were formed along the line of an 
 unfinished railroad, whose cuts and embankments thus 
 gave him an admirable line of defense. About two 
 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy hurled his dense 
 masses against Jackson's left, which was held by A. P. 
 Hill's division. In spite of a withering fire, the Fed- 
 erals pressed forward with great valor. Again and again 
 they were repulsed, and again and again they returned 
 to the charge. At one time they dashed over a deep cut 
 in the railroad and penetrated a gap in the Confederate 
 line between two brigades ; but from this point they 
 were soon driven back. To meet these furious assaults 
 the Confederates fought with unsurpassed bravery. Six 
 times the enemy charged ; six times he was driven back, 
 the combatants firing into one another sometimes at a 
 distance of not more than ten paces. The Confed- 
 erates stood firm. Along the embankments and in the 
 cuts they fought until their ammunition was exhausted ; 
 they fought with the bayonet, and they fought with 
 stones, which they found in the cuts where they stood. 
 Now and then a soldier would volunteer to carry from a 
 
232 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 staff-officer in the rear a small supply of ammunition, 
 and, running through a heavy fire, would drop down 
 like an angel into the midst of some party whose ammu- 
 nition was exhausted. 
 
 These brave men, after being under fire for seven 
 hours, were now yielding, and were replaced by Early's 
 brigade, who, finding the enemy occupying the railroad, 
 dislodged them and drove them across the field, pur- 
 suing for a short distance, when the Confederate troops 
 were recalled, and the combat ceased for the day on that 
 end of the line. 
 
 In the mean time, Longstreet, whose line, being at 
 right angles to Jackson's, fronted eastward, was informed 
 by General Stuart that the enemy was approaching from 
 Bristol in heavy columns on his right. This proved to 
 be a corj^s of McClellan's army which was being hur- 
 ried to Pope's support. Longstreet immediately dis- 
 posed his troops to meet them, while the indefatigable 
 Stuart made his troopers dash up and down the Thor- 
 ouirhfare road, drao^o-ino- brush and raisino; such clouds 
 of dust that the enemy, thinking a large body was coming 
 to Longstreet's aid, fired a fcAV ineffectual shots at him, 
 and, moving around to the east, joined the forces in front 
 of Jackson. 
 
 Longstreet now moved forward, and was engaged in 
 combat until nine o'clock at night, capturing many pris- 
 oners, a piece of artillery, and several regimental stand- 
 ards. Finding the enemy heavily massed on his front, 
 he withdrew to his original lines at one o'clock in the 
 morning; and it was this Avithdrawal which made Pope 
 telegraph to his Government that the day had been vic- 
 torious for the Federal arms. 
 
 The combat at length died away along the whole line. 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 233 
 
 and the wearied but heroic Confederates sank to sleep, 
 arms in hand, along the lines ^vhich they had so bravely 
 held. But, before the whole army was lost in slumber, 
 small groups of soldiers and officers were seen scattered 
 here and there through the woods, and the solemn tones 
 of the chaplains in their midst sliowed that they were 
 reporting to that great Captain into whose presence many 
 of them w^ould have entered and found the heavenly 
 rest before the next day's sun had set. 
 
 Wearied and worn, travel-stained and begrimed with 
 the smoke and dust of battle, Jackson and his officers, as 
 they assembled around him that night, presented a group 
 whose pale and stern countenances betokened too well 
 the fatigues and anxieties of the past week and their 
 appreciation of the fierce struggle of the morrow. The 
 dead and the dying surrounded their bivouac in the 
 open air, and little was said beyond inquiries and re- 
 marks about the events of the day which had been so 
 dearly won. Jackson's surgeon, Dr. McGuire, in speak- 
 ing to him of the fierce struggle, said, ^^ General, this day 
 has been won bv nothinp; but stark and stern fio-ht- 
 ing." " No/' said Jackson, earnestly ; '^ it has been 
 won by nothing but the blessing and protection of 
 Providence." 
 
 General Lee, who had arrived upon the scene of action 
 with Longstreet, now had his foe in his iron grasp, for 
 he could not retreat in safety in front of the Confederate 
 army, and the Southern leader knew well that in a 
 battle victory must perch on his banners. The morning 
 of the 30th, therefore, found Lee calmly awaiting in 
 the lines of the previous day the enemy's attack. The 
 Federals now had Bull Run at their backs and the 
 Confederate army confronting them. The Confederate 
 
 20* 
 
234 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 line of battle was concave, — Jackson, as we have seen, 
 holding the left and Longstreet the right. The artil- 
 lery was placed on a fine position in the centre. Thus, 
 with its arms spread out, it was prepared to receive the 
 Federals in a deadly grasp. 
 
 The Federals did not begin their regular attack upon 
 the Confederate lines until about four o'clock in the 
 afternoon, when, moving from under the cover of a 
 wood, they dashed gallantly forward to the charge. Line 
 after line, brigade after brigade, swept up to the Confed- 
 erate lines. But the brave troops who defended them held 
 them against the repeated and determined assaults of the 
 enemy. As on the previous day, the fiercest fighting 
 Avas in and around the cuts, — the Federals obstinately 
 endeavoring to dislodge the Confederates from them, and 
 the Confederates holding them gallantly against fearful 
 odds. 
 
 In front of one of these cuts, where the struggle was 
 intensely fierce, and at times almost hand to hand, a 
 Federal flag Avas seen to hold its position for half an 
 hour within ten yards of a Confederate regimental flag. 
 It went down six or eight times, but was as often raised 
 and waved aloft. The Confederates again supplied the 
 want of ammunition by stones, with which they fought 
 furiously and effectively. A Confederate officer, in his 
 report of this battle, mentions having seen a Federal sol- 
 dier killed by a stone thrown by one of his lieutenants. 
 The battle raged with this intense fury on Jackson's lines 
 for about half an hour, when, finding that they were 
 giving way at several points, Longstreet was ordered to 
 reinforce him. But, before he received this order, that 
 able commander, finding that the enemy's advancing 
 lines were exposed to his artillery fire, thundered away 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 235 
 
 at them, and by the shinghter which lie made relieved 
 Jackson's men from the pressure upon them. The 
 enemy now began to yield, and a general advance was 
 ordered. The two wings of the Confederate army began 
 to close in upon the Federals, who were now literally in 
 the jaws of death, while the artillery poured an unre- 
 lenting fire into their ranks. Their retreat soon became 
 a rout, and their mao-nificent reo;iments and brio-ades 
 dissolved into a horde of men seeking safety in the 
 shelter of the woods to which they were fleeing. In- 
 closed as they were between Bull Run and the Confed- 
 erate lines, the slaughter was immense, and ceased only 
 when night put an end to it. Under cover of darkness 
 the Federals escaped across the stream, and a storm 
 which had been gathering for hours and overhanging 
 the scene of carnage burst with pitiless force upon the 
 heads of friend and foe. The day which had been spent 
 by the wearied soldier in a fearful struggle was followed 
 by a night in which but little rest could be found beneath 
 the fierce pelting of the storm. 
 
 Jackson's men rose from the "ground on the mornin": 
 of the 1st of September drenched with rain and stiff 
 with cold. They soon had orders to march, and in a 
 few hours were under way. The enemy having re- 
 formed their lines on the heights of Centreville, and 
 presenting once more a front, Jackson was ordered to 
 turn their position. As soon, however, as they found 
 that he was moving for that piu'pose, they resumed 
 their line of march ; but when they approached Fairfax 
 Court-House the indefatigable Jackson was found ready 
 to fall on them. A sharp engagement, known as that 
 of Ox Hill, followed, in which the Federals, though 
 successful for a few moments, were finally repulsed, and 
 
236 J^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 they resumed their line of retreat. Here, as upon the 
 bloody field of the evening before, the roar of a thun- 
 der-storm succeeded that of the battle, and once more 
 the soldiers slept upon the wet earth. 
 
 The Confederates lost in this succession of battles 
 over seven thousand men, of which number nearly five 
 thousand belonged to Jackson's corps. On the 1st of 
 September he wrote to Mrs. Jackson, — 
 
 *' God in his providence has again placed us across 
 Bull Run ; and I pray that He will make our arms en- 
 tirely successful, and that the glory will be given to his 
 holy name, and none of it to man. 
 
 " God has blessed and preserved me through his great 
 mercy.'' 
 
 One of Jackson's officers, being at home on furlough, 
 applied. for an extension of his leave of absence. A 
 member of his family had just died, and another Avas 
 dangerously ill, and it seemed almost cruel for him to 
 leave just then his home, so darkened by domestic afflic- 
 tion. Jackson felt for him keenly, and there could be 
 no more striking proof of the warmth of his aifections, 
 and of his high sense of duty, than is given in the fol- 
 lowing admirable letter written in reply to this officer, 
 asking, under such painful circumstances, for an exten- 
 sion of his furlough : 
 
 ^^ My dear Major, — I have received your sad letter, 
 and wish I could relieve your sorrowing heart; but 
 human aid cannot heal tlie wound. From me you have 
 a friend's sympathy, and I wish the suffering condition 
 of our country permitted me to show it. But we must 
 think of the living, and of those who are to come after 
 us, and see that, with God's blessing, we transmit to 
 
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 237 
 
 them the freedom we have enjoyed. What Is life with- 
 out honor? Degradation is worse than death. It is 
 necessary that you should be at your post immediately. 
 Join me to-morrow morning. 
 
 " Your sympathizing friend, 
 
 "Thomas J. Jackson." 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SHARPSBURG. 
 
 Ox the mornins: after the battle of Ox Hill the 
 Federal army had entirely disappeared from sight, and 
 was reported to have passed Fairfax Court-House in 
 full retreat for Washington. Thus the two armies of 
 McClellan and Pope returned broken and shattered to 
 the shelter of the fortified Federal capital, which they 
 had so lately left great in numbers, splendid in equip- 
 ment, and believing that they could easily sweep every 
 obstacle from their path. The theatre of war was now 
 removed from the interior of the State to the frontier ; 
 and in order to prolong this state of affairs, in every 
 way so desirable to the Confederates, General Lee deter- 
 mined to cross the Potomac and draw the enemy away 
 from his base of supplies. Lee^s troops, feeble in trans- 
 portation, lacking clothing, and thousands of them des- 
 titute of shoes, with but a scanty supply of the materiel 
 of war, were poorly equipped for an invasion. But 
 their commander had such confidence in their fortitude, 
 energy, and courage that he determined to carry the war, 
 even under these disadvantageous circumstances, across 
 the Potomac, his hope bei ug that the Federals might at 
 least be detained on the frontier until the approach of 
 winter should make their advance into Virginia difficult, 
 if not impossible. 
 
 The Confederate army was then put in motion for the 
 238 
 
SHARPSBURG. 239 
 
 Potomac, and on the morning of the second day after 
 the fiofht at Ox Hill General Jackson and his braves— 
 who were now jestingly called " foot-cavalry/' from the 
 rapidity of their marches — moved forward, withont 
 having stopped for more than a day's rest after their 
 long forced marches and hard-fought battles. The first 
 day's march brought them to Dranesville, the second 
 to Leesburg. The wliole country now resounded with 
 Jackson's fame, and to gain a glimpse of him was the 
 great desire of all those within whose reach he passed. 
 Old and young vied with one another in doing him 
 honor. The glory which his brilliant achievements had 
 shed upon the Confederate arms, his devoted patriotism, 
 and the singular piety and purity of his character, made 
 him the darling of the nation. The devotion of his 
 countrymen for him was shown in the many touching 
 attentions which he received ' whenever his line of 
 march led him near their homes. On the occasion of 
 this march through Leesburg he passed a house in the 
 doorway of Avhich stood a lady. Hearing who he was, 
 in her enthusiasm she ran down the steps and out into 
 the middle of the street, where, hastily taking off her 
 scarf, she cast it before the general's horse. Not under- 
 standing her motive, and too modest to think that it was 
 to honor him, the general reined up his dun Avar-horse 
 and looked in amazement from the lady, who had now 
 retreated to the side- walk, to the scarf spread in front 
 of his horse's feet. One of the young officers attached 
 to his staff, and close behind him, seeing his bewilder- 
 ment, said to him, in a stage Avhisper, " She means you 
 to ride over it, general." A sweet smile at once over- 
 spread his face as he comprehended the honor intended 
 him, and, spurring his horse forward, he gracefully took 
 
240 I^JJ^E OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 off his hat as his steed bounded over the scarf. In 
 more than one instance, on his march through parts of 
 the country where he was known only by fame, people 
 rushed forward and threw their arms around his horse's 
 neck. 
 
 Jackson's command bivouacked on the 4th of Sep- 
 tember near the Big Spring, between Leesburg and the 
 Potomac, and on the 5th they crossed that river at 
 White's Ford. At this point the Potomac is about half 
 a mile wide, and flows over a level, pebbly bottom ; and 
 here for hours the troops were to be seen crossing the 
 stream. The whole army rushed forward as they came 
 in sight of the river; the infantry waded cheerfully 
 through its waters, and the northern bank resounded 
 w^ith enthusiastic cheers as one detachment after another 
 planted their feet on the Maryland shore. That night 
 they bivouacked near the Three Springs, and the next 
 day reached the vicinity of Frederick City, in Maryland. 
 General Jackson w^as met by a committee of citizens, 
 who presented him with a horse. At Frederick City he 
 rested from the 6th to the 10th of September. As soon 
 as he had crossed the Potomac, the most stringent orders 
 against straggling from the ranks and against the depre- 
 dation of property were issued ; and so excellent was the 
 discipline in his command that the people of the country 
 suffered in no way from the presence of the Confederate 
 troops. The day after his arrival in Frederick City 
 being Sunday, Jackson attended services held in the 
 German Reformed Church; and the citizens of the place 
 attended their various churches with as perfect a feeling 
 of security as if there had been no invading army in 
 their midst. 
 
 In the mean time, the Government at Washington had 
 
SHARPSBURG. 241 
 
 been filled with alarm at the passage of the Potomac by 
 the Confederate army, and General Hal leek, the com- 
 mander-in-chief, trembled for the safety of tlie capital. 
 President Lincoln was no less alarmed, and, at his verbal 
 request. General McClellan was at once placed in com- 
 mand of the Federal army. As General Lee had fore- 
 seen, this commander immediately withdrew all of his 
 troops to the north bank of the Potomac. General Lee 
 had also taken for granted that the Federal troops at 
 Harper's Ferry would at once be recalled to Washington 
 upon his advance into Maryland becoming known. And 
 indeed McClellan urged that they should be, but Gen- 
 eral Halleck declined ; and now, with the Confederate 
 army between Washington and Harper's Ferry, all com- 
 munication between the two places was interrupted. 
 
 The whole Confederate army having assembled around 
 Frederick, General Lee called a council of war in which 
 to consult his generals as to the next step to be taken. 
 It had been his intention to carry his army to Western 
 Maryland, establish his communications with Richmond 
 through the Valley of the Shenandoah, and, by threat- 
 enino; Pennsylvania, induce the Federal commander to 
 follow, and thus draw him from his base of supplies. 
 He had supposed that the advance upon Frederick would 
 lead to the evacuation of Martinsburg and Harper's 
 Ferry, thus opening the line of communication through 
 the Y alley. This not having occurred, two plans were 
 left to the Confederates : one, to disregard Harper's 
 Ferry for the present, and, choosing a good position, at- 
 tack McClellan as he advanced ; the second, to move the 
 army by diflFerent routes through the mountains into 
 Western Maryland, one part of the army to reduce 
 Harper's Ferry, and then the different corps to concen- 
 L 21 
 
242 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 trate and join battle with McClellan. General Jackson 
 was in favor of the first plan, but General Lee of the 
 second, which it was determined to follow. To accom- 
 plish the captnre of Harper's Ferry with tlie least pos- 
 sible delay, General Jackson was ordered to proceed 
 with his command to ^lartinsburg, and, after driving 
 the enemy from that place, to move down the south 
 side of the Potomac upon Harper's Ferry. 
 
 To carry out this plan, Jackson left Frederick on the 
 10th of September, and, passing rapidly through Mid- 
 dletown, Boonsboro', and Williamsport, recrossed the 
 Potomac into Virginia on the 11th. The Federal com- 
 mander in Martinsburg, on hearing of Jackson's approach, 
 evacuated the town on the night of the 11th, and, retreat- 
 ing to Harper's Ferry, fell into the trap which the Con- 
 federate commander-in-chief had set for him. Jackson's 
 cavalry entered the town on the morning of the 12th. 
 
 Thus in three summer months he had swept down 
 the Valley, winning the battles of Cross Keys and Port 
 Republic, had fought through the seven days' fighting 
 around Richmond, had turned north to win the battle 
 of Cedar Mountain and to see victory perch once more 
 on the Confederate banners in the second battle of 
 Manassas, and now completed the circuit by entering 
 Harper's Ferry at the mouth of the Valley. 
 
 In that loved Valley the trumpet of his fame had 
 given forth no uncertain sound ; hi its defense his most 
 glorious victories had been achieved, and now, when he 
 returned with fresh laurels interwoven with those won 
 there, he was welcomed back by its grateful people with 
 the wildest enthusiasm. A party of ladies, moved by 
 their admiration for him and their desire to see him, 
 visited him at his headquarters and extended to him the 
 
SHARPSBVRG. 243 
 
 most cordial greetings. One of them begged for one 
 of his uniform buttons. His crimsoned face showed his 
 embarrassment, and, saying, ^'Really, ladies, this is the 
 first time I was ever surrounded by the enemy," he 
 slipped from their midst. 
 
 Jackson paused but a short time in Martinsburg, and, 
 pressing forward the same day, the head of his column 
 came in sight of the enemy about eleven o'clock the next 
 morning (13th), and found them drawn up in force upon 
 Bolivar Heights. These heights, extending from near 
 the Shenandoah to the Potomac, shut Harper's Ferry 
 up in the triangle formed by the union of these two 
 rivers. 
 
 General Lee, in his admirable plan for the capture of 
 the Federal force at Harper's Ferry, had ordered Gen- 
 eral McLaws to advance and seize the INIaryland Heights, 
 on the northern side of the Potomac, and General Walker 
 to cross the river and seize the Loudon Heights, on the 
 Yircrinia side. These movements would shut the Fed- 
 erals up in Harper's Ferry, with no chance of escape. 
 General Jackson, having completed the circuit of sixty 
 miles round by Martinsburg from Frederick to Harper's 
 Ferry, was anxious to know Avhether Generals McLaws 
 and AValker had arrived at their respective posts, to 
 reach which required only one day's march. He ac- 
 cordingly signaled the Loudon and INIaryland Heights, 
 and, receiving no reply, found that he had reached the 
 post assigned him before they had attained theirs. He 
 sent couriers at once to the Maryland and Loudon 
 Heights to report the arrival of Confederate troops there. 
 They returned during the night with the intelligence 
 that INIcLaws, having swept the enemy from the ]\Iary- 
 land Heights, had taken possession of that point about 
 
244 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 half- past four o'clock in the afternoon (13th), and that 
 General AValker liad seized Loudon Pleights the same 
 evening. The Federals were now beset on all sides. 
 The night of the 13th, and part of the day of the 14th, 
 were spent by General McLaws in cutting a road by 
 which artillery could be taken up to the ^laryland 
 Heights. By two o'clock in the afternoon he had four 
 pieces in position, and he and Walker poured shot and 
 shell into Har})er's Ferry and the enemy's camp, spread- 
 ing great consternation among them. The batteries 
 from the heights, however, could not reach the Federals 
 in their works alono^ Bolivar Heisrhts. On the extreme 
 left of the enemy's line General Jackson observed an 
 eminence held only by infantry. He ordered General 
 Pender, of Hill's division, to seize this position, while 
 Branch and Gregg Avere directed to march along the 
 river under cover of the night, taking advantage of the 
 ravines cutting the banks of the stream, and establish 
 themselves on the plain to the left and rear of the 
 enemy's position. Both moves Avere successfully accom- 
 plished, and the dawn of day found the Confederates in 
 rear of the Federal line of defense. 
 
 At daybreak, General Lawton, who was to support 
 General Hill's advance, moved forward and attacked in 
 front and flank, while McLaws and Walker thundered 
 down upon them from their lofty positions. After an 
 hour's resistance, the Federals hoisted the white flag, and 
 in a short time the Confederates on the Loudon Heights 
 had the extreme satisfaction of seeing the head of General 
 A.'P. Hill's column approach the town to take jDossession 
 of it. 
 
 •By the capture of Harper's Ferry, eleven thousand 
 prisoners, seventy-three pieces of artillery, and thirteen 
 
SHARPSBURG. 245 
 
 thousand small arms fell into the hands of the Confed- 
 erates, besides stores of different kinds. 
 
 Most liberal terms of surrender were allowed the pris- 
 oners by General Jackson. Tlie officers were permitted 
 to retain their side-arms and all their personal effects on 
 giving parole. They also had wagons and horses lent 
 them to carry their baggage into the Federal lines. The 
 privates were released on parole. 
 
 In the mean time, grave events for the Confederate 
 army had occurred in IMaryland, which it is necessary 
 
 noAV to notice. 
 
 When Jackson began his march from Frederick on 
 the 10th, Longstreet and D. H. Hill started the same 
 day, and, crossing the South ^Mountain, moved towards 
 Boonsboro'. General Stuart was left east of the Blue 
 Ridge, to watch the movements of the enemy. General 
 Hill haked near Boonsboro', to prevent the enemy from 
 escaping from Harper's Ferry by Pleasant Valley, and 
 also to be in supporting distance of the cavalry; while 
 General Lono-street continued his march to Hagerstown. 
 When the Confederates left Fredericktown, the advance 
 of the Federals had been so slow that it w^as thought 
 that Harper's Ferry could be reduced and the Confed- 
 erate army again concentrated before it would be called 
 on to confront the Federals. But an unfortunate acci- 
 dent hurried up McClellan's advance and endangered 
 the verv existence of the victorious Confederate army. 
 A copy 'of General Lee's order directing the movements 
 of his'^army from Fredericktown was dropped in the 
 streets of that town, and fell into McClellan's hands. 
 This paper revealing to him General Lee's plans and 
 the disposition of his troops, he at once determined 
 to disregard the timid orders from Washington urgmg 
 
246 I^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 caution, and, pressing forward witli vigor, to fall on his 
 adversaries before they conld concentrate and present 
 to him a i-olid front. The situation of the Confederate 
 army was now one of extreme peril, but not too great, 
 however, for the skill of its heroic commander or for 
 tlie courage of its brave troops. McClellan began at once 
 to push forward, and on the afternoon of the 13th Avas 
 reported to be approaching the pass in South Mountain 
 on the Boonsboro' and Fredericktown road. The Con- 
 federate cavalry fell back slowly before him, constantly 
 retarding his advance, and thus securing time to the 
 Confederates for preparations to oppose him. Should 
 he succeed in penetrating the mountains here, he would 
 be able to march down Pleasant Valley, fall upon Mc- 
 Laws's rear, and relieve the garrison of Harj^er's Ferry. 
 General D. H. Hill, being, as we have seen, near Boons- 
 boro', sent back, on the loth, the brigades of Garland 
 and Colquitt to defend the pass, and advanced later with 
 the rest of his division on hearing that the enemy was 
 near in full force. Early on the morning of the 14th, 
 the enemy, by a road south of the Boonsboro' and Fred- 
 ericktown road, attempted to force their way to the rear 
 of Hill's position. A fierce conflict ensued, in which the 
 enemy were repulsed, but the gallant Garland fell. 
 
 For five hours Hill's small force repelled the repeated 
 assaults of the Federals and checked their advance. In 
 the mean time, Longstreet, hearing of his danger, hur- 
 ried from Hagerstown, and arrived on the scene of action, 
 with his troops much exhausted, at between three and 
 four P.M. The fighting continued to be spirited until 
 night. On the south of the turnpike the Federals were 
 driven back some distance, and their attack on the centre 
 was repulsed with loss. Their greatly superior numbers, 
 
SHARPSBURG. 247 
 
 however, enabled them to stretch beyond both the Con- 
 federate flanks, and, ascending the mountain, to press 
 down upon their left, which was gradually forced back; 
 while beyond their right a body of the enemy entered 
 Pleasant Valley througli Crampton's Gap, where they 
 were only five miles in rear of McLaws. 
 
 General Lee now determined to withdraw to Sharps- 
 burg, where he would be on McClellan's flank and rear 
 should he attack McLaws, and in a position, too, to con- 
 centrate his own army. The move was effected safely 
 and without interference on the part of the enemy, who 
 were so harassed in their advance by Fitz-Hugh Lee's 
 cavalry that they did not appear on the west side of the 
 pass at Boonsboro' until about eight o'clock in the 
 morning of the 15th. In i\\Q mean time, McLaws, 
 with untiring energy, held the Federals in check at 
 Crampton's Gap, while from the. Maryland Heights his 
 artillery thundered down upon Harper's Ferry. The 
 surrender of that place was received at nine o'clock on 
 the morning of the 15th of September. General Jack- 
 son, having been informed by General Lee of the grave 
 aspect which affliirs had assumed, and having been or- 
 dered by him to hasten with all speed to Sharpsburg, 
 left General A. P. Hill to receive the surrender of the 
 Federal troops, and set out with the rest of his com- 
 mand for that place by Shepherdstown, leaving orders 
 for Walker and McLaws to follow. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of Longstreet and D. H. Hill 
 at Sharpsburg on the morning of the 15th, the welcome 
 news of the fall of Harper's Ferry was received there, 
 and reanimated the courage of the troops. Early on 
 the 16th General Jackson arrived, and General Walker 
 came on the evening of the same day. General Mc- 
 
248 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Laws's movements were embarrassed by the presence of 
 the enemy at Crarapton's Gap, so that he did not reach 
 Sharpsburg until the 17th, at a most critical hour of the 
 battle. 
 
 Sharpsburg is a village situated two and a half miles 
 east of the Potomac, and one mile west of Antietam 
 Creek. When they reached this place on the morning 
 of the 15th, Longstreet and Hill were placed in position 
 on a range of hills lying between the town and the creek, 
 and nearly parallel to the course of the stream, — Long- 
 street on the right of the road leading across the creek to 
 Boonsboro^, and Hill on the left. McClellan followed 
 the Confederates so slowly, and was so harassed in his 
 advance by Fitz-Hugh Lee's cavalry, that he did not 
 appear on the opposite side of the Antietam until about 
 two in the afternoon of the 15th. During the rest of 
 the day the batteries on each side were slightly engaged. 
 
 On the 16th the artillery fire began in earnest, and 
 was kept up with animation the whole day. The Fed- 
 erals crossed the Antietam and threatened the Confed- 
 erate left. In anticipation of this move. General Lee 
 had ordered Hood to take position on Hill's left, and 
 now General Jackson on his arrival on this day was 
 ordered to place himself on Hood's left, — his own left 
 extending towards the Potomac, — v/hile General AValker 
 went to Longstreet's right. As evening approached, the 
 enemy bore down heavily with his infantry upon Hood, 
 while his artillery thundered away most vigorously. 
 His attack was, however, gallantly repulsed, and the two 
 armies, confronting each other, slept upon their arms that 
 night, to renew the bloody contest with the coming day. 
 
 At early dawn on the 17th the Federal artillery opened 
 with great spirit from both sides of the Antietam, the 
 
SHARPSBURO. 249 
 
 heaviest fire being directed against the Confederate left, 
 which, as we have seen, was held by Jackson. By sun- 
 rise the Confederate skirmishers were driven in, and the 
 enemy appeared in immense numbers on Jackson's front. 
 His little band, foot-sore and Avearied out by long marches 
 and hard fightings now numbered only seven thousand 
 men. Against these McClellan liurled the forces under 
 Hooker, Mansfield, and Sumner, numbering, by his own 
 statement, forty-four thousand men, and supported by 
 five or six batteries of rifled guns. This terrible on- 
 slaught was sustained by Jackson's veterans Avith the 
 utmost resolution and gallantry, and for several hours 
 the battle raged Avith great fury and A^arying fortune. 
 The murderous fire of the Federals made sad havoc in 
 the Confederate ranks. Three brigadiers, one after the 
 other, Avere placed hors du combat. The gallant General 
 Starke Avas killed. Officer after officer fell. Yet the 
 Federal lines w^re repeatedly broken; but, fresh troops 
 being brought up to replace those AAdio Av^ere defeated, 
 Jackson's troops AA^ere in turn forced back. His shat- 
 tered lines, reduced to a shadoAv, sullenly fell back, turn- 
 ing to make a stand Avherever the ground offered a good 
 position. 
 
 Jackson ordered Early to replace A\n'th his brigade a 
 di\Msion Avhich, its ammunition being exhausted, had to 
 be Avithdrawn. Fragments of other commands attached 
 themselves to his brigade and AA'ent into action. Hood 
 and Early now held their ground against OA^erwhelming 
 odds. The enemy's lines AA^ere broken ; but, being rein- 
 forced, he again pressed forAvard, forced back the Confed- 
 erates, and began to gain ground. But the stubborn 
 resistance of the Confederates retarded their advance 
 until General McLaAvs arrived on the scene of action. 
 
250 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 and until General Walker could be hurried from the 
 right to the support of the sorely-pressed left. Hood's 
 brigade, diminished in numbers and out of ammunition, 
 withdrew, and was replaced by that of General Walker, 
 who rushed into the attack with spirit, and drove the 
 Federals back with great slaughter. General Early, 
 liavino^ in the mean time seen reinforcements arrive 
 under McLaws, dashed forward at the same time, and 
 the enemy were driven back in confusion, closely fol- 
 lowed by the Confederates, beyond the position occupied 
 at the beginning of the engagement. 
 
 Assault after assault was made by the Federals on the 
 Confederate left, but they were finally repulsed with 
 loss, and, abandoning the attack with infantry, they for 
 several hours kept up an artillery fire, which was sus- 
 tained with the same coolness and spirit. 
 
 The attack on the left was followed by one on the 
 centre, in which the Federals were repulsed, and retired 
 behind the crest of a hill, whence they kept up a desul- 
 tory fire. At this part of the field, through an unhappy 
 mistake, a Confederate brigade was withdrawn from its 
 position. The enemy, seeing this, pressed forward, and, 
 pouring through the gap thus caused, pierced the Con- 
 federate lines. In trying to make a stand against this 
 rush. Generals R. H. Anderson, G. B. Anderson, and 
 Wright were wounded, — the second mortally, — and borne 
 from the field. 
 
 General D. H. Hill and other officers rallied a few 
 hundred men to the support of four pieces of artillery, 
 and with these the heavy masses of the enemy were re- 
 sisted. So firm a front did this small force present 
 (Colonel Cooke, with the 27th North Carolina Regiment 
 of Walker's brigade, standing boldly in line without a 
 
SHARPSBURO. 251 
 
 cartridge) that, with the assistance of two other batteries, 
 the advance of the Federals was checked, and in an 
 hour and a half they retired. 
 
 AVhile the attacks on the left and centre were going 
 on, the Federals were making every effort to force the 
 passage of a bridge across the Antietam, opposite the 
 right wing of General Longstreet, which General D. R. 
 Jones commanded. The bridge was defended by Gen- 
 eral Toombs with two regiments, and with this small 
 force he repulsed five different assaults of the Federals. 
 In the afternoon the Federals began to extend their line, 
 as if to cross the Antietam below the bridge, and at four 
 P.M. Toombs's regiments retired from the bridge. The 
 enemy immediately crossed over in great numbers, and 
 advanced upon General Jones, who held the crest of the 
 hill with less than two thousand men, and forced him to 
 retire. 
 
 In the mean time. General A. P. Hill, who had, as we 
 have seen, been left at Harper's Ferry, received orders 
 from General Lee early in the morning of the 17th to 
 hurry forward to Sharpsburg. By half-past seven his 
 division was in motion, and at half-past two p.m. he re- 
 ported in person at its head to General Lee on the battle- 
 field of Sharpsburg, having by that hour completed the 
 march of seventeen miles from Harper's Ferry. Never 
 was the arrival of reinforcements to a sorely-pressed 
 army more opportune. Hill was at once ordered to the 
 right. He moved forward to the post assigned him, and 
 threw his troops rapidly into position. He reached the 
 field not a moment too soon. The enemy, advancing 
 from the bridge in three lines, had broken through D. 
 R. Jones's division, captured a battery, and Avere in the 
 full tide of success. Hill's batteries united their fire 
 
252 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 with those of General Jones, and one of D. H. Hill's, on 
 the left of the Boonsboro' road. The eifect of this con- 
 centrated fire was marked : the Federal advance was 
 immediately arrested, and their line wavered. The Con- 
 federates saw the happy moment, and eagerly seized it. 
 Toombs was ordered to attack the Federal flank, while 
 Archer, of A. P. Hill's division, with a yell of defiance, 
 charged them in front, recaptured the lost battery, and 
 drove them back pell-mell. A destructive fire was now 
 poured into their ranks by the brigades of Brancli and 
 Gregg, of Hill's division. The gallant Branch fell, but 
 the Federals surged back, broke, and retreated in con- 
 fusion, closely pursued by the troops of Hill and Jones, 
 until they reached the protection of their batteries on the 
 opposite side of the creek. And so ended the struggle. 
 The shades of night were now gathering over the 
 scene, and the approaches to the stream were swept by 
 a number of batteries massed for that purpose by the 
 enemy. On the opposite shore, too, stood the Federal 
 general Porter, with his corps of fresh troops, ready to 
 dispute the advance of the Confederates. TJiese, ex- 
 hausted by long marches and the fatigues of the hard- 
 fought battle, had performed prodigies of valor in 
 repelling successfully the attack of so powerful a foe. 
 An advance under these circumstances, in the face of 
 fresh troops, was not to be thought of, and the pursuing 
 troops were recalled and formed on the line held by 
 them in the morning, with the exception of the centre, 
 where it was drawn in about two hundred yards. In 
 this engagement General McClellan's army numbered 
 ninety thousand splendidly -equipped men. General 
 Lee, in his report, gives the follo'wing picture of his 
 gallant little band of veterans : 
 
SHARPSBURG. 253 
 
 " The arduous service in which our troops had been 
 engaged, their great privations of rest and food, and the 
 long marches, without shoes, over mountain roads, had 
 greatly reduced our ranks before the action began. These 
 causes had compelled thousands of brave men to absent 
 themselves, and many more had done so from unworthy 
 motives. This great battle was fought by less than forty 
 thousand men on our side, all of whom had undergone 
 the greatest labors and hardships in the field and on the 
 march. Nothing could surpass the determined valor 
 with which they met the large army of the enemy, fully 
 supplied and equipped, and the result reflects the highest 
 credit on the officers and men eno-ao-ed." 
 
 The Confederates slept upon their arms on the night 
 of the battle on the field the possession of which they 
 had so determinedly held. The 18th was spent by both 
 armies in burying their dead and removing their wounded. 
 General Lee, finding on that day that INIcClellan was 
 about to receive fresh troops, determined, in view of the 
 exhausted state of his army, that it would be best not to 
 risk another battle, and accordingly, on the night of the 
 18th, quietly withdrew his forces to the Virginia side of 
 the Potomac, leaving not a man or a gun behind him, 
 and taking with him all of his wounded except those who 
 could not bear the removal. General Jackson brought 
 up the rear-guard, and for hours he was seen sitting on 
 his horse in the middle of the river watching the passage 
 of his troops across the Potomac ; nor did he cross over 
 himself until he had seen the last man and the last gun 
 safely landed on the Virginia shore. 
 
 After crossing the Potomac, General Jackson marched 
 his troops four miles up the road towards Martinsburg, 
 and there encamped. On the heights overlooking the 
 
 22 
 
254 I^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Potomac, General Pendleton was placed with thirty pieces 
 of artillery, with which to defend the passage of the 
 river should the Federals attempt it. They in the mean 
 time had advanced and planted seventy guns on the 
 northern bank, and one of their army corps was soon on 
 the same shore. Under cover of night a detachment 
 crossed the river, surprised the Confederates, and cap- 
 tured most of their guns, their infantry support being 
 seized with a panic and deserting them. General Pen- 
 dleton went at once to General Jackson's headquarters 
 and reported this disaster, which he believed to be greater 
 than it even was, for he reported the loss of every gun. 
 It is said that General Jackson never during the war 
 betrayed so much anxiety as he did on this occasion, 
 hearing, as he did, that the army had been thus stripped 
 of its artillery. He at once gave orders to effect the 
 recovery of the lost guns. A. P. Hill, with his usual 
 activity, was first on the scene of action, and, forming 
 his troops Into two lines, he charged the enemy with 
 great gallantry, and with utter disregard of the shot and 
 shell which w^ere poured into their ranks from the seventy 
 guns on the opposite shore. The Federals tried to resist 
 this sweeping charge, and bore heavily on Hill's left. 
 Upon this, his second line, marching by the left flank, 
 moved from behind the first. The two now charged 
 at the same time, converging upon the Federal troops. 
 Down the hill the Confederates rushed, with a defiant 
 yell, sweeping all before them. Into the river they 
 drove the Federals pell-mell, and then from the bank 
 poured a murderous fire into the confused mass of human 
 belno^s struffglins: In the stream. In vain the Federal 
 batteries directed their fire with redoubled fury on the 
 Confederates. They coolly held their ground, and dealt 
 
SIIARPSBURG. 255 
 
 death to the unhappy force they had just swept into the 
 river. 
 
 The news of the temporary success of the Federals 
 having reached General Lee had excited his alarm for 
 his artillery quite as much as it had roused General 
 Jackson, and he had dispatched two messengers to him 
 to take steps for its recovery, which he had already 
 adopted. The second messenger reached him just as he 
 was watching the repulse of the enemy, and he only re- 
 marked, " With the blessing of Providence they will 
 soon be driven back." 
 
 In this brilliant engagement, known as that of Bote- 
 ler's Ford, the Confederate loss was not quite three 
 hundred, while the Federals admitted a loss, in killed, 
 drowned, and prisoners, of over three thousand. 
 
 The Confederate army, w^orn out by long marches and 
 hard fighting, now enjoyed a few days' repose on the 
 banks of the Opequan, near Martlnsburg, after which 
 time it was marched to the vicinity of AYinchester. 
 
 No private or officer had felt the fatigues of this ar- 
 duous campaign more than Jackson. In the forced 
 marches which were so frequent towards its close, more 
 than once he was so completely overcome with sleep that 
 members of his staff rode beside him and held him on 
 his horse as he rode along half asleep. Several times 
 he stopped, and, dismounting, leaned his head on a fence, 
 and, stretching his arms out on it, slept for five or ten 
 minutes, having ordered his staff to rouse him at the end 
 of that time. He was afraid to lie down, lest he should 
 drop into a slumber so profound as to make it difficult 
 to awaken him. 
 
 It was at the end of this campaign that an incident 
 occurred which illustrates his extreme amiability and 
 
256 I^^^E OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 kindness of heart. An old woman made her way to his 
 headquarters and annoyed the young officers on his staif 
 excessively by saying she had come to see her son John, 
 who was with ^' Jackson's company." She thought it 
 strange that they could not tell her where ^^ John" was, 
 for he had been with "Jackson's company" in all the 
 battles. The young men were disposed to laugh at her, 
 — when the general appeared, and, hearing her simple 
 story, rebuked them for their manner to her, and had 
 the regiments in his whole corps searched through and 
 John found and restored to the loving arms of his 
 simple-hearted old mother. 
 
CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 FEEDERICKSBURG. 
 
 Kever were the enchanting days of a Virginia au- 
 tumn more intensely enjoyed than by the veterans of the 
 nrmy of Northern Virginia as they reposed amid the 
 pleasant fields of the lovely Valley of Virginia. Never 
 had the sweets of rest been so grateful to wearied soldiers 
 as they were to these heroes after an arduous and honor- 
 able campaign of several months. General Jackson^s 
 fame was now at its height. The love his soldiers bore 
 him knew no bounds, and the enthusiastic cheers which 
 arose from their ranks always announced his appearance. 
 He was affectionately and familiarly spoken of by them 
 as"01d Jack.'^ 
 
 This lull in the activities of war was not spent by 
 Jackson in idleness. He busied himself in reorganizing 
 his shattered battalions after the ravages of the terrible 
 campaign through which they had just passed, and he 
 bent all his energies towards having his troops properly 
 armed and clothed. In this he partially succeeded; but, 
 after every effort had been exhausted, many of the men 
 were left barefooted, and in this condition were forced to 
 meet the inclemencies of the approaching winter season. 
 
 On the 11th of October the Confederate Government 
 conferred on General Jackson the rank of lieutenant- 
 general. It must be borne in mind that this rank was 
 given to Jackson after the most brilliant achievements 
 
 22- 257 
 
258 J-J^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 of his extraordinary career, — achievements which had 
 placed his name among those of the world's great cap- 
 tains, — and that in this war the splendor of his military 
 career was second only to that of his beloved commander- 
 in-chief; and yet in spite of this brilliant record the 
 authorities placed his name fourth on the list of lieuten- 
 ant-generals, all of whom were aj)pointed at the same 
 time. Both Jackson's ambition and his sense of justice 
 were wounded by this, and, though too far above all 
 paltry jealousies to complain, yet he felt it keenly, and 
 never forgot it. 
 
 After this appointment of lieutenant-generals. General 
 Lee's army was divided into two corps, — Longstreet 
 commanding one, and Jackson the other. Jackson's corps 
 consisted of his old division, commanded by Brigadier- 
 General Taliaferro; Ewell's division, commanded by 
 Brigadier-General Early, who was soon raised to the 
 rank of major-general ; A. P. Hill's and D. H. Hill's 
 divisions. There were, besides, a number of batteries 
 thrown into battalions, and placed under the general 
 charge of Colonel Crutchfield, a young officer whose 
 merits General Jackson had quickly discerned, and whose 
 promotion to the responsible position of colonel of artil- 
 lery he had urged and obtained. With these four fine 
 divisions, and a skillful set of artillerists, his corps was 
 complete, and formed as fine a body of soldiers as any 
 nation could produce. 
 
 But, in the midst of reorganization, promotions, and 
 all the absorbing duties of army life during war, his 
 thoughts still turned more devoutly and more enthusi- 
 astically to religion than to any ether subject. The fol- 
 lowing letter to Mrs. Jackson affords ample proof of 
 this: 
 
FREDERICKSBURG. 259 
 
 " Bunker Hill, October 13. 
 
 ^' Mr. G invited me to be present at communion 
 
 in his church yesterday, but I was prevented from en- 
 joying the privilege. But I heard an excellent sermon 
 
 from the Rev. Dr. S . His text was 1 Timothy, 
 
 chap, ii., 5th and 6th verses : ^ For there is one God, 
 and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ 
 Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified 
 in due time.^ It was a powerful exposition of the word 
 of God. He is a great revival minister; and when he 
 came to the word ' himself,^ he placed an emphasis on it, 
 and gave to it, through God's blessing, a power that I 
 never before felt. . . . And I felt, with an intensity 
 that I never before recollect having realized, that truly 
 the sinner who does not, under gospel privileges, turn 
 to God, deserves the agonies of perdition. The doctor 
 several times, in appealing to the sinner, repeated the 
 6th verse: MVho gave himself a ransom for all, to be 
 testified in due time.' What more could God do than 
 give himself a ransom ? . . . He is laboring in a revival 
 in General Ewell's division. Oh, it is a glorious priv- 
 ilege to be a minister of the gospel of the Prince of 
 Peace ! There is no equal position in this world." 
 
 With such deep devotional feelings. General Jackson, 
 of course, took the greatest interest in the labors and 
 success of the army chaplains in their professional duties ; 
 and for those chaplains who shirked these duties he had 
 no patience whatever, and was even for bringing them 
 under strict military discipline and forcing them up to 
 the mark. 
 
 History tells, perhaps, of no more touching scenes 
 than those given us in the descriptions of the nightly 
 
260 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 services held in the Confederate army, both on the march 
 and in the camp. In the days of the second battle of 
 Manassas we have seen these nightly services carried on 
 in the lull afforded by night between two hard days' 
 struggle. At the close of this campaign these meetings 
 were attended by unusual numbers. While resting in 
 the Valley of Virginia on their well-earned laurels, 
 officers and men seemed alike to feel that, having been 
 borne safely through such an ordeal as the bloody cam- 
 paign just ended, they at least owed their Maker daily 
 worship and praise. Thus, night after night, a hymn 
 rising from a little group that the chaplain had assem- 
 bled around him was the signal that the hour of evening 
 worship was at hand. Then from the different brigades 
 and regiments groups were seen approaching to join this 
 little company, officers of every grade and rank min- 
 gling with the privates, until, at last, the mellow light 
 of the October moon shone down on an assembla«:e of 
 several hundred men, who thus in the midst of all the 
 pomp and pageant of war, surrounded as they were by 
 its grim realities, sat with the meekness of little children 
 at the feet of the Prince of Peace. By the flickering 
 light of a torch the chaplain read the Bible to his 
 numerous and silent hearers, and as the torchlight was 
 reflected upon their uplifted grave and thoughtful fiices, 
 — faces in whose stern lines might be read the victories 
 of the Valley, the severer but equally glorious successes 
 around Richmond, the hard-fought field of Manassas, 
 and the stubborn resistance at Sharpsburg, — what inspi- 
 ration must he not have drawn from the solemnity of 
 the scene, and with what earnestness must he not have 
 uttered the words of truth, of hope, and of consolation ! 
 In promoting the success of the chaplains in their 
 
FREDERICKSB URO. 261 
 
 labors in lils corps, General Jackson never stopped to 
 inquire of what denomination they were. It was only 
 necessary for him to know that they Avere sincere Chris- 
 tians and earnest laborers in the calling which they had 
 undertaken. On one occasion a Roman Catholic priest 
 who visited Jackson's corps wished to have a tent in 
 which to carry on the services of his Church for the 
 benefit of the men in this corps belonging to it. He 
 made application to Jackson for the tent. The general 
 saw no objection to his having it, but, before granting 
 the application, made inquiries concerning the priest and 
 satisfied himself that he was a man of good character. 
 When his attention was again called to the matter, he at 
 once agreed that the priest should have the tent, and 
 added, with some warmth, as if to suppress any objection 
 which might be made to it, " He shall have it, I care 
 not what may be said on the subject.'' 
 
 On the 18th of October General Jackson went to 
 Martinsburg to superintend the destruction of the Balti- 
 more and Ohio Railroad, w^hich afforded the enemy such 
 facilities for the transportation of men and supplies. 
 From a j)oint west of Martinsburg to the neighborhood 
 of Harper's Ferry the track w^as torn up and destroyed. 
 Bridges w^ere burnt and culverts blown up ; and the iron 
 rails after being torn from the track were thrown on 
 heaps of burning logs. Becoming red-hot in the middle, 
 the heavy ends soon dropped, and bent and warped them 
 out of all shape. The soldiers, moreover, seized them 
 by the ends and wrapped them around trees and posts. 
 For thirty miles the track was thus effectually broken 
 up; and, to assure himself that the destruction was com- 
 plete. General Jackson rode along the whole line. 
 
 About this time, in writing to Mrs. Jackson, after 
 
262 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 mentioning several presents that he had received, he 
 says,— 
 
 " Our God makes me so many friends ! I mention 
 these things in order that you may see how much kind- 
 ness has been shown me, and to express thanks for 
 blessings for which I should be more grateful, and to 
 give you renewed cause for gratitude. . . . 
 
 " Don't trouble yourself about representations that are 
 made about me. These things are earthly and transitory. 
 There are real and glorious blessings, I trust, in reserve 
 for us beyond this life. It is best for us to keep our 
 eyes fixed upon the throne of God, and the realities of a 
 more glorious existence beyond the verge of time. It is 
 gratifying to be beloved and to have our conduct ap- 
 proved by our fellow-men ; but this is not worthy to be 
 compared with the glory that is in reservation for us in 
 the presence of the glorified Redeemer." 
 
 About this time he had an interview with one of his 
 officers with whom he was very intimate, which reveals 
 more even than the above letter the strength and depth 
 of his faith. After having transacted the business on 
 which he had come, the officer was pressed very kindly 
 by the general to resume his seat and spend a few min- 
 utes with him, as the evening was dark and rainy and 
 the camp unusually dull. The officer willingly assented, 
 and the conversation soon turned on the subject of re- 
 ligion. The general said, in reply to some remark of 
 the officer, that a man was probably first moved to seek 
 heavenly things both by fear and by love, but that as 
 he was drawn into closer communion with his Lord and 
 Saviour perfect love cast out fear. For his part, he 
 continued, so perfect was his assurance of his own sal- 
 vation through Christ, so secure was he in his trust in 
 
FREDERICKSB URG. 263 
 
 Him, that he had no dread of the wrath of God, although 
 he felt himself a great sinner, and love of God and 
 Christ was now the motive which led him to a religious 
 life. After this he rose, and, with great humility but 
 solemn elation, said, — 
 
 " ' Nothing earthly can mar my happiness. I know 
 that heaven is in store for me, and I should rejoice in 
 the prospect of going there to-morrow. Understand 
 me : I am not sick ; I am not sad ; God has greatly 
 blessed me, and I have as much to love here as any man, 
 and life is very bright to me. But still I am ready to 
 leave it any day, without trepidation or regret, for that 
 heaven which I know awaits me through the mercy of 
 my heavenly Father. And I would not agree to the 
 
 slightest diminution of one shade of my glory there ^ 
 
 (here he paused, as though to consider what terrestrial 
 measure he might best select to express the largeness of 
 his joys) — ^ no ; not for all the fame which I have 
 acquired, or shall ever win in this world.' With these 
 words he sank into his chair, and his friend retired, — 
 awe-struck, as though he had seen tlie face of an ange]. 
 But he did not fail to notice the revelation made of 
 Jackson's master-passion by nature, in the object he had 
 chosen to express the value of his heavenly inheritance. 
 It was fame ! Not wealth, nor domestic joys, nor liter- 
 ature, — but well-earned fame. Let the young aspirant 
 consider, also, how even this passion, which the world 
 calls the most honorable of all, was chastened and cru- 
 cified in him by a nobler longing.'' * 
 
 So flowed by the tranquil hours of relaxation spent 
 by General Jackson in the lovely region of his beloved 
 
 * Dabney's Life of Jackson, 
 
264 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Valley of Virginia. But they were drawing rapidly to 
 an end. His tent-pins were soon to be struck, and he 
 to leave forever the country so dear to him, and to move 
 to scenes which are now hallowed to every Southern 
 heart as being those which witnessed the closing acts and 
 the closing hours of his eventful, but, alas ! too brief 
 career. 
 
 The following extract from General Lee's report best 
 describes the change in the position of the two armies: 
 
 " The enemy seemed to be concentrating in and near 
 Harper's Ferry, but made no forward movement. During 
 this time the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was destroyed 
 for several miles, and that from Winchester to Harper's 
 Ferry broken up to within a short distance of the latter 
 place, in order to render the occupation of the Valley by 
 the enemy after our withdrawal more difficult. 
 
 " On the 18th October, General Stuart was ordered to 
 cross the Potomac above Williamsport with twelve or 
 fifteen hundred cavalry, and endeavor to ascertain the 
 position and designs of the enemy. He was directed, if 
 practicable, to enter Pennsylvania, and do all in his 
 power to impede and embarrass the military operations 
 of the enemy. This order was executed with skill, ad- 
 dress, and courage. General Stuart passed through 
 Maryland, occupied Chambersburg, and destroyed a 
 large amount of public property; making the entire 
 circuit of General McClellan's army, he crossed the 
 Potomac below Harper's Ferry without loss. 
 
 " The enemy soon afterwards crossed the Potomac east 
 of the Blue Bidge, and advanced southward, seizing the 
 passes of the mountains as he progressed. General Jack- 
 son's corps was ordered to take position on the road 
 between Berryville and Charlestown, to be prepared to 
 
FREDERICKSBURG. 265 
 
 oppose an advance from Harper's Ferry or a movement 
 into the Shenandoah Valley from the east side of the 
 mountains, while at the same time he would threaten 
 the flank of the enemy should he continue his march 
 along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge. One division 
 of Longstreet's corps was sent to the vicinity of Upper- 
 ville, to observe the enemy's movements in front. 
 
 " About the last of October the Federal army began 
 to incline easterly from the mountains, moving in the 
 direction of Warrenton. As soon as this intention de- 
 veloped itself, Longstreet's corps was moved across the 
 Blue Ridge, and, about the 3d of November, took posi- 
 tion at Culpeper Court-House, while Jackson advanced 
 one of his divisions to the east side of the Blue Ridge. 
 
 "The enemy gradually concentrated about Warrenton, 
 his cavalry being thrown forward beyond the Rappa- 
 hannock, in the direction of Culpeper Court-House, and 
 occasionally skirmishing with our own, which was closely 
 observing his movements. 
 
 ** This situation of affairs continued without material 
 change until about the middle of November, when the 
 movements began which resulted in the winter campaign 
 on the Lower Rappahannock." 
 
 About this time the Federal Government, having 
 become thoroughly dissatisfied with McClellan, removed 
 him from the chief command of their army, and thus 
 relieved General Lee of the ablest general with whom 
 he had to contend during the war. He was replaced 
 by General Burnside, who was destined to hold his 
 arduous position for but a brief time. 
 
 I again quote from General Lee's report to carry on 
 the description of the movements of both armies : 
 
 "On the 15th of November it was known that the 
 M 23 
 
266 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 enemy was in motion towards the Oranj^c and Alexan- 
 dria Railroad, and one regiment of infantry, with a bat- 
 tery of liglit artillery, wa^ sent to reinforce the garrison 
 at Fredericksbnrg. On the 17th it was ascertained that 
 Sumner's corj)s had marched from Catlett's Station in 
 the direction of Falmouth (the town on the north side 
 of the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg), and in- 
 formation was also received that on the 15th some Fed- 
 eral gun-boats and transports had entered Aquia Creek. 
 This looked as if Fredericksburg was again to be occu- 
 pied, and McLaws's and Ransom's divisions, accompanied 
 by W. H. F. Lee's brigade of cavalry and Lane's bat- 
 tery, were ordered to proceed to that city. To ascertain 
 more fully the movements of the enemy, General Stuart 
 was directed to cross the Rappahannock. On the morn- 
 ing of the 18th he forced a passage at Warrenton Springs, 
 in face of a regiment of cavalry and three pieces of 
 artillery guarding the ford, and reached Warrenton soon 
 after the last of the enemy's columns had left. The 
 information he obtained confirmed the previous reports, 
 and it was clear that the whole Federal army, under 
 Major-General Burnside, Avas moving towards Fred- 
 ericksburg. On the morning of the 19th, therefore, the 
 remainder of Longstreet's corps was put in motion for 
 that point. The advance of General Sumner reached 
 Falmouth on the afternoon of the 17th, and attempted 
 to cross the Rappahannock, but Avas driven back by 
 Colonel Ball, with the 15th Virginia cavalry, four com- 
 panies of Mississippi infantry, and Lewis's light battery. 
 '' On the 21st it became apparent that General Burn- 
 side was concentrating his whole army on tlie north side 
 of the Rappalumnock. On the same day General Sum- 
 ner summoned the corporate authorities of Fredericks- 
 
FREDERICKSBURG. 9(37 
 
 burg to surrender the place by five p.m., and threatened, 
 in case of refusal, to bombard the city at nine o'clock 
 next morning. The weather had been tempestuous for 
 two days, and a storm was raging at the time of the 
 summons. It was impossible to prevent the execution 
 of the threat to shell the city, as it was completely ex- 
 posed to the batteries on the Stafford hills, which Avere 
 beyond our reach. The city authorities were informed 
 that, while our forces would not use the place for military 
 purposes, its occupation by the enemy would be resisted, 
 and directions were given for the removal of the women 
 and children as rapidly as possible. The threatened 
 l)ombardment did not take place; but, in view of the 
 imminence of a collision between the two armies, the 
 inhabitants were advised to leave the city, and almost 
 the entire population, without a murmur, abandoned 
 their homes. History presents no instance of a people 
 exhibiting a purer and more unselfish patriotism, or a 
 higher spirit of fortitude and courage, than was evinced 
 by the citizens of Fredericksburg. They cheerfully in- 
 curred great hardships and privations, and surrendered 
 their homes and property to destruction rather than yield 
 them into the hands of the enemies of their country. 
 General Burnside now commenced his preparations to 
 force the passage of the Rappahannock and advance 
 upon Richmond. AVhen his army first began to move 
 towards Fredericksburg, General Jackson, in pursuance 
 o^ instructions, crossed the Blue Ridge, and placed his 
 corps in the vicinity of Orange Court- Ho nse, to en- 
 able him more promptly to co-operate with Longstreet. 
 About the 26th of November he was directed to ad- 
 vance towar Is Fiedericksburs:.'^ . . . 
 
 Since early in August t'le Confederate army had 
 
2G8 ^Il^E OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 fought, besides minor engagements, the battles of Cedar 
 Mountain, Manassas, and Sharpsburg, and had effected 
 the capture of Harper's Ferry. During that time this 
 army had made a circuit of over three hundred miles, 
 and r.ow found itself once more facing a Federal army 
 whose cry was still "On to Richmond!" from which 
 place they were only sixty miles distant. So vast were 
 the numbers and so complicated the machinery of war 
 of the Federal army that it took six days to eifect the 
 passage of the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, at the begin- 
 ning of this new move on Richmond. 
 
 General Jackson transferred his corps from Winches- 
 ter to Fredericksburg in eight days, two of whicli were 
 spent in resting the troops on the march. In spite of 
 his strenuous exertions to perfect the equipment of his 
 corps, many of his men were still without shoes, w^hich 
 rendered the march over mountainous roads painful in 
 the extreme. The naked feet, cut and stone-bruised, 
 and in many cases cracked open, rendered marching 
 impossible for many a poor soldier, who was thus com- 
 pelled to fall from the ranks and be left behind, while 
 the blood left in the tracks of those who pushed on 
 showed with what pain and toil it was done. 
 
 Longstreet, as we have seen, had gone before Jackson 
 to Fredericksburg. His corps constituted the left of 
 General Lee's line. Anderson's division rested upon 
 the river at Fredericksburg, with those of McLaws, 
 Pickett, and Hood extending to the right in the order 
 named. General Ransom with his division had charge 
 of ^larye's Hill, which was destined to be the object of 
 the enemy's most furious assaults, though it was itself 
 commanded by heights on each side, which the Confed- 
 erates held. At the foot of Marye's Hill, behind a 
 
FREDERICKSB URG. 269 
 
 stone wall, Cobb's brigade and the 24th North Carolina 
 Regiment were stationed. 
 
 " Jackson's corps formed the right of the Confederate 
 line. Next to Hood, of Longstreet's corps, came A. 
 P. Hill, of Jackson's. His first line,* consisting of the 
 brigades of Pender, Lane, and Archer, occupied the edge 
 of a wood. Lane's brigade, thrown forward in advance 
 of the general line, held the woods which here projected 
 into the open ground. Thomas's brigade was stationed 
 behind the interval between Pender and Lane, and 
 Gregg's behind that between Lane and Archer. On 
 the right, on an eminence, General Jackson placed four- 
 teen picked guns, under Colonel Walker. Early's and 
 Taliaferro's divisions formed Jackson's second line, — 
 D. H. Hill's his reserve. 
 
 On the north side of the Rappahannock the Stafford 
 Heiglits command the plain of Fredericksburg. On 
 the south side of the river the low grounds below Fred- 
 ericksburg spread out into a plain some miles in width, 
 bounded by a range of low wooded hills, which ter- 
 minate on the lower side in the low grounds of the 
 Massaponax, a creek flowing into the Rappahannock, 
 and on the upper side in a series of bluffs. The plain 
 of Fredericksburg being completely commanded by the 
 Stafford Heights, which were black with Federal artil- 
 lery, no effectual opposition could be made by the Con- 
 federates to the construction of bridges and the passage 
 of the river, which was here very narrow. 
 
 General Lee determined, therefore, to guard the river 
 by a force merely sufficient to impede the enemy's ad- 
 vance until his army could be concentrated. Before 
 dawn on the 11th of December the Confederate signal- 
 guns announced that the enemy was in motion, and 
 
270 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 the troops were instantly at their different posts and the 
 whole army on the qui vive. The Federals had begun 
 preparations to throw two bridges across the Rappahan- 
 nock, — one opposite Fredericksburg, the other a mile 
 below. The Confederates, sheltered in the cellars of 
 houses overlooking the stream, and in trenches, repelled 
 the repeated efforts of the enemy to lay his bridges from 
 daybreak till four p.m., driving his working-parties back 
 with great slaughter. At the lower point, the Confed- 
 erates, not having the same protection, resisted the enemy 
 until nearly noon, Avhen they were withdrawn, and by 
 about one p.m. the bridge Avas completed. In a short 
 time one hundred and fifty pieces of artillery from the 
 opposite heights opened a furious fire upon the cit}', 
 forcing the Confederates to retire from the river-bank 
 at four P.M. They bravely resisted the advance of the 
 enemy into ihe town until dark, and then were Avith- 
 drawn. 
 
 Throughout the night of the 11th and the day of 
 the 12th the Federals crossed over in great numbers, 
 took possession of the toAvn, and formed on the plain 
 below; but a dense fog which overhung the scene hid 
 their movements from view, and an occasional boom 
 from their cannon alone gave token of their j^resence. 
 The morning of Saturday, December 13, came, and with 
 it the same dense fog as on the day before. The two 
 armies, though invisible to each other, could hear dis- 
 tinctly the sounds along their separate lines. As the 
 hours of the morning advanced, it became apparent that 
 the mist would soon roll away, and the different gen- 
 erals went to their respective posts. On this day 
 General Jackson rode forth from his head-quarters 
 mounted on his favorite horse, — a large, powerfully- 
 
FREDERICKSBURG. 271 
 
 built dun, — and clad in a new suit of uniform, wearing, 
 for the first time since his promotion, the lieutenant- 
 generaPs hat. He moved down his lines accompanied 
 by his staff, and the group attracted the fire of the Fed- 
 eral sharp-shooters. He pointed out to his staff the 
 point in his line — Lane's position — which the enemy 
 would first attack, as they in reality did, and then passed 
 on to the summit of a commanding hill whence General 
 Lee was watching the movements of the enemy on the 
 plain below. Mr. Dabney, Jackson's biographer, thus 
 describes the scene : 
 
 " It was now past nine o'clock, and the sun, mounting 
 up the eastern sky with almost a summer power, was 
 rapidly exhaling the mist. As the white folds dissolved 
 and rolled away, disclosing the whole plain to view, such 
 a spectacle met the eyes of the generals as the pomps of 
 earth can seldom rival. Marshaled upon the vast arena 
 beneath them stood the hundred and twenty-five thou- 
 sand foes, with countless batteries of field-guns black- 
 ening the ground. Long triple lines of infantry crossed 
 the field from right to left, and hid their western extreme 
 in the streets of the little city ; while down the valleys 
 descending from the Stafford Heights to the bridges 
 were pouring in vast avalanches of men, the huge re- 
 serves. For once, war unmasked its terrible proportions 
 to the view with a distinctness hitherto unknown in the 
 forest-clad landscapes of America; and the plain of 
 Fredericksburg presented a panorama that was dreadful 
 in its grandeur. . . . Lee stood upon his chosen hill of 
 observation, inspiring every spectator by his calm hero- 
 ism, with his two great lieutenants beside him, and re- 
 viewed every quarter of the field with his glass. It 
 was then that Longstreet, to whose sturdy breast the 
 
272 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 approach of battle seemed to bring gayety, said to Jack- 
 son, ' General, do not all these multitudes of Federals 
 frighten you?' He replied, ^ We shall see very soon 
 whether I shall not frighten them.'" 
 
 The generals soon parted to go to their posts, and the 
 battle opened with a thunderous outburst from the three 
 hundred guns on the opposing hills. Heaven and earth 
 seemed to be at war with each other, so continuous was 
 the boom of the cannon. A young Confederate officer 
 engaged in the battle thus describes it in a letter written 
 a few days after it was fought : 
 
 " The whole battle-field was the most dramatic and 
 imposing tableau I have ever witnessed ; and indeed the 
 whole spectacle seemed gotten up for our special amuse- 
 ment. The low grounds of the Rappahannock below 
 Fredericksburg spread out into a plain of some miles in 
 width, bounded by a range of low wooded hills, which 
 terminate on the lower side in the Massaponax low 
 grounds, and on the upper in a series of rather high and 
 abrupt bluffs next to ihe river and above the town. At 
 one point in this line of hills a wooded marsh projects 
 far into the plain. 
 
 " Imagine now this long line of wooded hills peopled 
 with men who have inducements, physical or mental, to 
 fight desperately ; every little promontory bristling with 
 artillery ; the whole line of the railway (which runs at 
 the foot of the hills) and every hedge-row and ditch 
 gleaming with bayonets ; and you have what must have 
 been the impressions of the Yankees of our position. 
 Again, stand with me upon one of the same little prom- 
 ontories and look out upon the Yankee lines, and see 
 what we saw. Far upon the left the smoke from the 
 smouldering ruins of the town and Longstreet's camp- 
 
FREDERICKSBURG. 273 
 
 fires seem to blend together; while In front, and almost 
 as far as the eye can reach to the right and left, you see 
 *the blue-coated Federal lines extended, well armed, well 
 equipped, and seemingly assured of success. Behind 
 them the hills seem crowded with artillery, which can 
 hurl Its missiles to the very foot of the hills upon which 
 we stand. The word Is given to advance. How gal- 
 lantly they come on ! Not a sound is heard from our 
 side except the sharp cracking of our skirmishers as they 
 fall back slowly before this overwhelming advance. The 
 air seems alive with the whistling shot and shell which 
 the enemy send as precursors to their infantry charge. 
 Suddenly a battery (Walker's) of thirty guns, from just 
 where we are standing, opens upon the column of attack. 
 They falter, and reel, and stagger ; they rally, and break, 
 and rally again ; but In vain : flesh and blood cannot 
 stand it ; they retire routed and confused. At that mo- 
 ment an officer gallops wildly up to General Jackson, 
 and exclaims, in almost breathless haste, 'General, the 
 enemy have broken through Archer's left, and General 
 Gregg says he must have help, or he and General Archer 
 will both lose their position.' The general turned as 
 quietly round and ordered Early's division up to sup- 
 port the centre as if nothing extraordinary had happened. 
 Yet every one said afterwards that this was the turning- 
 point of the day. In about an hour the footing which 
 the enemy had gained In the wood was recovered from 
 tliem by Trimble and Thomas, and they pursued far 
 Into the plain. This was all I saw of the fight." 
 
 So eager were the Confederate troops to pursue the 
 retiring Federals that It was difficult to restrain them 
 from rushing madly down to the banks of the Rappa- 
 hannock Itself, and when recalled from the pursuit and 
 
274 I^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ordered back to their original position, some of the men 
 ^vere vSeen actually to shed tears of bitter disappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 AMiile the enemy were so gallantly repulsed by Jack- 
 son on the right, they dashed even more furiously against 
 the unsliaken front presented by Longstreet's corps, only 
 to meet, however, with an even more disastrous repulse, 
 and as the shades of evening approached it was seen 
 that another " On to Richmond !" had been most glo- 
 riously defeated, and once more victory perched on the 
 Confederate banners. 
 
 During a lull in the battle, early in the action, General 
 Jackson, wishing to get a good view of the enemy's 
 position, rode to his extreme right, dismounted, and, fol- 
 lowed by his aide, Mr. Smith, advanced on foot far out 
 into the field. Suddenly a sharp-shooter rose out of the 
 tall weeds at about two hundred yards from him, and, 
 deliberately taking aim at him, fired. The ball whistled 
 between the heads of the general and his aide, for they 
 were standing only two paces apart. The general turned 
 to Mr. Smith, and, with his face beaming with humor, 
 said, smiling as he spoke, " Mr. Smith, had you not 
 better go to the rear ? they may shoot you." 
 
 As the last struggles of the battle were dying away, 
 late in the afternoon. General Jackson was seen sitting 
 silently on his horse, with his watch in hand, counting 
 the minutes before the sun should set, and noting the 
 effect of General Stuart's artillery fire upon the enemy. 
 He was revolving in his mind an advance on the beaten 
 foe. He chafed at seeing them hurled back battered 
 and bruised and yet no effort made to follow up the vic- 
 tory. At length his resolution was taken. He would 
 follow up the day's work with a crushing blow. He 
 
FREDERICKSB URG. 275 
 
 iostantly gave orders for every piece of artillery to be 
 advanced to the front, and at sunset to move together 
 across the plain, the infantry following in line of battle, 
 and at the first sign of confusion caused in the enemy's 
 lines by the cannonade, the infantry were to charge with 
 fixed bayonets and sweep them into the river. Already 
 the batteries had advanced and were opening fire, while 
 the infantry were forming in their rear, when the gen- 
 eral saw that his plan would be impracticable and must 
 be abandoned. The different batteries could not act 
 in concert, and the troops, jaded by the day's fighting, 
 w^re not fresh enough to renew the action ; while the 
 enemy's artillery still swept the field with a terrible fire. 
 Reluctantly, therefore, he countermanded his orders, 
 and the troops slept that night on their arms without 
 further disturbance. 
 
 In this battle General Lee had not quite twenty-five 
 thousand men engaged, and his loss was a little over 
 four thousand. The Federals acknowledged a loss of 
 twelve thousand in killed and wounded, and one thou- 
 sand prisoners. 
 
 When the fatigues and duties of the day were finally 
 over. General Jackson went to his tent. There he found 
 his friend Colonel Boteler, who had rendered him such 
 efficient aid in his campaign in the Valley in carrying 
 his dispatches to the Government and there using every 
 effort to have his demands and wishes for his depart- 
 ment granted. He offered to share his pallet with the 
 colonel, but did not retire himself until almost mid- 
 nijht, being busily engaged in writing and sending dis- 
 patches. He threw himself on his soldier's couch, all 
 uniformed as he still was, and slept soundly for t^vo or 
 three hours, when he rose, lighted his candle, and went 
 
276 ^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 back to his writing. The liglit from the candle shone 
 full in the face of Colonel Boteler, whom he supposed 
 to be a.slecp, and, noticing this, he rose, and, with all the 
 thoughtful ness of a woman, placed a book in front of the 
 candle, so that his friend's face was shaded from its light. 
 Jackson was much troubled at the condition of Gen- 
 eral Gregg, who, lying in a house near by, was rapidly 
 sinking from the effects of a mortal wound received in 
 the battle of the previous day. No one appreciated 
 better than Jackson the noble qualities, both as a man 
 and as a soldier, of this gallant officer, and he felt his fall 
 particularly, for high words had passed between them, 
 and he did not wish the heroic Gregg to die thinking he 
 had any but the kindest feelings towards him. After 
 rising, as Ave have seen, from a few hours' rest, he sent 
 for his surgeon, Dr. McGuire, and asked if nothing 
 could be done for the dying man. Dr. McGuire replied 
 that, though receiving every attention wdiich medical 
 aid could give, he was beyond the reach of human skill ; 
 but that if General Jackson wished him to take a mes- 
 sage to him he would carry it. The general said he 
 did not wish to send a message to him, but he would be 
 very much obliged if the doctor would go and see how 
 he w^as, and satisfy himself that he had everything he 
 could desire. Dr. McGuire went at once to the, dving; 
 man's bedside and told him that he had been sent by 
 General Jackson to ask how he was. As he spoke, some 
 one entered the room behind him. He looked up, and 
 there in the doorway, in full uniform, stood the tall figure 
 of General Jackson. Carried away -by his feelings, he 
 had followed close on Dr. McGuire's footsteps, and en- 
 tered, unannounced, the chamber of death. The dying 
 soldier was sinking rapidly, but as in the storm of battle, 
 
FREDERICKSB URG. 277 
 
 SO at the approach of death, his heroic spirit was un- 
 shaken by fear, and he calmly awaited his end. Jackson 
 took a touching farewell of him, and then, leaving the 
 house, rode back with Dr. McGuIre. In silence to his 
 tent. 
 
 In ordering his horse to follow Dr. McGuire, the 
 general had wished to mount the same horse which he 
 had ridden the day before, but his servant, Jim, objected 
 positively to the animal being ridden again so soon ; and, 
 though the general was as positive In his wish to ride 
 this horse, Jim succeeded In mounting him, in spite of 
 himself, and much to his amusement, on another. 
 
 So easily had the Federal army been repulsed that the 
 Confederate generals expected a renewal of the attack on 
 the next day ; but, though they could see the Federal 
 line drawn up In battle-array on the plain below, they 
 waited In vain for their advance. Their general-in- 
 chlef, Burnside, Indeed, wished to renew the attack; 
 but this was so violently opposed by his three lead- 
 ing generals that he had to abandon all thought of 
 doing so. 
 
 On Monday, the 15th, a flag of truce was sent by the 
 Federals, asking a few hours' truce between their left and 
 the Confederate right, that they might take care of their 
 wounded, many of whom had been lying on the frozen 
 ground since the day of the battle. The note asking for 
 the truce being signed by a subordinate general, General 
 Jackson refused to grant It unless the demand came 
 authorized by Burnside, that he might not, as McClellan 
 had done at Sharpsburg, deny having asked for a truce 
 after having received and enjoyed the benefits of one. 
 The demand soon coming back with the proper authority, 
 it was granted, and then men and officers of the two 
 
 24 
 
278 ^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 armies mingled together and discussed amicably the 
 scenes of the late battle. 
 
 The Confederates now became more and more im- 
 patient for the advance of the Federals, and the diiferent 
 commands Avere eager to be ordered to the front that they 
 might be ready to meet them. Indeed, so great was the 
 enthusiasm among the troops that D. H. Hill's division, 
 whose turn it was to be relieved from duty on the 15th, 
 sent a written request to General Jackson to be allowed 
 to remain on the front another night, that they might be 
 ready to meet the enemy in the morning. The request 
 was granted, and the morning came ; but at their feet 
 lay the plain without a foe, and the town of Fredericks- 
 burg abandoned by the enemy, while their regiments 
 were seen once more blackening the Stafford Heights 
 and lying there in security. During the darkness of 
 the night, while a fierce storm was raging, they had 
 abandoned their lines and stolen away across the river. 
 Their retreat was managed with great skill and secrecy, 
 — so silently, indeed, that not one of the hundreds of 
 Confederate sentinels who were on duty that night was 
 aware that there was any unusual move going on along 
 the enemy's lines. Dead men with muskets in their 
 hands were propped up to occupy the vacancies left by 
 the sentinels, to whom the orders for withdrawal were 
 given in whispers by officers who moved from post to 
 post. In such perfect silence did they march through 
 the streets of Fredericksburg that the citizens in their 
 houses did not know what was going on in the streets. 
 A few who opened their doors, candles in hand, to see 
 what was the cause of the muffled sounds outside, Avere 
 amazed to see the army Avhich had so lately passed 
 through their streets in all the pomp and pride of war, 
 
FREDERICKSBURG. 279 
 
 now hurrying along, a bedraggled procession, to reach 
 the banks of the river and cross it in safety. So fearful 
 were they of pursuit that the sight of the citizens stand- 
 ing in their doors with candles in hand alarmed them, 
 and instantly the command, '' Put out that light ! put 
 out that light !" was whispered by a hundred voices. 
 In their feverish impatience, some of the officers sprang 
 from their ranks, and, rushing forward, snatched away the 
 candles and pushed the citizens back into their houses. 
 
 Thus again the fruits of victory slipped from the 
 hands of the Confederates. The town was found to be 
 greatly battered and defaced, but not seriously injured, 
 by the bombardment, and the number of buildings de- 
 stroyed by it was small. But the pillage committed by 
 the Federal soldiers during the two days which they 
 occupied the city was fearful. Private houses were 
 sacked and private property destroyed in the most 
 wanton manner. Handsomely-furnished houses were, 
 under the hands of the licensed soldiers, speedily dis- 
 gorged of their contents ; mirrors were hurled out upon 
 the pavements ; pianos, wardrobes, and other costly pieces 
 of furniture were cut to pieces with axes; while the 
 handsomely-bound volumes which filled the shelves of 
 the libraries were heaped into baskets and thrown into 
 the river. 
 
 With the battle of Fredericksburg ended the arduous 
 and, to the Confederates, glorious campaign of 1862. 
 Both armies noAV prepared to go into winter quarters, 
 the Federals on the northern, and the Confederates on 
 the southern, bank of the Rappahannock. Burnside 
 paid for his defeat by the loss of his position as com- 
 mander-in-chief of the Federal army, and was soon 
 replaced by General Hooker. 
 
CHAPTER Xy. 
 
 WINTEE QUARTERS, 1863. 
 
 After the battle of Fredericksburg there was no 
 clanger of another advance of the enemy for some months 
 to come. With this battle had closed the campaign of 
 1862, which had been so glorious for the Confederates, 
 so disastrous for the Federals. General Lee spent the 
 interval of rest which followed in perfecting the disci- 
 pline of his army, and in taking steps to diminish the 
 number of desertions from its ranks. As far as possible 
 he had his brave soldiers re-clothed and re-equipped. 
 Resting upon their dearly-won laurels at the close of a 
 brilliant and arduous campaign, the Confederate soldiers 
 found enjoyment even in camp-life in the comfortable 
 winter quarters with which their ever-watchful chief 
 had provided them. The rigor of the winter prevented 
 the enemy from making any move serious enough to 
 call them from their encampment. The monotony of 
 camp-life Avas occasionally broken after a fall of snow 
 by mock battles between the different regiments, and 
 even brigades, of the same corps. They attacked one 
 another's camps with snow-balls, and fought like school- 
 boys, in companies and regiments, led on by their regular 
 officers. On one such occasion an officer commanding a 
 regiment, and not engaged in the sport, which he was 
 watching, saw an aide galloping towards him at full 
 speed, and the next moment was greeted by him with 
 280 
 
WINTER QUARTERS, 18G3. 281 
 
 the words, " Colonel, to the rescue ! Regiment has 
 
 surprised and captured our camp ! Camp-kettles and 
 frying-pans are all lost ! The officer in command calls 
 for reinforcements!" It is needless to say that the col- 
 onel responded to the call in the spirit in which it was 
 made, and, ordering out his officers and men, they were 
 all soon engaged in the snow-ball fight with the wild 
 spirits of school-boys, and gallantly recovered for their 
 sorely-pressed comrades the captured kettles and frying- 
 pans. 
 
 Thus merrily for the soldiers the hours of camp-life 
 passed by. To the commanding general they brought, as 
 we have seen, duties which were as faithfully discharged 
 as those of the campaign and field of battle. 
 
 To General Jackson, too, this season of repose offi:ired 
 an opportunity, which he eagerly seized, of perfecting 
 the discipline of his own command. The winter quar- 
 ters for his troops extended from near Guinea's Station 
 towards Port Royal. Moss Neck, the residence of Mr. 
 Corbin, and situated in the midst of his troops, half-way 
 between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, was offiired to 
 him for his headquarters, and, after a few days' hesita- 
 tion, accepted. But he declined to have rooms in the 
 house, for fear of inconveniencing the hospitable family 
 occupying it, and accepted in its stead the use of a cot- 
 tage on the edge of the lawn. The room on the first 
 floor he occupied as his office, and in the second story 
 his military bed was spread. Near the cottage, which 
 had been used as a hunting- lodge, a large tent was 
 pitched, and served as a dining-room for his military 
 family. 
 
 General Jackson's first labor, after seeing that his troops 
 were all comfortably lodged for the winter in huts built 
 
 24- 
 
282 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 by themselves, was to write the reports of his battles, 
 whieh he had been unable to do during the hurry and 
 fatigues of his arduous campaigns and rapid marches. 
 Tliese reports are written in the calm, simple, soldier- 
 like style of a great captain who needs not words, but 
 the simple statement of facts, to perpetuate his own glory 
 and that of the brave men he so skillfully led. Not a 
 word of exaggeration, not the least deviation from truth, 
 can be detected in them. He had just finished the re- 
 port of his last battle when he was called to take the 
 field in the execution of the most brilliant move, per- 
 haps, of his marvelous career, whence he rose to report 
 in heavenly spheres to the Captain of Hosts. 
 
 One of the first evils which he endeavored to correct 
 in his corps was that of absence from the army without 
 leave. This prevailed to an alarming extent, as may 
 be seen from the fact that one of his brigades reported 
 twelve hundred absentees! He urged that the Com- 
 mittee on INIilitary Affairs should take some steps to put 
 a stop to this evil. 
 
 So rigid was he in adherence to duty that he never 
 once left his command during the war. Towards the 
 close of this year he was made happy by the birth of a 
 little daughter. But not even the temptation of meeting 
 Mrs. Jackson and the dear little stranger at the house 
 of a friend could induce him to ask for a furlough. We 
 find him writing to Mrs. Jackson, about this time as 
 follows : 
 
 "Christmas, 1862. 
 
 " I do earnestly pray for peace. Oh that our country 
 was such a Christian, God-fearing people as it should 
 be ! Then might we very speedily look for peace. 
 
 " It appears to me that it is better for me to remain 
 
WINTE.^ QUARTERS, 18G3. 283 
 
 with my command so long as the war conthiues, if our 
 ever-gracious heavenly Father permits. The army suf- 
 fers immensely by absentees. If all our troops, officers 
 and men, Avere at their posts, we might, through God's 
 blessing, expect a more speedy termination of the war. 
 The temporal affairs of some are so deranged as to make 
 a strong plea for their returning home for a short time; 
 but our God has greatly blessed me and mine during my 
 absence ; and whilst it would be a great comfort to see 
 you and our darling little daughter, and others in whom 
 I take special interest, yet duty appears to require me to 
 remain Avith my command. It is important that those 
 at headquarters set an example by remaining at the post 
 of duty. 
 
 "Dr. writes, ^Our little prayer-meeting is still 
 
 meeting daily to pray for our army and leaders.' This 
 prayer-meeting may be the means of accomplishing more 
 than an army. I wish that such existed everywhere. 
 How it does cheer my heart to hear of God's people 
 praying for our cause, and for me ! I greatly j)rize the 
 prayers of the pious." 
 
 With the new year came the news of the occupation 
 again of Winchester by the Federals. The following 
 extract from a letter written to his friend Colonel Bote- 
 ler, January 21, 1863, will show the deep interest which 
 he took in the Valley and its inhabitants : 
 
 " Though I have been relieved from command there, 
 and may never again be assigned to that important trust, 
 yet I feel deeply when I see the patriotic people of that 
 region again under the heel of a hateful military despot- 
 ism. There are all the homes of those who have been 
 with me from the commencement of the war in Virginia ; 
 
284 I'JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 who have repeatedly left their families and property in 
 the hands of the enemy, and braved the dangers of 
 battle and disease; and there are those who have so 
 devotedly labored for the relief of our suffering sick and 
 wounded." 
 
 And again, in another letter to the same gentleman, 
 he says, — 
 
 ^' It is but natural that I 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 long tested." 
 
 But though his interest in the Valley, which had been 
 the scene of his brilliant campaigns, was unflagging, yet 
 he felt the relief of not having the responsibility of a 
 separate command, and it was observed that he was much 
 freer from care and in much brighter spirits than he had 
 been wlien at the head of a separate army. 
 
 His reputation attracted many, both of the curious 
 and the patriotic, to visit him, and his countrymen were 
 enthusiastic in their love and admiration for him. For- 
 eigners visiting the Confederacy were always anxious to 
 see the great soldier whose short but brilliant career had 
 invested his name with such a charm for both friend and 
 foe. His visitors always received a courteous welcome 
 from him. They found him a tall, soldierly-looking 
 man, a little grave, perhaps, in his address, but polite 
 and affable, and dispensing with quiet ease and dignity 
 the hospitalities of his plain, soldier's lodgings. He 
 showed great anxiety to contribute to his guests' comfort, 
 and not the smallest thing which could add to it escaped 
 his attention. He always enjoyed a jest, and for this 
 reason found great pleasure in the visits of his comrade- 
 
WINTER QUARTERS, 1863. 285 
 
 in-arms, General J. E. B. Stuart, whose bright, happy 
 temper and unchanguig flow of spirits carried mirth 
 wherever he went. 
 
 An Englishman who visited Jackson at this time 
 wrote of his visit as follows : 
 
 " I brought from Nassau a box of goods for General 
 Stonewall Jackson, and he asked me when I was at Rich- 
 mond to come to his camp and see him. I left the city 
 one morning about seven o'clock, and about ten landed 
 at a station distant some eight or nine miles from Jack- 
 son's, or, as his men call him, ' Old Jack's' camp. A 
 heavy fall of snow had covered the country for some 
 time before to the depth of a foot, and formed a crust 
 over the Virginia mud, which is quite as villainous as 
 that of Balaklava. The day before had been mild and 
 wet, and my journey was made In a drenching shower, 
 which soon cleared away the white mantle of snow. 
 You cannot imagine the Slough of Despond I had to 
 pass through. Wet to the skin, I stumbled through 
 mud, I waded through creeks, I passed through pine 
 woods, and at last got into camp about two o'clock. I 
 then made my way to a small house occupied by the 
 general as his headquarters. I wrote down my name 
 and gave it to the orderly, and I was immediately told 
 to walk in. 
 
 " The general rose and greeted me warmly. I ex- 
 pected to see an old untidy man, and was most agree- 
 ably surprised and pleased with his appearance. He is 
 tall, handsome, and powerfully built, but thin. He has 
 brown hair and a brown beard. His mouth expresses 
 great determination. The lips are thin and compressed 
 firmly together; his eyes are blue and dark, with keen 
 and searching expression. I was told that his age was 
 
286 I^^FE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 thirty-eight; and he looks about forty. The general, 
 who is indescribably simple and unaffected in all his 
 ways, took oif my Svet overcoat with his own hands, 
 made up the fire, brought wood for me to put my feet 
 on to keep them warm while my boots were drying, and 
 then began to ask me questions on various subjects. At 
 the dinner-hour we went out and joined the members of 
 his statf. At this meal the general said grace in a fer- 
 vent, quiet manner, which struck me much. After din- 
 ner I returned to his room, and he again talked for a 
 lono; time. The servant came in and took his mattress 
 out of a cupboard and laid it on the floor. 
 
 "As I rose to retire, the general said, ^Captain, there 
 is plenty of room on my bed ; I hope you will share it 
 with me.' I thanked him very much for his courtesy, 
 but said, ^ Good-night,' and slept in a tent, sharing the 
 blankets of one of his aides-de-camp. In the morning, 
 at breakfast-time, I noticed that the general said grace 
 before the meal with the same fervor I had remarked 
 before. An hour or two afterwards it was time for me 
 to return to the station ; on this occasion, however, I had 
 a horse, and I returned up to the general's headquarters 
 to bid him adieu. His little room was vacant, so I 
 stepped in and stood before the fire. I then noticed my 
 great-coat stretched before it on a chair. Shortly after- 
 ward the general entered the room. He said, ^ Captain, 
 I have been trying to dry your great-coat, but I am 
 afraid I have not succeeded very well.' That little act 
 illustrates the man's character. With the care and re- 
 sponsibilities of a vast army on his shoulders, he finds 
 time to do little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness 
 w^hicli make him the darling of his men, who never seem 
 to tire talking of him. 
 
WINTER QUARTERS, 1863. 287 
 
 " General Jackson is a man of great endurance ; he 
 drinks nothing stronger than water, and never uses 
 tobacco or any stimulant. He has been known to ride 
 for three days and nights at a time, and if there is any 
 labor to be undergone he never fails to take his share 
 of it/^ 
 
 General Jackson found himself so situated in his head- 
 quarters at INIoss Neck that he could indulge the domes- 
 tic tastes of his nature, and particularly his fondness 
 for children, in a way which he had not done since he 
 had left his quiet little home in Lexington. The chil- 
 dren in Mr. Corbin's family soon became his pets, and 
 on one of them particularly, little Jane Corbin, he 
 lavished his attentions and caresses. The child — who 
 was only six years old — soon became such a pet that the 
 general begged her mother to send her to him every 
 evening after the labors of the day were ended, and thus 
 his hours of relaxation were spent in playing with this 
 fair young child. They romped, played, or talked 
 together, and often the general's laughter was heard 
 mingled with that of the little girl. Whenever she 
 went to him she found him with some little present 
 ready for her, — a cake, an orange, a bit of candy, or a 
 toy. One evening she arrived, and he had no present 
 ready for her. While looking around to see what his 
 scanty quarters contained that he might offer her, the 
 gilt band on a new cap which Mrs. Jackson had just 
 sent him caught his eye. With his knife he ripped it 
 off, and, placing it around her head, said, as he stood 
 off and admired her, '' This shall be your coronet !" 
 
 Thus the great captain, whose fame was now wafted 
 upon every gale, danced this little girl upon his knee, 
 while unconsciously the sands of both were running low, 
 
288 LIFE OF GEXERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 for just before he went into that battle from which he 
 Avas to return to die, she fell a victim to scarlet fever, 
 and passed to the realms of the blessed, too soon to be 
 joined by her loving hero. The gilt band with which 
 he had crowned her young head is now prized by her 
 widowed mother as a memento alike of her child and of 
 her country's great soldier. 
 
 From the letters which he wrote during the winter to 
 Mrs. Jackson I make the following extracts : 
 
 " Our ever-gracious heavenly Father is exceedingly 
 kind to me, and strikingly manifests it by the kindness 
 with which He disposes people to treat me.'^ (After 
 mentioning a number of presents which he had received, 
 he says,) " And so God, my exceeding great joy, is con- 
 tinually showering his blessings upon me, an unworthy 
 creature. 
 
 " I hope to have the privilege of joining in prayer for 
 peace at the time you name, and hope that all our Chris- 
 tian people will ; but peace should not be the chief object 
 of prayer in our country. It should aim more specially 
 at imploring God's forgiveness of our sins, and praying 
 that He will make our peoi)le a holy people. If we are 
 but his, all things shall work together for the good of 
 our country, and no good thing will He withhold from 
 it.^^ ... 
 
 " If I know my unworthy self, my desire is to live 
 entirely and unreservedly to God's glory. Pray that I 
 may so live." . . . 
 
 "January 17, 1863. 
 
 ^^ I derive an additional pleasure in reading a letter, 
 resulting from a conviction that it has not been traveling 
 on the Sabbath. How delightful will be our heavenly 
 home, where everything is sanctified !" 
 
WINTER QUARTERS, 1863. 289 
 
 •' January 22. 
 
 " I reoret to see our Winchester friends aojain in tlie 
 hands of the enemy. I trust that, in answer to prayer, 
 our country will soon be blessed with peace." . . . 
 
 " Our heavenly Father is continually blessing me with 
 presents. He withholds no good thing from me." 
 
 " February 3. 
 '' I trust that in answ^er to the prayers of GodJs people 
 He will soon give us peace. I haven't seen my wife for 
 nearly a year, and my home for nearly two years ; and I 
 never have seen my sweet little daughter. . . . My old 
 brigade has built a log church ; as yet I have not been 
 in it.'*' 
 
 After an allusion to some presents which he had re- 
 ceived from London, he says, — 
 
 "Our ever-kind heavenly Father gives me friends 
 among strangers. He is the source of every blessing, 
 and I desire to be more grateful to Him. 
 
 " To-morrow is the Sabbath. My Sabbaths are looked 
 forward to with pleasure. I don't know that I ever 
 enjoyed Sabbaths as I do this winter. I do hope, trust, 
 and pray that our people will religiously observe the 
 27th day of next month as a day of humiliation, prayer, 
 and fasting, as the President has designated in his pro- 
 clamation." 
 
 General Jackson interested himself greatly this winter 
 in getting chaplains for regiments which had none, and 
 also in trying to arouse more zeal in those chaplains who 
 were with the army, for while there were many who 
 stood to their posts like n:en, and faithfully discharged 
 their duty, there were others who often shirked it, and 
 N 25 
 
290 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 frequently left the army without sufficient cause. At 
 his invitation, a Presbyterian clergyman, IMr. Lacy, be- 
 came General Jackson's cha|)lain, and came to his head- 
 quarters the 1st cf March. About the middle of this 
 month General Jackson moved his quarters to Hamil- 
 ton's Crossing, near which place the chaplain preached 
 in an open field every Sunday. A rude pul^jit had been 
 there prepared for him, and around it seats were placed. 
 Here every Sunday General Jackson came to attend 
 worship, and here, too, was often seen the majestic 
 figure of General Lee. Other distinguished generals 
 and officers in the Confederate army soon followed their 
 example, until from a few hundred the number of these 
 worshipers in the open air was swelled to thousands. 
 There the private's plain gray jacket was seen beside the 
 brilliant staff uniform of a major- or lieutenant-general, 
 — all ranks being leveled while adoring the great Father 
 of all. 
 
 General Jackson established the custom in his corps 
 of having a weekly meeting of the chaplains to consult 
 over their duties and report the progress of the good 
 w^ork they were engaged in. Whenever his chaplain 
 returned from one of these meetings, the general would 
 summon him to his |)resence, and greet him, as he entered, 
 w^ith the words, " Now come and report." He listened 
 wath the deepest interest, and often Avith tears in his 
 eyes, to the account of the interest in religion w^hich the 
 men in the army showed. 
 
 The soldiers soon began to erect log chapels in which 
 these services were held. The Stonewall Brigade first 
 built such a chapel, and its example was soon followed 
 by others. In these rude little chapels prayer-meetings 
 were held during the week ; here the men were taught, 
 
WINTER qUARTER'<, 18G3. 291 
 
 ill the weary hours of camp-life, to study the Bible, and 
 here they frequently met to sing hymns. The chapel 
 of the Stonewall Brigade being near liis quarters, Gen- 
 eral Jackson often went to attend the services held there. 
 On such occasions, taking his seat among his war-worn 
 veterans, he would refuse to sit higher up in the little 
 chapel, insisting that the men should crowd around him 
 as they did around one another in their eagerness to hear 
 the preacher's words. 
 
 After establishing his headquarters at Hamilton's 
 Crossing, he had prayers with his mess every morning, 
 conducting these himself when his chaplain was not 
 present. The members of his staff knew too well how 
 much pleasure their attendance on such occasions gave 
 him for any of them to be often absent. At his head- 
 quarters also a prayer-meeting was held every Wednes- 
 day and Sunday night. Several members of his staff, 
 being fond of sa-cred music, gratified him by singing 
 hymns on Sunday afternoons, and often he would say, as 
 they were ceasing, " Now let us have the hymn, — 
 
 " ' How happy are they 
 
 Who their Saviour obey.' " 
 
 Just before moving to Hamilton's Crossing, he wrote 
 
 to Mrs. Jackson as follows : 
 
 "March 14, 18G3. 
 
 " The time is about come for campaigning, and I hope 
 early next week to leave my room and go into a tent 
 near Hamilton's Crossing, which is on the railroad, about 
 five miles from Fredericksburg. It is rather a relief to 
 get where there will be less comfort than in a room ; as 
 I hope thereby persons will be prevented from encroach- 
 ing so much on my time. I am greatly behind in my 
 
292 ^-'^•'^' OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 reports, and am very desirous of getting through with 
 them I efore another campaign commences/' 
 
 To a cousin he wrote on the 2d of April, — 
 
 " I have a daughter, and have named her Julia, after 
 mother. I don't suppose you have any recollection of 
 mother, as she has been dead nearly thirty years. In 
 the summer of 1855 I visited her grave in Fayette 
 County. My wife and daughter are staying in North 
 Carolina. 
 
 " I hope that you are a Christian : there is no happi- 
 ness like that experienced by a child of God." 
 
 About the middle of April his heart Avas gladdened 
 by a visit from the wife whom he had not seen for nearly 
 a year, and the "sweet little daughter" whom he had 
 never seen, and for whom his heart was filled with such 
 tender yearnings. Mrs. Jackson, who had been awaiting 
 in Richmond his permission to visit him, at length re- 
 ceived the joyful summons to do so. A cold rain was 
 falling as the train neared Hamilton's Crossing. It had 
 scarcely come to a stand-still when, quietly entering and 
 moving through the crowd assembled at the door, was 
 seen the tall, commanding figure of General Jackson. 
 Cap and cape were both dripping with the rain through 
 which he had ridden. His eager eye soon found the 
 mother and child whom he was so fondly expecting, and 
 in a second he was beside them. The child he had ex- 
 pected to find a frail, delicate little fledgling; for more 
 than once since its birth he had been made anxious by 
 hearing of its sickness, and the mother, as if to prepare 
 a surprise for him, had refrained from telling him into 
 what a rosy cherub she had bloomed. His delight and 
 admiration, then, knew no bounds when she looked up at 
 
WINTER qUARTEBS, 1863. 293 
 
 liim with the fresh and bright countenance which infants 
 wear when just awakened, as she then was, from a long 
 and refreshing slumber. An eye-witness says it would 
 be impossible to imagine a picture of greater delight than 
 he presented as he gazed in astonishment and admiration 
 at her, but fearing to take her in his wet but loving 
 arms. 
 
 " His first care, after the accustomed salutation, was to 
 get the mother and child safely through the crowd and 
 rain into the carriage which was to convey them to their 
 temporary home (a gentleman's house near Hamilton's 
 Crossing). Arrived there, he divested himself of his 
 wet overcoat, and, taking his baby in his arms, caressed 
 it with tender delight, exclaiming upon its beauty and 
 size. Henceforth his chief pleasure was in caressing 
 her, and he was several times seen, while she was sleep- 
 ing, kneeling long over her cradle, watching her with a 
 face beaming with admiration and happiness." * 
 
 But, though his devotion for the little one knew no 
 bounds, yet, with the true soldier's ideas of discipline, he 
 had no notion of her escaping her share of military re- 
 straint. Of this we have ample proof in the following 
 amusing and characteristic incident, which I have from 
 the child's mother. 
 
 Being one day present when the child was having — as 
 infants so often do — -a fit of passionate crying, he looked 
 on in amazement at its being considered by both nurse 
 and mother as one of the ills of babyhood, for which 
 there was no remedy, and which was to be regarded as 
 a matter of course. The child had begun to scream be- 
 cause it wished to be taken from the bed on which it 
 
 *Dabney's Life of Jackson. 
 
 2o* 
 
294 I^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 was lyino;, and once under way it continued to cry. The 
 astonished general watched the scene in silence for a few 
 minutes, and then, rising, said, in a quick, rather annoyed 
 tone, ^^Oh, this will never do!" and, taking the child, 
 laid her back on the bed, and would not take her up 
 until she ceased crying. If she began again on being 
 taken up, he placed her back on the bed, where she re- 
 mained until again quiet. And thus, when only five 
 months old, the little Julia was taught her first lesson in 
 self-control, and for the first and last time was the object 
 of paternal discipline. What a picture this offers us! 
 The great captain, whose thoughts and time were devoted 
 to the discipline and guidance of thousands of gallant 
 soldiers, stooping in the midst of his cares and resjwnsi- 
 bilities to train an infant a few months old! 
 
 It w^as during these happy days, when he was enjoy- 
 ing this visit from his wife and child, that he sat for the 
 last picture which was taken of him. The photographer 
 came and asked permission to take his picture. He at 
 first objected, but, the artist pressing his request, and 
 Mrs. Jackson urging him to grant it, he at length yielded. 
 Mrs. Jackson hastily smoothed his hair Avhile t' e artist 
 placed his instrument in position in the hall of thi house 
 where they Avere staying, and the result was the fine 
 three-quarters face and head with whose classic outlines 
 every Southerner is now so familiar, and Avhich adorns 
 the walls alike of the cottage and of the palace, of friend 
 and of foe. A stream of light falling on the general's 
 face during this sitting caused a slight contraction of the 
 brow, which gives to the picture a rather sterner look 
 than was natural to him. 
 
 The general's devotion to his child was remarked upon 
 by all who saw them together, and an officer's wife who 
 
WINTER QUARTERS, 1863. 295 
 
 saw him often during this time, in a letter to a friend 
 in Richmond, says, '' The general spends all his leisure 
 in playing with the baby/^ 
 
 But these last happy, peaceful days were rapidly pass- 
 ing away. The hour w^as near when the warrior was to 
 leave the caresses of his infant daughter to rush into 
 battle and for the last time lead his gallant little baud 
 to victory. It was the giant's last struggle; but, as he 
 fell, the evening breeze bore the shouts of victory to his 
 ears, which — alas for his country ! — were so soon to be 
 filled with the sweeter strains of celestial music. 
 
CHAPTER Xyi. 
 
 CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
 
 With the first warm days of early spring the enemy 
 began to move in his winter camps and fortifications, 
 and the Confederate leaders knew that the Federal gen- 
 eral would soon lead his powerful army across the Rap- 
 pahannock, to repeat the oft-renewed attempt to break 
 through the Confederate lines and march on to Rich- 
 mond. 
 
 Ever since the battle of Fredericksburg, a thorough 
 system of scouts had enabled General Lee to know, in 
 a few hours after its occurrence, every change in the 
 Federal army. Moreover, the alphabet of the Federal 
 signals having been discovered, the Confederate signal- 
 officers could read every order and message sent from 
 the Federal general's headquarters, and near General 
 Lee's headquarters at Moss Neck a signal-party was 
 kept constantly on duty to take down the messages 
 transmitted through a signal-station on the other side 
 of the river. 
 
 How well General Lee employed the inactivity of the 
 winter months to get his army in fine fighting order for 
 the spring campaign is seen from the following extract ; * 
 
 *This is taken from "The Battle-Fields of Virginia— Chan- 
 cellorsville," a most valuable and interesting historical tract, by 
 two able oflBcers of the Army of Northern Virginia, Captain 
 29G 
 
CHAXCELLORSVILLE. 297 
 
 " A long interval of quiet now intervened. For more 
 than two months the condition of the roads rendered 
 any important movement impracticable. Both leaders 
 devoted this time to improving the discipline, perfect- 
 ing the organization, and filling up the ranks of their 
 armies. Lee addressed himself assiduously to his task. 
 His attention was first turned to supplies and equipment. 
 All the available means for the purpose were put into 
 requisition. Agents were sent out through the country 
 drained by his army, and, in conjunction with the authori- 
 ties at Eichmond, gathered supplies in every quarter. 
 These were collected at various depots convenient to his 
 troops. And when the usual method of procuring sup- 
 plies by purchase and the tithe failed, General Lee issued 
 an appeal to the people, which soon filled his commissa- 
 riat. The reserve artillery and all the surplus transpor- 
 tation of the army were sent to the rear, where it was 
 more easy to forage them. The arsenals at Richmond 
 were kept constantly at work to re-equip his army and 
 arm the men coming in. Much of his field-artillery was 
 replaced by new and improved guns. Careful attention 
 was bestowed upon discipline. Many regulations were 
 introduced to promote that system and order which is 
 the life of armies. When the weather permitted, the 
 troops were constantly engaged in field exercises. Prompt 
 measures were taken to prevent desertion, and those who 
 had deserted were brought back in large numbers. The 
 number of absentees from various causes was very great 
 in the beginning of the year. By the spring it was re- 
 
 Hotchkis.-, late Topographical Engineer of the Second Corps, and 
 Colonel William Allan, late Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Ord- 
 nance of the Second' Corps. 
 
298 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 duced more than half. The Conscription Act, now fairly 
 put into operation, increased the strength of the army- 
 daily. Jackson's corps grew in three months from 
 twenty-five to thirty-three thousand muskets. . . . 
 
 " The splendid morale of this army did not need 
 improvement, but it enabled it to bear without injury 
 the privations and hardships of the winter. Insufficient 
 clothing and scanty rations produced no effect upon it. 
 When the spring opened. General Lee found himself at 
 the head of an army unsurpassed in discipline, and all 
 the hardy virtues of the soldier, strengthened by the 
 additions of the winter, reinvigorated by the compact- 
 ness and order which had been given to its organization, 
 with an enthusiasm acquired by a long series of vic- 
 tories, and ready to add to that series a triumph more 
 remarkable and illustrious than any of its predecessors." 
 
 The Federal general was equally assiduous during this 
 period of rest in re-organizing and disciplining his army. 
 Its condition when General Hooker took command may 
 be easily imagined from the fact that he found absent 
 nearly three thousand commissioned officers, and over 
 eighty thousand non-commissioned officers and privates. 
 He saw at once the need of an effective cavalry force, 
 and succeeded in having one organized. To try their 
 mettle, a cavalry division, under General Averill, was 
 sent to cross the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford on 
 INIarch 17. They there found a small Confederate picket 
 of twenty men, which they easily drove in, and, crossing 
 the river in safety, moved on in the direction of Culpeper 
 Court-House. General Fitz-Hugh Lee, who was near 
 the railroad bridge with the greater part of his brigade, 
 marched to meet the advancing column. He came up 
 with General Averill a mile from the foi*d. A sliarp and 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 299 
 
 severely-contested struggle followed, in which, owing 
 chiefly to the skillful handling of the artillery under 
 that accomplished young officer Major Pelham, the Con- 
 federates were victorious, and the Federals withdrew and 
 re-crossed the river. In this fight fell young Pelham, 
 deplored alike by his comrades-in-arms and his country. 
 In history he will live under the title of " the gallant 
 Pelham," given him by General Lee after the battle of 
 Fredericksburg, while by his countrymen he will be ever 
 remembered with the tender love and gratitude which 
 made them give him, while living, the appellation of 
 " the boy hero.'' 
 
 After the fight at Kelly's Ford, no further demon- 
 stration was made by the Federals until the great strug- 
 gle around Chancellorsville, with which they opened the 
 campaign. General Lee, knowing early in April that 
 Hooker was ready and anxious to move, hurried up his 
 preparations to meet him. 
 
 So stood matters on the eve of the opening of the 
 campaign. Both sides were braced up for the struggle. 
 and both were eager for it to begin. The Federal army 
 numbered one hundred and twenty-three thousand men 
 and four hundred pieces of artillery ; the Confederate 
 army, one hundred and seventy p'eces of artillery and 
 fifty-eight thousand men, being decreased in numbers 
 about one-fourth by the absence of Longstreet with two 
 of his divisions, he having been sent to Suffolk. 
 
 General Jackson grew more impatient for the hour of 
 combat to come as the time for it drew near. On one 
 occasion, after listening to an account given by one of 
 his officers of the gigantic scale of the enemy's prepara- 
 tions for the coming campaign, and of the eagerness of 
 the Confederate soldiers for it to begin, he sprang to his 
 
300 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 feet, and, showing more excitement than was his wont, 
 exclaimed, " I wish the enemy would come on !" Then, 
 raising his eyes to heaven, he said, in a subdued tone, 
 " My trust is in God." 
 
 In speaking of the campaign, he would say that the 
 Confederates ought to make it a very active one ; that it 
 was only in that way that they could make up for their 
 want of strength ; and he would add that Napoleon 
 never waited for his adversary to become fully prepared, 
 but struck him the first blow. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 29th of April an officer 
 came to the house where the general was staying, and 
 asked for him. The general, on being aroused, said, as 
 he Avas preparing to go down, " That sounds as if some- 
 thing stirring were afoot." In a few minutes he re- 
 turned, and told ^Mrs. Jackson that General Early had 
 sent his adjutant to inform him that Hooker was crossing 
 the river in force. He then told her that they were on 
 the eve of great events, and he would have to go at once 
 and watch the enemy's movements ; if they were threat- 
 ening, the house where she then was would be no place 
 for herself and child, and she must be prepared to leave 
 for Richmond should he send word to her to do so. If 
 possible, he would come back and see her oif; but 
 if he could not do this, he would send one of his aides. 
 Fearing that he might not be able to return, he bade her 
 and the little Julia adieu, and, mounting his horse, rode 
 to the front. Finding on his arrival there that he could 
 not return to Mrs. Jackson, he sent her brother, his aide. 
 Lieutenant Morrison, to take her to Guinea's Station, 
 where she would leave for Richmond. This young officer, 
 impatient to return to the front, placed INIrs. Jackson 
 under the care of Mr. Lacy, the chaplain, and hurried 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 301 
 
 back to the lines. Mrs. Jackson left for Richmond filled 
 with anxiety and gloomy apprehensions about the gen- 
 eral, knowing so well as she did the terrible nature of 
 the storm and struggle over which he was to be, under 
 his great chief, the presiding spirit. 
 
 As soon as General Jackson found that the Federals 
 were crossing the river, he sent one of his aides to inform 
 General Lee of the move. The officer sent found Gen- 
 eral Lee sitting in his tent, and in reply to ih^ message 
 he said, '' Well, I heard firing, and I was beginning to 
 think it was time some of you lazy young fellows were 
 coming to tell me what it was all about. Say to General 
 Jackson that he knows just as well what to do with the 
 enemy as I do." 
 
 After getting his corps under arms, and seeing the 
 numbers in which the enemy was crossing. General Jack- 
 son suspected that this move was only a feint, intended 
 to cover a move in some other direction. And such, in- 
 deed, proved to be the true state of the case, for General 
 Stuart, whose cavalry pickets extended far up the Rap- 
 pahannock, soon reported the movement of Federal 
 troo])s, which sho^ved that they would attempt to cross 
 the Rappahannock farther up that stream, and some 
 miles west of Fredericksburg. 
 
 Hooker's plan was as follows. The force crossing the 
 river below Fredericksburg, and commanded by General 
 Sedgwick, was designed to attract the attention of the 
 Confederates, while with the rest of his forces Hooker 
 would move rapidly along the northern bank of the 
 Rappahannock, cross that stream at Kelly's Ford above 
 its junction with the Rapidan, and, pushing across the 
 country, cross the last-named stream at Ely and Ger- 
 mauna Fords, and move back in the direction of Fred- 
 
 26 
 
302 I^JPE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 ericksburg, establishing and fortifying himself in the 
 Wilderness, on General Lee's flank. 
 
 Tliese movements he proceeded ra])idly to execute. 
 His men started on the march with eight days' rations 
 in their haversacks, and the army was put in motion, the 
 advance reaching Kelly's Ford on the evening of the 
 28th of April. On ihQ 29th they reached Ely's and 
 Germanna Fords, on the Rapidan. 
 
 In the mean time, General Stuart, being between the 
 two rivers, in command of the small force of twenty- 
 seven hundred cavalrymen, hung with these upon the 
 flanks of the enemy, skirmishing with them until he 
 found out their strength and the direction of their march, 
 and then, crossing the Rapidan, he re-established his 
 connections with General Lee. The main body of the 
 Federal cavalry had already broken through the Con- 
 federate lines, and was gone, moving south, and evidently 
 intent on a raid into the heart of the country. 
 
 So stood matters when General Jackson was summoned 
 by General Early on the morning of the 29th to witness 
 the Federals crossing the river below Fredericksburg. 
 On the same morning the Federal forces crossed the 
 Rapidan at Germanna and Ely Fords, and marched 
 dow^n towards Chancellorsville, which place is fifteen 
 miles west of Fredericksburg. 
 
 General Lee, not aware of these movements, awaited 
 the development of the enemy's plans, having stationed 
 above Fredericksburg McLaws's and Anderson's divi- 
 sions, the only two of Longstreet's corps which he had left 
 with him. By the evening of the 29th, General Stuart 
 sent him positive information of the enemy's movements. 
 He at once sent Anderson to Chancellorsville. That 
 general occupied the place that night, but hearing that 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 303 
 
 the Federals were moving on it in large force, lie pre- 
 pared to withdraw in the morning. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 30th the Federal forces 
 coming from the Rapidan marched towards Chancellors- 
 ville. Approaching that place, their skirmishers fell in 
 with the rear-guard of Anderson, who had begun to 
 withdraw at daylight in the direction of Fredericksburg, 
 and took position at the junction of the Mine and Plank 
 roads. On the evening of the 30th, General Hooker 
 issued a general order congratulating his troops on the 
 success of their movements, and moved his headquarters 
 to Chancellorsville, where he took command in person, 
 and where he was massing his troops. 
 
 McLaws was ordered at midnight by General Lee to 
 move in the direction of Anderson and take position on 
 his right. Jackson was ordered to move at daylight 
 with three of his divisions in the same direction, leaving 
 General Early to defend the works from Fredericksburg 
 to Hamilton's Crossing. 
 
 McLaws arrived on Anderson's right at daylight. 
 General Jackson set his column in motion at three o'clock 
 in the morning, and thus escaped the notice of the enemy 
 near Fredericksburg, who had tried to discover the move- 
 ments of the Confederates by means of balloons, which 
 they were continually sending up. Jackson reached 
 Anderson by eight a.m. on the same morning. May 1, 
 and at once ordered a general advance. Hooker, in the 
 mean time, had ordered the same move on the part of 
 his troops, and the Confederates accordingly had ad- 
 vanced but a short distance on the old turnpike leading 
 to Chancellorsville, when they met the Federal cavalry, 
 which they drove in ; but, the Federal troops soon ap- 
 pearing in full force, the Confederate skirmishers were in 
 
304 ^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 turn driven back, and both sides made their dispositions 
 for battle. The Federals stoutly resisted General Jack- 
 son's advance, until, by a move ordered by him, their 
 flank was threatened, when they began a precipitate re- 
 treat. The victorious Confederates pushed after them 
 as they went back to the position from which they had 
 advanced in the morning, and followed them closely to 
 their breastworks, which were from half a mile to one 
 mile from Chancellorsville. The strength of the enemy's 
 position there General Lee thus describes : 
 
 "Here the enemy had assumed a position of great 
 natural strength, surrounded on all sides by a dense 
 forest, filled with a tangled undergrowth, in the midst 
 of which breastworks of logs had been constructed, with 
 trees felled in front, so as to form an almost impenetrable 
 abatis. His artillery swept the few narrow roads by 
 wdiich the position could be approached from the front, 
 and commanded the adjacent woods." 
 
 As soon as the strength of the enemy's position was 
 ascertained, it became apparent that to attack them 
 there w^ould be a useless waste of life ; and accordingly 
 nothing more than skirmishing was done along the line 
 at the close of this day, Friday, May 1. 
 
 On the left of the plank road, just where it was 
 crossed by the Confederate line, rose a small hill, its 
 summit covered by a group of pine-trees, Avhose fallen 
 leaves, together with the dry sedge on the ground, formed 
 an inviting spot for a bivouac. Here Lee and Jackson 
 bivouacked with their respective staffs on the night of 
 Friday, May L Here the two generals sat beneath the 
 pine-trees, through which the wind sighed, while the 
 moon shone down in full splendor on places whose 
 solitude forty-eight hours before had been broken only 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 3C5 
 
 by the song of the whippoorwill or the cry of tlie owl, 
 but which were now alive with soldiers, many of whom 
 were sleeping their last earthly sleep, for Avith the 
 morrow the musket and the cannon would asrain beo:in 
 their work of destruction. The two generals felt that 
 they were on the eve of great events, and the gravity 
 of the situation rested in all its weight upon them. 
 What was to be done? The situation of affairs was 
 indeed serious. Lee's army was diminished one-third 
 by the absence of Longstreet and two of his divisions. 
 The Federal general Averill had broken through the 
 Confederate lines with his well-trained and fine body 
 of cavalry, and was moving rapidly southwards, evi- 
 dently bent on an extensive raid, and on cutting off, if 
 possible, Lee's communications with Richmond. Early 
 was obliged to be kept at Fredericksburg and to present 
 a bold front with his seven thousand men to Sedg- 
 wick in order to conceal Jackson's departure. This left 
 but forty-three thousand nien with whom to confront 
 Hooker's overwhelming force in his magnificent position. 
 The strength of this last at Chancellorsville — which 
 consisted of but one brick house — has already b<?en 
 described. From this point on his left Hooker's line ran 
 back west parallel to the plank road to the vicinity of 
 AVilderness Church, two miles distant. The Eleventh 
 Corps, commanded by Howard, held the right. The 
 whole of this line ran through an almost impenetrable 
 forest of scrubby oak and pine, which is fitly termed 
 " the Wilderness." Once in its depths, it was difficult 
 to find a way out, and more difficult still to know what 
 was going on at a distance of even a hundred yards. 
 
 The encounter of the day which had just ended made 
 it manifest that Hooker could not be dislodged from 
 
 26* 
 
306 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 this position by an attack on his splendidly fortified left. 
 Anxiously did the two Confederate leaders consult on 
 that memorable night as to the next move to be made, 
 — a move on which they felt that the fate of their 
 armies hung. The presence of Jackson and his forces 
 on Hooker's front could not long be concealed from the 
 Federal general, and with each hour he was adding 
 strength to his position and numbers to his already over- 
 whelming force. Pie must be attacked, and at once, or 
 all would be lost for the Confederates. Both generals 
 felt this; and, in view of Hooker's almost impregnable 
 position on his left, General Lee had already ordered his 
 cavalry to reconnoitre the Federal right and see what 
 could be done there. The vigilant Stuart soon accom- 
 plished this reconnoissance, and joined Generals Lee 
 and Jackson during the night in their bivouac under 
 the pine-trees. He reported that Hooker had ninety 
 thousand men massed around Chancellorsville, and had 
 his line fortified on the east, south, and southwest, but 
 that on the w^est and northwest it was unprotected by 
 fortifications, while the absence of Averill with the 
 Federal cavalry rendered it particularly exposed to a 
 flank attack. Here, then, was found what Lee and 
 Jackson were so anxiously looking for, — a weak point 
 in the enemy's lines ; and they prepared to pounce upon 
 it with all the swiftness and ferocity with wdiich the 
 eagle falls from the clouds on its unsuspecting prey. 
 
 It having been agreed to attack the Federals on their 
 right, the two generals sought repose after the fatigues 
 and anxieties of the day. General Jackson, unmindful 
 of everything save the great events so soon to follow, 
 had left his quarters in the morning without his blanket 
 or overcoat. He therefore lay down at the foot of a 
 
CHA.\CELLORSVILLE. 3(J7 
 
 pine-tree, to encounter without covering the heavy dews 
 and the dampness of the night air. His adjutant, 
 Colonel Pendleton, seeing this, offered and pressed him 
 to take his overcoat, but the general politely though 
 positively declined it. Young Pendleton then took 
 from the coat its large cape and spread it over his 
 general. Jackson waited until Pendleton was asleep, 
 when, rising, he took the cape and silently and tenderly 
 spread it over the prostrate form of his adjutant, after 
 which he once more lay down at the foot of the tree. 
 He awoke after an hour or two, pierced by the cold 
 and chilled to the bone. This was his last bivouac. 
 
 ^' AVhen his chaplain awoke in the morning, before the 
 daw^n of day, he perceived a little fire kindled under the 
 trees, and General Jackson sitting by it upon a box, such 
 as was used to contain biscuit for the soldiers. The 
 general knew that his former pastoral labors had led 
 him to this region, and desired to learn something from 
 him about its by-roads. He therefore requested him to 
 sit beside him on the box, and, wdien the other declined 
 to incommode him by so doing, made room for him, and 
 repeated, ^ Come, sit down ; I wish to talk with you.' 
 As he took his seat, he perceived that Jackson was shud- 
 dering with cold, and was embracing the little blaze with 
 expressions of great enjoyment. He then proceeded to 
 state that the enemy were in great force at Chancellors- 
 ville in a fortified position, and that to dislodge them by 
 a front attack would cost a fearful loss of life. He 
 wished to know whether he w^as acquainted with any 
 way by which their flank might be turned, either on the 
 right or the left.'' * 
 
 *Dabney's Life of Jackson, pp. 675, G76. 
 
308 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 After some further conversation with his chaplain 
 about the roads, General Jackson at daybreak dispatched 
 two of his staff to find out if there was a road by which 
 he might swiftly and secretly pass round the flank of 
 Hooker's army. 
 
 " The needed information was soon obtained. Seated 
 upon two cracker-boxes, the debris of an issue of Fed- 
 eral rations the day before, the Confederate leaders held 
 their consultation. AVith a map before him, General 
 Jackson suggested an entire circuit of the right of the 
 opposing army, and that the attack be made on its rear. 
 Lee inquired with what force he would do this. Jack- 
 son replied, ' With my whole corps, present.' Lee then 
 asked what would be left to him with which to resist an 
 advance of the enemy towards Fredericksburg. ' The 
 divisions of Anderson and McLaws,' said Jackson. For 
 a moment Lee reflected on the audacity of this plan in 
 the face of Hooker's superior numbers. With less than 
 forty -two thousand muskets he Avas in the presence of 
 sixty thousand. To divide his army into two parts and 
 place the whole Federal force between them was ex- 
 tremely hazardous. But it was impossible to attack the 
 Federal position in front without terrible loss. The 
 very boldness of the proposed movement, if executed 
 with secrecy and dispatch, was an earnest of success. 
 Jackson was directed to carry out the plan." "^^ 
 
 He had ascertained that by sweeping around in front 
 of Hooker's line and round his right he v/ould, after a 
 circuit of fifteen miles, reach the old turnpike road at a 
 point several miles west of Hooker's right, M'hence he 
 could fall upon his flank and rear. General Lee's con- 
 
 ^- Battle-Field- of Virginia — Chancellorsville, pp. 41, 42. 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 309 
 
 sent to this plan being given, orders for the march were 
 immediately issued, and the whole corps was soon in 
 motion, Rodes, commanding D. H. Hill's division, lead- 
 ing the march. By sunrise General Jackson appeared 
 at the head of his column at Catherine Furnace, a mile 
 and a half distant from the place where he had spent the 
 night. The proprietor of the furnace urged him to stop 
 and breakfast, but, declining his hospitality, he busied 
 himself in pushing forward the advance of his troops. 
 
 Meanwhile, General Hooker, as had been determined 
 upon the night before, Avas awaiting in his lines the 
 Confederate attack. Some of his scouts, mounted in the 
 tops of the highest trees southeast of Chancellorsville, 
 caught a glimpse of Jackson's corps as it was passing 
 the furnace. They immediately reported this movement 
 of the Confederate forces to General Hooker, who was 
 at the time examining in person his position. He at 
 once suspected its object, and, on his return to headquar- 
 ters at nine in the morning, he sent orders to his officers 
 commandino^ on the rio-ht to be on their iruard. He 
 hoped, however, that this move on the part of the Con- 
 federates was in reality a retreat; and when finally the 
 column disappeared, moving southward, this hope seemed 
 confirmed. A Federal force was sent out to harass i\\Q 
 rear of what was considered the retreating Confederates. 
 A Georgia regiment which had been left by General 
 Jackson to guard the outlet of a road by which the enemy 
 could attack was captured by the Federals, and they 
 were preparing to follow in full force when he was 
 already beyond their reach. 
 
 General Lee, on his part, by the active movement 
 of troops, and continual skirmishing with the enemy on 
 their left, completely blinded General Hooker as to the 
 
310 I^Jl^J^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 real move on lils right. Tluis, while the enemy's feebly- 
 roused suspicions were lulled to rest, the thunderbolt 
 of Avar had been f\iirly launched, and Avas soon to burst 
 upon the foe. The ^reat captain Avas acting up to the 
 Jackson motto, "swift by land and sea,'' and through 
 dense forests and over unfrequented roads AA^as thundering 
 along Avith his A^eteran legions through brier and brake 
 to accomplish one of the most brilliant moves that ha\^e 
 eA'Cr adorned the annals of Avar. Often his column had 
 to SAverve still farther to the left, to avoid the enemy's 
 pickets. His moA^ements for the most part Avere con- 
 cealed from the enemy by the dense forest through Avhich he 
 moA^ed, and by Stuart's cavalry, Avho scoured the country 
 betAA'een his column and the Federal lines. He marched 
 soutliAvest a few miles beyond Catherine Furnace, and 
 then t-urne 1 toAvards the northwest, marching on 'n that 
 direction at a ra})id, steady gait. His men, quickly find- 
 ing that they were engaged in one of his brilliant flank 
 movements, stepped forAA^ard with enthusiasm. So rapid 
 AA'as the adA^ance that often the men had to break into a 
 double-quick to close up the column. Across the enemy's 
 front they marched SAviftly> and bearing noAV to the right 
 they approaclied his right flank. At last, by three o'clock 
 in the afternoon, the head of the column struck the 
 old turnpike, Avhich ran directly Avest from the enemy's 
 position at ChancellorsAnlle. Jackson had marched fifteen 
 miles ; he had turned the enemy's flank AA^thout being^ 
 discovered, and Avas now six miles from Chancel lorsA^ille, 
 facing the enemy from the AA^est, Avhile Ceneral Lee 
 confronted them on the east. The bright beams of the 
 morning sun shone on the backs of his soldiers Avhen he 
 began the day's march, but noAV its slanting rays towards 
 the decline of the day rested on their backs and played 
 
CHA NCELL ORS VILLE. 311 
 
 aroiiiid their bright bayonets as, on striking the turnpike, 
 they wheeled to the right and were ready to rush down 
 upon the unsuspecting foe at Chancellorsville. While 
 the Federals were preparing to pursue him from the 
 furnace, he was ready to fall like a thunderbolt upon 
 their flank and rear. Every precaution Avas taken to 
 conceal the presence of his troops. Orders were given 
 in a low tone, not a gun was fired, and it was forbidden 
 to cheer the general as he passed dovvu the column. He 
 now addressed to General Lee his last official note, as 
 
 follows : 
 
 " Near three p.m., May 2, 1863. 
 
 " General, — The enemy has made a stand at Chan- 
 cellor's, which is about two miles from Chancellorsville. 
 I hope so soon as practicable to attack. 
 
 " I trust that an ever-kind Providence will bless us 
 with success. 
 
 " Respectfully, 
 " T. J. Jackson, Lieutenant-General. 
 " General Robert E. Lee. 
 
 " P. S. — The leading division is up, and the next two 
 appear to be well closed. T. J. J." 
 
 After riding down the turnpike and making a recon- 
 noissance, General Jackson formed his line of battle. 
 He formed his corj^s into three parallel lines, crossing 
 the turnpike and facing the east. Rodes's division 
 formed the first line, Colston's the second, and A. P. 
 Hill's the third. Two pieces of Stuart^s artillery were 
 to move down the turnpike, which formed the centre of 
 his lines. For two hours officers commanding and their 
 aides were busy in giving and carrying orders from 
 one part of the corps to another. Swiftly and silently 
 
312 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 did tliey gallop from point to point, until at length three 
 lines were in battle-array and ready at the word of com- 
 mand to plunge into the dense forest in front of them, 
 — a forest so dense and tangled that in rushing through 
 it the soldiers had their clothes almost torn from their 
 bodies. 
 
 The situation of the unsuspecting enemy upon whom 
 they were so soon to burst like a tornado was as follows : 
 
 '' The Eleventh Corps (Howard's) held the right of the 
 Federal army. The works thrown up for its protection 
 w^ere parallel to the plank and turnpike roads, and faced 
 southwardly. Steinwehr's division held the left of these 
 w^orks, joining Sickles; Schurz held the centre, and 
 Devens the right. Devens^s position was west of the 
 intersection of the plank and turnpike roads, near Tal- 
 ley's. House. The mass of his force occupied the works 
 parallel to the road, which w^ere formed by deepening 
 the ditch on the side of the road, by earthworks thrown 
 up hastily in the field, by timbers from the log out-build- 
 ings, and rails from the fences in the vicinity. But a 
 portion of one of his brigades on the extreme right was 
 thrown across the pike facing westwardly. These last 
 were protected by but very slight works and an abatis. 
 Two pieces of artillery were placed on the pike with 
 these troops. These were the only preparations to meet 
 the flank movement of Jackson. 
 
 ^^Just before six o'clock Jackson gave the order to 
 advance. As swiftly as the brushwood would permit, 
 the lines moved forward. The forest was full of game, 
 which, startled from their hiding-places by the unusual 
 presence of man, ran In numbers to and over the Federal 
 lines. Deer leaped over the works at Talley's, and 
 dashed into the wood behind. The Federal troops had 
 
CHANCELLORSVILLE. 313 
 
 ill most cases their arms stacked, and were eating supper. 
 All danger was thought to be over for the night. 
 
 ^' The startled game gave the first intimation of Jack- 
 son's approach. But so little was it suspected or believed 
 that the suggestion was treated as a jest. Presently the 
 bugles were heard through which orders were passed 
 along the Confederate lines. This excited "still more 
 remark. Ere it had been long discussed, however, there 
 came the sound of a few straggling shots from the skir- 
 mishers, then a mighty cheer, and in a moment more 
 Jackson was upon them. A terrible volley from his line 
 of battle was poured among the Union troops ere they 
 could recover from their surprise. Those in line returned 
 a scattered fire; others seized their arms and attempted 
 to form. Officers tried to steady their men andjead 
 them to meet the attack. All was in vain. Eodes 
 rushed over the artillery and infantry of Devens's 
 division, which were in position across the turnpike. 
 The mass of Devens's division, at Talley's, taken in the 
 rear by the Confederate fire, broke and rushed at once 
 to the rear in the wildest disorder. The position at Tal- 
 ley's, which was high and commanding, thus fell with 
 hardly any serious resistance. Five pieces of artillery 
 are taken in the works, and a large number of prisoners. 
 The Confederate line does not stop for a moment, but 
 with increasing enthusiasm continues to rush on. Schurz's 
 division does not stay to receive the attack, but joins at 
 once in the rout. On, on pushes Kodes, closely fol- 
 lowed by Colston and Hill. Here and there a Federal 
 regiment takes position, fires a few rounds, and then, as 
 the Confederate masses come up, is scattered to the winds, 
 leaving half its numbers wounded and dying on the field. 
 Like a tornado the Confederate lines pass over the ground, 
 o 27 
 
314 ^^I^J-- OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 breaking, cnisJiiiig, crumbling Howard's corps. Artil- 
 lery, Avagoiis, anilnilances, are driven in frantic panic to 
 the rear, and double the confusion. The rout is utter 
 and hopeless. The mass of pursuers and pursued roll 
 on until the position of Melzi Chancellor's is reached. 
 Here a strong line of works had been constructed across 
 the road, which, having a shallow ditch, could be made 
 to face in either direction. 
 
 " During the time occupied in the dispersion of 
 Devens's and Schurz's divisions, Steinwchr had rapidly 
 changed front and thrown Buschbeck's brigade into these 
 works. The other brigade of his division had been sent 
 to sujiport Sickles. Some of Schurz's men rally on 
 Buschbeck, and for a short time the Confederate advance 
 is arrested. But Jackson cannot long be held back. 
 Colston's division has eagerly pressed on, and is already 
 commingled with Kodes's. Together they charge M^ith a 
 yell ; and in a few moments the works are taken. Pell- 
 mell now rush the Eleventh Corps, the last semblance of 
 organization gone, through the forest, towards Chancel- 
 lorsville. Onward sweep the Confederates in hot pur- 
 suit. The arms, knapsacks, and accoutrements of the 
 fugitives fill the woods. Artillery-carriages are to be 
 seen overturned in the narrow roads, or hopelessly jammed 
 in the impenetrable jungle. The wounded and dying, 
 with their groans, fill the forest on every side. The day 
 is rapidly drawing to a close ; night comes to add con- 
 fusion to the scene. It had been impossible in the broad 
 daylight, owing to the intricacy of the forest, to prevent 
 a commino'lins: of reoiments and brisfades alono; the Con- 
 federate lines. The confusion thus produced is greatly 
 increased by the darkness. In a brushwood so dense 
 that it is impossible, under favorable circumstances, to 
 
CHAXCELLORSVILLE. 32^5 
 
 see thirty yards in any direction, companies, regiments, 
 brigades, become inextricably intermixed. Colston's 
 division, forming the second line, has already become 
 merged with Rodes's. Both move on in one confused 
 mass. The right of the Confederate line soon reaches 
 an abatis which has been felled to protect the approach 
 to some works on the opposite heights. The troops, 
 already disordered, become still more so among the felled 
 timber. Behind tliis abatis some troops and artillery 
 have been gathered to make a stand. Eodes finds it 
 impossible to push farther until the lines can be reformed. 
 The right is first halted, and then the whole Confederate 
 line. Rodes sends word at once to Jackson requesting 
 that the third line (A. P. Hill's division) be sent forward 
 to take the advance until the first and second can be re- 
 formed. 
 
 " While this was being done, there was a lull in the 
 storm of battle. Jackson had paused for a time in his 
 pursuit ; Hooker was attempting to stop and re-form his 
 flvino^ le2:ions."* 
 
 All during this magnificent charge Jackson was tlie 
 impersonation of military enthusiasm. Onward he dashed 
 at the head of his conquering column, as much carried 
 away by the brilliant success of his move as the most 
 thoughtless soldier in the ranks. " Forward !" " Press 
 on !" were his answers to every question. As cheer after 
 cheer burst from the Confederate line, and one by one 
 the enemy's strongholds fell into their hands, the flush 
 which reddened his cheek and the fire of his eves showed 
 how dee})ly he was moved by the scene which his master- 
 spirit had, as it were, conjured up in the heart of that 
 
 * Battle-Fields of Virginia. 
 
316 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 dense forest, whose wilds had so rarely been trodden by 
 tlie'foot of man. Never had he been seen to abandon 
 himself so entirely to the enthusiasm of the moment as 
 lie did on this his last field of battle. Never before, while 
 still dashing ahead in this wild, sweeping charge, had his 
 hand been seen so often raised as his soul lifted itself up 
 to God in thankful prayer. Plis most sanguine hopes 
 had been realized. He had flanked the enemy's lino, 
 driven back his legions in hopeless confusion, and with 
 scarcely any resistance pressed forward two or three 
 miles into his lines. But Jackson knew much had yet 
 to be done before the victory could be complete. He 
 felt that all depended on the first successful blow being 
 followed up rapidly by others. He saw, then, with bitter 
 regret, the disorder into which the first line had almost 
 necessarily fallen. The men had now marched twenty 
 miles, and fought over three miles of ground, and they 
 almost involuntarily halted and broke up into groups, as 
 if the w^ork of the day were done. An important work 
 from which the enemy had just fled lay in front of them. 
 At any moment it might be re-occupied by the foe. 
 Jackson felt that precious moments were being lost. He 
 sent messenger after messenger to different officers, order- 
 ing them to get their men back into ranks and press 
 forward. His staff was scattered over the whole field, 
 urging the troo23S forward. A young colonel of the line 
 who came to report to him at this time that the work 
 just mentioned was lying unguarded on his front, found 
 him almost without a staff, and riding along the lines 
 near the road, trying to get them into order. " Men, 
 get into line ! get into line !" he was saying. " Whose 
 regiment is this? Colonel, get your men instantly into 
 line !" Turning to tl;e colonel who had just reported 
 
CHANCEL L ORS VILLE. 3^7 
 
 to him, he said, " Find General Rodes, and tell him to 
 occupy that barricade at once with his troops." He then 
 added, " I need your help for a time ; this disorder mast 
 be corrected. As you go along the right, tell the troops, 
 from me, to get into line and preserve their order." 
 
 After thus endeavoring to restore order to his lines, 
 and while waiting for A. P. Hill, whom he had ordered 
 to be hurried forward, Jackson rode along the turnpike to 
 make a reconnoissance. He found the enemy, as he had 
 expected, advancing, and, ere Rodes's men had fully oc- 
 cupied the barricade, a strong line of fresh troops, sent 
 forward by Hooker, came in sight. Jackson meanwhile 
 had advanced a hundred yards beyond his line of battle. 
 Accompanied as he was by a portion of his staff, several 
 other officers, and a number of couriers, the party might 
 have been taken by friend or foe for a squadron of cav- 
 alry. He had ridden some distance beyond the pickets, 
 and was near the Van West house, when one of tlie party 
 said to him, "General, you should not expose yourself 
 so much." "There is no danger," he replied; "the 
 enemy is routed. Go back and tell General Hill to press 
 on." He soon became aware of how close he was to the 
 Federal lines by the advance of their pickets, and he at 
 once turned his horse's head, and the whole party rode 
 back to the Confederate troops. On both sides the 
 skirmishers were firing, and Jackson's escort was mis- 
 taken for a body of Federal cavalry and received a 
 volley from the Confederate line of battle. This fire 
 told with cruel effect, several of the party falling from 
 their saddles, some wounded, others killed. The general 
 escaped, and, now mindful of tlie danger of his position, 
 turned into the thicket on his left and advanced towards 
 his own troops. By a strange fatality, however, his party 
 
 27 
 
318 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 was for the second time taken for the enemy, and was 
 fired upon by a brigade south of the road, and not more 
 than thirty or forty yards off. This time the general was 
 struck, and received three balls, one in the right hand 
 and two in the right arm, one of which shattered the 
 bone and cut the artery about two inches below the 
 shoulder. Half of his escort, including Captain Bos- 
 Avell, of his staff, fell, killed or wounded. Their horses 
 dashed off wildly through the woods. Jackson's, terrified 
 by the fire, wheeled and dashed madly forward with his 
 wounded and almost powerless rider towards the enemy's 
 lines. While thus carried through the dense thicket, the 
 brushwood and overhanging limbs struck him, and a 
 bough which knocked off his cap almost unhorsed him 
 as it bore him backwards. His bridle-hand was power- 
 less, but, gathering up the reins with his mangled right, 
 he made a desperate effort, stopped the terrified animal, 
 and turned him back to his own lines. Captain Wil- 
 bourne, one of his escort, and AYynn, his assistant, ran 
 up to him as he reined up his horse on the plank road 
 near the spot where he had received the fatal fire, and 
 stood gazing at his troops as if dumfounded at wliat 
 thev had done. The firino; had ceased, but around him 
 were lying the dead and wounded, while their horses, 
 dashino; riderless and terrified throuo;]! the woods, added 
 to the confusion and horrors of the scene. On reaching 
 the general, young Wilbourne seized his bridle and asked 
 anxiously if he were much hurt. He answered that he 
 believed his arm was broken, and he wished he would 
 assist him to dismount; but the next moment, attempting 
 to move the shattered limb, he fell fainting from his 
 horse into Captain Wilbourne's arms. Quickly disen- 
 gaging the general's feet from his stirrups. Captain Wil- 
 
CHA NCELL ORS VILLE. 319 
 
 bourne and Wynn bore him into the woods a few yards 
 north of the turnpike. Wynn ran off for a surgeon and 
 ambulance, w^hile Wilbourne, supporting the wounded 
 man's head on his bosom, hastened to strip the sleeve 
 from the crushed arm as the blood flowed steadily down 
 to the wrist. He had nothing but a penknife with which 
 to rip off the sleeve, and, seeing just then General A. P. 
 Hill and part of his staff ride by, he called to him for 
 aid. General Hill threw himself from his horse and 
 took the general's body in his arms. His aide, Major 
 Leigh, also dismounting, the three succeeded in getting 
 at the wound and staunching the blood. 
 
 Just at this moment Jackson's aides. Lieutenants 
 Smith and Morrison, came up. Young Morrison, his 
 brother-in-law, could not restrain his emotion when he 
 saw his condition. Amid all his suffering the general 
 did not utter a complaint. " I believe my arm is broken, 
 and it gives me severe pain," he said, in reply to a ques- 
 tion. " Are you hurt elsewhere, general ?" he was asked. 
 *'Yes; in my right arm." "Shall it be bound up?" 
 " No," he replied ; " it is a trifle." When asked how 
 he had received his wounds, he said, calmly, " All my 
 wounds were undoubtedly from my own men." He 
 asked for Dr. McGuire, and Avas told that he was busily 
 engaged in the rear. " Then I wish you to get me a 
 skillful surgeon," he said to young Wilbourne. While 
 lying on General Hill's breast, tliat commander ordered 
 that the men should not be told who he was. The gen- 
 eral opened his eyes, and, looking steadily at his aides, 
 Morrison and Smith, said, " Tell them simply you have 
 a Confederate officer." 
 
 General Hill was asked where a surgeon could be most 
 quickly found. He said that Dr. Barr was close by. 
 
320 I^JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSOX. 
 
 lie was at once summoned, and on lils arrival Jackson 
 whispered to Hill, " Is he a skillful surgeon ?'^ When 
 General Hill replied that he stood well with his brigade, 
 and was only wanted to staunch the wound, Jackson re- 
 plied, ^' Very good.'^ But Dr. Barr found the blood had 
 ceased to flow, and he did not apply the tourniquet he 
 had in his hand. Just at this moment, when the hemor- 
 rhage had stopped and his arm had been placed in a sling, 
 as the general lay silent and suffering in the arms of his 
 friends, two Federal skirmishers, with their muskets 
 cocked, approached within a few feet of the kneeling 
 group. General Hill, with admirable self-possession, 
 instantly told his orderlies to rise and demand their 
 surrender. The orderlies quickly obeyed, and the men, 
 amazed and confounded, at once laid down their arms. 
 Lieutenant ^lorrison, fearing from the approach of these 
 two men that the enemy might be close at hand, advanced 
 into the road to reconnoitre. He found his fears realized, 
 for by the light of the moon he saw a short distance off 
 the black mouth of a field-piece pointed towards him, 
 and heard distinctly the orders given by the officers to 
 the cannoneers. He ran back to the little group in the 
 woods kneeling around their wounded chief, and, report- 
 ing that the enemy were planting cannon in the road, 
 said the general must be instantly removed. General 
 Hill was now forced to leave for his own post. He 
 sprang into his saddle, dashed off, and was a few minutes 
 later struck down at the head of his column and borne, 
 wounded and stunned, from the field. Captain AVil- 
 bourne had gone back in search of an ambulance, but 
 none had as yet come up, and no time was to be lost in 
 removing the general. His attendants proposed to bear 
 him from the field in their arms, but he said he could 
 
CHA NCELL ORS VI L L E. 3 2 1 
 
 walk to the rear if assisted. He was accordingly placed 
 on his feet, and, leaning on the shoulders of Major Leigh 
 and Lieutenant Smith, he moved slowly out into the 
 road and towards his own troops. A litter having been 
 brought up from the rear, the wounded man was being 
 placed on it, when suddenly a volley of canister-shot Avas 
 fired up the road by the enemy, and, passing over the 
 heads of the group, cleared the road of everything else 
 that was upon it. The general's horse broke from the 
 person who was leading it, and dashed panic-stricken into 
 the Confederate lines. Jackson's aides, Morrison and 
 Smith, and two soldiers, bore the litter. But they had 
 advanced only a few steps when a second volley again 
 swept the road. One of the soldiers was struck, and fell 
 severely wounded. Major Leigh sprang forward and 
 caught the litter as it fell with him, or the general would 
 have been thrown from it. They were now compelled 
 to set the litter down. Scarcely was this done when a 
 storm of lead and canister swept down the road and 
 crashed through the trees on each side. This was more 
 than flesh and blood could stand. The party bearing 
 the wounded hero fled to the woods. Major Leigh 
 and young Smith and Morrison alone clinging to him. 
 Beneath this deadly shower the general lay in the road, 
 with his feet extended towards the enemy. On one side 
 of him was stretched Lieutenant Smith, on the other 
 Major Leigh. With their arms thrown lovingly around 
 their chief they sought to protect with their own bodies 
 his prostrate form and shield it from the missiles now 
 hurtling around them. More than once the balls plowed 
 up the earth beside them and covered them with dust. 
 The wounded man, conscious of the perils of the position, 
 struggled violently as if to rise, but the strong arms of 
 
322 ^-^^^> OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 young Smith held him pinned to the earth, as he ex- 
 claimed, '^ General, you must lie still ; it will cost you 
 your life if you rise." For several minutes they re- 
 mained thus prostrate beneath this fiery ordeal, every 
 Tone of the. four expecting each minute to be his last. 
 But the enemy's fire at length subsided, and they were 
 left untouched. 
 
 Another effort was now made to get the general to the 
 rear. The four rose to their feet, and in the uncertain 
 light of the moon moved along the edge of the road, 
 — the general leaning heavily upon the brave, strong 
 young arms thrown lovingly around him, and painfully 
 dragging himself and being dragged along. They moved 
 to one side, to avoid being recognized by the troops as 
 pressing forward they hurried on to the front. Finding 
 that in spite of this precaution the wounded chief was 
 recognized, they turned still farther to the right into the 
 woods. Here they fell upon the Confederate line of 
 battle held by Pender's brigade of A. P. Hill's division. 
 The men for the most part were lying down, to avoid the 
 enemy's artillery fire. As the little party moved in the 
 dim moonlight through and over them, the repeated 
 question was, " Whom have you there ?" To which the 
 calm and invariable reply was, " A Confederate officer." 
 Some endeavored to get a view of the wounded man's 
 face, and in spite of Captain Wilbourne's efforts to con- 
 ceal it they recognized him, and exclaimed, with horror, 
 " Great God ! it is General Jackson !" The news now 
 ran rapidly along the lines, but the soldiers were quieted 
 by the belief that Jackson's wounds were slight. Gen- 
 eral Pender, whose quick eye had almost instantly recog- 
 nized the general, approached him, and, after expressing 
 his sorrow at seeing him wounded, said to him, " The 
 
CHANCELLOnsVILLE. 323 
 
 troops have sufiered severely from the enemy's artillery, 
 and are somewhat disorganized ; I fear we cannot main- 
 tain our position." For a moment the old battle look 
 returned to Jackson's pale face, and the battle fire flashed 
 from his eyes, as, raising his head and speaking in his 
 habitual quick tones, he said, ^'You must hold your 
 ground, General Pender; you must hold your ground, 
 sir !" With this order his career as a general ended. 
 
 The little party now again moved on. The general, 
 exhausted by fatigue and suffering, asked to be allowed 
 to sit down and rest; but he was still too near the enemy 
 to admit of this, and he Was placed on a litter. Litter- 
 bearers being procured after some delay, he was now 
 borne rapidly towards the rear* As the party hurried 
 rapidly through the dense and tangled thicket, the gen- 
 eral's clothes were torn and his face scratched by the 
 brushwood through which they passed. On they moved, 
 thinking only of getting their wounded chief to a place 
 of safety, when suddenly one of the litter-bearers caught 
 his foot in a vine, stumbled, and fell. The general fell 
 heavily, striking the ground with his wounded shoulder. 
 For the first time, he groaned. His attendants caught 
 him up in their arms, and as young Smith laid his head 
 on his breast and found the blood again flowing, he feared 
 he might be expiring. ^^ General, are you much hurt ?" 
 he inquired. " No, Mr. Smith ; don't trouble yourself 
 about me," was the reply. He was again placed on the 
 litter, and the party, turning from the wood, bore him 
 half a mile under a heavy fire to the rear, where they 
 were met by Dr. ]\IcGuire with an ambulance. Kneel- 
 ing beside him, the doctor said, " I hope you are not 
 badly hurt, general ?" Feebly, but calmly, he replied, 
 ^' I am badly injured, doctor; I fear I am dying;" and 
 
324 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 after a pause he added, " I am glad you liave come ; I 
 tliink the wound in my shoulder is still bleeding." His 
 clothes were found wet with his blood, which, as he sur- 
 mised, was still flowing. His cold hands and clammy 
 skin, and the deathly pallor of his countenance, betrayed 
 the intensity of his suffering. Yet not a groan or a mur- 
 mur escaped from him. Only these signs, together with 
 the rigidity of his features, a wrinkled brow, and lips so 
 tightly compressed that the impression of the teeth was 
 shown through them, showed how great were his suffer- 
 ing::s. 
 
 The hemorrhage was soon stopped, and after the 
 general had taken some whisky he was placed in the 
 ambulance, which set out for the field infirmary at the 
 Wilderness Tavern. In the ambulance was Jackson's 
 chief of artillery, the gallant Colonel Crutchfield, whose 
 promotion, as we have seen, he had pressed so earnestly, 
 and who now lay suffering from a serious wound, just re- 
 ceived, in the leg. The general expressed his sympathy 
 for hira. Dr. McGuire sat in the front part of the 
 ambulance, with his finger on the artery from which the 
 general's blood had flowed, to arrest the bleeding should 
 it again begin. The night was dark, and by the light 
 of torches the ambulance moved slowly and carefully 
 forward. Once Colonel Crutchfield groaned, when Jack- 
 son at once ordered the ambulance to be stop])ed, and 
 asked if something could not be done to relieve Colonel 
 Crutchfield. He had previously put his right hand on 
 Dr. McGuire's head, and, pulling it down, whispered in 
 his ear and asked if Colonel Crutchfield was dangerously 
 wounded. When answered, " No ; only painfully hurt," 
 he said, " I am glad it is no worse." A few moments 
 later, Colonel Crutchfield put the same whispered ques- 
 
CHANCELLOnSVILLE. 325 
 
 tion about the general to the doctor, and when told that he 
 was very seriously wounded, he groaned, and cried out, 
 " Oh, my God !" It was this groan and cry which the 
 general mistook for an expression of physical suffering,' 
 and which induced him to order the ambulance to be 
 stopped. The ambulance finally reached the hospital in 
 safety, and the general was carefully taken from it and 
 placed on a bed in a tent which had been put up for him. 
 
 28 
 
CHAPTER Xyil. 
 
 DEATH AND BURIAL. 
 
 The fono^^^ng incident, too curions and too authentic 
 to be omitted from a life of Jackson, must be given 
 before we turn again to the field of battle or to the dying 
 man's couch. 
 
 In 1852, -while going up the Mississippi Kiver, Jack- 
 son made the acquaintance of a gentleman, Mr. Revere, 
 who was afterwards a major in tlie United States army 
 during the war. In a conversation with this gentleman 
 one day during their trip up the Mississippi, the subject 
 turning from nautical astronomy to astrology, Mr. Re- 
 vere saw the great interest which Jackson took in it, and, 
 on parting with him at the end of their journey, gave 
 him the necessary data for calculating a horoscope. A 
 short time afterwards, Mr. Revere received a letter from 
 Jackson inclosing a scheme of their nativities, from which 
 it appeared that their destinies would run in parallel 
 lines, and that somewhere about the first days of May, 
 1863, they would both be exposed to great danger. The 
 letter and its prophecy were soon both forgotten by Mr. 
 Revere. At the battle of Chancellorsville he commanded 
 a brigade, and while inspecting his picket line saw a 
 party of horsemen approaching from the direction of the 
 Confederate lines. I leave him to relate what followed : 
 
 "The foremost horseman detached himself from the 
 main body, which halted not far from us, and, riding 
 32G 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 327 
 
 cautiously nearer, seemed to try to pierce the gloom. 
 He was so close to us that the soldier nearest me leveled 
 his rifle for a shot at him; but I forbade him, as I did 
 not wish to have our position revealed, and it would 
 have been useless to kill the man, whom I judged to be 
 a staff-officer making a reconnoissance. Having com- 
 pleted his observations, this person rejoined the group in 
 his rear, and all returned at a gallop. The clatter of 
 hoofs soon ceased to be audible ; and the silence of the 
 night Avas unbroken save by the melancholy cries of the 
 whippoorwill, when the horizon was lighted up by a 
 sudden flash in the direction of the enemy, succeeded by 
 the well-know^n rattle of a volley of musketry from at 
 least a battalion. A second volley quickly followed the 
 first; and I heard cries in the same direction. Fearing 
 that some of our troops might be in that locality, and 
 that there w^as danger of our firing upon friends, I left 
 my orderly and rode towards the Confederate lines. A 
 riderless horse dashed past me, and I reined up in the 
 presence of a group of several persons gathered round a 
 man lying on the ground apparently badly wounded. I 
 saw at once that these were Confederate officers ; but, re- 
 flecting that I was well armed and mounted, and that I 
 had on the great-coat of a private soldier, such as was 
 worn by both parties, I sat still, regarding the group in 
 silence, but prepared to use either my spurs or sabre as 
 occasion might demand. The silence was broken by one 
 of the Confederates, who appeared to regard me with 
 astonishment ; then, speaking in a tone of authority, he 
 ordered me to ^ ride up there and see what troops those 
 were,^ indicating the rebel position. I instantly made a 
 gesture of assent, and rode slowly in the direction in- 
 dicated until out of sight of the group; then made 
 
328 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 a circuit round it and returned within my lines. Just 
 as I liad answered the challenge of our picket, the section 
 of our artillery posted on the plank road began firing; 
 and I could plainly hear the grape crashing through the 
 trees near the spot occupied by the group of Confederate 
 officers/' * 
 
 In an account of how Jackson received his wound, the 
 ^'Kichmond Enquirer" of May 13, 1863, says,— 
 
 " The turnpike was utterly deserted, with the excep- 
 tion of Captains Wilbourne and Wynn ; but, in the 
 skirting of the thicket on the left, some person was 
 observed by the side of the wood, sitting his horse 
 motionless and silent. The unknown individual was 
 clad in a dark dress which strongly resembled the Fed- 
 eral uniform ; but it seemed impossible that he could 
 have penetrated to that spot without being discovered ; 
 and what followed seemed to prove that he belonged to 
 the Confederates. Captain Wilbourne directed him to 
 ride up there and see Avhat troops those were, — the men 
 who fired on Jackson ; and the stranger rode slowly in 
 the direction pointed out, but never returned with any 
 
 Before again turning to Jackson, the progress and 
 conclusion of the battle of Chancellorsville must be 
 given. When Jackson fell, and General Hill, also, dis- 
 abled by a wound, left the field, it was decided by Jack- 
 son's adjutant and the generals of the corps to offer its 
 command to General Stuart. Brigadier-General E-odes 
 was indeed the senior officer of the corps; but. General 
 Stuart being the only major-general on the field, and 
 
 *Atlsintic Monthly, January, 1873. 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 329 
 
 being better known throughout the army, General Rodes 
 gracefully waived his claims to the command. 
 
 As soon as it was decided to offer it to General Stuart, 
 Captain Wilbourne was sent to General Lee to report 
 the state of affairs to him and to ask for further orders. 
 Captain Hotchkiss accompanied Captain Wilbourne, and 
 after a hard ride the two young officers arrived on Sun- 
 day morning before daybreak at a cluster of pines east 
 of Chancel loi-sville, where General Lee was lying upon 
 the ground beneath a thick pine-tree. On reporting 
 themselves to his chief of staff, they were at once sum- 
 moned to report to the general in person. ^ There, beneath 
 the stars that were disappearing before the rapidly-ap- 
 proaching light of the early dawn, he listened eagerly to 
 the tale of Jackson's swift and noiseless march, of the 
 rapidity with which his troops were formed into line 
 when they found themselves actually in the enemy's rear, 
 and of the magnificent charge which followed. But 
 when they told him of Jackson's wound, he exclaimed, 
 with ill-suppressed emotion, '^Ah, any victory is dearly 
 bought which deprives us of the services of Jackson, 
 even for a short time." On hearing that General Stuart 
 had been chosen to command Jackson's corps for that 
 day, he confirmed the choice. He was then told that 
 Jackson had said " the enemy should be pressed in the 
 morning." " Those people shall be pressed immediatelv," 
 he replied, as he rose ; and a few minutes later the noble 
 chief was in the saddle and off to arrange his troops for 
 the movements of that eventful day. 
 
 But to return to Jackson's corps. The fall of its 
 leader and the approach of night arrested its further 
 advance — already checked by the enemy — on Saturday 
 night. During that night Hooker formed a new front 
 
 28- 
 
330 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 on his right with the troops of Sickles and Berry, the 
 Eleventh Corps being for the time hors du combat. 
 Reynolds's corps, having been summoned from Fred- 
 erickburg, where it had been acting under Sedgwick's 
 command, was now near at hand. Sedgwdck was still 
 left with a powerful force — twenty thousand men — at 
 Fredericksburg. It was most desirable for the Confed 
 erates to keep Reynolds's fine corps out of the fight the 
 next day (Sunday). 
 
 This had been thought of by Jackson, and one of his 
 last orders was for a movement of a regiment by which 
 he hoped to throw Reynolds off his guard and check his 
 further advance. Just before receiving his fatal wound, 
 he ordered General Pender to send him a regiment for 
 a special service. General Pender accordingly sent him 
 the 16th North Carolina, Colonel McElroy. This officer 
 received orders to go with a squadron of cavalry to Ely's 
 Ford, where, he was told, he would find a corps of Fed- 
 eral troops encamped. There he Avas to approach as 
 near as possible, and, at a given signal, to fire three vol- 
 leys at them, amid loud cheering. The orders were 
 promptly obeyed by Coloaiel ^IcElroy, who, after this 
 strano'e move, Avas back on the field of battle bv three 
 o'clock in the morning. Later in the day he had reason 
 to believe that the corps he had attacked under cover of 
 the night was Reynolds's, and that this attack had been 
 designed to check his advance, and had been successful. 
 Be this as it may, Reynolds's corps was not in the fight 
 on Sunday morning. 
 
 The attack on the enemy was begun early on Sunday 
 morning by General Stuart on the west and General 
 Lee on the south and east of the enemy's position. 
 Stuart moved his force somewhat to the right, and in his 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 33 X 
 
 advance recovered the vantage-ground lost during the 
 confusion which followed Jackson's fall the night before. 
 He led the coqis rapidly through a belt of woods, from 
 which they emerged to see a second line of works on the 
 crest of a long declivity. Realizing the bloody task 
 that was before them, meii and officers saw that there 
 was not a minute to lose in carrying these works. AVhen 
 the gallant Stuart gave the order, in clear, ringing tones, 
 " Charge ! and remember Jackson !'' the air Avas rent 
 with shouts as this battle-cry was caught from their 
 leader's lips and re-echoed along the whole line. The 
 men of the Stonewall Brigade were conspicuous for their 
 valor. The Federals fought well, and made a stout re- 
 sistance to the impetuous onslaught of the Confederates. 
 Stuart's left flank was thrown into confusion by a gallant 
 attack made on it by the enemy, but, being reinforced, 
 continued its advance, and the Federal line was pushed 
 steadil} back until it found cover under a second line of 
 intrenchments. These had been thrown up on Saturday 
 night, and covered the road leading to United States 
 Ford over the Rappahannock. Hooker's efforts during 
 the battle seem to have been directed more to wetting: his 
 army into this second line than to resisting: successfully 
 the Confederate attack. His brigadiers saw this with 
 dismay, and tried in vain to counteract Avith desperate 
 fighting his bad generalship. 
 
 Sedgwick received orders from Hooker at midniglit, 
 Saturday, to march at once to his aid. He immediately 
 put his corps in motion, his command being stationed on 
 the south bank of the Rappahannock, three miles below 
 Fredericksburg. The Confederate force left to defend 
 that town consisted of Early's division and Barksdale's 
 brigade. As Sedgwick advanced, the Confederates fell 
 
332 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 back before liim, making no further show of resistance 
 than very spirited skirmishing. Before the dawn of day, 
 Sedgwick occupied Fredericksburg, but the force sent 
 out by him as an advance was repulsed. The main 
 body of his troops, coming up and finding the heights 
 occupied by the Confederates, assailed and carried them 
 with great gallantry. The Confederates fell back in full 
 retreat, and, the plank road leading to Chancel lorsville 
 being open, Sedgwick moved along it without delay. 
 Thus, while General Lee was hurling his forces against 
 Hooker, the sound of Early's guns in his rear informed 
 him of the disaster which had befallen this brave officer, 
 and warned him of the perils of his own situation. Not 
 hesitating for a moment, he wheeled a part of his force 
 confronting Hooker right around, and sent them off at 
 full speed to reinforce Early and arrest Sedgwick's ad- 
 vance. The two columns met about half-way between 
 Chan cellorsvi lie and Fredericksburg, and at once joined 
 in battle. A temporary advantage was gained by Sedg- 
 wick in the beginning of the encounter, but was followed 
 by a repulse, and steadily he was pushed back until 
 night put an end to the conflict. The day was now won 
 for the Confederates : Hooker was driven back into his 
 second line of works, and Sedgwick was checked in his 
 march to his relief. AVorn out by two days' incessant 
 fighting, marching, and countermarching, covered with 
 dust, and begrimed with the smoke of battle, but with 
 victory perching on the banners which they had so 
 proudly borne aloft, the Confederates sank to rest, arms 
 in hand, on the field of battle. So ended this memorable 
 Sabbath in the early days of May. 
 
 The next day, the 4th, at six o'clock in the evening, 
 the Confederates renewed their attack on Sedgwick. 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 333 
 
 That gallant officer made a stubborn resistance to the 
 violent attack of the Confederates ; but in vain. He 
 wa.s pushed steadily back, and withdrew his force, under 
 cover of the night, to the north bank of the Rappa- 
 hannock. 
 
 General Lee on the 5th collected his shattered forces 
 together, determining to renew the attack on Hooker the 
 next day. But when the morning of the 6th dawned, 
 Hooker was on the north side of the Rappahannock, 
 having carried his army across safely during the night, 
 leaving behind him his wounded, fourteen pieces of 
 artillery, seventeen standards, and twenty thousand stand 
 of arms. The reports from the two opposing armies 
 make the Confederate loss a little over ten thousand men, 
 that of the Federals a little over seventeen thousand. 
 
 So ended the spring campaign of 1863. 
 
 Several remarks made by Jackson during those last 
 memorable days of liis life, not found in the account of 
 his death, which I shall quote, must be given here. In 
 speaking of his flank movement against Hooker, he said, 
 " Our movement yesterday was a great success ; I think 
 the most successful military movement of my life. But 
 I expect to receive far more credit for it than I deserve. 
 ]\Iost men will think that I had planned it all from the 
 first ; but it was not so. I simply took advantage of 
 circumstances as they were presented to me in the provi- 
 dence of God. I feel that his hand led me ; let us give 
 Him all the glory.'' At his request, his chaplain came 
 every morning at ten o'clock and read the Bible and had 
 prayers. ]More than once on these occasions he assured 
 the chai)lain that he was ready and willing to die, but 
 that he did not think his time had yet come, as he felt 
 
334 LJPi'^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSOX. 
 
 sure his heavenly Father had a work for hhn to accom- 
 plish ill the defense of liis beloved country. Asserting 
 that tlie Bible gives rules for every profession, lie asked 
 one of liis aides, smiling, "Can you tell me where the 
 Bible gives generals a model for their official reports of 
 battles?" The young officer laughed, and answered in 
 the negative. " Nevertheless," said Jackson, " there are 
 such. Look, for instance, at the narrative of Joshua's 
 battle with the Amalekites; there you have one. It 
 has clearness, brevity, fairness, modesty ; and it traces 
 the victory to its right source, — the blessing of God." 
 
 In speaking of the persons whom the Saviour healed, 
 lie expressed the belief that they never had a return of 
 the same disease, and, after a pause, as if thinking of 
 his own case, exclaimed, ^' Oh for infinite power!" To 
 his little daughter he clung as long as consciousness 
 lasted. Having sent for her once, his eyes were riveted 
 on the door until it was opened and she appeared, when, 
 with a countenance radiant with delight, he exclaimed, 
 ''Little darling!" and had her placed on the bed beside 
 him, caressing her and playing w^ith her as much as 
 his feeble condition would allow. AYhen his opinion of 
 Hooker's plan of campaign was asked by some one, he 
 said, " It was, in the main, a good conception, sir ; an 
 excellent plan. But he should not have sent away his 
 cavalry ; that was his great blunder. It was that Avhich 
 enabled me to turn him without his being aware of it, 
 and to take him by his rear. Had he kept his cavalry 
 with him, his plan would have been a very good one." 
 
 The day (Sunday) on which Jackson died, Lee, with 
 his staff and lieutenants grouped around him, attended 
 divine service at the headquarters of Jackson's corps. 
 As soon as the chaplain made his appearance, the com- 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 335 
 
 mander-In-chlef advanced to meet him, and asked in 
 anxious tones after Jackson. When told that there was 
 scarcely a hope of his recovery, he exclaimed, in a tone 
 almost of bitterness, " Surely General Jackson must re- 
 cover. God will not take him from us, now that we need 
 him so much. Surely he will be spared to us, in answer 
 to the many prayers Avhich are offered for him/' And 
 later he added, "When you return, I trust you will 
 find him better. When a suitable occasion offers, give 
 him my love, and tell him that I wrestled in prayer for 
 him last night as I never prayed, I believe, for myself.'^ 
 His voice trembled with the deep emotion which he now 
 turned away to conceal. Several days before, when 
 Jackson's condition was considered more alarming than 
 liad been anticipated. General Lee had refused to believe 
 that there could be any danger of losing him, and said 
 to a gentleman who was going to visit Jackson, " Give 
 him my affectionate regards, and tell him to make haste 
 and get well, and come back to me as soon as he can. 
 He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm." 
 Certainly there is something exceedingly touching in 
 the impossibility which it seemed to be for Lee to realize 
 that Jackson would die and be torn from him at the 
 time of all others when he most needed him. And the 
 bitterness of his cry when that realization was at last 
 forced on him ! that lonely midnight wrestling in prayer 
 that he might be saved ! Was it foresight ? Did the 
 dim reality of the gloomy future dawn on his great soul ? 
 Was he startled at the thought of the lonely agony and 
 sorrow in store for him, which the dying man alone could 
 have shared with him, when, starting with his \\ii\Q army 
 on that long declivity of disaster and misfortune, he saw 
 the sorrowful way ending only in destruction ? But not 
 
336 ^-^^^ ^^ GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSOX. 
 
 ev^en the keen military instinct, tlie energy, and the 
 splendid courage of his great lieutenant, had they been 
 spared to him, could have altered the stern decrees of 
 fate. And in Jackson's fall, untimely as it may seem, 
 Ave must recognize the loving-kindness of that heavenly 
 Father in whose love he trusted so un^vaveringly, — the 
 love which spared him the bitterness of that cup Avhich 
 the noble commander-in-chief was to dizain to the dregs. 
 Yet how he longed to live, how little the fires of ambi- 
 tion were burnt out in him, is clearly revealed by that 
 exclamation, "Oh for infinite power!'' as the possibility 
 of death forced itself on him. 
 
 To the pen of an eye-Avitness I shall now leaA^e the 
 description of the closing scene of this noble life, taking 
 up the thread of the story Avhere it Avas dropped at the 
 close of the last chapter : 
 
 " Two hours and a half after reaching the hospital 
 it AA^as found that sufficient reaction had taken place to 
 warrant an examination. At tAA^o o'clock Sunday morn- 
 ing. Surgeons Black, ^XaW, and Coleman being present, 
 Dr. McGuire informed him that chloroform Avould be 
 given him and his Avound examined. He told him that 
 amputation Avould probably be required, and asked, if 
 it AA^as found necessary, should it be done at once. He 
 replied, promptly, ^ Yes, certainly. Dr. McGuire; do for 
 me Avhatever you think best.' Chloroform Avas then 
 administered, and as he began to feel its effects, and its 
 relief to the pain he AA^as suffering, he exclaimed, ^ What 
 an infinite blessing !' and continued to repeat the Avord 
 * blessing' until he became insensible. The round ball, 
 such as is used for the smooth-bore Springfield muskets, 
 Avhich had lodged under the skin on the back of his right 
 hand, was extracted first. It had entered the jialm about 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 337 
 
 the middle of the hand, and had fractured two of the 
 bones. The left arm was then amputated about two 
 inches below the shoulder, very rapidly, and with slight 
 loss of blood. There were two wounds in this arm. 
 The first and most serious was about three inches below 
 the shoulder-joint, dividing the main artery and fracturing 
 the bone. The second was several inches in length, a 
 ball having entered the forearm an inch below the elbow 
 and come out upon the opposite side just above the wrist. 
 Throughout the whole of the operation, and until all the 
 dressings Avere applied, he continued insensible. About 
 half-past three o'clock. Colonel (then Major) Pendleton, 
 the assistant adjutant-general, arrived at the hospital 
 and asked to see General Jackson. At first the surgeon 
 declined to permit an interview; but the colonel urged 
 that the safety of the army and the success of the cause 
 might depend on his seeing him. When he entered the 
 tent, the general said, ' AVell, major, I am glad to see you ; 
 I thought you were killed.' Pendleton briefly explained 
 the condition of affairs, gave Stuart's message, and asked 
 what should be done. General Jackson Avas at once 
 interested, and asked, in his quick, rapid way, several 
 questions. When they were answered, he remained silent 
 for a moment, evidently trying to think ; he contracted 
 his brow, set his mouth, and for some moments was 
 obviously endeavoring to concentrate his thoughts. For 
 a moment it was believed he had succeeded; his nostrils 
 dilated, and his eye flashed its old fire ; but it was only 
 for a moment. His face relaxed again, and presently he 
 answered, very feebly and sadly, ^ I don't know ; I can't 
 tell. Say to General Stuart he must do what he thinks 
 best.' Soon after this he slept for several hours, and 
 seemed to be doing well, 
 p 29 
 
338 ^^^^ C>/'' GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 "The next morning be was free from pain, and ex- 
 ])resscd himself sanguine of reeovery. He sent liis aide- 
 de-eamp, Morrison, to inform his wife of his injury, and 
 to bring her at once to see him. The following note was 
 read to him that morning by Lieutenant Smith : 
 
 " ^ General, — I have just received your note inform- 
 ing me that you were wounded. I cannot express my 
 regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed events, 
 I should liave chosen, for tlie good of the country, to 
 have been disabled in your stead. 
 
 " ' I congratuhite you upon the victory which is due 
 to your skill and energy. 
 
 " ' Most truly yours, 
 " ' (Signed) *R. E. Lee, Generah' 
 
 " He said, ^ General Lee sh.ould give the praise to 
 God.' About ten o'clock his right side began to pain 
 him so much that he asked to have it examined. He 
 said he had injured it in falling from the litter the night 
 before, and he believed he had struck it against a stone 
 or the stump of a sapling. No evidence of injury could 
 be dLscovered by examining ; the skin was not broken 
 or bruised, and the lung was performing, as far as could 
 be told, its proper functions. Some simple application 
 was recommended, in the belief that the pain avouIcI soon 
 disappear. 
 
 " At this time the battle was raging fearfully, and the 
 sound of the cannon and musketry could be distinctly 
 heard at the hospital. The general's attention Avas 
 attracted to it from the first, and when the noise was 
 at its height, and indicated how fiercely the combat Avas 
 being carried on, he directed all of his attendants except 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 339 
 
 Captain Smith to return to tlie battle-field and attend 
 to their different duties. By eight o'clock Sunday night 
 the pain in his side had disappeared, and in all respects 
 he seemed doing well. He inquired minutely about the 
 battle, and different troops engaged, and his face would 
 light up with enthusiasm and interest when told how 
 this brigade acted, or that officer displayed conspicuous 
 courage, and his head gave the peculiar shake from 
 side to side, and he uttered his usual ^ Good ! good!' 
 with unwonted energy, when the gallant behavior of the 
 Stonewall Brigade was alluded to. He said, ' The men 
 of that brigade will some day be proud to say to tlieir 
 children, " I was one of the Stonewall Brigade !" ' He 
 disclaimed any right of his own to the name Stonewall. 
 ' It belongs to the brigade, and not to me.' This night 
 he slept well, and was free from pain. A message was 
 received from General Lee the next mornino; directino; 
 the removal of the general to Guinea's Station as soon 
 as his wound would justify it, as there was some danger 
 of capture by the enemy, who were threatening to cross 
 at Ely's Ford. In the mean time, to protect the hospital, 
 some troops were sent to this point. 
 
 " The general objected to being moved if in the opinion 
 of the surgeon'it would do him any injury. He said he 
 had no objection to staying in a tent, and would prefer 
 it, if his wife, when she came, could find lodgings in a 
 neighboring house. ^And if the enemy do come,' he 
 added, ^ I am not afraid of them ; I have always been 
 kind to their wounded, and I am sure they will be kind 
 to me.' General Lee sent word araln late this evening: 
 that he must be moved, if possible; and preparations were 
 made to leave next morning. Dr. McGuIre was directed 
 to accompany him, and to remain with liim, and his 
 
340 ^^^^ OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 duties Avith tlie corps as medical director Avere turned 
 over to tlie surgeon next in rank. General Jackson had 
 l)reviously declined to permit Dr. McGuire to go with 
 him to Guinea's Station, because complaints had been 
 so frequently made of generals when wounded carrying 
 with them surgeons belonging to their command. AVhen 
 informed of the order of the commanding general, he 
 said, * General Lee has always been very kind to me, and 
 I thank him.' 
 
 "Very early Tuesday morning he was placed in an 
 ambulance and started for Guinea's Station, and about 
 eight o'clock that evening he arrived at Chandler's house, 
 where he remained till he died. Captain Hotchkiss, with 
 a party of pioneers, was sent in i'ront to clear the road 
 of wood, stones, etc., and to order the wagons out of the 
 track to let the ambulance pass. The rough teamsters 
 sometimes refused to move their loaded wagons out of 
 the way for an ambulance until told that it contained 
 Jackson, and then w^ith all possible speed they gave the 
 way, and stood with hats oif and weeping as he passed 
 by. At Spottsylvania Court-House, and along the whole 
 route, men and women rushed to the ambulance, bring- 
 ing all the poor delicacies they had, and with tearful eyes 
 they blessed him and prayed for his recovery. He bore 
 the journey well, and was cheerful throughout the day. 
 He talked freely about the late battle, and among other 
 things said that he had intended to cut the enemy oif 
 from United States Ford, and, taking a position between 
 them and the river, oblige them to attack him ; and he 
 added, with a smile, ' ]My men sometimes fail to drive 
 the Yankees from a position, but they always fail to 
 drive us.' ' He spoke of E,odes, and spoke in high terms 
 of his magnificent behavior on the field of battle Satur- 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. .34X 
 
 dny evening. He hoped he wonld be promoted. He 
 thought promotions for gallantry should be -made at once 
 upon the • field, and not delayed. If made very early, 
 on the field, they would be the greatest incentives to 
 gallantry in others. He spoke of Colonel Willis, who 
 commanded the skirmishers of Rodes's division, ])raised 
 him very highly, and refeiTed to the deaths of Paxton 
 and Boswell very feelingly. He alluded to them as men 
 of great promise and merit. The day Avas quite warm, 
 and at one time he suffered from slight nausea. At his 
 suggestion, a wet towel was put over his stomach, and 
 he expressed great relief from it. After he arrived at 
 Chandler's house he ate some bread and tea with evi- 
 dent relish, and slept well throughout the entire night. 
 Wednesday he was thought to be doing remarkably well. 
 He ate heartily, for one in his condition, and was uni- 
 formly cheerful. He expressed great satisfaction when 
 told his wounds were doing remarkably well, and asked 
 the surgeon if he could tell from their appearance how 
 long he would probably be kept from the field. Con- 
 versing with Captain Smith a few moments afterwards, 
 he alluded to his wounds, and said, ^ Many would regard 
 them as a great misfortune. I regard them as one of 
 the blessings of my life.' Captain Smith remarked, 
 ' All things work together for good to those that love 
 God.' 'Yes,' he answered; 'that's it, that's it.' At 
 Dr. McGuire's request. Dr. Morrison came to-day, and 
 remained with him. About one o'clock Thursday morn- 
 ing he directed his servant Jim to apply a wet towel to 
 his stomach, to relieve an attack of nausea with which he 
 was suffering. The servant asked permission to first 
 consult Dr. McGuire, who was sleeping in the room next 
 to the general. Knowing that the doctor had slept none 
 
 29* 
 
342 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 for nearly tlirce entire nights, he refused to allow the 
 servant to disturb him, and desired his chaplain, the 
 Eev. JNIr. Lacy, to give him a towel. About daylight 
 the doctor was aroused, and informed that the general 
 was suffering great pain. An examination disclosed 
 pneumonia. It was doubtless attributable to the fall 
 from the litter the night he was wounded. The general 
 himself believed it was due to this cause. The disease 
 came on too soon after the application of wet cloths to 
 admit of the supposition, once believed, that it was in- 
 duced by them. Some effusion of blood in his chest was 
 probably produced by the fall referred to, and the shock 
 and the loss of blood prevented any ill effects until re- 
 action had been well established, and then inflammation 
 and pneumonia ensued. 
 
 " Towards the evening of this day (Friday) he became 
 better, and hopes were again entertained of his recovery. 
 Mrs. Jackson arrived to-day, and nursed him faithfully 
 to the end. She was a devoted wife and earnest Chris- 
 tian, and endeared all to her by her great gentleness and 
 kindness. Mrs. Dr. Hoge, of Richmond, came and re- 
 mained with her. The general's joy at the presence of 
 his w^ife and child was very great, and for him he was 
 unusually demonstrative. Noticing the sadness of his 
 wife, he said to her, tenderly, ^ I know you would gladly 
 give your life for me, but I am perfectly resigned. Do 
 not be sad ; I hope I may recover. Pray for me, but 
 always remember in your prayers to use the petition, 
 " Thy will be done " ' Friday his wounds were again 
 dressed, and found to be healing. The pain in his side 
 had disappeared ; but he breathed with difficulty, and 
 complained of a feeling of great exhaustion. When Dr. 
 Brecken ridge, who had been sent for in consultation, said 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 343 
 
 he hoped that a blister which had been applied \YOuld 
 afford him relief, he expressed his own confidence in it, 
 and in his final recovery. On Saturday, Dr. Tucker, 
 from Richmond, arrived in obedience to a telegram, and 
 all that human skill could devise was done to stay the 
 hand of death. He suffered no pain to-day, and his 
 breathing was less difficult, but he was evidently hourly 
 growing weaker. When his child was brought to him 
 to-day, he played with it for some time, frequently caress- 
 ing it and calling it his ' little comforter.' At one time 
 he raised his wounded hand over its head, and, closing 
 his eyes, was for some time silently engaged in prayer. 
 He said to Dr. McGuire, ' I see from the number of 
 physicians that you think ray condition dangerous; but 
 I thank God, if it is his will, that I am ready to go.' 
 
 "About daylight on Sunday morning Mrs. Jackson 
 informed him that his recovery was very doubtful, and 
 that it was better he should be prepared for the worst. 
 He was silent for a moment, and then said, ^ It will be 
 infinite gain to be translated to heaven.' He advised his 
 wife, in the event of his death, to return to her father's 
 house, and added, 'You have a kind and good father, 
 but there is no one so kind and good as your heavenly 
 Father.' He still expressed a hope of his recovery, but 
 requested, if he should die, to be buried at Lexington, 
 in the Valley of Virginia. 
 
 " His exhaustion increased so rapidly that, at eleven 
 o'clock, Mrs. Jackson knelt by his bed and told him that 
 before the sun went down he would be with his Saviinir. 
 He replied, ' Oh, no ; you are frightened, my child ; death 
 is not so near. I may yet get well.' She fell over on the 
 bed, weeping bitterly, and told him again that the phy- 
 sicians said there was no hope. After a moment's pause. 
 
344 LIFE OF OENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 he asked her to call Dr. McGuire, who was standing in 
 tlic anteroom, and said to him, as he entered, ^Doctor, 
 Anna informs me that yon have told her I am to die to- 
 day : is it so ?' When he was answered in the affirm- 
 ative, he tnrned his eyes to the ceiling and gazed for a 
 moment or two as if in intense thought, and then replied, 
 ^ Very good, very good ; it is all right/ He then tried 
 to comfort his almost heart-broken wife, and told her he 
 had a good deal to say to her, but was too weak. Colonel 
 Pendleton came into the room about one o'clock, and he 
 asked him, ' AVho is preaching at headquarters to-day ?' 
 When told that the whole army was praying for him, he 
 replied, ' Thank God ; they are very kind.' He said, 
 ^ It is the Lord's day ; my wish is fulfilled. I have 
 always desired to die on Sunday.' 
 
 ^' His mind now began to fail and wander, and he fre- 
 quently talked as if in copimand upon the field, giving 
 orders in his old way. Then the scene shifted, and he 
 was now at the mess-table with members of his staff; 
 now with his wife and child ; now" at prayers with his 
 military family. Occasionally intervals of the return 
 of his mind would appear, and during one of them he 
 was offered some brandy-and-water, but he declined it, 
 saying, 'It will only delay my departure, and do no 
 good. I want to preserve my mind, if possible, to the 
 last.' About half-past one he was told he had but two 
 hours to live, and he answered again, feebly, but veiy 
 firmly, ' Very good; it is all right.' A few minutes be- 
 fore he died, he cried out, in his delirium, ' Order A. P. 
 Hill to prej)are for action; pass the infantry to the front 
 
 rapidly; tell ]\Iajor Hawks ' then stopped, leaving the 
 
 sentence unfinished. Presently a smile of ineffable sweet- 
 ness spread itself over his pale face, and he said, quietly 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 345 
 
 and Avith an expression as of relief, ^ Let us cross over 
 tlie river and rest under the shade of the trees/ And 
 tlien, without pain or the least struggle, his spirit passed 
 from earth to the God who gave it." * 
 
 Thus, in the fortieth year of his agef (born 1824, 
 died 1863), died General Jackson. The next day the 
 following General Order was issued by the commander- 
 in-chief of the army: 
 
 «« Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia. 
 "General Order No. 61. 
 
 '^ With deep grief the commanding general announces 
 to the army the death of Lieutenant-General T. J. Jack- 
 son, who expired on the 10th instant, at quarter-past 
 three P.M. The daring skill and energy of this great 
 and good soldier, by the decree of an all-wise Provi- 
 dence, are now lost to us. But, while we mourn his 
 death, we feel that his spirit still lives, and will inspire 
 the whole army with his indomitable courage and un- 
 shaken confidence in God as our hope and strength. 
 Let his name be a watch-word to his corps, who have fol- 
 loAved him to victory on so many fields. Let his officers 
 and soldiers emulate his invincible determination to do 
 everything in the defense of our loved country. 
 
 " R. E. Lee, General.'' 
 
 *Tlns account of Jackson's death is written by Dr. McGuire, 
 and taken from the Battle-Fields of Virginia, the excellent contn- 
 bution to the history of the war between the States from which I 
 have already quoted largely. 
 
 f " Thomas was born in Clarksburg, January 21, 1824. The 
 early death of his parents and dispersion of the little family ob- 
 literated the record of the exact date, so that General Jackson 
 himself was unable to fix it with c^xUxinij.^'-Dabnefs Life oj 
 Jackson^ p. 9. 
 
346 LIFE OF GFXERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 It is impossible to describe the grief caused by Jack- 
 son's death. The news of it reached Richmond about 
 nightfall, and spread the deepest gloom and depression 
 over the whole city. Now were fully realized the spell 
 under which his strange and brilliant career held captive 
 the imagination of men, and the strength of that devo- 
 tion with which his splendid deeds bound the hearts of 
 his countrymen to him. In camp the feeling was, if 
 possible, deeper still, and the stern soldiers who had been 
 hardened by two years of the horrors and hardships of 
 war moved about silently and sadly, as if in the chamber 
 of death itself. 
 
 The great Captain's remains were shrouded by his staff 
 on Sunday night; the torn coat in which he had been 
 wounded was replaced by a citizen's coat often worn by 
 him, and his whole figure was w^rapped in his military 
 overcoat. A plain wooden coffin was procured, and in 
 that his body was first laid ; but some embalmers who 
 were sent by the Governor with a metallic case arrived 
 that same night, and his remains were by them finally 
 prepared for the grave. 
 
 During the last moments of his 'life, w^hile his mind 
 was wandering, some one near asked him where he 
 wished to be buried. Charlotte, North Carolina, as 
 being the future home of Mrs. Jackson, was suggested ; 
 but, evidently not being able to keep his mind on the 
 subject, he thought Charlottesville, Virginia, was meant. 
 When Lexington was mentioned as a suitable place, he 
 nodded assent, but showed, even if he understood what 
 he was doing, no preference for that village as his final 
 resting-place. But there it was decided he should be 
 buried. 
 
 A committee of citizens and prominent men sent by 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 347 
 
 the Governor to escort bis remains to Richmond started, 
 accompanied by bis staff, with them for that city on 
 Monday morning. The time for tlie arrival of the train 
 was uncertain ; but long before the earliest hour at which 
 it was possible for it to arrive, the population of the city, 
 all ages and sexes mingled together, was seen wending 
 its way to the point on Broad Street where it was known 
 the train would stop. For hours they waited ; but in 
 vain : there was no sign of the approaching train. The 
 morning hours of this lovely May day passed ; the warm 
 rays of the noonday sun drove the crowd to the shady 
 side of the street, but could not scatter that sadly expect- 
 ant throng, which gradually surged onwards in the direc- 
 tion in which the train would come. He whom they had 
 fondly dreamt of one day welcoming with shouts of ap- 
 plause, and of bearing in triumph through the beautiful 
 streets of their beautiful city, was indeed near at hand, and 
 nature seemed to have assumed her loveliest garb to wel- 
 come him, for never had brighter skies overarched that 
 devoted city, never had the freshness of spring and the 
 purity of the atmosphere made so brilliant the green 
 foliage and lovely flowers wliich adorn her streets as on 
 that memorable day. He was indeed coming, but not 
 in the pageant of war, not amid the pseans of victory 
 and the shouts of applause which mark the victor's en- 
 trance into the saved city ; not in life, but in death, — 
 a death which he did not welcome and did not dread. 
 With what chastened hearts did his countrymen then 
 w^atch for him ! with feelings how^ awed, yet how deep 
 and tender, did they strain their eyes to get the first 
 glimpse of his approach! and how meet tliat they should 
 in a long watch, with every voice hushed into a whisper, 
 give him this silent yet touching homage of devotion ! 
 
348 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Suddenly the solemn silence was broken by the loud 
 toll of a bell which resounded through the air. It was 
 known to be the signal of the entrance of the funeral 
 cortege into the city; and yet the train which was to 
 bring it had not arrived. In a few minutes all was ex- 
 j)lained to the expectant yet startled crowd. Warned of 
 tlie tlirong whicli was awaiting its arrival, the officers 
 with the body stopped the train a mile out of town. 
 Mrs. Jackson and the lady friends accompanying her 
 were placed in a carriage and driven rapidly to the Gov- 
 ernor's house, while the hearse in attendance received 
 the general's remains, and with the little cortege attend- 
 ing them slowly entered the city. The first stroke of 
 the bell had brought to their feet all those who were not 
 already on the street, and silently the doors of the houses 
 were opened as their inmates poured out to take part in 
 this welcome to the nation's mighty dead. Every avenue 
 leading to the street along which the procession moved 
 was thronged; the eager civilian and the maimed soldier 
 toilino; alono; on his crutch were seen hurrvino; forward 
 to the same goal. The profound silence amid so much 
 motion was impressive in the extreme, and the effect was 
 heightened by the solemn toll of the bell, which at regu- 
 lar interv^als startled the still air. As the procession, 
 passing down Grace Street, reached the Capitol Square, 
 the gates were thrown open, and the cortege entered 
 and passed directly down the avenue to the Governor's 
 mansion. The crowd, aware that this Square would 
 be the halting-place, had already swarmed over its beau- 
 tiful grounds, and men were seen clinging to the sides 
 of the Capitol, thronging the steps and pedestiils of the 
 Washington monument, and hanging from the trunks 
 and limbs of the trees, eager to catch a glimpse of all 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 349 
 
 that was earthly of him whose spirit had passed beyond 
 the skies. 
 
 The people, restless in their grief, and anxious to give 
 some further display of feeling, seized the occasion of 
 the transfer of the general's remains from the Governor's 
 mansion to the Capitol to do this. On the morning of the 
 12th, therefore, this solemn pageant took place. In it 
 participated the Government officials, from the highest to 
 the lowest, military men of every rank, from the lieu- 
 tenant-general to the private, and citizens regardless of 
 age, sex, or condition. All business was suspended, and 
 a Sabbath-like stilhiess reigned through the streets of 
 the city. The tolling of the bells was the first sum- 
 mons to the Square; but long before the appointed hour 
 — ten o'clock — thousands of the citizens, among whom 
 were hundreds of ladies and children, had assembled 
 there in solemn silence. At the gate stood the hearse, 
 draped in mourning, with four white horses attached to 
 it. In the Governor's mansion, in an elevated position 
 in the centre of the reception-room, was the metallic 
 case containing the body. It was enveloped in the Con- 
 federate flag, and covered with bouquets and wreaths of 
 flowers which had been sent as tributes of love and patri- 
 otic devotion. Around were assembled a few friends, 
 many officers and officials of high rank, and the pall- 
 bearers, the last being six major- and brigadier-generals 
 in full uniform. At eleven o'clock the coffin was borne 
 from the house to the hearse, the vast concourse instinct- 
 ively uncovering when it appeared. 
 
 The line of procession was formed, and moved forward 
 
 slowly, as the band played the "Dead March in Saul," 
 
 and the firing of the signal-gun on the Square announced 
 
 to the thousands who could not get within sight of the 
 
 p* 
 
350 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACK SOX. 
 
 line tliat it was in motion. Slowly the long procession 
 wonnd through the streets of the city, all the sidewalks 
 thronged with the populace and soldiery, and every- 
 where heads lowered and voices subdued, the measured 
 beat of the drum and march of the procession alone 
 being heard. Immediately behind the hearse, the Avar- 
 steed of the dead hero, with his war-trappings upon him, 
 was led ; across the vacant saddle was thrown his mas- 
 ter's military overcoat ; in the stirrups, with feet reversed, 
 were his boots. Next came members of the '^ Old Stone- 
 wall Brigade," who attracted much sympathetic notice, 
 moving as they did with slow steps and downcast looks, 
 as if each were following the corpse of a father. While 
 the procession moved along, the bells were tolled and the 
 guns fired until the head of the line appeared at the gate 
 of the Square. At the western entrance of the Capitol 
 the hearse stopped, and the coffin was taken out and 
 borne up the steps into the hall of tlie House of Kepre- 
 sentatives as the band played a low dirge. In front of 
 the Speaker's chair an altar had been erected, on which 
 the coffin was laid. The superstitious had noticed with 
 dismay that the coffin in the hearse w^as covered with the 
 first Confederate flag which had been made upon the 
 model selected a few weeks before by the Confederate 
 Congress. It was considered ominous that its first use 
 should be to envelop the body of the nation's darling. 
 The same flag was wrapped around it in the Capitol. 
 After the remains were placed in the Capitol, the cortege 
 and military dispersed, but not so the people. They 
 lingered still around the Capitol. AVhat further honors 
 could they now pay the mighty dead ? What privilege 
 did they still claim? — The dear and sacred one of look- 
 ing on the face of the dead Jackson. As silently as 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 351 
 
 they had followed his bier through the streets of their 
 city, they now began to throng into the Capitol and file 
 through the silent hall of death. At the door stood a 
 sentinel with drawn sword, to keep the rush from being 
 too great. Gentle women, and grave, stern men, passed 
 in through the door, gazed for a moment on the dear 
 face, and then sadly left the hall, many in tears, through 
 a second entrance. One look, though it sufficed not, 
 was all that could be obtained by each visitor, the throng 
 behind pressing the visitor forward, the features of the 
 mighty warrior in death's repose graven upon the tablets 
 of the memory of all. Children of tender years, maiden 
 and youth, who had never seen ^'Stonewall'' Jackson 
 living, crowded in, full of the parental injunction to look 
 upon the features of '^ Stonewall" Jackson dead. What 
 a memory these youthful minds bore away, to be recalled 
 when their children's children speak of him in after- 
 years ! It is estimated that fully twenty thousand persons 
 viewed the body thus lying in state ; and the number 
 would have been greater had the arrangements been better. 
 " The face of the dead displayed the same inimitable 
 lines of firmness, with the long, slightly aquiline nose 
 and high forehead, of marble whiteness ; but the cheeks 
 presented a deep pallor. The eyelids were firmly closed, 
 the mouth natural, and the whole contour of the fiice 
 composed, the full beard and moustache remaining. The 
 body was dressed in a full citizen's suit. The doors of 
 the hall were kept open to visitors until nine o'clock in 
 the evening, when they were closed, and Richmond took 
 her farewell of ^ Stonewall' Jackson." * 
 
 * See Richmond Examiner, May 13, 1863, for the whole of this 
 description — in quotation-marks as well as without — of the honors 
 paid the dead hero by Eichmond on the 12th of May. 
 
352 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 Just as the sentinel was closing the doors, a one-armed 
 soldier appeared, but was denied admittance, as the hour 
 had arrived when it was ordered they should be closed. 
 With flashing eyes, the soldier pointed to his empty 
 sleeve, and said, "By this arm which I lost for my 
 country I demand the privilege of seeing my general 
 once more !" 
 
 The next day. May 13, Jackson's faithful body-guard, 
 his staff, left Kichmond for Lexington, by Charlottesville 
 and Lynchburg. At almost every station flowers were 
 sent into the car to be placed on the great man's coffin ; 
 and no tribute that love and admiration could suorffest 
 was omitted along the whole route. Arrived in Lexing- 
 ton, the remains were placed in Jackson's old lecture- 
 room, and there guarded by the cadets during the night. 
 On the morrow they were borne to the village church, 
 where a simple and touching service for the dead was 
 held over them by the dead warrior's beloved pastor. 
 From thence they were borne, amid a weeping throng, 
 to the village burying-ground, where they still lie. 
 
 The day the funeral cortege left Richmond, the " Ex- 
 aminer," in an editorial sketch of Jackson, said, — 
 
 " All the poor honors that Virginia, sorely pressed, 
 could afford her most glorious and beloved son, having 
 been offered to his mortal part in this Capitol, the funeral 
 cortege of the famous Jackson left it yesterday morning 
 on the long road to Lexington, in the Valley of Vir- 
 ginia. It was the last wish of the d'ead man to be buried 
 there, amid the scenes familiar to his eyes through his 
 manhood, obscure and unrecorded, but perhaps filled 
 with recollections to him not less affecting than those 
 connected with the brief but crowded period passed upon 
 a grander stage. This desire, expressed at such a time. 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 353 
 
 demanded and has received unhesitating compliance. 
 Yet many regret that his remains will not rest in another 
 spot. Near this city is a hill crowned by secular oaks, 
 washed by the waters of the river, identified with what 
 is great in the State's history from the days of Elizabeth 
 to the present hour, which has been well selected as the 
 place of natural honor for the illustrious dead of Vir- 
 ginia. There sleep Monroe and Tyler. We have neither 
 a Westminster nor a Pantheon, but all would wish to see 
 the best that we could give conferred on Jackson. Here- 
 after Virginia will build for him a stately tomb, and 
 strike a medal to secure the memory of his name beyond 
 the reach of accident, if accident Avere possible. But it 
 is not possible ; nor is a monument necessary to cause the 
 story of this man's life to last when bronze shall have 
 corroded and marble crumbled. Such expressions of a 
 nation's gratitude are not to be reproved or checked ; but 
 they serve the giver, not the receiver, when thus worthy. 
 
 " ' What needs our hero for his honored bones 
 The labor of an age in i)iled stones 
 Or that his hallowed reliques should be hid 
 Under a star-y pointing pyramid? 
 Dear son of memory, great heir of fame, 
 What need'st thou such weak witness of thy name?' 
 
 ... '^ At Lexington the cadets had but little par- 
 itality for the taciturn professor. At one time his life 
 was threatened by a cadet dismissed from the Institute, 
 the wild boy actually going to the extremity of lying in 
 wait for him on the road leading from the Institute to 
 the village. As Jackson, in his accustomed walk to the 
 village, approached the spot where his enemy awaited 
 him, a bystander called out to him of his danger. ' Let 
 the Assassin murder, if he will,' replied the professor, as 
 
 30* 
 
351 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 he walked in the most unconcerned manner towards the 
 young man, who shmk abashed from his path. . . . 
 
 '' The accounts of General Jackson's appearance are 
 varied. Many could see nothing great in his form or 
 face ; but those are they that hold to the stage idea of 
 a hero. . . . But experienced observers of men do not 
 hesitate to declare that they have recognized him among 
 a crowd of other officers as the only man there who could 
 be Jackson. He was a muscular man, six feet high, of 
 a clear, white complexion, blue-gray eyes, sharp aquiline 
 nose; a prominent chin, set on a powerful and well- 
 curved jaw. The skull was magnificent in size and 
 shape ; the forehead both broad and high, and balanced 
 by a long, deep mass behind and above the ear." 
 
 Thus ends the record of the remarkable career of this 
 most remarkable man. It is impossible to study his 
 life without being struck by the useful lesson which it 
 offers to mankind. To the young aspirant for fame ; to 
 the youth, thirsting for knowledge and struggling in 
 poverty to secure an education ; to all, in short, who are 
 striving to make headway against a sea of troubles in 
 their Avalk through life, what encouragement it offers, 
 what lessons in patient perseverance ! And in that ex- 
 alted perfection of faith which no earthly cloud could 
 dim, but which to the uncomprehending was only fanat- 
 icism, how highly blessed he was among his fellow-men ! 
 how many earthly treasures could have been dispensed 
 with as long as this heaven-born gift was his, — tliis 
 simple faith which in the midst of the darkest hour of 
 trial revealed to him the hidden joys of the unknown 
 Wi^rld whose hallowed radiance illumined his pathway 
 tlirouo'h life. 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 355 
 
 Born and reared in obscurity, passing through a child- 
 hood marked in its earliest stages by trials which might 
 have crushed a less buoyant spirit, he struggled on until 
 in his admission to West Point he had the much-coveted 
 opportunity of securing an education. From that time 
 until he left Lexington at the head of a company of boys 
 to enter the service of the Confederate States — save that 
 short, brilliant period in Mexico — his life was unevent- 
 ful. That he was good, that he was brave, that he was 
 industrious, his acquaintances all knew. In the sunshine 
 of his bright temper his family basked, while the warmth 
 of his affections and his tender caressing manner in that 
 sacred circle knit their hearts to his by ties too strong to 
 be broken even by death. His intimate friends found 
 in him a judgment so strong, so clear, and so just that 
 his advice was oftener sought and oftener followed than 
 that of any other. But to the world he was a fanatic in 
 religion ; in society he was considered a dull man; and 
 to the students in his lecture-room he was a conscientious 
 but uninteresting teacher. Yet it was during the silence 
 of those voiceless years that the man was formed who 
 in the brief space of two years was to have a career so 
 brilliant as to leave his name enrolled among the great 
 ones of the earth. 
 
 In secret and in silence the busy little insects of the 
 deep toil for centuries, unseen by the world, when sud- 
 denly the fruit of their labors appears in the beautiful 
 island which rises in the midst of a waste of waters. 
 Beneath the cover of her dull winter garb the secret 
 influences of nature are at work, until under the enchant- 
 ing influences of a spring sun she bursts through her 
 shroud and appears in a beauty so varied and so brilliant 
 as to dazzle the eyes of her worshipers. And so it is 
 
356 LJ^^ ^^ GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 :nown 
 
 with the great man. The cahiiest and most unki 
 period of his life is the great preparation-time. From 
 the hour when Jackson, as a youth full of ambition and 
 of aspirations for the future, inscribed in his diary the 
 words, ^' You can be what you choose to be," to the hour 
 of his death, he was never neglectful either of acquiring 
 knowledge or of discharging the duties of life. He 
 knew how to prize the little moments which make up 
 the sum of life ; how to seize the little opportunities of 
 doing good which strengthen virtue in a man's soul 
 and lead to noble deeds and generous sacrifices; how 
 to strengthen his mind by daily study. 
 
 When the hour then came to summon him forth into 
 the arena where honor and fame were to be won, he was 
 not found w^anting, but ready armed and equipped for 
 the fray. A man of indomitable will, untiring energy, 
 and endowed with personal courage to as high a degree 
 as it is ever vouchsafed to the sons of men, he could 
 indeed be whatever he chose to be. Devotion to duty 
 was the star which guided him through life ; and how 
 many great names does not the world owe to this same 
 devotion ! It bore Washington through the trials of the 
 cruel winter at Valley Forge ; it sustained Lee in the 
 bitter agony of the hour of surrender at Appomattox ; 
 and it sent Jackson forth from his lecture-room an un- 
 know^n man, and found him at the end of two short yeuis 
 laid in state in this same room as a dead warrior, but 
 one whose deeds in that short and brilliant period had 
 made his name immortal. 
 
 FTappy the nation that is fruitful in great men, and 
 happier still when to those great men she can point as 
 models of every manly and Christian virtue, and, as she 
 inscribes their names in history, feels sure that they are 
 
DEATH AND BURIAL. 357 
 
 as pure as they are brilliant ! Virginia, who has been so 
 justly reproached for lagging behind amid such progress 
 as this century has witnessed in science, art, and liter- 
 ature, may be pardoned for believing that in the sim- 
 plicity of life and of manners which characterizes her 
 people, and in her decried civilization, there must be 
 some secret 2)0wer, some potent influence for good, which 
 could produce the man that in the war of Independence 
 made the name of Washington peerless among those of 
 the great leaders in that immortal struggle, and Avhich, 
 before the first centennial of the nation was ushered in, 
 finds her emerging from the fiery ordeal of civil war 
 with her household gods, indeed, lying shivered around 
 her, but with unstained honor, and pure hands inscribing 
 on her banners beside the name of this, her ffreat first- 
 born in glory, the no less loved, no less honored, and no 
 less brilliant names of Lee and Jackson. 
 
 30* 
 
CHAPTER XYIII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Soon after Jackson's death, a number of his admirers 
 in Eng:land formed an association whose aim was to have 
 a bronze statue of the great Captain made. For this 
 purpose a sum of four thousand guineas was raised, and 
 the order for the statue given to the distinguished Foley. 
 It was intended to present the statue to the Confederacy, 
 with the stipulation that it was to be placed in Rich- 
 mond. Mr. Foley immediately began the work of 
 modeling, but the further execution of the work was 
 delayed by the interference of other orders. In the 
 mean time, the Confederacy fell, and the statue remained 
 in embryo for several years. It was not cast in bronze 
 until 1874, and was later offered to the State of Vir- 
 ginia in the following letter to the Governor : 
 
 "Arklow House, Connaught Place, 
 
 London, March 2, 1875. 
 
 "Sir, — When the news reached England of the death 
 of General T. J. Jackson (so well known as 'Stonewall 
 Jackson'), a subscription was spontaneously organized 
 in this country among persons who admired the character 
 of that truly great man, to procure a statue of him which 
 they mi^ht present to his native country as a tribute of 
 English sympathy and admiration. 
 
 "The work was intrusted to a most distinguished 
 358 
 
STATUE EUECTED AT KICIIMOND, \ IlKilMA, OCToHEK .it., ISir,. 
 
 (Page 358.) 
 
CONCLUSION. 359 
 
 artist (the late Mr. J. H. Foley, R.A.), and, althongli its 
 progress Avas delayed by the ill health of the sculptor 
 and by his conscientious desire for the accuracy of the 
 portrait, and latterly by his death, it has been brought to 
 a successful conclusion in the form of a standing statue 
 of heroic size, cast in bronze. It is a very noble work 
 of art, and, it is hoped and believed, a faithful likeness. 
 
 ^' As representing the subscribers, it is now my pleas- 
 urable duty to ask you whether the State of Virginia 
 "vvill accept this memorial of its distinguished son, and 
 tribute of English sympathy, and would guarantee its 
 erection in some conspicuous spot in Richmond. If the 
 answer is favorable, I would take the necessary steps to 
 forward the statue to its destination. It is the privilege 
 of members of our Royal Academy of Arts that the 
 works of a deceased Academician may be contributed to 
 the exhibition immediately succeeding the death. It is 
 considered due alike to the artist and the subject that the 
 English people should have the opportunity of seeing 
 the statue before it leaves this country forever. 
 
 " The annual exhibition of the Academy closes about 
 the beginning of August ; after which date no delay 
 need take place in forwarding the statue to Virginia. 
 
 " I have the honor to remain, sir, your faithful and 
 obedient servant, 
 
 "A. J. B. Beresford Hope, 
 ^' M. P. for University of Cambridge." 
 
 In communicating Mr. Hope's letter to the General 
 Assembly, the Governor said, — 
 
 " It is not doubted that the General Assembly will 
 promptly and appropriately recognize the munificence 
 which offers such an honor to Virginia, and will make 
 
360 LIFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSOX. 
 
 whatever appropriation may be sufficient to receive the 
 statue and erect it on a suitable pedestal. 
 
 " It revives no animosities of the past, it wounds the 
 sensibilities of no good man of whatever party or sec- 
 tion, to honor and revere the memory of Jackson. All 
 the world knows that the earth beneath which his body 
 lies covers the ashes of a patriot and hero whose great- 
 ness shed lustre on the age in Avhich he lived. His ex- 
 ample belongs to mankind, and his deeds and virtues 
 will be cherished by all the coming generations of the 
 great American republic as among the proudest memo- 
 ries of a common glory. Many others are now the ob- 
 jects of higher honors and louder praises. But when 
 the accidents of fortune and success shall no longer de- 
 termine the value of principles and achievements, when 
 the names of others now more applauded shall have been 
 swept into oblivion by the hand of time, the memory 
 of Stonewall Jackson, like that of his great commander, 
 will continue to grow brighter as the centuries pass into 
 history." 
 
 On receiving this message from the Governor, with 
 the letter accompanying it, the General Assembly passed 
 the following preamble and resolutions: 
 
 '^The Governor having transmitted to the General 
 Assembly a communication from A. J. B. Beresford 
 Hope, Esq., Member of Parliament for the University 
 of Cambridge, tendering to this Commonwealth, on be- 
 half of himself and other English subjects, a bronze 
 statue of heroic size, by Foley, of the late General 
 Thomas J. Jackson : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Delegates, 
 That Virginia, acknowledging with profound sensibility 
 this generous manifestation of English sympathy by her 
 
CONCL USION. ^Qi 
 
 people and admiration for her heroic son, very gratefully 
 accepts the offering. 
 
 " 2. That the statue be erected on a pedestal worthy 
 of the work, on some conspicuous spot within the grounds 
 of the Capitol, to be preserved and cherished by the peo- 
 ple of Virginia as a memorial of its distinguished sub- 
 ject and of the noble sympathies of its honored donors. 
 
 " 3. That the Governor be requested to give public 
 notice, by proclamation, of the day on which the statue 
 will be uncovered, so that the people may assemble to 
 do honor to the event. 
 
 "4. That A. J. B. Beresford Hope be invited to attend 
 on the occasion as a guest of the State, and that he be 
 tendered by the Governor the hospitalities of Virginia. 
 
 ^^5. That the Governor be requested to communicate 
 the above resolutions to Mr. Beresford Hope, and express 
 to him and his associates the grateful acknowledgments 
 of the people of Virginia. 
 
 " 6. That his Excellency the Governor; Captain J. L. 
 Eubank, Chairman of the Senate Committee; General 
 W. B. Taliaferro, Chairman of the House Committee ; 
 and General Jubal A. Early, be, and are hereby, ap- 
 pointed a board of commissioners, who shall be charged 
 with the duty of receiving the statue, disbursing such 
 appropriation as may be made therefor, and making all 
 arrangements and contracts necessary to carry into effect 
 the foregoing resolutions.*^ 
 
 On the same day the General Assembly appropriated 
 ten thousand dollars to defray the expenses oT receiving 
 and erecting the statue. 
 
 The statue arrived in Richmond September 22, and 
 was at once taken in charge by a detail of the First 
 Regiment Virginia Volunteers, and guarded until the 
 
 ;n 
 
362 I'JFE OF GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON. 
 
 evening of the next clay, September 23. It was then 
 placed on a wagon, ready to be moved up-town to its 
 destination. But it was not the intention either of the 
 authorities or of the citizens that the statue should pass 
 through the streets of the city with only a small military 
 guard. All the volunteer companies turned out, and, 
 followed by a procession of citizens in carriages and on 
 foot, they moved down the streets of the city to the spot 
 where the statue was found resting on a wagon, to which 
 was attached a long rope. This was seized by several 
 hundred men, and the statue of the great Captain was 
 drav/n through the streets of the city by the loving arms 
 of his countrymen. They drew the wagon with the 
 greatest ease, and it was gratifying to see among those 
 who were at the rope Confederate veterans and Union 
 officers in the late war mingled together, the animosities 
 of the past being lost in the presence of this touching 
 tribute to the memory of the mighty dead. The streets 
 were thronged, — men, women, and children of all ranks 
 being out to join in the procession. A little girl of five 
 years old was seen moving quietly beside her father 
 who marched along with the men at the rope. 
 
 When the head of the procession entered the Capitol 
 Square, the concourse already there was found to be very 
 great. The statue was drawn to the foot of the western 
 steps of the Capitol. There the military were drawn up 
 in line, and ordered to " Halt ! Front face ! Present 
 arras!" Then followed a profound silence, and the 
 officer in command of the military delivered the statue 
 formally to the Governor, who received it with an appro- 
 priate speech. 
 
 The 26th of October was appointed as the day for the 
 inauguration of the statue, and when it came a throng 
 
CONCL USION. 363 
 
 such as had not been seen since the days of the war was 
 found in the city. People from all parts of the country 
 — North, South, East, West — came to be present, and 
 when the beautiful October day was ushered in it found 
 the city bright with flags and floral and artistic decora- 
 tions which had been made by loving hands, and an air 
 of such a gala-day as had not been often witnessed in 
 the eventful history of that devoted city. A procession, 
 composed of ex-Confederate officers and soldiers, citizens, 
 visitors, and the dignitaries of the State, made the tour 
 of the city, with bands playing, banners flying, and be- 
 neath triumphal arches. Private houses were decorated, 
 public buildings tastefully festooned with flags, and 
 everything done to add to the brilliancy of the scene. 
 In the Capitol Square the statue stood veiled on its 
 handsome pedestal, and thither the steps of all were 
 directed. 
 
 When the procession entered the Square, the ceremonies 
 were opened by prayer from a minister who knelt at the 
 speaker's stand, which was wound about with the United 
 States flag. Then followed the Governor's graceful and 
 cordial speech of welcome, and Rev. Dr. Hoge's finished 
 oration, which being ended, the statue was unveiled amid 
 salvos of artillery and shouts of applause. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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