STONEWALL JACKSON 
 
 Address of Colonel R. P. Chewr 
 
 CHIEF OF HORSE ARTILLERY 
 ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, 
 
 LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, ON THE UNVEILING 
 
 OF EZEKIEL'S STATUE OF GENERAL 
 
 T. J. JACKSON, JUNE 19, 1912 
 
 LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 
 ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY NEWS PRINT 
 
 1912 
 
STONEWALL JACKSON IN 1362 
 
STONEWALL JACKSON 
 
 Address of Colonel R. P. Chew 
 
 CHIEF OF HORSE ARTILLERY 
 ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, 
 
 LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, ON THE UNVEILING 
 
 OF EZEKIEL'S STATUE OF GENERAL 
 
 T. J. JACKSON, JUNE 19, 1912 
 
 LEXINGTON. VIRGINIA 
 
 ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY NEWS PRINT 
 
 1912 
 
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 Stonewall Jackson 
 
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 Fellow Comrades, Fellow Alumni, Cadets of the V. M. I., 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : 
 
 We are here today to witness the unveiling of a monu- 
 ment to commemorate the great character and deeds of Gen- 
 eral Thomas Jonathan Jackson. The Board of Visitors hav- 
 ing charge of these ceremonies have done me a great honor 
 by inviting me to deliver the address upon this occasion. 
 Had this Board consulted my wishes, someone else more cap- 
 able would have been selected to perform this difficult task. 
 When we come to talk of Stonewall Jackson, we treat of a 
 
 J(^ character as remarkable as any in all history. As the war 
 ^ progressed, in the short period of two years, this great sol- 
 dier advanced to the front rank of the great captains of 
 
 x^> modern times, and after his death was esteemed by compe- 
 ^ tent military authorities in England, one of the five greatest 
 >5 Generals of the English speaking race, Wellington, Washing- 
 *^_^on, Lee, Jackson. I know how impossible it would be for 
 me to say anything that would add to his fame or reputation, 
 and I will therefore confine myself to the impressions I 
 formed of his character and habits as they appeared to me 
 when I knew him as a cadet at the Virginia Military Insti- 
 tute and during the war, when I followed him, especially 
 through the famous Valley campaign. It was not my good 
 fortune to know him in his family circle, but I met him fre- 
 quently at headquarters, and upon a number of occasions 
 upon the battlefield. As a second classman at t^e Institute, 
 I recited to him for seven months and had the opportunity, 
 like all other of his pupils to observe the manners and hab- 
 its of this great man. 
 
 So much has been written about him, especially by Colonel 
 Henderson, it would be a difficult matter to say anything that 
 
would be new or interesting to the minds of the older 
 persons here present; but there are many young people 
 here today, who have not had the opportunity of read- 
 ing extensively the several histories of this illustrious 
 man, and if you will bear with me, I will as swiftly as 
 possible, talk of his youth and early traditions, and then 
 review the great campaigns and battles in which he bore 
 so conspicuous a part. 
 
 Early Life 
 
 Jackson was of Scotch extraction. His greatgrandfather, 
 John Jackson, came to America from Scotland about 1750, 
 and took up his residence in the wilds of the western part 
 of Virginia, now Harrison county. He was capable and 
 thrifty, and died leaving a considerable fortune to his chil- 
 dren. The subject of our address was born in Clarksburg 
 Jan. 21, 1824. His father, a lawyer of ability inherited a 
 good fortune, but by bad management, soon dissipated it 
 leaving his widow and three children, two sons and a 
 daughter, unprovided for and dependent upon relatives. 
 Several years after his death, Mrs. Jackson married a Cap- 
 tain Woodson, and being unable to support her children in 
 comfort, she sent her two boys to an uncle. A year later 
 she died. She was a woman of fine character and her re- 
 ligious fervor made a lasting impression upon her children. 
 Jackson never forgot his mother, and always referred to 
 her in after life with the deepest affection. The treatment 
 he received at the hands of his uncle not being such as he 
 thought due him, he bundled up his clothes, hung them 
 across his shoulder on the end of a stick, and walked seven- 
 teen miles to the home of another uncle. This action in one 
 so young gave evidence of great determination. This Jack- 
 son was a man of large means, owning several farms and 
 mills, and young Jackson was put to work at lumbering and 
 tilling the soil. His uncle raised fast horses, had a race 
 
track, and he was soon taught to ride as a jockey. He is 
 said to have become very expert, and was able to bring out 
 the best qualities in any horse he rode. In later life he has 
 been spoken of as an ungraceful horseman, leaning for- 
 ward instead of sitting erect. This was probably due to 
 his early training as all jockies ride with short stirrups, 
 and lean forward toward the neck of the horse. He is de- 
 scribed as a thoughtful and affectionate boy, always truth- 
 ful and polite. As he grew to early manhood, he was 
 troubled with a mysterious form of dyspepsia, and thinking 
 open air exercise would be helpful, at the age of seventeen 
 secured the position of deputy sheriff, and in the execution 
 of his duties was thoroughly accurate and punctual. 
 
 West Point 
 
 A vacancy occurring at West Point when he was nineteen 
 years of age, he at once made application for it. He was 
 aided by all of his acquaintances, and the member of con- 
 gress from his district bent every energy to secure him the 
 appointment. He was summoned to Washington, and in- 
 troduced to the secretary of war. Although poorly prepared 
 to enter West Point, the secretary was so favorably im- 
 pressed with his courage and determination he handed him 
 his appointment. Hurrying away to West Point, in July, 
 1842, he was admitted to that institution. Somewhat awk- 
 ward, reticent and plainly dressed, the impression he made 
 upon his fellow cadets was not favorable, and they at once 
 commenced to play practical jokes upon him, but his im- 
 perturbable good nature and manly bearing soon won their 
 respect and he was not long subject to their torture. He 
 immediately devoted himself to his studies, and it is said 
 vv^hen the lights were put out, would lie on the floor and 
 study by the light of the fire. By intense application, 
 backed by a determination tosucceed, he passed through 
 the several courses, finally graduating seventeenth in a class 
 
6 
 
 of seventy. He was regarded by the other students as some- 
 what odd in manner and habits. He would sit bolt upright 
 in his seat while studying, and when he had mastered his 
 task, would continue sitting in that position, gazing at the 
 wall or ceiling. It is said he thought leaning over his 
 desk increased his dyspepsia. He was doubtless also direct- 
 ing his thoughts to some problem, and was developing the 
 great facility he exhibited later in life for concentrating 
 his mind upon a given subject. 
 
 War in Mexico 
 
 Jackson was brevetted Second Lieutenant of Artillery on 
 June 2, 1846. The war with Mexico had begun and several 
 battles had been fought, when General Scott, in 1847, took 
 command of the naval and military expeditions against 
 Mexico. The regiment to which he belonged was assigned 
 to General Scott's army, and was under fire at the battle of 
 Vera Cruz. On account of his bravery, he was promoted to 
 First Lieutenant of Artillery after the battle of Cerro Gordo, 
 and assigned to Magruder's Battery. At the battle of 
 Churubusco this gallant young officer came prominently into 
 notice, and Captain Magruder in speaking of Jackson in 
 his official report said: "In a few moments Lieutenant 
 Jackson, commanding the second section of the battery, 
 which had opened fire upon the enemy who were in a posi- 
 tion on the right, hearing our fire still further in front, ad- 
 vanced in handsome style, and kept up the fire with equal 
 bravery and effect. His conduct was equally conspicuous 
 during the whole day, and I cannot too highly commend 
 him to the Major General's favorable consideration." At 
 the battle of Chapultepec, Magruder was ordered to send a 
 section of artillery to support an infantry attack. Jackson 
 was given charge of the section, and had to advance overa 
 position full of difficulties, and was compelled to keep the road 
 on account of the marshy ground on each side. The Mexican 
 
artillery in fr nt and cannon on the heights of Chapultepec 
 opened a terrific fire. It wa3 impossible for infantry to ad- 
 vance. When Jackson arrived on the ground, his horses 
 were shot dov^n. The enemy had cut a ditch across the 
 road, and in order to reply to their fire, his men lifted a 
 gun over this obstruction by hand. His cannoneers be- 
 haved badly, and left the young lieutenant standing ex- 
 posed to this terrible fire. Orders were sent to him to retire. 
 He sent word back if they would send him fifty men, he 
 would charge the breast works in front of him. Jackson, 
 with one man stood his ground, and continued to fire upon 
 the Mexicans. All his gunners save one man, and an escort 
 sent him as a support, fled to the rear; still he remained and 
 with the aid of this one man continued to load and fire his 
 gun. Captain Magruder coming up and observing him 
 standing alone, immediately had a second gun lifted over 
 the ditch, and the infantry encouraged by the gallantry of 
 Jackson and his cannoneers rallied and charging carried 
 the breastworks. The infantry continued to advance, and 
 Jackson's guns kept their position on the firing line. This 
 was an opportunity for which he had longed, and when it 
 came he was ambitious to display his soldierly instinct and 
 to become the rallying point for the rest of the army. Af- 
 ter the battle of Contreras he was promoted to the rank of 
 Captain. His gallant behavior at Chapultepec was men- 
 tioned in the dispatch of the Comm.ander-in-Chief, and he 
 was publicly complimented for his courage. Within eighteen 
 months from the time he was assigned to his regiment of 
 artillery, he was brevetted Major. He had little opportunity 
 in the war with Mexico to display his military genius, the 
 sphere in which he ov>erated being a contracted one, but he 
 attracted great attention by his unusual courage and energy. 
 He came out of the war with a reputation second to that 
 of no young officer, and the taste of battle he had had there, 
 doubtless spurred his ambition to higher achievement, if 
 
8 
 
 opportunity should offer. The dull routine of camp life 
 being distasteful to him, after the termination of 
 hostilities, he spent several months in the City of Mexico. 
 It is said these were very pleasant months to him, and that 
 he came near falling in love with a beautiful senorita. The 
 young soldier, stern and relentless in battle, often took part 
 in the festivities indulged in by the young people of the 
 capitol city. It is even said he learned to dance, and in 
 later life, for his wife's amusement, would go through the 
 Mexican dance with considerable grace. His appearance, 
 from a daguerreotype taken about this time, was that of a fine 
 looking young man. His forehead was broad, his eye clear, 
 and intelligent, his nose straight and well formed, his face 
 terminating in a jaw of great strength. 
 
 Jackson at the Virginia Military Institute 
 
 Growing weary of the monotony of camp life, in March, 
 1851, he made application for and was appointed instructor 
 of Artillery Tactics and professor of Natural Philosophy at 
 the Virginia Military Institute. 
 
 My first acquaintance with General Jackson commenced 
 in 1859, when I entered the V. M. I. The John Brown raid 
 occurring in 1859, he took charge of two pieces of artillery 
 sent to Charles Town to guard Brown until his execution. I 
 happened to be one of the cadets who served with these 
 guns, and recollect his drilling us in the streets of that 
 place. I recited to General Jackson, and saw him daily 
 from September, 1860, to April, 1861. He appeared to me 
 at that time a calm and determined man, giving his whole 
 thought and attention to the matter before him. He was 
 not what you would call a graceful man, but he was a very 
 good looking person. He was too intense a man to be what 
 is called genial, though I have seen him often with a de- 
 lightful smile upon his face. We have it from the best 
 authority that in his family circle he was gentle, amiable 
 
STONEWALL JACKSON WHEN HE LEFT MEXICO 
 
and thoroughly companionable. He was a man of perfect 
 truth and sincerity and so sensitive about misrepresenta- 
 tion it is stated he walked a mile and a half through the 
 rain one night to correct a statement about an incident that 
 occurred between two cadets, which he had represented as 
 taking place on the lawn, when as a matter of fact it had 
 occurred on the porch. This might seem like an exagger- 
 ated effort to keep in line with the perfect truth, but it 
 was characteristic of the man. He never dealt in misrep- 
 resentations, and was never known to dissemble. We have 
 stories of a number of odd things he did, no doubt largely 
 exaggerated, but all these are mere cobwebs to be brushed 
 aside when we come into the blaze of his wonderful genius 
 and into the light of his remarkable achievements. 
 
 While at the Institute, he was a great student of military 
 history. He admired Napoleon above all other soldiers and 
 became thoroughly conversant with his campaigns, his 
 maxims of war, and particularly the strategy he adopted. 
 When the war commenced, he was well equipped to com- 
 mand armies on the widest fields. He had laid the founda- 
 tion for his wonderful career. 
 
 Richmond— 1861 
 
 In April, 1861, he went to Richmond with the corps of 
 cadets to assist in drilling the troops. He had not been 
 there long before he was appointed Colonel in the Virginia 
 service, and ordered to Harpers Ferry to take command un- 
 til General Joseph E. Johnston could get there. A Brigade 
 of Virginia regiments was soon organized and Colonel Jack- 
 son assigned to its command. On June 17th, he was com- 
 missioned a Brigadier General, being at this time thirty- 
 seven years of age. He had been ten years at the V. M. I. 
 and had had no further military experience since the termi- 
 nation of the Mexican war. By careful and prudent exer- 
 cise, he had improved his health and was in excellent physi- 
 
10 
 
 cal and mental training. While regretting the necessity 
 for the war, he was wholly in sympathy with the South and 
 stood ready to give Virginia and the Confederacy his best 
 talent and best efforts. 
 
 A Strict Disciplinarian 
 
 He was an excellent disciplinarian; never harsh, but de- 
 manding obedience to his orders. During all my service 
 under General Jackson, whilst he was exacting as a soldier, 
 which was eminently proper, I never knew him to be rough 
 in manner and never rude. He was invariably polite, and 
 always a thorough gentleman. He was a trained soldier, 
 and no officer knew better than he that it was useless to 
 fight an army inferior in equipment and numbers against 
 great odds unless the men were disciplined and taught to 
 be obedient to orders. He marched his soldiers great dis- 
 tances, it is true, and required them to do arduous service, 
 but this he believed to be necessary to success, and was in- 
 tended to save lives by surprising his foes and thus enable 
 his men to overthrow largely superior numbers. 
 
 He exacted obedience to his orders, and punished severely 
 any soldier who violated them. For instance, it is told that 
 D. H. Hill sent a man to his headquarters under arrest with 
 a note to General Jackson saying the man persisted in 
 burning rails, and he had not been able to cure him of the 
 habit, and would like the general to try his hand on him. 
 Jackson asked him why he persisted in violating orders. 
 The soldier replied, he had been in D. H. Hill's command 
 for eight months, and had never gotten a good look at Gen- 
 eral Jackson, and he knew if he burnt the rails he would 
 be arrested and sent to headquarters and would then have 
 a chance to get a good look at "Stonewall" Jackson. Gen- 
 eral Jackson called his orderly and told him to buck the man, 
 and set him on an empty barrel in front of his tent; to 
 throw (.pen the flies of the tent and leave him there for an 
 
11 
 
 hour, and thus he would have a chance to get a good, long 
 look at him. 
 
 The Bravest are the Tenderest 
 
 That he was kind and thoughtful of his soldiers is evi- 
 denced by his refusal to retire from in front of Kernstown 
 until all the wounded were cared for. Again, his affection 
 for his men was displayed upon one occasion, when on the 
 march to Manassas, he was informed the soldiers of the bri- 
 gade, worn out by the march, had fallen asleep on the 
 ground and there was no guard about the camp. He re- 
 plied: "Let them sleep. I will watch the camp tonight. " 
 He rode around the camp during the entire nigbt, a lone 
 but vigilant sentinel, while the men rested and slept. 
 
 "Athwart the shadows of the vale 
 Slumbered the men of might. 
 And one lone sentry paced his rounds 
 To watch the camp that night." 
 
 Stonewall Brigade at Manassas 
 
 His Brigade consisted of the Second Virginia, Colonel Al- 
 len; the Fourth Virginia, Colonel Preston; the Fifth Vir- 
 ginia, Colonel Harper; the Twenty-seventh Virginia, Col- 
 onel Echols, and the Thirty-third Virginia, Colonel Cum- 
 mings. The Rockbridge Battery commanded by Rev. Dr. 
 Pendleton was also attached to this Brigade. This Brigade 
 was composed of the finest material, a large majority of the 
 men having been born and raised in the Shenandoah Val- 
 ley. The privates were Intelligent, and became as the war 
 progressed, keenly alive to what should be done by soldiers 
 under all circumstances. This Brigade distinguished itself 
 in almost all the battles in Virginia, and no body of men in 
 any war ever won a greater reputation for courage and skill 
 in battle. 
 
 Early in June, 1861, General Patterson had crossed the 
 
12 
 
 Potomac river with a large army. General Jackson had 
 command of the advance force, and had some fierce engage- 
 ments with him. At this time McDowell, commanding the 
 army in front of Washington, advanced on Manassas, and 
 Johnston determined at once to move his command to that 
 point. Jackson's Brigade was in front. He reached Ma- 
 nassas on the 20th of July, and took position near the Henry 
 house, and was deployed on the eastern edge of the hill, in a 
 belt of pines, which afforded good shelter for his troops. 
 When the next day the Brigades of Bee, Bartow and Evans 
 were being driven back in considerable confusion, Jackson's 
 men held their position, and Bee, in order to rally his 
 troops, pointed in the direction of the Virginia Regiments 
 and said: "Look at Jackson's men, standing like a stone- 
 wall! Rally behind the Virginians!" The name of " Stone- 
 wall" was at once applied to Jackson, and will cling to him 
 throughout all time. Two Federal batteries supported 
 by infantry advanced in close proximity to the position held 
 by the Thirty-third Regiment, commanded by Colonel Cum- 
 mings, and that officer immediately charged, shooting down 
 gunners and horses. Stuart had just made a dash upon the 
 flank of this infantry, and thrown them into confusion. 
 Several of the guns escaped, but the remainder were aban- 
 doned and left about half way between the opposing lines. 
 The enemy rallied about their guns again, but were driven 
 off by a part of the Second Virginia Regiment. 
 
 The Rebel Yell 
 
 General Jackson, under fire, rode slowly up and down in 
 front of his regiment, and as the enemy again advanced, 
 gave the order, "Reserve your fire till they are within fifty 
 yards, then fire and give them the bayonet; and when you 
 charge yell like furies!" The Federals advanced cheering, 
 and most of our batteries were compelled to retire. Sud- 
 denly the Stonewall Brigade sprang from the ground., im- 
 
13 
 
 mediately in front of them, and after firing a volley, charged 
 bayonets, shouting fiercely. This unexpected attack dis- 
 concerted the Federals and caused them to fall back in con- 
 fusion over the hill. 
 
 A Change of Command 
 
 On Nov. 4th, General Jackson was assigned to the com- 
 mand of the Shenandoah Valley district. His Brigade at 
 that time was not ordered with him, and the parting be- 
 tween himself and his soldiers was full of feeling. They 
 had learned to have the greatest confidence in his skill, and 
 courage. The regiments were drawn up in line, and Gen- 
 eral Jackson, riding in front of them bade them farewell 
 in the following eloquent address: "I am not here to make 
 a speech," he said, "but simply to say farewell. I first 
 met you at Harper's Ferry at the commencement of the war, 
 and I cannot take leave of you without giving expression 
 to my admiration of your conduct from that day to this, 
 whether on the march, in the bivouac, or on the bloody 
 plains of Manassas, where you gained the well deserved 
 reputation of having decided the fate of the battle. 
 
 "Throughout the broad extent of the country through 
 which you have marched, by your respect for the rights of 
 property of citizens, you have shown that you are soldiers, 
 not only to defend, but able and willing both to defend and 
 protect. You have already won a brilliant reputation 
 throughout the army of the whole Confederacy; and I 
 trust, in the future, by your deeds in the field and by the as- 
 sistance of the same kin;I Providence which has hitherto 
 favoured our cause, you will win more victories and add 
 lustre to the reputation you now enjoy. You have already 
 gained a proud position in the future history of this our 
 second War of Independence. I shall look with great 
 anxiety to your future movements, and I trust whenever I 
 shall hear of the First Brigade on the field of battle, it will 
 
14 
 be of still nobler deeds achieved, and higher reputation 
 
 won 
 
 »" 
 
 Here he paused, and throwing the reins on his horse's 
 neck, in tones full of emotion continued: 
 
 "In the Army of the Shenandoah you were the First Bri- 
 gade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Bri- 
 gade! In the Second Corps of the army you were 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!" 
 
 Turner Ashby 
 
 When General Jackson reached the Valley, he found a few 
 regiments of militia armed with flintlock muskets and a 
 few squadrons of cavalry. The cavalry was commanded by 
 Turner Ashby who afterwards won for himself great celeb- 
 rity as a cavalry leader. He was elected Colonel of the 
 regiment doing picket duty from the vicinity of Romney 
 to the Point of Rocks, and had attracted attention by his 
 desperate fight at Kelly's Island in the Potomac where he 
 charged across the river, in the face of a heavy fire and at- 
 tacked and dislodged some infantry from the bushes on that 
 island. Ashby served with Jackson, leading his advance and 
 covering his retreat until killed near Harrisonburg, on June 
 6, 1862. This officer was known for his desperate courage, 
 dash and daring in battle. Thoroughly patriotic and devot- 
 ed to the cause of the South, i:e was ever ready to give 
 battle to the enemy, and if necessary, give his life in de- 
 fence of his country. He was vigilant as a hawk, and in 
 him were blended the finest traits of a soldier. He was 
 heroic and patriotic; his manner gentle and his character 
 pure and chaste. General Jackson said of him in his 
 official report, his sagacity was intuitive in divining the pur- 
 poses and intentions of the enemy. A recent author has 
 
15 
 
 written of him that "he alor.e handled cavalry more as cav- 
 alry should be fought than any man since the days of 
 Murat. " His men were armed with pistol and sabre and 
 were all superb horsemen. Ashby himself was one of the 
 finest horsemen in the State of Virginia, and although not 
 a large man, when mounted, presented a commanding ap- 
 pearance. His command was increased gradually until he 
 had twenty-seven companies of cavalry, and in addition to 
 this, a battery of horse artillery, organized by Milton 
 Rouse, Jim Thompson and myself, all cadets of the V. M. I., 
 and which served with him until his death. 
 
 We were youths of seventeen, eighteen and nineteen 
 years of age. After we raised the company. Rouse and I 
 called on General Jackson, and told him we had organized a 
 battery. His face wore a quizzical expression, as he said: 
 "Young men, now that you have your company, what are 
 you going to do with it?" There was no reply to make to 
 this as the question was more of a puzzle to Rouse and my- 
 self than to him. 
 
 Jackson at W^inchester 
 
 Jackson established his headquarters at Winchester and 
 remained subordinate to General Joseph E. Johnston, whose 
 headquarters were at Manassas. About this time he was 
 promoted to Major-General in the Confederate service. At 
 his request Loring's Division was sent from Western Vir- 
 ginia and reached him on Christmas day. The Stonewall 
 Brigade had also been sent to him, and in a short time, he 
 gathered together 9,000 men. The enemy had troops posted 
 from Harper's Ferry to Romney, there being at the latter 
 place 5,000 men. General Jackson conceived the idea of 
 clearing this country of Federal troops and doubtless had in 
 view another object, which was to have his soldiers see ac- 
 
16 
 
 tive and arduous service in order to season them for the 
 great campaigns which were to follow. 
 
 On Jan. 1, 1862, he left Winchester with 9,000 troops. 
 His purpose was to destroy the dam across the Potomac 
 river, and tear up the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, so as to 
 sever communications with the West. By rapid marches he 
 proposed to deal with the enemy in detail. The weather 
 was so bright and warm, no one thought in a day or two 
 they would encounter a fierce storm of wind and snow. The 
 enemy escaped from Bath, and after shelling them at Han- 
 cock, he moved toward Romney. The Federal troops en- 
 camped there made good their eicape, retiring rapidly in 
 the direction of Cumberland. Whilst he cleared his front 
 of Federal troops, the expedition was not very fruitful of 
 results. Great dissatisfaction broke out in Loring's com- 
 mand, which was left at Romney, and upon application to 
 the secretary of war, a peremptory command was sent by 
 him to General Jackson: "Our news indicates that a move- 
 ment is making to cut off General Loring's command. 
 Order him back immediately." General Jackson felt indig- 
 nant, as he had not been consulted, and feeling that he could 
 no longer effectively command the army, tendered his res- 
 ignation, feeling it impossible to maintain discipline in his 
 command if such interference was tolerated. General Jos- 
 eph E. Johnston urged him to withdraw his resignation. 
 Governor Letcher persuaded the secretary of war not to ac- 
 cept the resignation, and got from him the assurance that 
 it was not the intention of the government to interfere with 
 the plans of General Jackson. Jackson then withdrew his 
 lesignation and General Loring was ordered to another de- 
 partment. He remained with his Brigade in Winchester 
 during the winter of '61 and '62. His wife was with him, 
 and amid the delightful society of that hospitable city they 
 spent, as Mrs. Jackson said, "as happy a winter as ever 
 falls to the lot of mortals upon earth. ' ' 
 
17 
 
 Jackson, here as usual, kept his men hard at drill, and con- 
 fined them as closely as possible to their camp. He especially 
 prohibited the use of spirituous liquors, and gave his officers 
 strict orders to keep the men out of Winchester as much as 
 possible. The soldiers, used every device to get out of 
 camp and into the city. Several members of the Second 
 Virginia Regiment w^ere given permission by their colonel 
 on one occasion, to go to Winchester to attend church. They 
 failed to come back on Sunday and remained away several 
 days. Upon their return, they were lectured by their col- 
 onel for their absence from camp, when one of them. Lieu- 
 tenant George Flagg, reminded him it was a protracted 
 meeting. 
 
 General McClellan was assembling an immense army of 
 200,000 men about Washington, and Shields, a fine old sol- 
 dier, was placed in command of the troops from Fredericks- 
 burg to Romney. He had under his command about 46,000 
 men. About 40,000 Federals had assembled under General 
 Banks along the line of the Potomac. Mrs. Jackson had 
 gone back to her father's home and all of his baggage and 
 stores were sent to Mt. Jackson. Instead of retiring, how- 
 ever, Jackson marched his troops through Winchester, in 
 the direction of the enemy. Late in February General 
 Banks crossed the river at Harper's Ferry, and his army of 
 about 40,000 men with eighty pieces of artillery, threatened 
 General Jackson's devoted band. Jackson had with him at 
 this time three Brigades of infantry, 600 cavalry and twen- 
 ty-seven guns. This was an insignificant body of troops to 
 oppose so great an army as that commanded by General 
 Banks, but his army was of the finest material. They had 
 been accustomed to hardy exercise from boyhood, and were 
 familiar with the use of the gun. The cavalry came from 
 the Valley and the Piedmont country mainly, and were fine 
 horsemen, full of dash and energy. As horsemen thev were 
 far superior to the Federal cavalry, one of whom said : 
 
18 
 
 "It is impossible to catch them. They leap fences and walls 
 like deer. Neither our men nor our horses are trained in 
 this way. ' ' 
 
 General Banks soon commenced his advance from Harpers 
 Ferry. Jackson offered him battle on the 7th and again on 
 the 11th of March, keeping his men under arms all day, 
 hoping General Banks would assail him. The latter ad- 
 vanced cautiously however, keeping at a comfortable dis- 
 tance. On the 11th Jackson abandoned Winchester with 
 great reluctance, as he had contemplated a night attack, 
 and had called together his principal officers for a council 
 of war. They did not approve his plan, and the attack was 
 given up. Dr. McGuire, his chief surgeon, says his face, 
 as he rode away from the town, was fairly ablaze with 
 wrath, and he said in a severe tone: "That is the last 
 council of war I will ever hold." He fell back to Strasburg 
 about eighteen miles from Winchester. Banks satisfied 
 himself with occupying Winchester. He was reinforced on 
 the 18th by Shields' Division of about 12,000, and that gen- 
 eral was sent to Strasburg. Jackson retired slowly up the 
 Valley as far as Mt. Jackson. Ashby with his cavalry and 
 battery, disputed the advance of the enemy from every hill. 
 About the middle of March, General Banks was ordered to 
 move with the bulk of his army to Manassas. Shields with 
 his division was left in Winchester. On March 20th, Wil- 
 liams' Division commenced its march to Manassas June 
 tion. On the evening of the 21st, Ashby drove in the pick- 
 ets near Winchester, and received information that the 
 Federal troops were all leaving that place. General Shields, 
 who remained there, had carefully concealed his division. 
 On the 22nd Ashby again drove in the pickets to within a 
 mile of the city. Riding out on a hill, a little south of 
 Winchester, General Shields and his staff were observed by 
 one of the gunners of Chew's battery. He fired a shot 
 which exploded in front of the group, a fragment wounding 
 
19 
 
 General Shields in the arm. General Ashby received in- 
 formation from a source he considered thoroughly reliable 
 that only four regiments of infantry, some guns and caval- 
 ry remained in Winchester. 
 
 Battle of Kernstown 
 
 All this was transmitted to General Jackson, who imme- 
 diately advanced and camped the first night at Strasburg. 
 Four companies of infantry were frequently assigned to 
 Ashby for his support. They were commanded by Captain 
 Nadenbousch of P^Iartinsburg, and on the 23rd, these four 
 companies were sent to Ashby to support his cavalry. 
 Shields, who was not < n the battlefield, sent word to General 
 Kimball to advance to the vicinity of Kernstown. His 
 army consisted of about 7,000 troops. Ashby who contest- 
 ed the advance of the enemy, made a sharp attack with the 
 four companies of infantry, advancing through a heavy 
 piece of timber, when he encountered a full Brigade of the 
 enemy. They were compelled to give way before superior 
 numbers. The pursuit by the enemy was checked by a well 
 directed fire from Ashby's guns. He then took up a position 
 on a hill to the east of the Valley pike, and maintained it 
 during the entire day. General Jackson arrived on the field 
 ab lut 1 o'clock, and immediately made his disposition for 
 battle. The Northern troops were commanded by General 
 Kimball who had formed his line of battle east of the pike. 
 Later he extended his line to the west and planted his guns 
 on Prichard's hill. Ashby had attracted to the east of the 
 pike a large force and af i:er looking the ground over, Jack- 
 son determined to take a position on the ridge west of the 
 turnpike, and endeavor to turn the enemy's right flank. 
 Colonel Burke's Brigade was left on thepike to support Ash- 
 by; Jackson carried Fulkerson's Brigade and part of Carpen- 
 ter's Battery to attack the enemy on his right. On this 
 march the infantry and artillery were very much exposed to 
 
20 
 
 a heavy artillery fire from Prichard's hill. Garnett's Bri- 
 gade followed by a safer route. The two other guns of 
 Carpenter's with McLaughlin's and Waters' Batteries and a 
 part of Burke's Brigade were also ordered to our left. The 
 batteries were located on the ridge, and after a severe en- 
 gagement drove the Federal guns from their Dcsition. The 
 Twenty-seventh and Twenty-first Virginia Regiments and 
 Fulkerson's Brigade moved forward, Fulkerson on the ex- 
 treme left. These troops gained a strong position behind a 
 stone fence. The center of the line was held by Garnett's Bri- 
 gade, and the Irish battalion, posted in the edge of a woods. 
 Tyler's Federal Brigade was thrown forward and ordered to 
 attack our left flank. He reached his position about 3:30 and 
 made a bold attack upon Fulkerson. After a severe fight, 
 he was repulsed, when the rest of the Federal troops made 
 an attack upon the Confederate centre held by Garnett. A 
 desperate struggle ensued here, lasting about two hours. I 
 think the roar of the muskery and artillery was the most in- 
 cessant I ever heard. Reenforcements were sent from Sulli- 
 van's and Kimball's Brigades and afresh attack made along 
 the entire line. Jackson still persisted in turning the right 
 flank of the enemy and for this purpose ordered the Fifth, 
 Forty-second and Forty-eighth Virginia Regiments in that 
 direction. Before they reached the position he intended 
 them to take the attack directed by Tyler, had shaken the 
 Confederate centre and General Garnett, his ammunition 
 exhausted, feeling he could no longer hold his position, 
 ordered his line to retire. This was done without General 
 Jackson's knowledge. The retreat of General Garnett's 
 troops compelled Fulkerson to withdraw from the strong po- 
 sition he then held. Jackson at this time discovering the 
 retreat of Garnett rode to where the troops were falling 
 back, and endeavored to rally them. The Fifth Virginia 
 supported by the Forty-second, was thrown into position to 
 protect the retreat, but our lines being envelop edon both 
 
21 
 
 flanks it was impossible to stem the tide, and the army was 
 pressed back, and finally forced from the battlefield. That 
 evening, Jackson halted and dismounted at the campfire of 
 the Horse Artillery, and stood gazing into the fire. It was 
 a cold night, and a fire felt comfortable. A member of the 
 company who had some reputation for curiosity, after 
 watching the general for some time said to him: "General, 
 we had a very hot time today." General Jackson, fixing 
 upon him his piercing eyes, said deliberately: "Yes, sir, 
 bat you can expect a much warmer time tomorrow. ' ' 
 
 Twelve hundred men were killed and wounded in this 
 battle, about equally divided. The enemy captured two 
 guns, and several hundred prisoners. 
 
 Jackson was dissatisfied with the conduct of General Gar- 
 nett, who had ordered his troops to retire without notifying 
 his commander. He was preparing to envelop the right 
 flank of the enemy and always insisted had Garnett held his 
 position a little longer, and, if necessary, given the enemy 
 the bayonet, he would have won the battle. John Esten 
 ('ooke is authority for the statement that Ashby told Colonel 
 Patten an order had been sent from Winchester for the Fed- 
 eral army to retire, and that that order was received a few 
 minutes after our lines broke. He placed General Garnett 
 under arrest. The sympathy of the ofl[icers and men gener- 
 ally seemed to be with Garnett. He was a gallant oflicer 
 and beloved by his men. Later he was tried and unanimous- 
 ly acquitted. He fell gallantly leading a charge at Gettys- 
 burg. This action of General Jackson rendered him unpop- 
 ular for some time with his army. His conduct was con- 
 sidered harsh, but after Jackson's wonderful fight at Second 
 Manassas and later at Antietam, where he held his own 
 against overwhelming numbers, it would seem the time 
 would hardly ever arrive when an officer should retire with- 
 out orders from his superior. Although our troops were re- 
 pulsed at Kernstown, the battle had an excellent effect. 
 
22 
 
 It was not believed with 3,000 men, Jackson would be bold 
 enough to assail Shields; and Williams' Division was im- 
 mediately ordered back to Winchester. 
 
 Retreat Up The Valley 
 
 Mr. Lincoln, who was always in trepidation about the 
 capture of the capitol, strengthened the forces around Wash- 
 ington. McDowell, with 40,000 men was posted at Fred- 
 ericksburg, and General Banks was sent to the Valley to 
 confront Jackson, who retired slowly, pursued by the ene- 
 my. Ashby fought them with his guns at every turn, and 
 harassed and annoyed their advance in every conceivable 
 way. General H. G. Gordon of Massachusetts, a comrade 
 of Jackson at West Point, pursued with great vigor. The 
 Brigade commanded by this officer, and that commanded by 
 General Tyler, gave us a great deal of trouble on many occa- 
 sions. They were able soldiers, and both Brigades were 
 made up of gallant men. General Banks, who was constant- 
 ly fearful of attack, had visions of large reinforcements 
 from Johnston's army. He renewed his pursuit about the 
 1st of April and drove Ashby 's cavalry back to the vicinity 
 of Edinburg. Banks' army and Ashby's cavalry remained 
 confronting each other at Edinburg for over three weeks. 
 Ashby was skirmishing frequently during each day, haras- 
 ing the enemy with his artillery. Jackson's camp was 
 about six miles in the rear. While there, he often rode to 
 the front, and upon one occasion met Colonel Ashby, and 
 dismounting held a consultation with him and proceeded to 
 write a dispatch. A shell burst immediatly in front of 
 them, and when the smoke cleared, those present expected 
 to see them dead or. wounded but both escaped unhurt. A 
 few minutes afterwards, General Jackson rode up a hill 
 where the guns were in action, and approaching close to 
 where I was sitting, I congratulated him on his escape. 
 He replied quickly: ''What is that, sir? What is that, 
 
23 . 
 
 sir?" I then explained to him that I had heard a shell ex- 
 ploded in front of where he stood with Colonel Ashby, and 
 that they were in imminent danger. He i:eplied: "It is 
 the first I have heard of it, sir. It is the first I have heard 
 of it, sir." General Jackson's well known respect for the 
 truth compelled me to believe this, but I could not help re- 
 flecting, that when a shell exploded in close proximity to 
 where I was, I was sure to be rather painfully conscious of 
 it. 
 
 Jackson increased his force, until by April 15th, he had a 
 little over 6,000 men when he began his retreat to Harrison- 
 burg. Banks, who had been also reinforced, made an ad- 
 vance on the 17th, and reached Harrisonburg on the 22nd. 
 In ten days, he had marched only thirty-five miles. 
 
 Jackson at Swift Run Gap 
 
 General Jackson, after reaching Harrisonburg, crossed the 
 Shenandoah at Conrad's store, and went into camp in Elk 
 Run Valley. He was not equal to fighting Banks in the open 
 country between Harrisonburg and Staunton, but in this 
 position, would be a constant threat to the safety of that 
 general. With Banks advancing up the Valley, Milroy at 
 McDowell, and Fremont moving up the South Branch Val- 
 ley, it seemed that Staunton was doomed. General Ewell 
 was encamped on the Upper Rappahannock with 8,000 men. 
 General Edward Johnson, with a Brigade, had marched 
 back to within a few miles of Staunton. General Lee who 
 had been appointed to the command of the armies in Vir- 
 ginia, wrote General Jackson that McDowell's advance to 
 Fredericksburg, was a serious menace to Richmond, aug- 
 menting McClellan's available force by 40,000 troops. He 
 authorized General Jackson to use General Ewell's division 
 in an attack on Banks in order to relieve the pressure on 
 the capitol. Jackson ordered Ewell to move to Stannards- 
 ville. He wrote to General Lee that by combining the two 
 
24 
 
 forces, he hoped to fall on Banks. Lee replied giving- him 
 full discretion, saying he was not competent, at so great a 
 distance, to direct operations depending on circumstances 
 unknown to him, but advising him when he dealt a blow, it 
 should be sudden and heavy. Jackson adopted as his maxims 
 of war "to mystify, mislead and surprise your enemy; after 
 he has been defeated, to pursue him with the utmost vigor 
 and as long as the endurance of the troops held out. To in- 
 flict the greatest damage possible upon the defeated foe. 
 Never to attack an enemy having superior forces, if it can 
 be avoided, but to defeat him in detail, bringing always 
 larger numbers to bear upon an inferior force." He suc- 
 cessfully applied these maxims in the coming operations. 
 
 The campaign that Jackson was about to begin was his 
 own. He conceived the strategy employed, and executed it 
 with his own tactics. Afterwards he remained in a position 
 subordinate to General Lee, and it follows therefore that his 
 fame as a great soldier must rest mainly upon his perform- 
 ance here. 
 
 Famous Valley Campaign 
 
 Jackson, who had mapped out his famous Valley cam- 
 paign, proceeded immediately to its execution. On the 
 29th, instructing Ashby to make a demonstration against 
 Banks at Harrisonburg, he left the Elk Run Valley, General 
 Ewell taking his place, and marched up the river to Port 
 Republic. The mud in the Valley was very deep, the roads 
 terrible and it was with great difficulty the march could be 
 made. On May 3rd he turned to the left and crossed the 
 Blue Ridge mountains directing his march to a station on 
 Meechums river. Every one was bewildered by Jackson's 
 movements. Ewell who heard he had disappeared without 
 giving him orders rode over to see Ashby and insisted that 
 Jackson had lost his mind, saying that nothing else could 
 account for his disrespect in not leaving him orders or giv- 
 
25 
 
 ing him information as to his movements. Jackson was 
 naturally of a secretive disposition. He knew, as do all 
 other men, the most unsafe repository for a secret is a 
 man. He knew if he gave valuable information to one man, 
 it was likely to be communicated to another, and finally 
 reach the whole army, and the enemy would soon get wind 
 of it. He determined to keep his own secrets, to hold no 
 council of war, where his plans would be divulged to others. 
 He was taking this precaution when he pursued the route 
 he did to strike Milroy at McDowell. For several days he 
 was lost. No one knew his purpose except Ashby. Taking 
 the train, he unloaded his troops at Staunton, and marched 
 direct to attack Milroy at McDowell. That general had been 
 reenforced by Schenk's Brigade and Fremont was marching 
 to his aid. Milroy assailed our troops to be repulsed after a 
 sharp fight, and in the night withdrew down the South 
 Branch Valley. In the morning, Jackson discovering the 
 enemy had disappeared, immediately pursued them. They 
 adopted the novel expedient of setting fire to the woods, 
 making pursuit most difficult. Turning back to McDowell, 
 General Jackson crossed the mountain to Mt. Solon, and 
 commenced the concentration of his troops at New Market 
 and Luray. At this time the affairs of the Confederacy 
 were enveloped in gloom. The battle of Shiloh had been 
 fought and lost and General Albert Sidney Johnson killed. 
 In front of Richmond, McClellan had assembled an army of 
 100,000 men, and was expecting McDowell at Fredericks- 
 burg to march to his assistance. McDowell with his fine 
 army was to march on the 26th to take position on the right 
 flank of McClellan. Mr. Lincoln and his secretary went to 
 Fredericksburg to witness his grand review. Banks at this 
 time was at Strasburg with 7,500 men and sixteen guns; 
 1,500 men were stationed at Winchester, and Geary with 
 2,000 was in Fauquier. Colonel Kenly with the First Mary- 
 
26 
 
 land Regiment, numbering 1,000 men and two pieces of 
 artillery, was at Front Royal. 
 
 Such was the gloom and despondency, it has been said, 
 upon good authority, preparations were being made to aban- 
 don Richmond. In this hour of trouble, the people of the 
 South rested their main hope upon the magnificent courage 
 of tne armies in Virginia, and on the genius and ability of those 
 two matchless soldiers, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jack- 
 son. General Lee, who from this time on played upon the 
 fears and timidity of the administration at Washington, 
 wrote to General Jackson to make a speedy movement 
 against Banks and drive him to the Potomac. With his own 
 and Ewell's division he commenced his march north on May 
 21st, Taylor's Louisiana Brigade leading. As the eagle, 
 soaring aloft, discovering his unsuspecting prey darts with 
 fell swoop upon his helpless victim, so Jackson by a rapid 
 march to Front Royal fell upon and swept Kenly from his 
 path on the morning of the 23rd, captured the bulk of his 
 command, and pressed on to intercept Banks in his retreat 
 upon Winchester. Ashby had been sent to Buckton, a sta- 
 tion on the road to Strasburg. He captured the troops there, 
 and moving on rapidly overtook Jackson at Cedarville. 
 Banks, alarmed by the demonstration at Front Royal, 
 had commenced his retreat on Winchester, leaving Strasburg 
 at 10 a. m. on the 23rd of May. Ashby, followed by Tay- 
 lor's Brigade and two guns of Poague's Battery, was order- 
 ed to march to Middletown, on the Valley pike, in order to 
 intercept Banks. The distance was seven miles, while 
 Banks had only five miles to cover before reaching that 
 town. Strong resistence was offered all along the route. 
 The country was densely wooded, and the employment of 
 cavalry was difficult. As soon, however, as Ashby came in 
 view of the Valley pike, he emerged into an open country, 
 and telling me to bring the battery of Horse x^rtillery along 
 with the charge of the cavalry, dashed upon the enemy. 
 
27 
 
 crowded in the pike. The infantry had passed on their re- 
 treat to Winchester, but the cavalry, of which Banks had 
 about 2,500, was crowded in the road between two stone 
 fences. They were at best poor horsemen and very little 
 able to cope with the splendid cavalry of the Confederate 
 army. Ashby galloped to the fence, and with his own pistol 
 emptied many saddles, while the guns, thrown into position 
 within 100 yards of the road poured a deadly fire into the 
 enemy. In his official report General Jackson uses the fol- 
 lowing language: "In a few moments the turnpike which 
 just before had teemed with life, presented a spectacle of 
 carnage and destruction. The road was literally one mass 
 of dying men and horses. Among the survivors the wildest 
 confusion existed; they scattered in disorder in various 
 directions, leaving 200 prisoners in the hands of the Con- 
 federates. " General Ewell had been sent forward on the 
 Front Royal road towards Winchester, and Jackson cross- 
 ed over with his division to the Valley pike. He proceeded 
 at once to put into effect one of his maxims, "after defeat- 
 ing the enemy, press him with the utmost vigor, and pur- 
 sue him as long as human endurance will permit." 
 
 Ashby, with about 200 men, continued to press tbe enemy 
 vigorously. When he reached the vicinity of Newtown, he 
 formed his cavalry, and telling me to charge with the guns, 
 made an assault upon the enemy's position and drove them 
 through Newtown. He was at the front all night and was 
 with General Jackson early in the morning. After we had 
 driven the enemy through Winchester the Horse Artillery 
 was hurried in pursuit, accompanied by Jackson himself. 
 Ashby was then well to the front attacking the enemy when 
 ever opportunity offered. Dr. Dabney got the impression 
 he had gone off on an independent expedition toward Ber- 
 ryviile. I do not know how he fell into this mistake, but 
 all historians, following this assertion, have reflected upon 
 Ashby for not having his cavalry in hand to charge Banks' 
 
28 
 
 army after he was defeated. In modern warfare it has been 
 demonstrated that small bodies of cavalry are ineffective in 
 a charge against infantry and artillery. If he had had at 
 his command a fine body of troopers it would have been 
 different; but it would seem too much was expected of this 
 magnificent officer on this occasion. 
 
 Battle of Winchester 
 
 Jackson pressed forward during the entire night and al- 
 though the men had been without rations since breakfast 
 on the 24th, save what they found in Banks' wagon train, 
 he continued the march until 3 in the morning, when the 
 head of his column had reached a point about a mile from 
 Winchester, opposite the ridge on which Banks had formed 
 his line of battle. Jackson had with him on the Valley pike 
 his own division and two extra brigades and nine batteries. 
 Early in the morning he hurled these against the position 
 occupied by Banks, and a fierce battle ensued. Ewell, who 
 was on the Front Royal road, had advanced and attacked the 
 enemy behind stone fences. They resisted his advance with 
 much gallantry. The enemy making a stubborn resistence 
 about 8 o'clock, Jackson determined to throw a large body 
 of troops on their right flank. They anticipated this move- 
 ment and had strengthened their right, but a determined 
 charge, made by Taylor's and Taliaferro's Brigades support- 
 ed by the Stonewall Brigade, drove all before it. The 
 enemy then gave way in every direction, and hurried 
 through the streets of Winchester. Jackson dashed to the 
 front, aglow with the sense of victory, and gave the com- 
 mand to "Press forward to the Potomac. " As he rode by 
 the Second Virginia Regiment, he passed close to one of the 
 soldiers, Cleon Moore, who said: "General, you have won 
 a great victory. " He instantly replied: "The victory is 
 not mine, it is due to God." Jackson's men were too weary 
 
29 
 
 to pursue for any great distance, and Banks made his escape 
 across the Potomac. 
 
 This defeat of Banks created the greatest consternation 
 in the North. The number of Jackson's troops was greatly 
 exaggerated. It was thought the whole Confederate army 
 was moving on Washington. The administration called for 
 additional troops, and all of the commands available were 
 sent to Harpers Ferry. The intended march of General Mc- 
 Dowell was countermanded, and he was ordered to send a 
 large part of his army to the Valley. Fremont was recalled, 
 and ordered to march to the support of Banks. It is even 
 said the President wired McClellan he must attack Rich- 
 mond at once, or bring his army to the defence of Washing- 
 ton. Jackson had fallen like a thunderbolt upon Banks and 
 driven him pellmell into Maryland. His success was com- 
 plete. General Winder was sent with the Stonewall Bri- 
 gade to Harpers Ferry. A large force of Federals had been 
 assembled at Harpers Ferry under Saxton and a part of this 
 army was encountered near Charles Town and routed. 
 Ewell's Division was ordered to support Winder and by the 
 29th Jackson's army was concentrated near Halltown in 
 Jefferson county. Ashby was sent to watch Fremont in the 
 direction of Wardensville, in Hardy county. Information 
 was sent to General Jackson at this time that McDowell was 
 advancing toward Front Royal and that Fremont was mov- 
 ing east from Moorefield. T^^ere was nothing for him to do 
 but fall back in order to escape destruction. Over 60,000 
 men were assembling to attack him. Ordering his army 
 back, he took the train from Charles Town to Winchester. 
 When half way there, a courier dashed up, the train was 
 stopped, and the message delivered that the Twelfth Geor- 
 gia had been driven from Front Royal and that McDowell's 
 advance guard was in possession of the town. Jackson 
 coolly read the dispatch and tearing it up, ordered the man 
 to return to his command. At this time Jackson estimated 
 
30 
 
 his troops at 15,000. On May 30th the whole army of the 
 Valley was on its march to Strasburg. The distance to be 
 covered by Winder's Brigade was forty-nine miles. His 
 march was undisturbed. Ashby impeded the march of Fre- 
 mont and Shields remained inactive at Strasburg. The 
 army during the afternoon of the 31st, reached Strasburg, 
 but the Stonewall Brigade encamped near Newtown, the 
 bulk of that command having marched twenty-eight, and 
 part of it thirty-five miles in one day. On the morning of 
 June 1st, Fremont had moved within six miles of Strasburg, 
 but Ewell, moving out, checked his advance. Winder pass- 
 ed through Strasburg at noon, and Jackson pursued his way 
 toward Harrisonburg. His retreat upon that place was at- 
 tended by no remarkable occurrence. Ashby protected his 
 rear and by his order, burned the bridges over the eastern 
 fork of the Shenandoah river, preventing Shields, who was 
 advancing up the Luray Valley from crossing that river. 
 In the short period of fourteen days Jackson had marched 
 170 miles; had defeated and routed Banks, thrown the North 
 into a state of consternation by a threatened invasion; had 
 tolled McDowell away from McClellan's right; had paralyz- 
 ed that General's plans and made his escape with immense 
 stores, captured from the enemy. Converging upon his po- 
 sition at Strasburg were over 62,000 Federal troops, while 
 he had not in excess of 15,000 men. When General Jackson 
 reached Harrisonburg on June 6th he turned the head of 
 his column to the left and marched toward Port Republic. 
 Fremont was in close pursuit and Shields was moving up on 
 the east side of the Shenandoah river. 
 
 Death of Ashby 
 
 About two miles from Harrisonburg, General Wyndham, 
 who had asked to be sent to the Valley to capture Ashby, 
 charged in advance of the infantry. By a quick move- 
 ment, Ashby cut him off and captured him and put his Brig- 
 
31 
 
 ade to route. Going back toward Harrisonburg Ashby found 
 the enemy in full pursuit. Several regiments of infantry 
 were sent to him, and putting these into battle, he led the 
 advance himself. While in close proximity to the enemy's 
 line, calling upon the men to charge, he was killed instantly 
 by a musket ball. The death of this brilliant officer brought 
 grief to everyone in the Valley army. He had served with 
 Jackson throughout the Valley campaign, and had become 
 famous for his skill in handling his squadrons, for his reck- 
 less courage, and for his superb horsemanship. He had 
 been Jackson's right arm, furnishing him, by his restless 
 vigilance, the most accurate information. That officer, in 
 his official report, uses this language: "His daring was 
 proverbial, his powers of endurance almost beyond belief, 
 his character heroic, and his sagacity almost intuitive in 
 divining the purposes of the enemy." 
 
 Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic 
 
 Jackson's army rested two days, when Fremont renewed 
 his advance. Ewell's Division was held in readiness at a 
 point called Cross Keys, while Jackson's Division was sent 
 to meet Shields, who was rapidly advancing on Port Repub- 
 lic. On June 8th, Fremont attacked Ewell, at Cross Keys. 
 It was an unusual combat, Fremont having about two to 
 one. However his attack on Ewell's position was repulsed. 
 While he had been pursuing with a great deal of vigor, 
 he seems to have lost his courage when he arrived in front 
 of his enemy. He made no further attempt after the first 
 attack. In the meantime. Shields had advanced to within 
 a short distance of Port Republic. On the 9th the enemy 
 made a cavalry dash into Port Republic, but were soon dis- 
 persed. The Federal infantry had reached a point about a 
 mile and a half below that place called Lewis'. Early in 
 the morning the Stonewall Brigade marched through Port 
 Republic and on towards Lewis' to meet the enemy. This 
 
32 
 
 Brigade under General Winder consisted of about 1,200 men 
 and two batteries. It was followed by the Louisiana Brig- 
 ade under General Taylor. The enemy had formed his line 
 with his left resting on the hill at Lewis' house and extend- 
 ing across to the Shenandoah river. The Federals consisted 
 of two Brigades and about sixteen guns, 4,000 in all. Seven 
 of their guns were located on a commanding position at the 
 Lewis house, the others scattered along the line. General 
 Winder, with four regiments, 1,200 strong and two batter- 
 ies made an attack. The enemy were commanded by Gen- 
 eral Tyler, an excellent officer. General Winder attempted 
 to drive off the batteries on the hill. In this he was unsuc- 
 cessful and the enemy advancing engaged him at close quar- 
 ters. The superior numbers of the enemy succeeded in driv- 
 ing him back. At this time two of Ewell's regiments came 
 on the field and endeavored to stem the tide. The Seventh 
 Louisiana also came to Winder's assistance. Jackson find- 
 ing the battle going against him, sent General Taylor with 
 his Brigade to attack the enemy's left at Lewis' house. 
 This he did in fine style.and driving them off captured their 
 battery of seven guns. The enemy then beat a rapid re- 
 treat, pursued by Jackson's men for seven or eight miles. 
 He then withdrew and took up his march for Brown's Gap. 
 Fremont relieved by Ewell's withdrawal advanced and shelled 
 us from the east bank of the river. In the battle of Port 
 Republic Jackson's army sustained serious loss. He had 
 6,000 engaged and lost about 804. Of Taylor's strength 
 about a fourth was killed, wounded and captured. Since 
 Jackson left the Elk Run Valley on April 30th, he had marched 
 nearly 400 miles, had fought four successful pitched battles, 
 and not less than a hundred minor engagem.ents, had defeated 
 four armies, captured seven pieces of artillery, 4,000 pris- 
 oners and 10,000 stands of arms, carried off immense stores 
 and stood ready to march to Richmond to aid in relieving 
 the situation there. Fremont retired to Mount Jackson, 
 
33 
 
 and Shields toLuray. The greatest result of this wonderful 
 campaign was the relief it gave to the army at Richmond, 
 by the diversion of McDowell's corps, which had been with- 
 drawn to the Valley to protect the city of Washington. 
 
 General Lee conceived the plan of strengthening Jack- 
 son's force by the addition of Generals Lawton's six regi- 
 ments, and Whiting's division, but the retreat of Fremont 
 and Shields rendered unnecessary this addition to his army. 
 The arrival of Lawton and Whiting, however, was loudly 
 heralded throughout the Valley and every ruse was adopted 
 by Colonel Munford, who had succeeded Ashby, to create 
 the impression that an advance would be made down the 
 Valley by General Jackson, with an army largely increased 
 in numbers. General Jackson returned to the Valley and 
 rested his troops for five days. At this time frequent com- 
 parisons were made between Jackson's Valley campaign 
 and Napoleon's invasion of Italy. Napoleon invaded Italy 
 with 60,000 troops, holding out to the men the most tempt- 
 ing promises of loot and plunder. After winning a brilliant 
 victory at Montebello, he encountered the Austrians at Ma- 
 rengo. He was badly beaten, and his army driven in a 
 panic from the battlefield. He endeavored in vain to rally 
 his men, and is represented as standing on a bank by the 
 roadside, swishing the air with his riding whip, watching 
 in despair his troops as they fled to the rear. The oppor- 
 tune arrival of Desaix stemmed the panic, and a brilliant 
 charge of cavalry made by Kellerman enabled him to defeat 
 the enemy and win a great victory. 
 
 General Jackson defeated his enemy in four pitched bat- 
 tles, assailing him with largely superior numbers in all ex- 
 cept one; marched incredible distances, and although four 
 times his numbers were assembling to destroy him, made 
 his escape without the loss of a wagon, and defeated on the 
 8th and 9th of June, two armies pursuing him from differ- 
 ent directions. 
 
34 
 
 Von Moltke said the strategy employed by Jackson had 
 never been surpassed, and Colonel Henderson used this cam- 
 paign in his lectures as a model of military skill. 
 
 Jackson Goes to Richmond 
 
 On the 17th Jackson set his troops in motion to take a position 
 on the left flank of the army under General Lee near Rich- 
 mond. As he crossed the mountain it is said he paused on 
 its summit and gazed upon the beautiful scene below him. 
 A striking panorama was unfolded to his view. The Valley 
 of the Shenandoah to whose people he was so devoted, lay at 
 his feet, dotted with beautiful cities and towns and adorn- 
 ed with fertile farms and comfortable homes. The Shenan- 
 doah river, fed by rippling streams from the mountain, 
 threaded its way through this far famed Valley. Modest as 
 he was, he must have been conscious of the fact that his 
 brilliant campaign had brought him a rich harvest of fame 
 and that it would cause his recognition by all military crit- 
 ics as a master of all that was skillful in war. Those who 
 surrounded him at least recognized that his reputation as a 
 soldier had become firmly established in the minds of people 
 the world over, and that his brilliant genius had enabled 
 him easily to "Climb the steep whence fame's proud temple 
 shines afar." Turning his face to the east he manifested 
 enthusiasm at the prospect of participating in great battles 
 where large numbers would become engaged, and his staff 
 and soldiers felt confident a brilliant career awaited him, 
 that he would be borne by his commanding ability as a sol- 
 dier to the very summit of human ambition, and would win 
 for himself a reputation so great and so brilliant as to en- 
 title him to a place and a record upon the brightest pages 
 of the history of his country, emblazoned there in letters as 
 bright and enduring as though in burnished gold. His army 
 marching partly and for some distance transported on the 
 railroad reached Frederick Hall on the 21st. General Jack- 
 
35 
 
 son mounted his horse at 1 o'clock at night and accompanied 
 by an orderly rode to Richmond, where he conferred with 
 General Lee. General Longstreet, A. P. Hill and D. H. Hill 
 were present at the interview. General Lee's plan of at- 
 tack was explained to these officers. Jackson returned to his 
 command the day following. Before leaving, the lady of a 
 house nearby, who had invited him to breakfast, asked 
 him at what hour she should have the meal ready. He 
 replied: "At her usual hour." When the message was 
 sent to him to come to breakfast, his servant said: "Lawd, 
 you don't 'spect to find Marse Jackson here this mawnin'. 
 He left here last night at 1 o'clock, and I reckon he is over 
 in the Valley right now a whippin' the Yankees." The 
 disappearance of Jackson from the Valley and his arrival at 
 Richmond was unknown to the Federal generals in the Val- 
 ley and to the authorities at Washington. The reports he 
 and Colonel Munford had disseminated far and wide had 
 deceived the enemy everywhere. It is said that General 
 McClellan was skeptical about Jackson's presence, and 
 was not convinced he was there until he appeared upon the 
 flank and rear of his lines west of the Chickahominy. 
 
 Battles Before Richmond 
 
 Severe criticism has been made of General Jackson's fail- 
 ure to take part in the battle on the day of the 26th of 
 June. I think a fair explanation can be given why this 
 great soldier, who always moved with such celerity and 
 was so prompt always to attack the enemy, did not go to the 
 aid of Longstreet and A. P. Hill on that date. 
 
 General McClellan had established his base at the White 
 House on the Pamunkey and advancing along the York 
 River railroad to the vicinity of Richmond. He had located 
 Fitz John Porter, with about 30,000 men west of the Chicka- 
 hominy, and that officer had occupied Mechanicsville 
 and extended his outposts as far west as Hanover courthouse. 
 
36 
 
 General Lee conceived the plan of crossing the Chickahominy 
 about Mechanicsville with the divisions of Longstreet, A. P. 
 Hill and D. H. Hill; and these, v^ith Jackson's troops, were, 
 in his own language, "to move en enchelon, the left division 
 in advance, and sweep down the Chickahominy and endeavor 
 to drive the enemy from his position above New Bridge, 
 Jackson bearing well to his left, turning Beaver Dam creek 
 and taking the direction towards Cold Harbor " General 
 Lee thought Jackson's appearance on the right flank and 
 rear of Porter on Beaver Dam creek, would cause that officer 
 to fall back. Branch, with his brigade, was to cross at Win- 
 ston's bridge and cooperate with Jackson. His appearance 
 caused Porter to retire from Mechanicsville and A. P. Hill 
 immediately crossed and without getting into communica- 
 tion with Jackson, assailed Porter behind entrenchments 
 with his 8,000 troops. This resulted in his repulse with 
 severe loss. Porter having nearly four times his numbers. 
 Jackson started from Ashland and marched that day sixteen 
 miles to the neighborhood of Hundley's corner. He drove 
 the enemy across Beaver Dam creek and went into camp at 
 4:30 p. m. His march had been obstructed by burnt bridges 
 and by continual opposition from the enemy. He was with- 
 out competent guides and Dr. Dabney, one of his staff, who 
 was with him, said not an orderly or message reached him 
 during the entire day. This was a most difficult country, 
 with dense woods, heavy undergrowth and full of swamps. 
 Jackson heard the ffring three miles away, but it was too 
 late in the evening to move through this diflScult country to 
 the aid of A. P. Hill; besides his orders were to move in the 
 direction of Cold Harbor, which was in the opposite direc- 
 tion from the position of A. P. Hill. His appearance on 
 Porter's right, caused that general to fall back at night and to 
 take a position on Powhite creek, in front of Grapevine 
 bridge. It was expected by General Lee that if McClellan 
 was defeated, he would retire to his base of supplies at the 
 
37 
 
 White House, and all of General Lee's instructions to Jack- 
 son indicate that he wanted him to watch the line of Mc- 
 Clellan's retreat and strike him, so as to drive him down 
 the Peninsula, away from his base. Jackson's advance to- 
 wards Cold Harbor had not disturbed Porter nor McClellan 
 as seriously as it was expected, and the reason for this de- 
 veloped on the 28th, when it was discovered that McClellan 
 was retiring to Harrison's landing on the James River. The 
 bridges having been uncovered during the first day's opera- 
 tion, Longstreet and D. H. Hill crossed the Chickahominy 
 and took up a position in front of Porter; Longstreet on the 
 right, and D. H. Hill moving to the left to join Jackson. On 
 the morning of the 27th Lee and Jackson met and had an 
 interview. This is vouched for by Dr. Hunter McGuire. 
 There can be no doubt General Lee gave General Jackson in- 
 structions and Jackson was certain to obey. He always 
 yielded loyal support to General Lee in whose judgment and 
 wisdom he had unbounded confidence. 
 
 On the morning of the 27th he moved in the direction of 
 Cold Harbor. His march was interrupted by serious obsta- 
 cles, and it was 2 p. m. before he reached that point. His 
 position on the flank and rear of Porter seems not to have 
 alarmed that general, because he was ordered, if defeated, 
 to cross Grapevine bridge and retire toward Harrison's land- 
 ing. The attack on Porter was made by Longstreet and 
 Hill about 3 p. m. Jackson, expecting Porter to be driven 
 in his direction, waited until he came to the conclusion the 
 plan had failed, when he hurled his command against Por- 
 ter's right, and by a combined attack all along the line, the 
 latter was driven from his fortifications and across Grave- 
 vine bridge. 
 
 General Lee, still expecting McClellan to retire to the 
 White House, sent General Stuart there to destroy the 
 stores and ordered Jackson to send Early to take possession 
 of the York River railroad and a crossing below, called Bot- 
 
tom's bridge. On the night of the 28th, it was evident the 
 enemy was retiring to Harrison's landing with his entire 
 army. General Lee sent the three divisions of A. P. Hill, 
 Longstreet and Huger to pierce McClellan'sarmy, and on the 
 evening of the 30th, assailed him at Frazier's farm. It 
 would seem to have been his purpose to cut through his 
 line of retreat, and clasp the main body of McClellan's army 
 in a vice between Jackson's divisions and the divisions of 
 Longstreet, Hill and Huger (leaving Magruder and Holmes 
 to assail that part of the army that had passed,) to destroy 
 McClellan's rear guard, or failing in this, to drive them to 
 precipitate retreat down the Peninsula. This plan failed 
 because, after a desperate and successful fight, darkness 
 prevented Longstreet and Hill from driving the enemy be- 
 yond the road over which they must retire, thus giving the 
 Federal troops west of Glendale, an opportuniy to escape 
 during the night. Jackson had great difficulty in getting 
 over the Chickahominy and through the White Oak Swamp, 
 because of the destruction of the bridges and the great force 
 in front of him at these points. He has been criticised for 
 not having marched to the aid of Longstreet and Hill, but 
 had he done so, and McClellan been defeated, he could have 
 retired to the White House over the Long bridge and made 
 good his escape. I believe there is no doubt Jackson was fol- 
 lowing out strictly the instructions given to him by his great 
 commander. 
 
 It is said by some that General Jackson was broken down 
 physically and was not himself. The distinguished gentle- 
 man who presides over this meeting today well remembers 
 that he was up early on the 28th and looking to the assault 
 of the enemy beyond the river. General Jackson had a 
 habit of sleeping during the day. He would unbuckle his 
 sword and leaning it against a tree, rest his head on his 
 canteen, or a root of the tree, and fall asleep, and perhaps 
 this gave rise to the impression that he was worn out physi- 
 
39 
 
 cally. His army and himself had marched over 600 miles in 
 ninety days, and it was not to be expected they would be as 
 active and fresh as troops who had been in camp and com- 
 fortable quarters. 
 
 The enemy retired in the night of the 30th, and General 
 Jackson's army moved to the front and pressed the retreat. 
 There has also been some criticism of Jackson at Malvern 
 Hill and some reflection on Lee's order to attack there. 
 General Longstreet with great candor and generosity as- 
 sumes the entire responsibility. In his book he says that 
 "General Lee, feeling unwell, called him to temporary duty 
 near him, and 7upon his suggestion he rode around the 
 line to report on the feasibility of aggressive battle. He 
 reported favorably and General Lee made disposition to at- 
 tack. " General McClellan had covered Malvern Hill with a 
 formidable ai ray of artillery, supported by the best part of 
 his army. Our people to attack were compelled to pass 
 through a swamp and climb the hill in face of a perfect 
 flame of fire from artillery and small arms. 
 
 There was little opportunity to use our guns effectively, 
 and after frequent assaults, attended by great loss of life, 
 the attempt to carry the heights was abandoned. The ene- 
 my retired from Malvern Hill to the protection of his gun- 
 boats, and the Confederate troops were withdrawn, and 
 went into camp. 
 
 Battle of Cedar Run 
 
 General Jackson had. after the battle of Manassas, urged 
 an advance into Maryland, and being thoroughly imbued 
 with the wisdom of the movement, .after the seven days 
 battle, he again urged that we should move into the enemy's 
 country. He was at this time restless and anxious to be up 
 and doing, and his desire to move west was gratified by in- 
 structions on the 30th to move his troops to Gordonsville. 
 
 An amusing story is told of General Jackson as he was on 
 
4-0 
 
 this march. He and his staff found themselves behind the 
 troops, artillery and supply wagons. The road was narrow, 
 and it was impossible to get to the front. General Jackson 
 said it was absolutely necessary to reach a point ahead at a 
 certain time, and he ordered his staff to throw down the 
 fence, and rode along the edge of the field. The field was 
 in oats, and when they reached the far end, they were in 
 front of the owner's house, who came forward and asked 
 them in not very conventional language, what they were do- 
 ing riding in his oats. He said: "You are nothing but 
 commissaries or quartermasters, for no good soldiers would 
 destroy private property," Addressing himself to Jackson, 
 he asked his name. The general replied his name was Jack- 
 son. "What Jackson? What is your full name? I am go- 
 ing to report you to General Jackson." 
 
 "Well," said the general, "They call me Stonewall Jack- 
 son." 
 
 The staff had all gathered around, much amused, and the 
 owner suspecting something, asked General Jackson, "if he 
 was Stonewall Jackson from the Valley?' 
 
 "Yes, sir, I commanded in the Valley." 
 
 The man immediately took off his hat, exclaiming: 
 
 "Hurrah for Stonewall Jackson! Hurrah for Stonewall 
 Jackson! Ride all over the damned old oats, general. 
 Trample them in the ground. Do anything you like here, 
 but get off and take a drink with me." 
 
 After a great deal of persuasion, the general dismounted 
 and took a drink with him — of buttermilk. 
 
 He had with him about 11,000 men, while Pope's army 
 numbered not less than 47,000. He immediately called for 
 reinforcements. The division of General A. P. Hill and the 
 Second Louisiana Brigade were ordered to join him. There 
 was constant skirmishing between the outposts of Jackson's 
 and Pope's armies. Shortly after Jackson was sent to Gor- 
 
41 
 
 donsville, McClellan was ordered back to Washington. Pope 
 ventured to advance with his army and reached Culpeper 
 courthouse on Aug. 6th. General Jackson determined to 
 advance and engage the enemy and on Aug. 7th was at 
 Orange courthouse. General Jackson at this time had 
 about 24,000 men, while Pope was supposed to have an 
 army of 50,000. Banks was in advance and his force and 
 Jackson's came into collision at Cedar Run on the 9th day 
 of August. We will not enter into a description of this en- 
 gagement. It is sufficient to say that after a severe battle 
 General Jackson threw a part of his army on the right 
 flank of the enemy. The Stonewall Brigade aided by Archer 
 and Pender shattered the right of the Federal army and 
 drove them in great confusion from the field. He pursued 
 for several miles but encountering a strong reserve deter- 
 mined to withdraw, and fell back to his former position at 
 Gordonsville. 
 
 Pursuit of Pope 
 
 General Lee being informed of McClellan 's withdrawal 
 from the Peninsula moved with his army to Gordonsville 
 leaving the divisions of D. H. Hill and McLaws at Rich- 
 mond. A high ridge known as Clark's mountain arises 
 abruptly from the Valley 'north of Culpeper and runs south 
 breaking up into low ridges toward Orange courthouse, and 
 Gordonsville. Pope was encamped on the west side of the 
 mountain, six miles south of Culpeper. Lee took a position 
 east of the mountain, Pope was supposed to have 53,000 men 
 while Lee's army, according to General A. L. Long, was lit- 
 tle less than 65,000. General Lee held a council of war on 
 the 15th and it was then determined to attack on the 18th. 
 A brigade of cavalry, which was expected to reach the 
 army by that time had turned to the left and gone to Louisa 
 courthouse for provisions. General Stuart riding out on the 
 
42 
 
 road to Fredericksburg reached the village of Verdiersville. 
 He and his staff dismounted and observing cavalry ap- 
 proaching from the east, supposed it was the advance of 
 Fitz Lee's Brigade. Instead it turned out to be the enemy 
 who had been sent on a raid in that direction. They made 
 a charge upon Stuart and his men and that general very 
 narrowly escaped capture. He, however, got away with the 
 loss of his hat, but one of his staff was captured and with 
 him a paper disclosing General Lee's intentions. Against 
 the urgent advice of General Jackson, the movement was 
 deferred until the 20th, General Longstreet insisting in the 
 absence of the cavalry it was not safe to make the move, 
 and also urging that it might be better to pass around the 
 front of Pope's army and attack his right flank. How we 
 were to keep Pope's eyes closed and prevent him from dis- 
 covering the movement was not suggested. He had 5,000 
 cavalry under the command of capable officers. It is said 
 that General Jackson was so much disturbed when they con- 
 cluded to defer the attack he groaned aloud. General Lee's 
 attention was called to what was deemed disrespect on the 
 part of Jackson, but his groan was doubtless due to the fact 
 that he saw slipping away from us one of the greatest op- 
 portunities the Confederacy had ever had to destroy an 
 army. Pope discovered from the captured papers the situa- 
 tion of Lee's army, and commenced to retreat at once. When 
 we advanced on the 20th he had made his escape and all 
 we bad to attack was his rear guard between Culpeper 
 and Brandy Station. Had it been possible to act in accord- 
 ance with General Jackson's plan. General Lee with 65,000 
 men, with his two able corps commanders present, would 
 have intervened between Washington and Pope's army, and 
 I think it would be easy to predict the result would have 
 been a complete destruction of the Federal army. Before me 
 
43 
 
 I observe many veterans or the vi^ar in this audience, and I ask 
 them w^hatthey think w^ould have happened with Lee, Jackson 
 and Longstreet and the 65,000 troops they commanded formed 
 in line of battle facing South, aw^aiting the attack of Pope with 
 his 53,000 men. I feel sure you will agree with me that we 
 should have killed, wounded and captured the whole of them, 
 which would have avoided the necessity for Jackson's great 
 march to Manassas, and the terrible battle fought near that 
 place. P pe's army destroyed and McClellan's defeated 
 would have opened the way for the uninterrupted march of 
 Lee's army into Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Long- 
 street himself was so impressed with the probable outcome 
 if we had attacked on the 18th, he said in his book that the 
 march of the cavalry brigade to Louisa had disarranged our 
 plans and lost the fortunes of the Confederacy. Perhaps he 
 was more severe than he would have been but for the fact 
 that General Fitz Lee in his history of his uncle criticised 
 several of his movements during the war. 
 
 Pope,having escaped across the Rappanhannock river, Lee 
 marched up its left bank. At this time Stuart made a bold 
 dash on the rear of Pope's army, reached his headquarters 
 and came near capturing Pope himself, who ran from his 
 tent, leaving his hat and coat. Among other things, he se- 
 cured a number of official papers, and from these General 
 Lee ascertained the strength of his army and from his cor- 
 respondence inferred his despondency about his ability to 
 cope with the Confederate army. 
 
 Jackson's March to Manassas and Battle Near There 
 
 Lee immediatelv determined to throw Jackson around 
 Pope's rear, and ordered him to move on Manassas. On 
 Aug. 25th, Jackson commenced his famous march. His 
 troops knew they were in for an exhausting tramp, but 
 went forward cheerfully and in good humor. Passing 
 through Thoroughfare Gap, Jackson turned to the right, 
 
44 
 
 and marched to Bristoe Station. Leaving Ewell there, he 
 took the rest of his corps to Manassas Junction. Immense 
 stores were gathered here for the supply of Pope's army. A 
 brigade was sent out from Alexandria to attack him, but 
 met with a warm reception and retired. Among the cap- 
 tures were eight pieces of artillery, ten locomotives, two 
 railroad trains, and a million dollars worth of stores. The 
 men feasted on every imaginable good thing, and after sup- 
 plying themselves with all they could carry, the balance of 
 the stores was given to the torch. General Pope, advancing 
 upon General EwelFs position at Bristoe, that officer fell 
 back to Manassas which was evacuated that night. It was 
 a great blow to Pope, when he found the stores upon 
 which the subsistence of his army depended had been de- 
 stroyed. Sending Hill's division on the road to Centerville 
 to mislead Pope, General Jackson marched with the balance 
 of the army to a position near the village of Groveton, 
 where he rested his right, his left being near Sudley's Ford. 
 General A. P. Hill joined him there. General Pope, deceiv- 
 ed by Hill's march to Centerville, followed, while some of 
 his troops took the direct route from Gainesville toward 
 that place. They were assailed by Jackson, as they passed 
 in front of his line, a bloody engagement ensued, in which 
 General Ewell lost his leg, and General Taliaferro was 
 severely wounded. General Longstreet, in the meantime 
 had forced his way through Thoroughfare Gap on Aug. 29th. 
 Jackson had posted his men in an abandoned railroad cut, 
 and occupied a very strong position. His purpose was to 
 detain Pope until General Lee arrived. General Sigel, form- 
 ing his line of battle in front of him, commenced a move- 
 ment in our direction about 5:15 a. m. on the morning of 
 the 29th; and at 7 o'clock made an attack. This, however, 
 was repulsed by Jackson's men. 
 
 This attack was made with three divisions of Germans, 
 supported by Reynolds. About 10 o'clock the attack was re- 
 
45 
 
 newed and aRain repulsed with great loss. Pope arriving 
 on the field at 1 o'clock, ordered an assault by Hooker and 
 Reno. This charge was effective to the extent that they 
 broke through the Confederate lines, but General Jackson 
 by a fortunate counterstroke drove them back again. Again 
 at 3 o'clock an attack was made by Grover's Brigade of 
 Hooker's division. This brigade made an impetuous charge, 
 swept 0\^er the railroad track and drove back our troops upon 
 the second line. Jackson, an eye witness to the charge, sent in 
 the Louisiana Brigade with an extra regiment and charged 
 them with the bayonet. Other troops went into the fight, 
 and Grover was driven back with a loss of at least one- fourth 
 of his number. At 4:30 Pope renewed his attack with the 
 divisions of Reno and Kearney. This attack was successful 
 and the Federal troops penetrated several hundred yards be 
 yond the Confederate lines. Early's Brigade supported by 
 a part of Lawton's division was thrown forward and charg- 
 ed the enemy with the bayonet. The line swiftly melted 
 away. Longstreet had now arrived on the right of Jackson's 
 position. General Lee sent instructions to him to attack to 
 relieve the pressure on Jackson's line. After exam- 
 ination of the Federal position, he reported to General Lee 
 the attack he proposed at that point was not inviting. Had 
 he ridden along Jackson's line, he would have discovered 
 that there was nothing especially inviting about the position 
 he had held and which with greatly superior numbers had 
 been assailed by the Federals since 7 in the morning. Col- 
 onel S. D. Lee located sixteen guns near Groveton and enfi- 
 lading the lines of the enemy afforded great relief to Jack- 
 son. Hood also with two brigades was advanced against 
 tne Federal left, and thus relieved the pressure on Jackson's 
 front. During a lull in the battle, it is told by an eye wit- 
 ness. General Jackson walked down the line and although 
 the Federal sharpshooters had been firing constantly, for 
 some inscrutible reason, no shot was aimed at him. Dr. 
 
: 46 
 
 McGuire says he remarked to the General after this day's 
 battle : "This has been a day of nothing but stark and stern 
 fighting." General Jackson replied: '*It has been won by 
 the blessing and protection of Providence." The command 
 of Jackson'had lost heavily by forced marches and the terri- 
 ble slaughter in this battle. It is said his troops and those 
 of Longstreet brought Lee only about 55,000 men. Pope's 
 army according to the most reliable information I can find, 
 amounted on the morning of the 30th to 65,000 troops, with 
 about thirty batteries. The following morning, there was 
 evidence the enemy intended to attack again. Twenty 
 thousand men again charged upon Jackson s position while 
 behind them at least 40,000 men were forming in readiness 
 to go to their support. Pope had the impression the Con 
 federates were retreating but suddenly, to his surprise, 
 Jackson's command hurried forward to take possession of 
 the embankment. The Federals were met by a withering fire 
 from the Confederate ranks, and after three desperate 
 charges, fell back in confusion. The soldiers had piled 
 stones on the railroad track, and when their ammunition 
 gave out, rolled them down upon the heads of the Federals. 
 About 4 o'clock General Longstreet's corps was set in motion 
 and overlapping Pope's lines on the left, charged with great 
 spirit. General Lee ordered an advance along the whole 
 line. His whole army moving like a machine, swept the 
 enemy before it. The genius of Lee had triumphed and 
 his army, full of enthusiasm, pressed forward to certain 
 victory. Jackson's men, released from the assault of 
 superior numbers charged with loud cheers and irresis- 
 tible energy. Night coming on, terminated the bat- 
 tle. During this fight a brilliant charge was made by the 
 Second Virginia Regiment, under Colonel Munford. Colonel 
 Munford himself and the commanding officer of the Federal 
 cavalry were both wounded by sabre cuts. Three hundred 
 Federals were taken prisoners, nineteen killed, and eighty 
 
47 
 
 wounded. It was a battle sabre to sabre. Pope retired 
 from the field and sought a position on the heights of Cen- 
 treville. In the morning, Jackson restless and energetic, ad- 
 vanced and fought the battle of Chantilly. 
 
 Pope's army, utterly demoralized, fell back toward Wash- 
 ington. Colonel Henderson, in his admirable history says: 
 ''With an army that at no time exceeded 55,000. Lee had 
 driven 80,000 men into the fortifications about Washington; 
 captured thirty guns, 7,000 prisoners, 20,000 rifles, and 
 many stands of colors. He had killed and wounded 13,000 
 Federals, destroyed supplies and materials of enormous 
 value, and ail this with a loss to the Confederate army of 
 about 10,000 officers and men, and all in ninety days. The 
 brunt of this great battle of Manassas was borne by Jackson, 
 and his defence of his position there against enormous odds 
 is without parallel in the history of war." 
 
 Maryland Campaign 
 
 On Sept. 2nd, Jackson was ordered to cross the Potomac 
 river. The whole of Lee's army was put in motion for 
 Frederick, Maryland. Turning to the left, Jackson was in- 
 structed to surround Harpers Ferry, and capture the garri- 
 son there. 
 
 Driving General White from Martinsburg, he closed in 
 upon Harpers Ferry. In the meantime McLaws had been 
 sent to the Maryland heights, and Walker to the Loudoun 
 heights, and Jackson, forming in front of Bolivar, a fire of 
 artillery was opened in all directions. On the 15th the ene- 
 my surrendered to Jackson, 12,500 prisoners, 13,000 small 
 arms, and seventy-three pieces of artillery. An order of 
 General Lee, directing the march of his troops, was 
 captured by McClellan. He commenced to press the 
 pursuit of Lee's army with great vigor. Lee after a 
 severe fight at Boonesboro and at Turner's gap, fell back 
 
48 
 
 and formed line of battle west of the Antietam, a stream 
 flowing into the Potomac river above Harpers Ferry. Jack- 
 son leaving the arrangement of the details of the surrender 
 at Harpers Ferry, to General Hill, made a forced march, 
 and placed himself on the left flank of Lee's army on the 
 morning of the 16th. 
 
 McClellan had sent Hooker to take a position opposite our 
 left, with a force of 13,000 men. These were supported by 
 Mansfield with a corps of 8,000, McClellan 's plan being to 
 crush the left wing of Lee's army. Stonewall Jackson was 
 there with two divisions, numbering 5,500 men. At five in 
 the morning, Hooker commenced his attack and by 7:30 had 
 been wounded and his command shattered. Sumner said 
 when he came on the field, he could find nothing of this 
 corps, and next morning only 500 men could be assembled 
 out of Hooker's entire force. After Hooker's defeat, Mans- 
 field with 8,000 troops advanced to the attack. These were 
 old foes of Jackson's command, a number of his Brigades 
 having fought in the battles in the Valley. This corps with 
 the aid of Hood's two brigades after several charges was 
 driven back with great slaughter, Mansfield being killed 
 and his troops routed. About 9 a. m. Sumner's corps of 
 18,000 men advanced to the attack, but by this time Jackson 
 had been reinforced by Walker and McLaws, and three of 
 D. H. Hill's brigades under Anderson. Jackson by a skillful 
 counterstroke assailed the left flank of this command and 
 in a few minutes demolished it. It is said in a few mo- 
 ments time 2,000 men of Sedgwick's division bit the dust, 
 Jackson commenced an advance, but had not pushed far, 
 when he encountered a division of the Sixth corps and find- 
 ing it impossible to continue his I'harge against these fresh 
 troops withdrew to the position from which he had advanc- 
 ed. This was about 11 o'clock in the morning. Dr. McGuire 
 says he approached General Jackson, who was eating some 
 green fruit and seeing nothing but a skirmish line, asked 
 
49 
 
 him wherethe army was, and what he could do if the ene- 
 my advanced again. Jackson replied quickly: "They have 
 done their worst, sir, they have done their worst. " General 
 Stuart with the Horse artillery under Pelham supported for 
 sometime by Early's brigade, guarded the extreme left of 
 the Confederate line, and from a well selected position pour- 
 ed a destructive fire into the right flank of the enemy. The 
 battle from this time rolled off toward the South, and Jack- 
 son's line was free from assault for the balance of the day. 
 Lee remained near Sharpsburg all next day to receive an 
 attack, but McClellan declined battle, and on the night of 
 the 18th, the troops were withdrawn across the Potomac. A 
 considerable force pursued, but were attacked by Jackson 
 with A. P. Hill's division, and driven back across the river. 
 No battle in all history was more stubbornly contested- 
 Jackson's entire force at first only amounted to 5,500 men, 
 and with the reenforcements he received later, only reached 
 18,000. The troops opposed to him, including a division of 
 the Sixth corps, amounted to more than 40,000 men, and yet 
 although fighting without entrenchments, and with little pro- 
 tection except rock breaks and a strip of timber, he destroyed 
 the corps of Hooker; defeated and demoralized the troops of 
 Sumner and Mansfield. His losses, of course, were very 
 great. General Lee, commenting upon this battle, said that 
 here and during his advance, his opinion of Jackson had 
 been greatly enhanced, and about this time, when he reor- 
 ganized his troops into two corps Jackson was put in com- 
 mand of the Second corps, with the rank of Lieutenant Gen- 
 eral. McClellan was removed and Burnside succeeded to 
 the command of the army of the Potomac. Lee fell back to 
 Fredericksburg, and Burnside took possession of the heights 
 on the opposite side. 
 
 Burnside concluded to attack Lee's position, held along 
 Marye's heights by Longstreet, with Jackson stretching east 
 to the Rappahannock river. Our lines were assailed again and 
 
50 
 
 again, but the enemy was repulsed with great slaughter 
 and after failing to make an impression retired across the 
 river and went into winter quarters. 
 
 Winter Quarters Near Fredericksburg 
 
 Jackson established himself in a small office building on 
 the Corbin estate about ten miles south of Fredericksburg. 
 He busied himself here with his official reports and was of- 
 ten visited by distinguished people. His absolute simplicity 
 and aversion to anything like spectacular effect, was ob- 
 served by all. The fame of this great soldier had spread 
 far and wide, and it is safe to say that no man who ever 
 commanded an army enjoyed more the confidence of the 
 troops and their warm admiration and affection than this 
 simple soldier. General Lee said of him, he was the great- 
 est subordinate any general ever had, while Jackson esteem- 
 ed his great commander so highly as to say that he was **a 
 phenomenon, and was the only man he was willing to follow 
 blindfold." Henderson says of him that he was the great- 
 est Lieutenant General in all history, and compares him 
 with Ney, of whom Napoleon said "his presence on the bat- 
 tlefield alone was worth 20,000 men, "but as that historian 
 says, while Jackson was as effective on the battlefield, creat- 
 ing the utmost enthusiasm by his presence, he was greatly 
 superior to Ney in this, that he could plan and execute a 
 campaign marked by brilliant strategy, which was beyond 
 the powers of the great French Marshal. A distinguished 
 English officer who visited him at this time said, "Instead 
 of an untidy old man, he saw before him a tall, handsome 
 and powerfully built, but thin person, with brown hair and 
 brown beard; his mouth indicating great determination; 
 his eye dark blue with a keen searching expression. In his 
 manner he was thoroughly simple and unaffected." I have 
 seen Jackson since described as a rude, rough man, which 
 from my experience is flagrantly unjust. Lord Wolsley said 
 
51 
 
 of him that "while reticent about military operations, he 
 found him proud of his soldiers and enthusiastic in his ad- 
 miration of General Lee. He could never make him talk of 
 his own achievements. His manner was modesty itself, and 
 most attractive." He was usually grave and had no gift 
 for light or animated conversation. Jackson possessed a 
 great ability for intense concentration of his mental facul- 
 ties, and it seemed to me that above all the men I have ever 
 seen, he possessed the great gift of making up his mind. 
 After surveying all the conditions surrounding any en- 
 terprise he contemplated, he decided upon the course he 
 would pursue and moved to its execution with inexorable de- 
 termination. There are few men who have settled upon any 
 purpose who cannot have their convictions altered. Almost 
 all men will change their views, but this great man, after 
 he caine to a conclusion, held to it with a firm and fixed 
 purpose. It might be possible to change the minds of others 
 but Stonewall Jackson never. He seemed to be able to look 
 into the future and divine the intention of his enemy, and 
 by careful and vigorous application of his powerful mind, 
 seemed able to foresee what the enemy's movements and ac- 
 tions would be and provide for all contingencies. His soldiers 
 had for him a most enthusiastic admiration. He never ap- 
 peared along his line but that he was received with vocifer- 
 ous cheers. Some persons have claimed that he was devoid 
 of ambition, and was guided in all his actions by an exalted 
 and refined sense of duty. I believe Jackson was full of 
 ambition to succeed as a great and accomplished soldier. 
 This in no way detracts from the symmetry of his character, 
 because no man can excel in a profession whether medicine, 
 law, divinity or war, unless he has a laudable desire to reach 
 the highest distinction. 
 
 Jackson, rather careless in appearance under ordinary cir- 
 cumstances, in battle straightened himself to his full height 
 and with face flushed and eyes blazing, seemed full of 
 
52 
 
 fire and spirit. Many stories are told exemplifying the 
 boundless affection the people and soldiers bore him. It is 
 said that on one occasion, when very thirsty, he rode up to 
 a yard and observing a well, asked a lady for a drink of 
 water. She got a pitcher, filled it with water and gave it 
 to the general. Observing the respect with which he was 
 treated, she asked one of the staff who he was. After he 
 informed her, she hurried into the house, and leturned with 
 a bucket and dipper and gave the members of the staff each 
 a drink. When she reached the officer who had told her it 
 was General Jackson, he asked her why she took the pitcher 
 back. She answered: ''General Jackson drank out of that 
 pitcher, and no one else during my life shall ever touch it." 
 
 He was considered by many Northern soldiers their most 
 formidable, daring and skillful foe, and when they discov- 
 ered Stonewall Jackson in their front, it served to strike 
 terror to their hearts. To illustrate the boundless faith in 
 him, extending to every class of people throughout the 
 South, a story is told of General Grant when directing oper- 
 ations in the Wilderness in 1864. It was said Grant was 
 riding behind his lines and observing a young fellow plow- 
 ing in the field he reined in his horse, and asked him his 
 name. The young man told him. The general then asked 
 what he was doing. The man replied: "Trying to raise 
 some corn to feed our family, myself and my horse next 
 winter." General Grant was riding off when the young man 
 asked him: "You have asked my name, can I know yours?" 
 
 Grant replied: "They call me Grant." 
 
 "What Grant?" 
 
 "General Grant." 
 
 "Are you the general commanding that army over there?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, I am the man." 
 
 "Well, general, I would like to ask you a question, where 
 are you going?" 
 
 "Well," replied the general, "That would be hard to tell. 
 
53 
 
 I may be going to Richmond, I may be going to Petersburg, 
 I may be going above," pointing with his hand, "or, I may 
 be going the other way." 
 
 "You can't go to Richmond," said the young man, "be- 
 cause General Lee is down there; you can't go to Peters- 
 burg, because General Beauregard is there; I know you 
 can't go to Heaven, because Stonewall Jackson is up there; 
 you may go below, for I never heard of a Confederate officer 
 or soldier being in hell." 
 
 General Lee, after the first day's battle at Gettysburg, 
 rode along Seminary Hill, and from an eminence swept the 
 hills opposite with his glasses. When his glance reached 
 Little Roundtop, he paused, and with his unerring judgment 
 discovered that there was the key to the Federal position. 
 He indicated to General Longstreet he wanted an attack 
 made early in the morning from that direction. Opposite 
 his position until 8 o'clock next morning there were 40,000 
 troops under Hancock, 20,000 of which had been badly beaten 
 the day before, and their brilliant commander. General 
 Reynolds killed. He had under his command 65,000 troops, 
 flushed with victory. Next morning he sat awaiting an at- 
 tack from his right, and watching division after division 
 of the Federal troops marching on Cemetery Hill, taking 
 their position in line of battle. It was not until 3 or 4 
 o'clock in the afternoon the battle began on the right. "It 
 was too late: someone had blundered." No one can doubt 
 had this attack been made early in the morning, the Federal 
 troops would have been swept from the field and driven pell- 
 mell back upon Meade's army. After the war, when he be» 
 came President of Washington College, and had taken up 
 his residence in your city, he remarked to a friend: "Had 
 I had Stonewall Jackson at Gettysburg, I would have won a 
 great victory and established the fortunes of the South. " 
 During his stay at Fredericksburg Jackson attended re- 
 ligious services regularly. When he was made a professor 
 
54 
 
 at the Virginia Military Institute, he became a member of 
 the Presbyterian church and entered upon the performance 
 of his religious duties with the same zeal and energy he dis- 
 played in military operations. He was deeply interested in 
 the Sunday schools, both white and colored, often contribu- 
 ting to their support. 
 
 The odds against which Jackson fought, and the odds which 
 General Lee encountered have never been overcome by any 
 general in modern warfare. It is said Wellington retired 
 from the presence of Marmont in Spain on an occasion, 
 numbers being equal, because the French Marshal was be- 
 ing reinforced by 4,000 cavalry. Think, you who are famil- 
 iar with the great battles fought in Virginia, at Antietam, 
 and at Gettysburg, of Lee or Jackson retiring from the 
 presence of Pope, Hooker, Meade, or McClellan because of a 
 reinforcement of 4,000 men! Napoleon was frequently de- 
 feated when outnumbered by the enemy. He fought the 
 battle of Aspern with 100,000 troops against an equal num- 
 ber of Austrians,was badly beaten, the brave Lannes killed, 
 and was driven back to the Island of Lobau in the Danube. 
 Summoning his troops from every direction, in thirty days 
 he had gathered in all 225,000 men, recrossed the river, and 
 attacked the Archduke Charles who had augmented his 
 force to a 150,000. The battle went against him throughout 
 the day and he was compelled to ride on his white horse, 
 Euphrates, in front of his lines and expose himself reck 
 lessly to encourage the wavering troops. Late in the day 
 Davoust, who had been sent to attack the right flank of the 
 Austrians, reached his position and doubled up the flank of 
 the enemy. When his guns were heard, the famous charge 
 of McDonald was made, and the Austrians were driven from 
 the field. This battle, although Napoleon had an excess of 
 75,000 men, hung in the balance all day. It must be remem- 
 bered he fought against inferior nations, the French being 
 
55 
 
 at that time the most intelligent, alert people on the Con- 
 tinent. 
 
 Lee and Jackson were called upon to encounter troops of 
 the same nationality, armed, equipped, fed and paid as no 
 troops hav^ ever been in all the history of war. It might 
 be well to observe here that these Federal soldiers were 
 well officered, mainly by graduates of West Point. There 
 were McClellan, Burnside, Pope, Hooker, Meade. Grant, 
 Hancock, Sedgewick, Slocum, Sykes, Reno, Reynolds, Sum- 
 ner, Franklin and Porter of the infantry, and Bayard, Pleas- 
 anton, Stoneman, Gregg and Wilson of the cavalry. Some 
 persons have been disposed to sneer at the troops of the 
 army of the Potomac, but we are reminded that that army, 
 after hard and subborn fighting in front of Richmond, was 
 defeated in the Seven Days' battles and driven in confusion 
 to Harrison's Landing; that Pope's army at Manassas was 
 thoroughly defeated and yet McClellan was able to reorgan- 
 ize these troops, demoralized to a great extent by their 
 numerous defeats, and march them out in seventeen days 
 after Manassas to fight the battle of Antietam. It would 
 be absurb to say they were not fine soldiers and well officer- 
 ed, and in the main well led. Lee and Jackson on the other 
 hand, had the finest soldiers the world has ever seen. The 
 best men of the South went into the army, many of them 
 into the ranks. No troops ever fought with the same dash, 
 the same stubborn courage as did those of the army of 
 Northern Virginia. They had been accustomed to outdoor 
 exercise, to the use of the gun, and from early youth had 
 been trained to the handling of the horse. They had 
 had the finest Christian training. There was scarcely a 
 home, on the farm, in the village or in the city that was 
 not presided over by a Christian mother, who taught her boy 
 from early childhood the great truths of the Christian re- 
 ligion and as he grew in statue and expanded in intellect, 
 guided him to an intimate acquaintance with the great 
 
56 
 
 precepts of the Bible, and caused him to stand in awe of 
 the stern mandates of divine authority. But the fine mate- 
 rial of which they were composed would have availed little 
 against the enormous odds they had to encounter except for 
 the marvelous genius of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jack- 
 son. God imparted the ethereal spark to the minds of these 
 great soldiers enabling them instantly to discover and 
 sieze an advantage upon the battlefield. The immense mass 
 of the Federal army was unable to cope with the intelligence 
 and courage of the Southern soldier, as some Northern General 
 once called them," those invincible Southern soldiers, "when 
 guided and directed by the matchless skill of these two 
 greatest generals ever associated in the defense of any cause. 
 
 Battle of Chancellorsville 
 
 General Hooker, who was called "Fighting Joe Hooker," 
 because of his great dash displayed in the army of the 
 West, and who came from that section with a brilliant rep- 
 utation, had been placed in command of the army of the 
 Potomac. He had under him 130,000 troops, amply supplied 
 with all the munitions of war, while Lee could muster less 
 than 50,000 men. Longstreet had been ordered to Suffolk, 
 Va., with the understanding he was to come to Lee when- 
 ever called for. 
 
 There has been some dispute as to whether Longstreet 
 was ordered to join Lee. In his book "Bull Run to Appo- 
 mattox," he says General Lee repeatedly wrote to him to 
 bring his troops to Fredericksburg. The absence of this 
 army corps placed Lee at a great disadvantage in his subse- 
 quent operations. General Lee had sent Colonels Long and 
 Venable to examine the North Anna river to ascertain if 
 there was a suitable position there for a battle. These offi- 
 cers reported adversely and Lee determined to await calmly 
 in his position the movements of the enemy. On April 30th, 
 Hooker crossed at Germanna, Ely's and the United States 
 
57 
 
 Fords and concentrated around Chancellorsville. Sedgwick 
 had crossed below Frederickbsurg with 35,000 men. Lee 
 prepared for the attack from Chancellorsville and sent An- 
 derson and McLaws and shortly afterwards Jackson to meet 
 Hooker, who was advancing toward Fredericksburg. Bear 
 in mind that Fredericksburg is only ten miles from Chan- 
 cellorsville. When Jackson reached Anderson's position he 
 found him fortifying. He immediately advanced upon 
 Hooker, and a serious engagement ensued, but to the am.aze- 
 ment of Lee and Jackson, Hooker withdrew his troops and 
 fortified around Chancellorsville and east to the Rappahan- 
 nock river. Why he should have fallen back has always been 
 an enigma to everyone. He was in an advantageous posi- 
 tion on the flank of Lee's army, with an immensely superior 
 force. He expected the Confederates to retire toward Rich- 
 mond, but when he confronted our army advancing upon 
 him, the courage seemed to ooze out of his fingers ends, 
 and he became appalled at the prospect of meeting Lee and 
 Jackson. Before starting he had said: "The Confederate 
 army is now the legitimate property of the army of the 
 Potomac. They may as well pack their haversacks and make 
 for Richmond, and I shall be right after them." When Lee 
 reached his position in front of Chancellorsville, he found 
 Hooker had thrown up the most formidable fortifications. 
 He sent his engineer oflficer to examine the right and he 
 went over the left of Hooker's line himself. His officers re- 
 ported an attack in front impracticable, and General Lee 
 immediately began to plan some way to turn the position of 
 Hooker. He sent for Reverend Dr. Lacy, who had been a 
 pastor of a church near Chancellorsville, who told him of a 
 road by which he could reach Hooker's right flank. There 
 has been some controversy as to whether Lee or Jackson 
 planned the battle of Chancellorsville. There can be no 
 doubt that either of these great generals could have planned 
 this battle, or any other involving the exercise of the high- 
 
58 
 
 est genius, but we should endeavor, in treating of battles and 
 campaigns to get at the historical truth. General Lee 
 settles this question in a letter written from Lexington to 
 Dr. A. T. Bledsoe of the Southern Review. Long says these 
 two generals met at 10 o'clock p. m., and had a consultation. 
 General Lee said to General Jackson: "How can we get at 
 these people?" Jackson replied: "You know best. Show me 
 what to do, and I will try to execute it." Lee then tracing 
 a route on the map before him, explained the movement he 
 desired Jackson to make and told him Stuart would cover 
 his march with his cavalry. It is said Jackson's face light- 
 ed up with a brilliant smile, and rising said: "My troops 
 will move at 4 o'clock." 
 
 Early on the morning of the 2nd, Jackson's corps of about 
 24,000 men started on its famous march by way of Cathe- 
 rine Furnace. Hooker discovered the movement of troops 
 in his front in the direction of the furnace, and concluded 
 it meant a retreat of the Confederates. He sent two divis- 
 ions of Sickle's corps and Pleasanton's cavalry toward Cath- 
 erine Furnace to ascertain what the movement meant. 
 An engagement took place, and Hooker sent Birney's and 
 Whipple's divisions to assist Sickles. Jackson, informed of 
 this movement which threatened to separate the two corps, 
 sent the Brigades of Archer and Thomas to support Colonel 
 Brown's artillery, and Lee with part of Anderson's division 
 assailed vigorously Sickle's left flank. It might have been 
 prudent for Jackson to pause when his rear was assailed, but 
 he lost not a moment, and during the day riding along his 
 lines, gave the command constantly: "Press forward men, 
 press forward!" The distance he had to traverse from 
 where he left Lee to where he formed his line of battle was 
 fifteen miles, and although the heat was intense and the 
 dust stifling, he reached there by 2 o'clock. General Fitz 
 Lee, who was in front with his cavalry, says in his history 
 of Lee that he discovered Howard's troops lounging about. 
 
59 
 
 cooking, smoking and playing cards. Riding back he led 
 Jackson to a spot where he could see them. It is said Jack- 
 son gazed with intense interest at Howard's men. He sent 
 a courier to General Rhodes who was in front, with instruc- 
 tions to form in line across the old turnpike, a road leading 
 from Fredericksburg to Orange courthouse. Amazing as it 
 may seem, there was no sufficient picket, either infantry or 
 cavalry to guard the right flank of Howard's corps. What 
 outposts there were, were driven in by Lieutenant Colonel 
 Breckenridge of the Second, under the direction of Colonel 
 Munford, who rendered material aid to Jackson in locating 
 the position of the enemy. At 4 p. m. Jackson commenced 
 forming his lines across the old turnpike. Rhodes was in 
 front, Colston supporting him at 200 yards, and A. P. Hill's 
 troops composed the third line. By six o'clock the line was 
 formed as Jackson desired. He, at this time occupied the 
 remarkable position of being astride with his army the road 
 over which a large part of Hooker's army had marched to 
 Chancellorsville. He was upon the flank and rear of that 
 army. 
 
 When ready for his line to advance, he said: "You can 
 go forward, General Rhodes," and the blast of the bugle 
 sounded the signal and was repeated by bugles all along the 
 line. The entire command sprang forward as rapidly as 
 they could make their way through the brush, and the first 
 indication the Federals had of the approach of the hardest 
 fighter in the Confederate army with his invincible corps, 
 was the flight of the game of the forest into their midst. 
 The troops soon struck the right of Howard's corps, put it 
 to flight and pressing forward, kept them on the run, and 
 soon the right flank of Hooker's army was completely de- 
 molished. The battle was pressed with vigor until 8 o'clock 
 when the troops had become intermingled while making 
 their way through the woods and undergrowth, and General 
 Jackson called a halt to reform his men. 
 
60 
 
 General Lee and General Jackson had not been satisfied 
 with defeating the enemy and driving them back beyond 
 the Potomac or Rappahannock. They knew full well that 
 with our ports blockaded and our resources diminishing, it 
 would be impossible to maintain a protracted war. What 
 they wanted and hoped to accomplish was to kill, wound and 
 capture an entire army, to annihilate it; and with this pur- 
 pose in mind, Jackson rode with his staff beyond our lines 
 in order to ascertain the direction of the road and lay of the 
 ground. About one mile from Chancellorsville was a little 
 village called Bullocks, situated not far from where the road 
 to the United States Ford enters that running to Ely's ford. 
 Jackson was intent upon seizing this point in order to cut 
 Hooker off from his retreat by way of these two fords. His 
 army had driven the enemy to within three-fourths of a mile 
 of that village, and with that point in his possession Hook- 
 er's army would have been penned in between Lee and 
 Jackson, and its destruction would have been inevitable. 
 
 Wounding and Death of General Jackson 
 
 Turning to go back to his lines, he and his staff were 
 mistaken for Federal cavalry and fired upon by Lane's 
 North Carolina Brigade, inflicting three wounds upon his 
 person. He was carried away to the hospital. He seemed 
 next day to be resting easier, after the amputation of his 
 arm, and hearing the boom of the cannon, manifested the 
 deepest interest in eveything that occurred. General Stuart 
 had taken command of his corps, and General Lee had as- 
 sailed Hooker and driven him from his fortifications, but 
 was compelled to take part of his troops to repulse Sedg- 
 wick, who was pressing upon his rear with 35,000 men. 
 Had Longstreet and his corps been there, he could have 
 united with Early and taken care of Sedgwick, while Lee 
 could have completed the destruction of Hooker's army. On 
 the 5th General Jackson was removed to a house near 
 
61 
 
 Guinea's station. No man appreciated more fully than did 
 General Lee the great loss to the army in the disabling of Jack- 
 son. "Give him my affectionate regard," was the message 
 conveyed to him, "and tell him to get well and come back as 
 soon as he can. He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my 
 right. Any victory would be dear at such a price. I know not 
 howto replace him. ' ' He bore his great suffering with resigna- 
 tion, and was deeply touched when informed by his Adju- 
 tant General that the soldiers of the army were praying for 
 him. Pneumonia attributed to a cold he had contracted, and 
 a fall from the litter as they bore him from the battlefield, 
 coupled with his wounds, caused his death on the 10th of 
 May. He died with perfect resignation, saying when told 
 of his approaching death: "It is good. It is good. It is 
 all right." Much of the time he was lying upon his death 
 bed, his mind was wandering, but in his lucid moments, his 
 thoughts seemed to take their flight to the realms oflight 
 and glory, where angels arrayed upon Heaven's sublime ram- 
 parts, with outstretched hands, bade him a cordial welcome 
 to the celestial camping grounds. And those of us here to- 
 day who have seen him sitting in his tent, revolving in his 
 mind the mighty problems referred to him for solution, or 
 mounted upon his horse, riding into the danger, heat and 
 blaze of terrible battle, can easily portray to the mind's eye 
 the appearance of this great warrior, as he approached the 
 portals guarding the entrance to the undiscovered country, 
 was admitted, and passing on, paused under the shadow of 
 the arch, beyond, where with all above him aglow with the 
 brilliant rays of the Sun of the Heavens, and all round and 
 about him illumined with the gorgeous light of a New 
 Era, a New Dispensation, after calmly surveying the beau- 
 tiful scenes before him, was doubtless permitted to fasten 
 his gaze upon a spot of celestial beauty, prepared for him 
 by a great, good and just God, where repose and comfort, 
 peace and contentment, became his lasting reward, his eter- 
 nal heritage. 
 
62 
 
 The fall of this great and good man sent sorrow to the 
 heart of every soldier of the army of Northern Virginia, 
 and 7,000,000 people throughout the South went into 
 mourning. He remains enshrined, as he will ever be, in 
 the hearts of a great and chivalrous people. He flashed like 
 a meteor across the military firmament, his brilliant genius 
 and noble character gaining for him a fame and reputation 
 that will endure forever. 
 
 "A hero came amongst us as we slept, 
 
 At first he lowly knelt— then rose and wept: 
 
 Then gathering up a thousand spears 
 
 He swept across the field of Mars, 
 
 Then bowed farewell and walked beyond the stars." 
 
 Cadets at New Market 
 
 As General Jackson was riding on his march around Hooker 
 he turned to Colonel Munford and said: "The V. M. I. will be 
 heard from today." His army was largely commanded by 
 graduates of the Virginia Military Institute, and many sub- 
 ordinate commanders were there. Wherever they served 
 throughout the army of the South, their conduct on the bat- 
 tlefield was such as to do honor to this great institution, and 
 lend fresh and additional lustre to the name and the fame of 
 the American soldier. On May 15, 1864, the corps of cadets 
 from the Virginia Military Institute immortalized themselves 
 on the field of New Market. Aligning under fire, they ascended 
 the eminence on which the Federals were posted, as though 
 on dress parade, and with marvelous decision and courage, 
 charged into the midst of their lines, capturing a piece of 
 artillery, aiding largely in putting their foes to flight. Al- 
 though strangers to the dangers and perils of war, they stood 
 the shock of battle like veterans. Who knows but that the 
 example of Jackson furnished them inspiration in this at- 
 tack, unsurpassed for dash and dauntless courage in all the 
 annals of war? 
 
63 
 
 Conclusion 
 
 The remains of this beloved general rest here in your 
 beautiful city, and it is a remarkable coincidence that the 
 tomb of Robert E. Lee is here also. Jackson's pure and 
 beautiful life was ended abruptly. He had observed through- 
 out life his duty to himself, his family, his state and to his God. 
 
 He was a Christian without fanaticism, a Christian in the 
 open; one who did not hesitate in the presence of assembled 
 thousands to pause on the eve of some great enterprise and 
 raise his hand aloft, invoking the blessing of divine Provi- 
 dence upon his efforts and those of his soldiers. He rose 
 superior to human infirmity and was proof against the temp- 
 tations of this life. 
 
 It might be said of him with truth: He was greater than 
 Caesar, who with 22,000 legionaries won upon the plains of 
 Pharsalia a brilliant victory over Pompey, the chosen leader 
 of the Republic, commanding 50,000 of the finest troops of 
 Greece and of Imperial Rome; greater than Bonaparte with 
 his brilliant victories of the Pyramids, Marengo, Jena, and his 
 crowning triumph upon the field of Austerlitz; greater than 
 Marlborough, most brilliant of the English Generals, who 
 swept across the face of Europe with his army, and with a 
 single blow at the battle of Blenheim, annihilated the French, 
 and brought peace and repose to the distracted councils of 
 the Contihent; greater than Wellington, who successfully 
 encountered in Portugal and Spain three of the greatest 
 Marshals of France, Soult, Massena and Marmont, and later . 
 won the great battle of Waterloo and consigned to permeKa»t 
 exile the greatest, the most ambitious and the most restless 
 spirit of all time; greater than anyone of these, for the reason 
 that while his strategy was as brilliant, his tactics as affec- 
 tive, he had achieved a victory that could be accorded to no 
 one of these great commanders, he had made himself com- 
 plete and absolute master of himself. Possessed of perfect 
 poise of mind and temperament, his character adorned with 
 
64 
 
 every moral and manly attribute, and endowed with every 
 Christian virtue, presents a beautiful an^I glowing example 
 worthy of emulation by all the men of ourcoantry and espec- 
 ially by our ambitious and aspiring youths, slimalating them 
 in time of peace to great and noble purposes and to generous 
 undertakings, and in time of war, prompting them to a line 
 of conduct in the camp, on the march and upon the battle- 
 field that will enable them to win for themselves imperishable 
 honor and to couple their names with deeds of renown. We 
 shall witness with awe and reverence the unveiling of this 
 monument, the handiwork of the celebrated artist. Sir Moses 
 Ezekiel, a distinguished graduate of the Virginia Military 
 Institute, the foremost sculptor of his country, but at the 
 same time we shall be mindful that the great and good man 
 to pay homage to whom we are assembled here today, by his 
 own exalted character and great achievements, erected a 
 monument that finds its foundations broad and deep in the 
 great heart of the people of t he South; a monument that rears 
 its majestic head aloft until it pierces and penetrates the 
 very skies above, and will stand forever a convincing evidence 
 of the triumph of virtue, courage and genius. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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