Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 9.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

In the autumn of 1862, after the rest of the army had crossed the mountains, I was assured by one of our higher officers that our corps would certainly winter in the Valley — that he had gotten an intimation of this from General Jackson himself — and that he had ascertained that the General had rented a house for his family. We marched the next day for Eastern Virginia, and the glorious field of First Fredericksburg.

So completely did General Jackson conceal his plans from his staff and higher officers that it got to be a joke among them when one was green enough to attempt to fathom “Stonewall's ways.” The men used to say, “Well, if the Yankees are as ignorant of the meaning of this move as we are ‘old Jack’ has them.”

The movement from the Valley to Richmond was so secretly planned and executed that army, people, and enemy alike were completely deceived. The reinforcements sent to the Valley from Richmond were purposely sent in such a public manner as to have the report reach Washington as soon as possible, where it had the effect of inducing Mr. Lincoln to order General McDowell to delay his intended advance to McClellan's support, and caused the retreat down the Valley of all the forces opposed to Jackson. But the deception was rendered still more complete by a little finesse practiced by Colonel Munford, who held the Confederate advance with his cavalry.

A train of ambulances, with their escort, and a number of surgeons had come under flag of truce to Harrisonburg, to ask permission to carry back the Federal wounded, and while detaining them in a room adjoining his own quarters Colonel Munford received Mr. William Gilmer (a widely-known humorist, to whom he had given the cue), who came in with clanking spurs and sabre, and announced in a loud tone, “dispatches from General Jackson.” At this the Federal officers stealthily approached the partition to hear what would follow. “Do you bring any good news?” asked the Colonel.

“ Glorious news,” he answered. “The road from Staunton is chock full of soldiers, cannon and wagons come to reinforce Jackson in his march down the Valley. There is General Whiting, General Hood, General Lawton, and General I-don't-know-who. I never saw so many soldiers and cannon together in my life. People say there are thirty thousand of them.”

After a few more questions and answers of like import, framed for the benefit of the eavesdroppers, Colonel Munford dismissed his