Progress of the War.
Burnside's Fate Marked out.
The Chicago
Times, writing before the late battle, gives a little insight into the future.
It says:
‘
If a battle shall take place this side of
Richmond, it will be upon ground chosen by the
Confederates.
Their communications with
Richmond are all open, and they possets facilities of transportation that will enable them to avoid a battle if they choose to retreat.
Where they go,
Gen. Burnside must follow.
If they mass their armies behind the fortifications of the rebel capital, they must be attacked and beaten there.
If
Gen Burnside is incompetent to perform this feat, he will be removed — The work of decapitation is to continue until the man be found who can reduce the rebel stronghold without engineering, or ditch-digging, or the erection of batteries, or planting of cannon, but by simply ‘"throwing our soldiers against the enemy's works."’ Military science and experience are altogether too slow for the impatience of the Administration and the peril surrounding it. Besides, ‘"it is not education or experience that makes
Generals."’ ‘"They are born, not made. "’ They have heard ‘"mysterious voices,"’ and have revelations denied to others.
President Lincoln is a General.
A short time since he gave
McClellan the benefit of his counsel as a tactician, and within a day or two has volunteered the same advice to
Burnside.
Witness.
‘"It is understood that the
President has furnished a copy of his letter to
General McClellan--and on which
McClellan failed to act — to
General Burnside, for the consideration and guidance of that officer.
The President has also read this letter to various parties, and it will no doubt be given to the public.
It is a document which will elevate
Mr. Lincoln in the esteem of all thoughtful men, and will show conclusively that he has not been content with the nominal position of
Commander-in-Chief, but has studied the great principles underlying the conduct of military affairs."’
The New York
Times is responsible for the above.
It is not burlesque, but truth.
The substance of that letter was to advise
McClellan of the necessity of pushing his army southward.--The same order has been given to
Burnside, and if he does not obey it, off goes his head.
If he does obey it, then there is just one thing that can save the Army of the Potomac from defeat.--That will be the overwhelming confidence of
Lee, when he knows that
McClellan is no longer opposed to him. This may lead him to give battle upon equal terms.
We should have but little doubt in that case that the generalship of
Burnside and the valor of our troops would carry the old flag safely through.
But we have seen that there is no necessity of
Lee's doing this.
If he can draw our army after him to
Richmond he will be content to let it waste itself away in the fruitless endeavor to keep open its communication with
Washington.
If
Burnside penetrated to
Richmond, and maintained himself there for a month, an expedition by way of the
Peninsula may be sent to his relief; but without this the attempt to carry the rebel capital by the present Army of the Potomac will only end in defeat and disaster.
If it does thus end, the
General commanding will not be responsible.
It will be the Administration which has compelled the movement.
If an expedition shall be sent by way of the
Peninsula the judgment of
McClellan will be approved.
’
Resisting the draft in Wisconsin.
The Chicago
Times, speaking of the resistance to the execution of the draft shown by the people in some parts of
Wisconsin, says:
‘
We deplore, of course, the violent resistance to the draft in two or three localities in
Wisconsin.
It is an invasion of law and order, and an assault upon the authority of the
Government which cannot be justified or tolerated, and which must be adequately punished.
But in inflicting punishment, the example which the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the
State Government of
Wisconsin have heretofore set of contempt of and disobedience to law should be taken into consideration.
The
State of Wisconsin is in rebellion to-day against the
Federal Government by legislative enactments and judicial proceedings.
It has existing laws nullifying acts of Congress, and an unrevealed decision of its Supreme Court denying the authority of judgements of the Supreme Court of the
United States.
These laws and this decision were notoriously made for the protection of parties who had resisted the
Federal authority by mob violence.
We should naturally look to
Wisconsin for violent resistance to the draft.
It would be extraordinary if in a State which has inculcated such lessons to its people of disobedience as
Wisconsin has inculcated, the draft should not be violently resisted.
The only wonder is that the resistance has not been more widespread and formidable.
We repeat, the guilty parties must be punished, but far more salutary would be the punishment of those other parties — those leaders of a political party--who have for years held the
State in an attitude of rebellion to the supreme authority of the
Constitution of the United States.
’
A Secesh Captain in Duriss — a Doubtful Customer.
The localizer of the New York
Times has a ‘"rich item," ’ as he considers it, in the following:
‘
On Saturday last
Admiral Gregory, of the U. S. navy, presented himself at the office of the U. S. Marshal
Murray, accompanied by a tall, well-built, dark-complexioned, somewhat repulsive- featured, but very polite gentleman, whom he introduced to the
Marshal as
Job C. Rich, who claimed to be a Captain in the Confederate army, and desired a pass into the land of Secessia.
The gentleman wore an overcoat which the
Admiral, without saying ‘"by your leave, sir, "’ unbuttoned, and displayed to the
Marshal's gaze the uniform of a Confederate
Captain as the best proof, in the absence of his commission of the genuineness of his friend's claim.--
Admiral Gregory then went on to state that he found himself unwittingly placed in a very unpleasant and delicate position with regard to
Captain Rich, and he thought his duty to the
Government demanded that he should lay the case before the United States Marshal and leave him to deal with it as he should think best, or as he might be instructed by the
Government.
The facts were these: At the breaking out of the rebellion
Captain Job C. Rich was a
Captain of Marines in the United States Navy, and was stationed on board the 74 gun ship
Pennsylvania, at the
Gosport Navy-Yard,
Norfolk, Va. He had for several years previous to that been an intimate friend of
Admiral Gregory, who, when he was stationed on the coast of
Africa, appointed him one of his staff officers.
Among the many resignations of officers in the U. S. Navy, at the commencement of the rebellion, he did not recollect of seeing
Capt. Rich's name; but the
Captain now informed him that his resignation was tendered in due form, but had probably been burnt up with the
Pennsylvania, which was soon after destroyed by the rebels at the time of the burning of the
Gosport Navy-Yard.
The
Admiral said he had never been able to ascertain what had become of his friend
Captain Rich, and had supposed him long since dead, until about two months ago, when, to his surprise, the
Captain called upon him here in New York and stated that he was a Captain in the Confederate army, had been taken prisoner at the battle of Antiesam, carried to
Fortress Monroe to be exchanged, and that while there he received a letter from his father, who is a farmer in
New Hampshire, informing him that his mother lay at the point of death, and imploring him, her only son, to hasten home that she might look upon his face once again ere she passed into eternity.
On representing these facts to the
Government officers at
Fortress Monroe, he was permitted to come North on his parole, and was then on his way to
New Hampshire.
The
Admiral heard and credited his story — for he had no reason then to doubt it — entered with him into reminiscences of the past, gave him some patriotic and fatherly counsel, rebuked him for his ingratitude to the
Government in turning against her in her hour of trial, and dismissed him to pursue his journey to the bedside of his dying mother.
Two months pass away and the
Captain again calls upon the
Commodore and announces that he is on his return to his rebel masters.
The
Admiral did not say that during these two months he had come to doubt the truth of his friends statements, but he did say that he could not consent that his loyalty and duty to the
Government should by any possibility be compromised by having it shown hereafter that he had held friendly interviews with loving rebel
Captains on their bare statement that they were paroled prisoners of war. ‘"How do I know."’ said he (addressing the
Captain,) ‘"but what you are here to obtain information for the enemy — visiting our navy yards, inspecting our gunboats, ascertaining our forces?
You say you are here on parole, you having taken an oath, but-you once took another oath." ’ (The rebel
Captain winced and his lips quivered at these home thrusts from his old commander, but he made no reply.) ‘"This,"’ continued the
Admiral, ‘"is the most painful act of my life; I wish to God, as I told the
Captain this morning, that he never had come near me; but since he has seen fit to place me in this delicate position, my first duty is to the
Government in whose service I am, and I felt that I ought not to permit him to escape from my custody until I had brought the case to the notice of the
Government, in order that the facts might be investigated.
I therefore surrender him into your hands,
Mr. Marshal, and you must do with him as you think proper."’
Marshal Murray informed the
Captain that, under the state of facts as detailed by
Admiral Gregory, he would be compelled to detain him as a prisoner until he could communicate with the
Government at
Washington.
The
Admiral, by transferring him to his custody, had pleased him (the
Marshal) in the same predicament that the
Admiral himself was in, and he could do no less than hold him until he received instructions for his disposal.
The
Marshal immediately wrote to
Washington, stating the facts, and asking for instructions.
he will probably learn to-day what disposition is to be made of the
Captain.
If it should turn out that he never tendered his resignation as an officer in the U. S. Navy, he can be tried by court-martial as a deserter, or for the crime of giving information and aid to the enemy.
’
The New York
Sunday Mercury publishes a bu- morous biography of
Stonewall Jackson.
We make the following extracts:
‘
Your correspondent has seen many biographical sketches of the renowned ‘"
Stonewall"’; but they all abound in inconsistencies untruths, and inaccuracies.
In the hands of some historians his life, like the short India-rubber blanket of a long soldier, is stretched to suit the subject.
To others this eventful history has been as a lump of clay in the hands of a child — capable of any degree of plastic distortion or beauty, from a Hindoo Idol to a winged statuette of Apollyon the Lovely.
Some there be who declare him a myth, a will-o'-the-wisp, a dancing jack of the wilderness, the creation of a mind — or any amount of minds — disordered; but they err,
Mr. Editor.
Stonewall Jackson is a fixed fact, a melancholy fact, a stubborn fact; and that his life may net go down into darkness, that his deeds of daring may not be wiped out forever like a sum in simple division on a schoolboy's slate, a historian is needed--one that is faithful, capable and unbiased; like those, for instance, who do the biographical sketches for the New York morning dallies--one that is wholly competent, and that careth not a pin for Northern praise nor Southern commendation; in brief, one like those who, for instance, do the biographical sketches for the New York morning journals--one that is wholly competent, and that careth not a pin for Northern praise nor Southern commendation; in brief, one like those who write the biographical histories for the papers aforesaid.
Such an one is Anno Dominic, and he herewith presents a history which he is willing to take his affidavit is as reliable and worthy as though it was written for one of those immaculate sheets — the New York dallies.
Stonewall Jackson was born very early in life — in fact, so young was he at that interesting period of his history, that the date thereof lurketh not in his own memory, nor yet in that of his present biographer.
Sufficient be it to say, he was Born.--The ancestry of S. J. has hitherto been shrouded in doubt.
Some have asserted that he is descended from
Jack, surnamed the
Giant Killer, and that the ‘"seven-league boots"’ of the aforesaid J. the G. K. are yet in his possession, which accounts for the celerity of his movements.
Others declare him to be an offshoot of the Jacobin family, the founder of which was Jackaloo the
Chinese Pirate.
They are all wrong,
Mr. Editor;
Stonewall Jackson is descended in a curved line from the
Wandering Jew. In early time the Jew family was rich, but one evil day the head of it went down into
Egypt, ‘"bucked"’ against Pharaoh, and came back with nary shekel, having lost them all in that interesting game.
From that time till the discovery of the
Mississippi river, the family was too poor to have a name.
Stonewall's grandfather ran a flatboat on the aforesaid river, and was extravagantly fond of the classic game of ‘"old sledge."’ He married, and in the course of time had four sons, whom he named — to commemorate his favorite game — High, Low,
Jack, and the Game.
Jack followed the example of his father, married, and had one son, the subject of this sketch, who was naturally called
Jack's son, and in course of time
Jackson.
A family trait lurks in Stonewall, for at any critical stage of the game he is sure to ‘"turn"’ up and become the trump.
Young
Jackson in his youth gave great promise of future usefulness, so much so that when he was sent to school he invariably ran away to play ‘"tag"’ and ‘"leap frog,"’ to the constant study of which he owes his agility.
One day
Jackson's
pere, learning of his son's truancy, determined to chastise it out of him, and so collared the incipient hero and bent him over his knee, thus throwing a prominent part of the youth into bold relief.
Mrs. Jackson (the mother) then seized a shirt board with both hands, and proceeded to bring the youngster to a sense of his duty by divers ponderous blows.
Young
Jackson squirmed like a fish-worm; but, with that Spartan firmness that has ever distinguished him, shed not a tear, At about the fortieth blow the old lady paused while the old gent eased on his hold, and inquired, ‘"My son, whilst thou go to school in future!"’ The young hero raised his head, wiped his sleeve across his nose, and looking up into his father's face, said: ‘"I say, old gentleman, why am I like a cabin passenger on a canal boat!"’ ‘"My son, I knows not,"’ sagely observed
Jackson, replor. ‘"Why,"’ said the young incorrigible, with a knowing wink, ‘"its because I am
boarded astern "’ The poor outraged father could only ejaculate ‘"board him again old lady, board him again."’ ‘"Not I,"’ said the mother, dropping the shirt board.
‘"You might as well larrup a
Stonewall. "’
From that day to this the hero has gone by the name of
Stonewall Jackson.
‘"But, mother,"’ said the father, as the released youth skedaddled out of the room to finish his game of tag, ‘"What shall we do with the boy?"’ ‘"Do?
why send him to West Pint, he ain't good for nothing else."’
Stonewall went to
West Point.
Many interesting events occurred during his pupilage there, but — following the example of the New York papers — I condense.
Stonewall Jackson passed a creditable examination, and graduated number two (from the foot) of his class, and the rebellion having just commenced, was immediately appointed a
Brigadier General by the Southern Confederacy--the United States Government paying his livery stable bill at
West Point and his passage to the rebel lines.
While passing through our army he stopped to make a sketch of our fortifications, when an inconsiderate sentinel demanded his pass.
The sentinel was immediately sentenced to be hung, but was afterwards allowed to resign.
The New York papers have given such an accurate account of
Stonewall's military exploits that I need no more than give a brief epitome, taken from that same reliable source.
His first battle was at
Bull Run, in 1861, where he slew a whole division of the
Federal army with his own hand, and then got slowed himself.
In this battle both armies were defeated; but, unfortunately, neither of them found it out in time to take advantage of it. The Union army was greatly outnumbered, but ‘"gained a material advantage"’ (see McD.'s dispatches)
In June, 1862, he took command of 500,000 men, (see Northern papers of that date,) and turned his attention to the political economy of the Shenandoah Valley.
Not liking the state of the currency there, he determined to abolish
Banks; in doing which several desperate battles were fought, in all of which, though outnumbered, our troops ‘"gained material advantage,"’ (see B — k's dispatches,) but our cavalry horses becoming thirsty, the army fell back to the
Potomac to water them.
Jackson's horses, also being dry, he pushed on for the same watering place, but learning that
Fremont had out loose, fell back.
Fremont following, a desperate engagement took place at
Front Royal, in which Stonewall would have been annihilated, bad not the U. S. Government stopped the battle (
N. Y. Trib.) to hold a court of inquiry, to see if
Fremont had not paid three postage stamps too much for a bushel of oats, furnished through a California friend, to a horse of his body guard.--While the court was in session Stonewall skedad died.
Fremont followed, however, and would have bagged him if he had not taken the wrong road, (N. Y.
Herald) and travelled
North while
Jackson was going
South. Getting safe back to
Richmond,
Stonewall bore a leading part in the battles in front of that ‘"doomed"’ (see all the papers) city.
According to the
Northern prints,
Jackson suffered terribly in person in these battles.
He lost his right leg at Hanover Court-House, and his left at
Gainesville.
The next day, while leading his corps into battle at
Savage's, his horse baulked in front of a barrel of beans, which had been abandoned by our army, and was compelled to dismount and go it on foot, in doing which he lost his right arm. The succeeding day he lost his left arm at
Peach Orchard.
Two days after, at the
battle of Malvern Hill, he stooped down to fasten his shoe, and while in that position his head was blown off by a 103,000 pound shell.
This was the unkindest cut of all; but the old veteran merely raised his martial form erect, and said: ‘"My bleeding country, I cheerfully make the sacrifice.
Old head, farewell!"’ These are but a few of the wounds the old man has received — according to the papers.
Even as I write, the report comes that this modern
Briareus lost another arm at
Antietam.
Stonewall Jackson, in personal appearance, is most unlovely — and it is said that he — like the Ashantees — files his teeth to a sharp point every other morning.
He stands eleven feet five inches (or five feet eleven inches, I am not certain which) in his boots — when he has got any.
His hair is black, and was furnished to order by Bachelor, of New York.
In religion he is at times a devout Catholic — at least he followed closely in the footsteps of the
Pope during one of his campaigns — and at others he is a colporteur for the American Tract Society--at any rate he has probably left more tracks in
Virginia than any other white man; and, according to the papers, always goes into battle with a family Bible under one arm and a Greek Testament in the coat tail pocket, which he reads during the intervals of the fighting.
He is abstemious in his habits, having been known to live nine days off of one sardine and a barrel of whiskey.
In dress he is extremely neat, never wearing a shirt more than three months without changing it.
To sum up,
Stonewall, in private life is — as
Shakespeare says--‘"a man as is a man, that we may never look upon his like again."’ In his military capacity he is, to quote
Sheridan Knowles, ‘"in peace a lamb, in war--
a lam'er."’
’
