Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 227, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1914 — “STONEWALL” IN TIGHT PLACE [ARTICLE]

“STONEWALL” IN TIGHT PLACE

When General Jackson’s Presence of Mind Saved Him From Capture at Port Republic.

Perhaps the most Important order that “Stonewall” Jackson ever issued —certainly the most vital to himself — is not in the official war records, 'fhe order was given in person by Jackson to a Northern artillery officer as he stood in full uniform, ready for battle beside his gun, and—strangest of all! —was at once executed by him with the result that the battle was lost by the Union arms. It was on a spring morning in ICT2, Just before the battle of Port Republic. Jackson, in advance of his troops, with only a single escort, galloped across the bridge over the Shenandoah river into the town, whlcsK£tood on the east bank. Learning tharthe army of Qeneral Shields was still good jnany miles away, and confident that his own troops would be in possession long before the enemy, he rode to a residence at the farther end of the village, where he spent nearly an hour. But meantime the energetic Shields —whom Jackson later declared to be his most formidable opponent —had thrust forward a small, swift column to occupy Port Republic, seize the bridge, and halt Jackson’s advance. So rapidly did it move that it gained both objects without firing a shot More than that, Jackson was a prisoner—if anyone knew it! Jackson, in utter ignorance of the disastrous change, mounted his horse and ambled dowh the main street to the bridge. What was his astonishment to see groups of soldiers —in blue! —busily moving to and fro about the bridgehead, and throwing up lntrenchments and fortifications. Planted on a little knoll that commanded the bridge and its approaches was a formidable field gun!

Fortunately for Jackson, the recent campaigns up and down the valley had faded both blue and gray uniforms into a nondescript drab. As Jackson sat on his horse and watched the busy Beene, he formed his plan Bwiftly. He could not go back; he must cross that bridge, and that wae his only chance. It was the frowning field gun that he feared. He must put it out of commission long enough to get beyond its range. Throwing up his hand to ah tract attention, he shouted to'the officer in command of the gun: “What are ybu doing with that gun up there? I didn’t order it there, and I don’t want it there!" There was authority and petulance in his voice as he added: “Limber up, and run it over on that knob over there!" The officer at the gun, thinking that he had to deal • with some superior officer recently arrived, hastened to obey without question, explaining in self-defense that he had understood his orders otherwise. Sitting on Little Sorrel, while the federal troops worked busily about him, Jackson calmly waited the gun was limbered off to the new position. Then he rode quietly across the bridge, and up the ether bank until he was well out of musket range. Then he' turned, waved his hand to the astonished federals, and, putting spurs to his horse, galloped away from the rain of bullets that pattered harmlessly in the rear. Had he been captured the Confederate victory at Port Republic which he won a few hours later would not have happened; the able and energetic Shields would have defeated his troops, stunned by his loss. —Youth’s Companion.