The Property of The Hon. J. WILLIAM MIDDENDORF II
JACKSON, THOMAS JONATHAN ("Stonewall"), General, C.S.A.. Manuscript account of his Shenandoah Valley Campaign of May 1862, addressed to General Robert E. Lee's Chief of Staff, General R.H. Chilton, text in the hand of an aide, but WITH A FEW ADDITIONS IN JACKSON'S HAND, "Head Quarters, 2nd Corps A.N.V.," 10 April 1863. 23 pages, folio, written on rectos only of 23 sheets, clipped together at top.
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JACKSON, THOMAS JONATHAN ("Stonewall"), General, C.S.A.. Manuscript account of his Shenandoah Valley Campaign of May 1862, addressed to General Robert E. Lee's Chief of Staff, General R.H. Chilton, text in the hand of an aide, but WITH A FEW ADDITIONS IN JACKSON'S HAND, "Head Quarters, 2nd Corps A.N.V.," 10 April 1863. 23 pages, folio, written on rectos only of 23 sheets, clipped together at top.
JACKSON'S REPORT OF HIS SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN: FRONT ROYAL AND WINCHESTER
Jackson's Valley Campaign of May 1862, conceived as a strategic diversion, has been called by an authority "one of the most brilliant operations in military history" (Mark Boatner, The Civil War Dictionary p.739). It involved only 10,000 Confederate troops but threw the Union command into turmoil and prevented thousands of Federal troops from joining McClellan's Peninsula campaigns. Jackson's vivid narration, probably dictated to an aide, shows several minor additions and corrections by Jackson: a few words on p. 6 and a 12-word deletion on p. 21. It opens on 14 May, when "the troops were halted...to enable them to attend divine service," and ends with Jackson's deft evasion of a Union pincer movement of some 50,000 men on June 1. Having crossed the mountains and rendezvoused with Ewell's division, Jackson's command marched towards Front Royal: "moving at dawn, we encountered no opposition until we came within a mile and a half of Front Royal, when...the enemy's pickets were driven in by our advance...." The Confederates "pushed forward in gallant style, charging the Federals," who "made a spirited resistance," but retreated to a ridge. Driven from that position by artillery and a charge, they reformed across the river in an orchard, but "our troops were upon them," and drove them "in full retreat towards Winchester...and our Artillery and Infantry in pursuit." On the 25th at Middletown, Jackson relates, "we found the Valley Turnpike crowded with the retreating Federal cavalry, upon which the batteries...promptly opened, and in a few minutes the turnpike, which had just before teemed with life, presented a most appalling spectacle of carnage and destruction. The road was literally obstructed with the mangled and confused mass of struggling & dying horses & riders." Some of his cavalry came upon "a large number of wagons loaded with stores." Jackson "was pained to see...that so many of [General Turner] Ashby's command...deserted their colors and abandoned themselves to pillage to such an extent as to make it necessary for that gallant officer to discontinue pursuit." Marching towards Winchester the next day, Winder's "Stonewall" Brigade assaulted a hill overlooking that town. While rebel and Union artillery clashed, the 10th and 23rd Virginia Infantry attacked another Union stronghold, "fronting the enemy where he stood in greatest strength," then "the whole line magnificently swept down the declivity and across the field, driving back the Federal troops and bearing down all opposition before it." Entering Winchester, the Confederates "were received with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy by its loyal people, who...had been suffering under the hateful surveillance and rigours of Military despotism." Jackson complains that "had the cavalry played its part...but a small portion of Bank's Army would have made its escape to the Potomac."
With apparent satisfaction, Jackson goes into considerable detail about the Union supplies captured in the campaign: "so large in quantity that much of it had to be abandoned for want of necessary transportation." The casualties of "my command during this expedition," Jackson asserts, totalled only 68 killed, 329 wounded and 3 missing. A total of 3,050 prisoners were taken. "Whilst I have had to speak of some of our troops in disparaging terms, yet it is my gratifying privilege to say that of the main body...its officers and men acted in a manner worthy of the great cause for which they were contending."
At Chancellorsville, less than a month later, Jackson was severely wounded by fire from his own men. He died exactly a month after this account of one of his greatest military triumphs.
JACKSON'S REPORT OF HIS SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN: FRONT ROYAL AND WINCHESTER
Jackson's Valley Campaign of May 1862, conceived as a strategic diversion, has been called by an authority "one of the most brilliant operations in military history" (Mark Boatner, The Civil War Dictionary p.739). It involved only 10,000 Confederate troops but threw the Union command into turmoil and prevented thousands of Federal troops from joining McClellan's Peninsula campaigns. Jackson's vivid narration, probably dictated to an aide, shows several minor additions and corrections by Jackson: a few words on p. 6 and a 12-word deletion on p. 21. It opens on 14 May, when "the troops were halted...to enable them to attend divine service," and ends with Jackson's deft evasion of a Union pincer movement of some 50,000 men on June 1. Having crossed the mountains and rendezvoused with Ewell's division, Jackson's command marched towards Front Royal: "moving at dawn, we encountered no opposition until we came within a mile and a half of Front Royal, when...the enemy's pickets were driven in by our advance...." The Confederates "pushed forward in gallant style, charging the Federals," who "made a spirited resistance," but retreated to a ridge. Driven from that position by artillery and a charge, they reformed across the river in an orchard, but "our troops were upon them," and drove them "in full retreat towards Winchester...and our Artillery and Infantry in pursuit." On the 25th at Middletown, Jackson relates, "we found the Valley Turnpike crowded with the retreating Federal cavalry, upon which the batteries...promptly opened, and in a few minutes the turnpike, which had just before teemed with life, presented a most appalling spectacle of carnage and destruction. The road was literally obstructed with the mangled and confused mass of struggling & dying horses & riders." Some of his cavalry came upon "a large number of wagons loaded with stores." Jackson "was pained to see...that so many of [General Turner] Ashby's command...deserted their colors and abandoned themselves to pillage to such an extent as to make it necessary for that gallant officer to discontinue pursuit." Marching towards Winchester the next day, Winder's "Stonewall" Brigade assaulted a hill overlooking that town. While rebel and Union artillery clashed, the 10th and 23rd Virginia Infantry attacked another Union stronghold, "fronting the enemy where he stood in greatest strength," then "the whole line magnificently swept down the declivity and across the field, driving back the Federal troops and bearing down all opposition before it." Entering Winchester, the Confederates "were received with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy by its loyal people, who...had been suffering under the hateful surveillance and rigours of Military despotism." Jackson complains that "had the cavalry played its part...but a small portion of Bank's Army would have made its escape to the Potomac."
With apparent satisfaction, Jackson goes into considerable detail about the Union supplies captured in the campaign: "so large in quantity that much of it had to be abandoned for want of necessary transportation." The casualties of "my command during this expedition," Jackson asserts, totalled only 68 killed, 329 wounded and 3 missing. A total of 3,050 prisoners were taken. "Whilst I have had to speak of some of our troops in disparaging terms, yet it is my gratifying privilege to say that of the main body...its officers and men acted in a manner worthy of the great cause for which they were contending."
At Chancellorsville, less than a month later, Jackson was severely wounded by fire from his own men. He died exactly a month after this account of one of his greatest military triumphs.