Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/150

 134 Southern Historical Society Papers.

All my information is to the effect that the Federal troops from the East are for Banks.

Very truly yours

T. J. JACKSON,

Maj. Gen.

How many men were captured of Harper's company so far as you have ascertained ?

The first in order of these curious papers is an order from General J. E. Johnston to Captain Ashby, when Johnston commanded the Confederate forces at Harper's Ferry, Va., having relieved Colonel T. J. Jackson (promoted to Brigadier-General June 18, 1861). His farthest outpost eastward, under Ashby, was at Berlin bridge, which in this order of June 8, 1861, he directed to be burned. Johnston evacuated Harper's Ferry June 19, and on the 22d he issued a spe- cial order complimenting the First Maryland regiment, under Lieut. - Colonel George H. Steuart, for efficiency in carrying out his orders, and he further said: " Owing to their discipline, no private property was injured and no unoffending citizen disturbed. The soldierly qualities of the Maryland regiment will not be forgotten in the day of action." And it so happened, frequently.

Among the property thus saved from destruction was 17,000 musket stocks, which were sent to North Carolina to be completed, in acknowledgment of that State having armed and equipped the Marylanders.

The order of January 2, 1862, from General Jackson to Colonel Ashby, ocurred during Jackson's sudden movement from Winchester to Romney, Va., with the design to destroy the B. & O. Railroad, but the result, while satisfactory, was not among Jackson's famous successes. Moreover, intensely cold weather ensued, with rain and snow, his men were mostly without suitable clothing to protect them, and, hence, suffered terribly. During this movement Jackson issued an order to General Loring, which Loring disregarded. A conten- tion followed which resulted in the Confederate War Department sustaining Loring. Jackson promptly indicated his intention to re- sign his commission and retake his chair at the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington, whereupon, Governor Letcher, apprehend- ing the tremendous loss to the Confederacy by Jackson retiring from the field, prevailed upon the Richmond authorities to reconsider their decision.

The next order from Jackson to Ashby, April 16, 1862, occurred