Jackson's Men Ride Again

Virginia Military Institute Corps With Quantico Marines
And Fort Myer Cavalry to Re-Enact Jackson's Famous Maneuver
At Chancellorsville Battlefield Next Thursday

By Frank J. McCarthy Jr.

"Sunday morning, April 28, 1863, Lee went with Jackson to a religious service, attended by a throng of soldiers. That evening, on both sides of the Rappahannock, regimental adjutants were beginning to put together the returns of the personnel of the army, due on the 30th."

Douglas Southall Freeman's R. E. Lee, Vol. II., p. 506.

This morning, exactly 72 years later, a throng of Virginia Military Institute cadets clad in Confederate gray will attend services at the Lexington churches of which Lee and Jackson were members. Tonight their regimental adjutant will begin to work on his personnel report, due on the 30th, for on May 2, 1935, "Stonewall" Jackson's men will march again!"

The occasion, of course, is the re-enactment next Thursday of the battle of Chancellorsville, which will be staged by the National Park Service in conjunction with the Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park Association. Members of an active committee headed by Frank M. Chichester of Fredericksburg have been planning the celebration for sevral months. The materialization of their plans will bring to thousands of spectators a vivid reproduction of one of "Stonewall" Jackson's most brilliant military maneuvers.

The cadets, representing a part of Jackson's force, will be opposed by a detachment from the fleet marine force at Quantico, representing the Federal troops commanded by General Joseph Hooker.

The Chancellorsville event will not mark the first meeting of these two military bodies in battle array; a number of years ago the marines represented Sigel's Federal artillery when the cadets re-enacted the famous charge of their corps at New Market. Major-General John Archer Lejeune, commandant of the Marine Corps at the time of the New Market celebration, was an "ex officio Yankee," but his present position as superintendent of V. M. I. swings him over to the "rebel" side for the Chancellorsville engagement.

Lee Left Execution of Plans to Jackson

Historically, the Chancellorsville campaign covered a period of several days. General Hooker was moving toward Richmond, and General Lee, with a force decidedly inferior in numbers, was holding Fredericksburg against probable Federal advances.

After the discussion of a number of possible plans, Lee and Jackson met late in the afternoon of May 1 for what proved to be their final consultation. In spite of a situation which naturally placed Lee on the defensive, he indicated to "Stonewall" that he planned to take the offensive. Jackson was highly pleased, for as early as April 30 he had suggested attacking Hooker.

Lee had only to indicate the direction in which Jackson was to proceed. The Federal forces were located in the vicinity of Chancellorsville, 14 miles northwest of Fredericksburg, the immediate Federal objective. It was planned that Jackson should assume command of the major part of the Confederate troops, move around the right flank of Hooker's army, and surprise the Union soldiers by attacking from the rear. "Jeb" Stuart's cavalry was to cover Jackson's movement. The success of the attack depended almost entirely upon the surprise element, for the plan left Lee with only 14,000 soldiers between Hooker and Fredericksburg.

Lee left the execution of the movement to Jackson, and after the battle he wrote to his wounded lieutenant-general attributing its success to that executive.

It was 7 o'clock the morning of May 2 when Jackson started his march around Hooker's flank. General Lee was present for the departure, and he was heard to remark, as Jackson swung into the column behind his leading regiments, "Such an executive officer the sun never shone on. I have but to show him my design, and I know that if it can be done, it will be done. No need for me to send or watch him. Straight as the needle to the pole he advanced to the execution of my purpose."

"V. M. I. to be Heard From Today."

Before "Stonewall" Jackson joined the column, however, he uttered the remark that established definitely his regard for V. M. I. men as soldiers. After all the orders for the march had been given, and after the troops had started to move, Jackson said:

"The Virginia Military Institute will be heard from today."

For 10 years before the war started Jackson had been professor of natural and experimental philosophy and field artillery tactics at the institute. Although the cadets were not present as a corps at Chancellorsville, Jackson realized that practically all of his units were commanded by men whom he had drilled as cadets on the parade grounds in Lexington. The leaders of two of his three divisons, all of his cavalry regiments, and 200 smaller organizations had been his students before they became his officers. In the Colonel Munford's Second Virginia Cavalry Regiment alone there were 23 officers who had been cadets. General Robert E. Rodes, Colonel Stapleton Crutchfield and Brigadier-General "Polly" Colston had served with Jackson on the V. M. I. faculty.

Thus is it easy to see that "Stonewall" was surrounded by men who knew him well--men who respected him--men to whom he was far more than just a commanding officer. The high morale of his army may be largely attributed to the fact that his subordinates knew what to expect from their leader.

Jackson was more fortunate than he is generally considered in at least one respect. His officers were not raw-boned citizen soldiers; they were highly trained officers who proved a credit not only to "Stonewall," but to the school of arms which they represented. In them Jackson knew he could place supreme confidence for bearing much of the burden of what was destined to become one of his most amazing successes.

As the march began and the units filed by, Jackson looked into many familiar faces--faces on which he saw the expression of determination which he himself had inspired--faces of men who had followed him in peace as well as in war. It was only natural, then, for him to express his reverence for the great institution with the words, "The Virginia Military Institute will be heard from today."

Glad Tidings and Sad News

Avoiding roads which might be observed, Jackson and his corps headed for Catharine Furnace and then, "straight as the needle to the pole," swung up behind the Federal troops. The nine-mile march was interrupted by an attack on the wagon train at the rear, but this attack was successfully repulsed. Late in the afternoon Jackson surprised the soldiers of the Federal XI Corps just as they were eating supper and put them to rout. He had attacked from their rear, charging eastward toward Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. On and on through the darkness he pressed the movement against the Federal units--Wilderness Church was reached. One mile east of the church he paused for reorganization. Lee, waiting impatiently in his position, heard the firing cease, and wondered. . . .

It was 2:30 the morning of May 3 before Lee heard news of the victory, but the same courier who brought glad tidings brought sad tidings. Jackson, while making a reconnaissance during the reorganization, had been severely wounded by mistake of his own men.

"Jeb" Stuart was now placed in charge of Jackson's corps. Renewing the attack on May 3, he seized and occupied Hazel Grove, one of the best artillery positions in the area, and from there he swept through a clearing to Fairview, another good artillery position which was now occupied by part of General Howard's Federal artillery. Engagement followed one another rapidly, and so successful were the Confederates that on the night of May 5-6 Hooker retreated to the north bank of the Rappahannock.

The battle was won, and a glorious victory it was, but its mentor was lost, for eight days after he received his wound Jackson died. In accordance with his request, his body was taken finally to Lexington, where it was buried on May 15, 1863, exactly one year before the Virginia Military Institute was again heard from--this time as a corps of cadets in the gallant charge at New Market.

Guns to Roar Through Chancellorsville Ravines

It is naturally impossible to reproduce the entire campaign, but some of the most thrilling bits of action will be condensed into the pageant of next Thursday. The exercises will begin at 10:30 A. M. at the Bivouac Stone, scene of the last consultation between Lee and Jackson. Here Dr. Douglas S. Freeman, narrator of the event, will explain the circumstances leading up to the movement.

When Dr. Freeman reaches the point at which the march began, Jackson's troops will appear before the eyes of the masses of spectators. Once again the old Catherine Furnace road will resound with the "tramp, tramp, tramp" of marching feet as the cadets of the Virginia Military Institute re-enact the historic movement executed by their noble predecessors--the V. M. I. men of the 'fifties and sixties! Raw film sliding through motion picture cameras will receive an impression of the action, and a graphic record of the march will thus be created 72 years after its occurence. "Jeb" Stuart's cavalry, which covered the movement, will be represented by the Second Cavalry squadron from Fort Myer.

When "Jackson's men" disappear in the direction of Catherine Furnace, there will be an intermission for lunch. At 1:30 P. M. however, the spectators will gather at Fairview, a point just west of Chancellorsville and very close to the monument marking the location at which Jackson received his wounds. Here Dr. Freeman will continue the narrative address, explaining the general features of Jackson's movements and the circumstances under which the great Confederate was wounded. At the proper time the cadets, having completed their march, will reappear and attack the marines, who represent the Federal artillery holding Fairview.

Although the march took place on May 2, and although there was much action immediately following the march, the events at Fairview will be those of May 3, after the wounding of Jackson.

The cadets will represent the brigade commanded by Colonel Funk. They will operate a number of artillery pieces stationed in the Confederate position at Hazel Grove. From there they will sweep through a clearing about 150 yards wide and bordered by woods in which the spectators will be located.

The Rebel Yell Will Echo Over Fields

There are two ravines running across the clearing. In accordance with history, Funk's men backed up by Alexander's artillery at Hazel Grove, will press up to the second ravine with the Federal artillery as their objective. Here the ammunition supply will be exhausted, and Funk's men will be forced to drop back to the first ravine. But, after a period of suspense, reinforcements will arrive. The brigades of Archer and Perry, also represented by the cadets, will charge through the clearing and capture the Federal position.

Artillery fire will ring through the hills; hand-to-hand combat will take place within a few yards of the spectators; and, as the Confederates rush through the Federal defensive, the "rebel yell" will be heard again. The short "woh" will be followed immediately by the longer and shriller "who--," which, in turn, will fade into an "--ey" as the "rebels" call forth their courage once again with the yell which helped carry them through many an engagement against superior forces. "Woh-who----ey, who----ey, who----ey!" and the Federals will retreat in the face of an inspired attack.

After the conclusion of the actual pageant, an exhibition drill will be staged by the second squadron of cavalry from the Third Regiment at Fort Myer. Troops "E" and "F," a machine-gun troop, and a section of Headquarters Troop will take part, making up a total of 15 officers, 224 men, 200 horses, and 12 motor trucks. The drill will be executed in the large field in front of the old Chancellorsville house.

To Camp May 1 at Fredericksburg

The V. M. I. cadets are looking forward eagerly to the trip. They will leave Lexington at about 5 o'clock Wednesday morning of May 1 and proceed by truck to the battlefield at Chancellorsville. There they will meet the marines, and a rehearsal of the battle will be held at about 1 o'clock. After the rehearsal they will proceed to the Fredericksburg Fair Grounds, where local CCC workers will have prepared a camp for them.

At 6:45 P. M., after supper, the corps will stage a full-dress review and stand retreat for those spectators who arrive in Fredericksburg the day before the pageant.

About 16,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, in addition to a quantity of artillery ammunition, will be issued the cadets for the battle on May 2. They will wear, of course, the Confederate gray; their field uniform is little different from that worn by the Southern soldiers of '63. After the battle they will be entertained at a "victory ball," and on Friday they will return to Lexington.

The spectacle will be witnessed by a host of prominent figures. The leaders of the three military organizations furnishing troops for the battle will observe. They are Major-General Lejeune, superintendent of V. M. I.; Major-General Russell, who succeeded Lejeune as commandant of the Marine Corps, and Colonel Kenyon Joyce, commander of the Third Cavalry Regiment and also commanding officer at Fort Myer.