Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was one of the great generals of the the Civil War. You can read the Cliff Notes about his life and service here. He is worthy of study. A graduate of West Point, Jackson was seasoned by service in the Mexican-American war. His death at Chancellorsville in May of 1863 was a huge loss for the Confederacy. Here are a few things he said, or wrote:
“Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible.”
"The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights, makes the most reliable soldier on earth."
“War means fighting. The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to throw up breastworks, to live in camps, but to find the enemy and strike him; to invade his country, and do him all possible damage in the shortest possible time. This will involve great destruction of life and property while it lasts; but such a war will of necessity be of brief continuance, and so would be an economy of life and property in the end.”
"Always mystify, mislead and surprise the enemy if possible."
“Captain, my religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that, but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave.”
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment