The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-06-10
MEMOIR OF GEN. T. J. JACKSON.

are now resoundlng from one end of the Confed-
crate States to the other, has enabled to give
the following sketch of his life, previously to his
acceptance of command in the Confederate
army. Since that time it has become a part of
the history of the country.
He was born in Clarksburg, in the county of
Lewis, Va. in the year 1925, Of highly respecta-
BILE parents, both of whom died during his infancy
leaving him without cent in the world. During
his early childhood he resided with uncle
whose name did not hear, and at the age of
sixteen he bad conducted himself so well, and
| produced such favorable impression of his
energy and integrity that he was chosen constable
of the county. In the year 1912, cadet had
been appointed from his district to West Point
who declined to 60 Jackson Immediately con-
ceived the idea of filling the place he had left
vacant. Our informant says, that one day, while
it was raining exceedingly hard, he burst sud
| denly into his Office, the rain streaming from his
clothes and told him that he must give him let
ter to MIR Hayes, at that time representative in
Congress from the Lewis District. Upon being
| asked what he wanted with such letter he re-
piled, he wished to go to West Point. His friend
pointed to him what he regarded as the absurdity
of such scheme, seeing that he was very de-
| fcent in education, and would therefore, proba-
bly, not be able to stand the preliminary examina-
ton. He acknowledged the alleged deficiency,
but said he was sure he had the perseverance to
make it up. He obtained the letter without
further difficulty, and that very evening borrowed
| a horse, under promise to senG him back by q
boy whom he carried with him. and rode to Clarks-
burg to take the stage. 1t had been raining for
weeks as it can only rain in that country, the
roads were muddy as they muddy nowhere
else that we ever heard Of Jackson arrived in
time; but on account of the muddy roads, the
Postmaster had furnished the mail an hour before
time, and the stage was already gone. With
characteristic fidelity to his promise, Jackson sent
the horse back, instead of riding him in pur
suit of the stage, and took it on foot through the
mud. After a run of thirteen miles, he overlook
the stage, jumped in, went to Washington all
muddy he was, presented his letter to Mr..
Hayes, and was by him, in turn, presented to the
Secretary of War, who gave him the coveted
warrant At West Point he severely felt the want
of early education; but his indomtable spirit
| overcame every obstacle. He never marked
for dement, during his four years, and graduated
with the class of 1916, the same in which Nc
Clellan graduated.
The young graduate was ordered off immedi-
ately, with the rank of Second Lieutenant, to
join General Tay.ors army in the Valley of the
Rio Grande. He arrived after the battles of Palo
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Monterey, and
before that of Buena Vista was ordered to
join General Scott before Vera Cruz. At the
siege of this latter place, he commanded battery
and attracted attention by his GOODNESS and the
jud gmcnt with which he worked his guns, and
was promoted First Lieutenant. For his conduct
at Cerro Gordo, he was brcvctted Captain He
was in all SCOTS battles to the city of Mexico,
and behaved SO we'll that he was brevetted Major
tor his services. On one occasion, he commanded
battery upon which the fire of the enemy was
so that more than half his troops, who were
raw, incontinently ran. Jackson was advised to
retreat; but he said, if he could get reinforce
ment of fifty regulars, he would take the encmys
battery opposed to him, instead of abandoning his
own. He sent for the named reinforcement, but
before it came, he had already stormed the OBJ
noxious battery.
JacksOn's health so much shattered by this
campaign that he was compelled to resign He
accepted Professorshp at the Military Institute,
where he continued until the secession of Vir-
gina. In height, he is about six feet, with
weight of about one hundred and eighty. He is
quite remarkable for his moral as he has proved
himself to be for his fighting qualities being a
perfectly conscientious man, just in all his ways,
and irreproachabe in his dealings with his fellow
men. 1t is said he is fatalist as Napoleon was,
and has no fear that he can be killed before his
time comes. He is as calm in the midst of hur-
rlcanc OF bullets as he was in the pew Of his
church at Lexington, when he was professor of
the institute. He appears to be man Of almost
superhuman endurance. Neither heat nor cold
makes the slightest impression upon him. He
cares nothing for good quarters and dainty fare.
Wrapped in his Blankets he throws himself down
on the ground anywhere and sleeps as soundly as
though he were in palace. He lives as the
soldiers live, and endurcs all the fatigue and all
suffering that they endure. His vigilance is
something marvellous He never seems to sleep,
and lets nothing pass without his personal scrutiny
He can neither be caught mapping nor whipped
when he is wide awake. The rapidity of his
marches is something poltentous. He is heard of
by the enemy at one point and before they can
make up their. minds to follow him. he is off at
another. His men have little baggage, and he
moves, nearly as he can, without encumbrance
He keeps SO constantly in motion that he never
has sick list, and no need of hospitals In
these habits, and in will as determined as that
of Julius Caesar, read the secret of his great
success His men adore him, because he requires
them to do Lothing which he does not do himself,
because he constantly leads them to victory, and
because they see he is great soldier.-RicAmond
Dispatch.
THE WOMEN OF WINCHEsTER.-The New
York New Worlds correspondent from Banks
retreating army, writing from Hagerstown, Mary
land, says that while the Federasts were retreat
ing through Winchester, women of that town
opened fire with pistols upon them from the win
dows, "and killed great many" 1t is very
doubtful whether not this is true. The women