The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-06-18
MEMOIR OF GEN. I. J. JACKSON.

life, previously TO his acceptance OF COM
mand in the Confederate army. Since that
time it has become part Of the history Of
The country.
He was born in Clarksburg, in the county
Of Lewis, Va, in the year 1925, Of highly
respectable parents, both of whom died du-
ring his infancy. leaving him without cent
in the world. During his early childhood
he resided with an uncle, whose name we
did not hear, and at the age Of sixteen he
had conducted himself so well, and produc-
ed 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 imme-
jdiately conceived the idea of filling the place
] lie had left vacant. Our informant SAYS,
that one day, while it was raining exceed
ingly hard, he burst suddenly into his Office,
the rain streaming from his clothes, and told
him thar lie must give him letter to Mr..
HAYES, at that time representative in Con-
gress from the Lewis district. Upon being
asked what he wanted with such letter he
replied, he wished to 60 to West Point
! His friend pointed to him what nc regarded
as tie absurditv Of such scheme, seeing
that lie was very deficient in education, aud
would, therefore, probably not be able to
stand the preliminary examination. He &C.
knowledged the alleged deficiency, but said
] he was sure he had the perseverance to make
lit up. He obtained the letter without fur
ther difficulty, and that very evening bor-
rowed horse. under promise 10 send him
back by boy whom he carried with him,
and rode 10 Clarksburg to take The stage. Ii
had been raining FIR weeks as il can only
rain In that country, the roads were muddy
as they are muddy nowhere else that We ev-
FER heard of. Jackson arrived in time but
ION account Of the muddy roads, the Post
master had furnished the mail nm hour before
time, and the stage was already gone. With
characteristic fidelity 10 his promise, Jack
son sent the horse back, instead OF riding
him ~ !. pnrsuit of the stage. and took II
f ON foot through the mud. Alter run OF
thirteen miles, he overlook the stage, jump.
ed in. went TO Washington all muddy as he
was. presented his letter 70 Mr.. Hayes, and
was by him, in turn, presented to the Secre-
,ary az War, who gave him the coveted war
rant. At West Point he severely felt the
want Of early education ; but his lndomlta-
Ible spirit oyercame every obstacle. lie
q w,s never marked for demerit during his
four wears, and graduated with the class q
1876. the same IN which Mcclellan gradua-
ted
The Young graduate was ordered OF i'm
lmediaiely, with the rank Of Second Lieuten-
ant, 10 Join General Taylors army IN the
Valley of the Rio Grande. He arrived after
Ithe battles 1T palo Alto. Resaca de Ia Palma
land Monterey, and beiore that OF Baena
Vista was ordered 10 Join General Scott be-
fore Yer, Cruz. Al the siege Of this latter
p,ace. he commanded a battery, and at
iracted attention by lis cunlncss and the
Judgment with which lie worked his guns
, aud was promoted First Lieutenant. Fol
his conduct at Cerro GDtdG, lie vas breyet
led captain. lie was in all Scots battles
10 The city of Mexico, and behaved 50 vel
Ma, he was brevettpd Major for his services
On one occasion, he commanded bi'terl
upon which tue fire of the enemy was 30 Sc
{ we're that more than half his troops, who wer
I raw. incontincntly ran. Jackson was advised
. trretreat bur he said, il he could get re
i enforcement Of fifty regulars, he would iak
the enemy's battery opposed 10 him, ~
4 siead of abandoning his own. Tie sent y
h The named reinforcement, but before It came
III had already s,ormed the obnoxious bate
~. .I.,....
i larkson's health wss 50 much shattere
L i, Ills campaign that he was compelled I
Ii rcs,rn. Ill accepted Proiessorshlp n ~
J Military Institute, where he continued unit
0 the secession. Of Virginia. 10 height, be
/ about six feet, with weight Of about on
hundred aud eighty. lie IS quite as remark
able for his moral as lie has proved hlmse
y to be for his fighting qualitles--be'ns PEI
lec,ly conscientious man, just 10 az Y
ways, and irreproachablc 10 his dealing
/ with his fellowmcn. Il is said he i . iataI
!. ist, as Napoleon was, and has no fear tsaI
/. can be killed before bis time comes ie
= A. calm IN the midst of 4 hurricane oi bul
!. lets as he was 10 the pew o. his ehurc"
!, Lexington, when he was professor o. inc y
stitute. lie appears TO be man O ia. a.'nO' -
sanerhuman endurance. Neither heat ~
. esiJ makes the slightest impression upo
Y k,m. lIc cafes nothing tor good quarter