Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-07-14

With heart Tor any fateJ
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait!
From the London Index, June4
GENERAL t. j. JACKSON.
At this time everything relating to the life an,
character of the lamented patriot soldier, Gen
Thomas j. Jackson, is interesting to the British
public, and we take pleasure in laying befor
our readers the following communication from
Rev. NJ. D. Hoge, d. D., one of the pastors o
Richmond. Virginia, and chaplain in one of tn,
camps in the vicinity of that city
To the Editor of the Inder:
SIR During my temporary absence from my
native land, and engaged, as am, in mission
which has for its object the supply of our army
with Bibles and religious books, like others ot
my countrymen here, / have been filed with
to know, regarded my errand to England with
deep and abiding interest, and for whom cher
lshed the profoundest respect and affection.
readily comply with your request to give
you some impressions of his character and worth
derived, in part, frompersonal acquaintance with
him. feel it to be privilege to add, if posi-.
bic, single leaf TO the wreath which so many
grateful hands are now weaving for the urn, be-
side which a nation weeps.
Since the commencement of this cruel war.
Virginia, in common~With her sister States of the
Confederaey, has often had occasion to lament
the fall of the noble and the good; but in no
former instance has she sustained loss which
so many mourn as if it were a personal bereave-
ment, as well as public calamity. While Gen.
eral jackson commanded the highest respect by
those qualities which ennobled him as man,
and excited admiration which readily kindled in
to enthusiasm by his successful heroism as sol.
dier, he had also the happy faculty of attracting
the kinder regards of those who knew him, and
of exciting in the popular mind and heart emo.
tions of commingled reverence and love.
There was something in the brilliancy of his
exploits which dazzled the imagination, in the
suddenness and unexpectedness of his military
movements which kept alive the public curiosity,
so that it happened that he was, moro frequently
than any other officer in the service, the subject
of conversation among the soldiers, and among
thepeople at large. On the march, in the biouvac
around camp fires, in family circles, in all places
of popular resort, he was the favorite theme Of
discourse. The people were ever eager to know
where he was, what he was doing, what he in
tended to do; and all information respecting lis
acts. his plans and probable purposes, was re-
ceived with an avidity which showed how deem
was the interest felt in everything with which he
had any connection. Nor was his name house
hold word in Virginia, and in the Confederacy
alone. No name has been more widely honored
utes to his memory now daily appearing in Brit
ish and continental journals, give expressive tes
timony to the estimate in which he was held
wherever courage, and patriotism, and piety are
revered throughout the world.
1t may be interesting to dwell for moment
on the characteristic qualities which secured to
General Jackson this universal homage.
As before the war he was comparatively little
known, it was his military reputation, of course,
which at first arrested the attention ofthe coun-
try. But this does not account for the peculiar
estimation in which he was held. Other CON-
mandels have been as skillful and as fortunate.
who have failed to elicit the kind OF admiration
he excited. 1t was not to his achievements in
the field alone that we must ascribe the peculiar
reputation he Obtained, but to certain moral ex.
cellencies, nlost happily blended, which gave to
his character that symmetrical development which
has SO rarely been exhibited by men of his pro-
fession. And first among these would specify
his single-eyed devotion to duty, unaccompanied
by any selfish aims. No man was ever more de.
void OF personal ambition. The question with
him was not what men will think or saw. but
what is RIGHT.
He cared nothing for criticism, nothing for the
misrepresentation that might temporarily result
from measures which others did not comprehend
because the time had not come for max ing known
the reasons that led to their adoption. He was
willing to wait for the verdict of time-the great
or, if the verdict did not come. was
willing to do withoutitif he but had the approval
of his own conscience. He was singularly reti-
cent with regard to his own purposes. His own
officers were not always advised of his plans
and they were sometimes restive under the seem.
ing want of confidence which such silence an.
peared to imply. He kept his own counsel, and
when he had decided upon what he thought best
ne went forward to its execution with direct.
vuh oh fhxv,or
from no responsibility where he believed himself
to be right. And regardless of his own fame,
absorbed as he was in his intense devotion to
duty, ne obtained what he never sought, and
though he cared little for the discoyery-in only
aiming to do right, he was rewarded in finding
that the world gave him renown.
1t need not be added that no such mean emo.
ton as that of envy or jealousy could find place
IN such bosom.
While detraction and SANDER have been rife in
the camp OF the enemy, and one general after
another with basest arts has striven to supplant
his superior, it Is refreshing to note how those
highest IN command In our army have only WED
in laying laurels at each others feet. The ad-
rniration and love Of jackson for Lee was IN
feigned and intense = and it was all returned
On hearing Of Jackson's wound, Lee wrote -
81 cannot express my regret at the occurrence.
If could have directed events, [ should have
chosen, Tor the good of the country, to have
been disabled in your stead. congratulate you
upon the victory, which is due to your skill and
energy
Another characteristic trait was his rare mod
esty OF demeanour, and freedom from everything
ike pretenslon In his intercourse with others
In private circles he preferred to let others lead
In tne conversation. When with a congenial
friend, he talked with animation if the topic were
one IN Which he was interested; but IN mixed
companies he was more inclined to listen than to
speak. never knew man, in any position o.
life, more free from stilted, artificial dignity
Nothing could be more simple and unpretendine
than his manner. Unlike some military men
who seem to delight in making subordinate off
GERS feel their diaparity OF rank, he never seem
ed to think of rank at all, and was as polite to
private as to the President. In riding through
his camp, when the men saluted him as he passed
he invariably raised his cap from his head, in
stead of returning the abrupt recognition of thei
courtesy with which some officers content them
selves. He never courted, but rather shunne'