Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-05-29
GEN.L JACKSON.

The Richmond Sentinel learns some very
ctfious circumstances connected with Gen
T. j. Jackson's appointment to the Pro-
lessons Chair in the Virginia Military In
stitute.
The appointment vas made in 1851
when the vacancy ogeurred which Jackson
vas destined to fill, ten. Smith, the sdper-
intendent, was instructed by the Board of
Visitors to seek by private enquiries, some
one suitable for the position. Among
those to whom he first applied was Gen. D.
II. Hill. then a professor in Washington
College, we believe Hill warmly recon-
mended r j. Jackson, then serving in the
army 10 Florida. Hill at that time had no
family connection with Jackson; bat lie
knew him we'll and with penetration ind
sagacity that did him much credit, declared
that he was not only competent, faithful,
reliable man, but had great deal of tout
CON e" In him.
Repairing subsequently, to West Point,
Gen Smith addressed his enquiries to the
faculty there. They recommended as eli
gible for the position. Mcclellan, Roscn-
cranz, Foster, Peck, and Gustavus W.
Smith: the first four nov noted Federal
Generals, and the last an officer Of high
rank 10 our own service, until his late res
ignation. Upon Gen. Smiths stating that
Jackson had been recommended, they said
Of him that he was an indcfatigable man,
and would do we'll bat he had come to the
academy badly prepared Enquiries at
New York and Fortress Monroe, further
developed the fact that the persons recon-
mended at West Point. were considered
better book men than jackson, but all bore
testimony to Jackson's great personal worth
and energy, and his sterling qualities.
When the Board of Visitors met, Gen
eral Smith reported the name Of Jackson 70
the Board together with statement of
the recommendations and encomiums al
ready referred to.
1t happened that there was on the Board
a member who appeared there on that oc-
casion for the first tire and the last. He
at once advocated Jackson's appointment,
though evidently taken by surprise at the
suggestion Of his name. He spoke in very
high terms of Jackson, whose townsman
be said he was, and told Of the great pleas
ure which his appointment would give to
the people Of Northwest Virginia The
man who thus eulogised jackson was j. S.
Garlic. He was the only one of the
Board who knew Jackson, and he warmly
advocated him before that jury Of strangers.
Influenced by what they had thus heard
the Board. without the usual delays. at
once ordered the appointment to be ten
dered to Jackson. The state OF his health
at the time aided in causing him TO accept
lit
Ofal the gifted men with whom Gener-
al jackson was thus brought into compar-
ison and to whom he was adjudgcd by all
save Hill and his Virginia friends, to be
inferior, which one of them has he not inn
measurably outstripped. in the exhibition
of high capacity and Christian virtue, a
virtue sublimer than Roman ever knew
They were ranked before him, but the in
spiration within him, and which needed only
occasion to develope it, swiftly asserted it's
authority, and poured mockery on the
judgement of short-sighted men attracted
by the brightness of outside tinsel. jack
son will live in the admiration of the world
and the affections Of great republic, long
after those whose prospects for fame and
distinction seemed fairer. shall have been
even forgotten.