Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-06-03
"reminiscences of Stonowall jackson.


IN the course of my journeyings as
correspondent, I have met with many
old classmates and acquaintances of the
late rebel General Jackson, from whose
lips have heard much about him: and
as everything pertaining to this remark
able man seems to interest the public,
will set down two or three anecdotes
which have not yet found their way into
the public prints.
jackson, you know, was graduate Of
West Point in the class of 1846-consid-
cred the most remarkable class that ever
graduated from the Academy McClel-
Ian, Couch, Foster, Reno, Seymour, Stone
man, and others equally or less distin-
guished, belonged to it.
While at West Point, he was regarded
as decidedly dull and slow. 1t took him
three times as long to learn his tasks as
the average of the boys, but when he had
them, he had them aoeU. He was of a
retiring and .taeiturn disposition, but
whenever he spoke, his face would light
up with a pleasant smile. At this period
he used to fancy be had consumption, and
was wont to sit bolt upright at his meals.
Illustrative of the difficulty he had in
learning any thing, I remember an anec-
dote of General Seymour's. Seymour
was, at that time, learning to play on the
flute, and jackson (they were young
Lieutenants together) took it into his
head that he also would learn. He went
to work with his accustomed vigor and
perseverance, but he could not succeed in
learning to play even the simplest air
He blew six months on the first bar of
" Love Not and then gave it up in des-
pair. It is evident he had ono music in
his soul" and, if Shakespeare is to be
believed, he was, in this respect at least,
e fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils. "
The story of his behavior at Chepult-
epec I have seen given, but incorrectly
1t is thus jackson was Lieutenant in
command of Magruder's Battery. The
Fourteenth Regular Infantry was order
ed to charge up the road, but the fire was
heavy, and the men seemed disinclined
to advance. Perceiving this, Jackson
stepped out on the road, amid the show
er of missiles, exclaiming: You see, my
men, there is no danger, follow mel"
Whereupon they Immediately rushed for
ward to the charge.
At various periods of his life he was
afflicted with different forms of hypochon-
dria. One of his manias was to believe
that everything he eat aren't ao,on and
lodged IN his left legl At another time
he would never eat except by the watch,
at the precise moment; and he would
take out his watch, lay it on the table,
and eat at that moment. If the meal
was behindhand, he would not eat at all.
Probably camp life cured him of these
ecceptricities.
Current reports have stated that Jack
son was slovenly and rough in dress; in
action OF on the march not distinguisha-
bic from the sOmmon soldier. This, at
least lately, since he came into high COM
mand, seems to be incorrect In the
manuscript diary of a rebel engineer Of
fccr-which we found at the Chancellor
House, on our arrival, and now in cur
hands-among entries of the greatest in
terest and importance, extending over
several months, I find the following por-
trait of Stonewall Jackson. 1t is, you
will observe, a mere silhouette, but the
picture is almost Carlylean in its touch:
"March 25.-2 = x About dinner
time StOnewall jackson came over to
make visit to the General I went out
to ride and met him going away in the
road between headquarters and Mr.. Car
nett's. He was sweeping along at an
easy gallop on large handsome bay
passed so quickly that I had not time to
distinguish his features; nothing in him
to recall the caricaturcs which popular
veneration has delighted to make of the
pupular hero; handsomely dressed in full
Generals Uniform jaunty cap, full
black beard, and handsome horse; al
dazzling vision for one used to
our slovonly headquarters"
Jackson's mode of attack was peculiar,
even in the tactical formation of his
troops, and it was his own, He always
threw his men in, in columns of battal-
lions, about a two-company front, with
out skirmishers, resting on their colors,
and with yell peculiar to his men.
He was a gallant foe, and [ have heard
many an officer in the army declare he
would like nothing better, if we only had
this affair settled up, than to follow Stone
wall jackson into fight. His personal
loss to the rebel cause is immense; but he
has trained many able division Comman-
such as Early and the two
Hills. w. 5.