The mountain Democrat., 1863-12-12
BIOEraphiCAl skOtCh OF stOnswal
jackson
BY AMMO DoMINI.

Mr.. Editor Your correspondent has
seen nany biographical sketches of the
renowned Stonewall," but oil abound in
inconsistencies, untruths and inaccura-
cics. In the hands Of some historians,
his life, like the short India rubber blan.
ket of along soldier, is stretched to suit
the subject; 10 others, this eventful histo.
ry has become as lump Of clay in the
hands Of a child-capabfc'Of any degree
Of distortion or beauty from q Ilindoo
idol to winged statute Of Apolion the
Lovely. Some there be who declare him
a myth, a will % -the.wisp, dancing Jack
Of the wilderness, a creation of the mind
or any amount of minds-disordered !;
but they err, Mr.. Editor. Stonewall Jack
son is q fixed fact, n melancholy fact, a
stubborn fact and that his life may not
60 down into darkness, that bis deeds of
daring may not be wiped out forever, like
a sum in simple division on school boys
slate, a historian is needed-One that is
capable, faithful and unbiased; like those,
for instance, who do the biographical
sketches for the New York morning dai.
lies-One who is wholly competent, and
that careth not pin for Northern praise
nor Southern commendation in brief,
one like those who write the biographical
histories for the papers aforesaid. Such
an one is "Anno Domini," and he here
with presents history which, be is will
ing to tAke his affidavit, is as reliable and
worthy as though it was written for one
of those immaculate sheets-the New
York dailies.
Stonewall jackson was born very early
in life-in fact, SO young was he at that
interesting period that the date thereof
lurketh not in his own memory, nor yet
in that Of his present biographer. Suffi-
cient be it to say, he was born. The an
cestry Of 8. j. has hitherto been shrouded
in doubt. Some have asserted that he is
descended from Jack, surnamed the Gil
ant-Killer, and that the "seven league
boots" Of j., the G. K, are yet in his pos
session, which accounts for the celebrity ol
his movements. Others declare him to
be an ofShoot of the Jacobin family, the
founder of which was Jackaloo, the Chi.
nese Pirate. They are all wrong, Mr..
Editor. Stonewall jackson Is descended
in q curved line from the Wandering jew.
In early times, the Jew family vas rich,
but, on an evil day, the head of 1t went
down into Egypt, "bucked" against Pha-
roah, and came back with nary shekel,
having lost them all in that interesting
game. From that time till the discovery
Of the Mississippi river, the family was
too poor to have name. Stonewall's
grandfather ran flatboat on the aforesaid
river, and was extravagantly fond of the
classic game of "old sledge." lie mar
ried, and in the course of time had four
sons, whom he named-to commemorate
his favOrite game-High, Low, Jack, and
Game. Jack followed the example Of bis
father, married, and had one son, the sub
ject of this sketch, who was naturally call.
ed Jacks son, and, in course Of time,
jackson. The family trait turks in Stone.
wall, for at any critical stage Of the game,
he is sure to "turn up" and become the
trump.
Young Jackson in his youth gave great
promise Of future usefulness, SO much SO
that, when he was sent to school, be in
variably ran away to play "tag" and
"leap-frog;" to the constant practice o.
which be owes his agility. One day,
Jackson pater, learning of his sons tru
ancy, determined to chastise it out Of him,
and 30 cOllared the incipient hero, and
bent him over bis knee, thus throwing q
prominent part Of the youth into bold re-
lief Mrs. jackson (the mother) then
seized shirt.board with both hands and
proceeded to bring the youngster to O
sense of his duty by divers ponderous
blows. Young Jackson squirmed like q
fshwOrm, but, With that Spartan firmness
that has ever characterized him, shed moi
tear. At about the fortieth blow, the
old lady paused while the old gent eased
on his hold and inquired, "My son, wilt
thou 60 to school in future 2" The young
hero raised his head, wiped his sleeve
across hiaAno and, looking up into bis
fathers face, said, 81 say, old gentleman,
why am like q cabin passenger on q ca
nal boat" " My son, l know not, sage.
ly observed jackson, senior. Why"
said the young incorrigible, with know.
ing wink, "because ! am boarded astern!"
The poor, outraged father could only
eiacnlat4 Board him again. old lady.
board him again" "Not l." said the
mother, dropping the shirt.board; Syou
might as well larEup q STONE WALL"
From that day to this, the hero has
gone by the name Of Stonewall jackson.
+" But, mother, said the father, as the re.
leased youth skedaddled out of The room,
to finish his game Of "tag," "what shall
we do with the boy" "Do?-whv. send