American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-01-02
VOL. XIII.
BIOGRAPHY OF sToxEWALL JACKSON.

a humorous biography of StonewaIl Jackson
We make the following extracts
Yoar correspondent has seen many biogra-
phical sketches of the renowned . Stonewaii:
but they all abound in Inconsistencies, un-
truths, and inaccuracies. In the hands of
some historians his life, like the short India
rubber blanket of long soldier, is stretched
to suit the subject. To others this eventful
history has been as q lump of clay in the
hands of a ehild-capable of any degree of
plastic distortion or beauty, from a Hindoo
idol to winged statuette of ApoIlyon the
Lovely. Some there be who declare him a
myth, a will-o'- the-wisp, a dancing lack Of
the wilderness. the creation of a mind-or
any amount of minds-dfsordered but they
err, Mr.. Editor. Stonewall Jackson is a
fixed fact, a melancholy fact stubborn
fact and that his life may not go down into
darkness, that his deeds of daring may not
be wiped out forever like sum in simple di-
vision on school boys slate, historian is
needed-one that is faithful capable aud un-
biased like those, for instance who do the
biographical sketches for the New York
morning daihes-one that is wholly compe-
tent, and that careth not pin for Northern
praise nor Southern commentator in brief,
one like those who write the biographical
histories for the papers aforesaid Such an
one is Ammo Domini, and lie herewith pre-
sents q history which he is willing 10 ta Ike
his affidavy is as reliable and worthy as
though it was written for one of those i'm
maeulate sheets-the New York dailies.
Stonewall Jackson was born very early in
life-in fact, go young was he at that inter-
esting period of his history, that the date
thereof lusketh not in his own memory, nor
yet in that Of his present biographer. Suffi-
cient be it to say, he BORN. The auces-
try of 5 j has hitherto been shrouded ia
doubt. Some have asserted that he is de-
scended from Jack, surnamed the Giant
Killer, and that the y seven league boots " of
the aforesaid j. the G.. X. yet in his
! pc session, which accounts for the celebrity.
of his movements. Others declare him to be
an otfshoot of the Jacooin family, the found
er of which was Jackaloo the Chinese Pirate.
| They all wrong, Mr.. Editor; Stonewall
Jackson is descended in a carved line from
the Wandering Jew. In early. time the Jew
family was rich, but one evil day the head of
/ il went down info Egypt, g bucked against
Pharoah, 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 a name. StonewaiFs grandfather ran
tlatboat the aforesaid river, and was ex-
itravagantly fond of the classic game of q old
1 sledge.p He married, and in the course of
time had four sons, whom he named--to
commemorate his favorite game-High, Low,
Jack, and the Game. Jack followed the ex-
ample OF his father, married, and had one
son, the subject of this sketch, who was
naturally called Jacks son, and in course of
4 time jackson. n 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 Ia his youth gave great
promise of future usefulness, so much so
that when he was sent to school he invaria-
/ bly, away to play tag aud = leap frog
to the constant study of which he. owes his
1 On II lac M Iaar of
his sons truancy, determined to chastise it
out of MIN, aud so collared the incipient
hero and bent him over his knee, thus throw
ing prominent part of the youth into bold
relief. Mrs. Jackson tthe mother) then
seized shirt board with both hands, and
proceeded to bring the youngster to a sense
of his duty by divers pGnderous blows.
! Young Jackson squirmed like fsh-worm
but, with that Spartan frmneSS that has ever
/ distinguished him, shed not tear. Al
about the fortieth blow the old lady paused,
while the old gentleman eased on his hold,
and inquired, Ny son, whist thou go to
school in future {? The young hero raised
his head, wiped his sleeve across his nose,
aud looking np into his fathers face, said
q | say, old gentleman, why am like cabin
passenger on canal boat 2? My son, /
knows not sagely observed Jackson, sen'r.
. Why said the young incorrigibie. with
Knowing wink, g it's because I am boarded
only calculate, 81 board him again, old lady,
board him again" Not /, said the moth
err, dropping the shirt board. :. GU might
as well larrup a StoaesraH.p
From that day TO this the hero has gone
hv the name of Stonewall Jackson. s.But,
MOTHER said the father, the released
youth skedaddled out of the room to finish
his game of tag, !" W hat shall we do with the
boy p q Do2 why send him to West Pint,
ne amt good for nothin' else" Stonewali
went to.West Point. Many interesting evelts
occurred during his pupilage there, but
following the example of the New York pa
pers-I condense.
Stonewall Jackson passed a creditable ex-
animation, and graduated number two from
the foot) of his clsss, and the rebellion
having just commenced, was Immediately
appointed Brigadier- General by the South
ern Confederaey-the United States Govern
snent paving his livery stable bill at West
Point and his passage to the rebel lines
While passing through army he stopped
to make sketch of our fortihcations, when
aa inconsiderate sentinel demanded his pass.
The seutinel WAS immediately sentenced To
be hung, but afterwards allowed to resign.
The New York papers have given such an
accurate account of Stonewall's military ex-
PLOTS that need no more than give brief
epitome, taken from that same reliable
source.
His first battle was at Bull Run. in 1861,
where he slew a whole division OF the FEEDER
al army with his own hand, and then got
slowed himself. In this battle both armies
were defeated but, unfortunately, neither
of them found It ont in time to take advan-
tage of it. The Union army was greatly
outnnmberesi but gained material adyan-
tace {see Mods dispatohes.)
In June. 1862, he took command of 100000
men. (see Northern papers of that date and
turned his attention TO the political economy
of the Shenandoah Valley. Not liking the
state of the currency there, be determined to
abolish Ranks ia doing which several des-
perate battles were fought, in all Of which,
though outnnnbered, our troops 4 gained
material advantsge,n (see B-k's dispatches
but our cavalry horses becoming THIRSTY, the
army fell back TO the Potomac to water
lem