Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-12
Thrilling Auecdolo of stOnowalI jackson

Thrilling AuecdOle of stOnewalI jackson.
A United States officer, who signs him
self E. A. W. and was Cadet in the Vir-
ginis Military Institute, at Lexington,
where Stonewan Jackson was Professor,
in q letter to the Philadelphia Press gives
the following exciting anecdote of that
strange individual:
"He was drilling the Sd class With the
fed guns, in the manual Of loading and
firing Cadet, as No. l, was at the
muzzle Of the gun, and it was his duty to
sponge the gun after each discharge.
Now, IN really firing the guns, it is very
important to The safety of No. that he
should "2p0nge' carefully, but as no pow
der was being used, and there could be no
danger, Cadet-thOught it unnecessary
to be very particular. so he undoubtedly
did his work carelessly. The Major, who
WGs really a good artillery officer saw his
neglect, and ordered him to sponge again
Angered at being ordered by name to re-
pest his duty, for the esprit du corps was
very high, and mortified that the lockers
on should think he really did not know
how to do it, Cadet-repeatedt the spong-
ing in q still more careless manner. Jack
son, cold and stern, ordered himto sponge
again. 1t now became a struggle Of will
between them. Cadet -, with flashing
eyes, his handsome face flushed with
shame at the awkward position into which
his folly had brought him, and yet too
proud to yield now that all eyes were on
hin, esponged again" improperly, until, on
being ordered in the same cold, stern,
voice, to repeat the operation for the sew
enteenth time, he threw the rod on the
ground, and ood glsncing defiance at his
torment1r. 1t was a most uncomfortable
moment for all. Such a gross breach of
discipline had never occurred in the class
before, and all looked with anxiety for the
result. No one could get a chance to
speak to recall him to his senses, for all
had their own positions to fill, and though
the attentions of Major had been given
exclusively to the delinquent for some
minutes, he had not authorized any one
to cult his post Without another word,
jackson approached the mutineer, and
raising his sword over his head, said in
the same tone that he had used from the
first ''Take up that ramrodl" !" 1t was
scene for a painter. The handsome boy
soldier (he was not more than seventeen
VI bAEntocul uubuGA WIN budAlp anu uL-
ger the earnest faces of the excited ca
dets-the cold determination written on
every feature of the oficer-the~ huge,
bright sabre raised over the fair head of
one, who, with all his faults Of temper, was
well beloved by his fellows made an
incident never to be forgotten. own, for
one, my heart beat faster-fOr 1t was IS
evident as dsy, that if not Obeyed, Jack
son would cut him down For a moment
they stood thus-and then poor -stoop-
ed slowly, and taking up the rod, stood to
his post Without the slightest change in
his voice but slowly bringing his sabre to
'the carry the Major repeated his order,
sponge againP Conquered, but with tears
Of anger in his eyes and heaviDg breast,
young-obeyed and did it properly.
That's better, was all that Jackson said
about it. He turned away as if nothing
had happened, and went on with the exer-
else Of the whole class. Such things as
this live long time in the memory, and
who can tell how much Of his future as
cendapcy over the Virginia forces depend
ed on his infexible resolution 10 be obey
ed to the letter, by the refractory No. Of
the six FOUNDER battery"