Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-04
BIOGRAPHY OF sTONEWALL JACKSON


Of his history, that the date lurketh not in his own
memory. not yet in that of his present bisgrapher.
Sufficient be it to say, he was BORN. The ancestry
OF s. >. has hitherto been shrouded in doubt. Some
have asserted that he is descended from Jack, sur
named the Giant Killer, and that the "seven-league
boots of the aforesaid j. the G. K are yet in his
possession, which accounts for the celebrity of his
movements. Others declare him to be an offshoot
OF the jackson family, the founder of which was
Jackson the Chinese Pirate. They are all wrong.
Mr. Editor; Stonewall Jackson is descended in a
| curved line from the Wandering Jew. In early
time the Jew family was rich, but one evil day the
head of it went down into Egypt "bucked"
against Pharaoh, 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. Stone
wallis grandfather ran fatboat the aforesaid
river, and was extravaganty fond Of the classic
game of "old sledge." lie 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 example of his
father, married. and had son, the subject ofths
sketch, who was naturally called Jacks son, and in
course OF time jackson a family trait turks in
Stonewall, 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 be was
sent to school he invariably away play "tag"
and "leap freq" to the constant study of which
he owes HIS agility. One day Jackson's pare learn
| ing OF his sons truancy, determined to clastise it
out of him, and so coared the incipient hero and
bent him over his knee thus throwing a prominent
part Of the youth into bold relief Mrs jackson (the
mother) then seized a shirt board with both hands
and proceeded to bring the youngster to sense of
his duty by divers ponderous blows Young jack
| son squirmed like fish-worm but with that Spar
tan trnness that has ever distinguished him, shed
not tear At about the fortieth blow the old lady
paused while the old gent eased on his hold and
inquired, ~ son, wilt thou 60 to school in flu
| turs? The young hero raised his head, wiped his
sleeve across bis nose, and looking up into his
fathers faesiDaid Isay, old gentleman, why am
like cabH passenger on a canal boat" My
son. know not" sagely observed jackson senior.
why" said the young incorigibe, with know
ing wink, "i:s because am boarded oste'n." The
enraged father could only calculate, board him
again. old lady, board him again." Is Not >" said
the mother, dropping the shirt board. "You might
as well larup Stoacwal'
From that day to this the hero has gone by the
name of Stonewall Jackson. But mother" said
the father, the released youth skedadd!ed out of
the room to finish his game of tag, "What shall
We do with the boy ~ DO? why send him to
West Point he amt good for nothing else."-
Slonewal went to West Point Many interesting
events occurred during his puplage there, but
following the example Of the New York papers
| condense.
Stonewall jackson passed credtable examina-
ton, and graduated number two from the fooU Of
his class and the rebellion having just commenced
was Immediately appointed Brigadier General by
the Southern Confederacy the United States Gov.
eminent paying his livery stable bill at West Point
and his passage to the rebel lines. While passing
through our army he stopped to make sketch OF
our Notifications, when an inconsiderate sentinel
demanded his pass. The sentinel was Immediately
sentenced to be hung, oufwas afterwards allowed
to resign
The New York papers have given such an accu.
rate account Of Stonewalrs military exploits that
need no more than give brief epitome, taken from
that same reliable source.
His first battle was q. Bull Run, in 1861, where
he slew q whole division of the Federal army with
his own hard and then got slowed himself In
this battle both armies were defeated !; but unfor-
tunately, neither of them found it out in time to
take advantage of it. The Union army was greatly
outmanaged but "gained a material advantage"
(see McDs dispatches.)
In June, 1862, he took command of SOC, 900 men,
(see Northern papers of that date) and turned his
attention to the political economy of the Shenan-
doah Valley. Not liking the state of the currency
there, he determined to abolish Banks in doing
which several desperate battles were fought in all
cf which, though outnumbered, our troops gam.
i ed material advantage" (see B-k's dispatehes,)
but our cavalry horses becoming thirsty, the army
fell back to the Potomac to water them.
Jacksons horses, also being dry, he pushed on
for the same watering place, but learning that Ere
mont had cut loose, fell back. Fremont following,
desperate engagement took place at Front hoyai,
in which Stonewall would have been annihilated,
had not the u S. Government stopped the battle
IN. Y 7ri6) to hold court Of inquiry to see if
Fremont had not paid three postage stamps too
much for bushel of oats, furnished through Cal
ifornia friend, to a horse of his body guard While
the court was in sessions .Stonewall skedadded-
Fremont followed, however, and would have bag
,,<l,a
Herald and travelled North while Jackson was
going South Getting safe back to Richmond,
Stonewa bore leading part in the battles in front
of that doomed" (see all the papers) city.
According to the Northern prints, jackson sui
fered terribly person in these battles. lie lost
at Gainesville The next day while leading his
corps into battle at Savages, his horse banked in
front of barrel of beans, which had been abandon
| ed by our army, and he was compelled to dismount
and 20 it on foot in doing which he lost his right
arm. The succeeding day he lost his left arm at
| Peach Orchard
Two DAYS after, at the battle of Malvern Hill, he
stopped down to fasten his shoe, and while in that
position his head was blown off by l03, 900 pound
she'll This was the unkindest cut of all but the
old veteran merely raised his martial form erect and
said my bleeding country, cheerfully make the
sacrifice Old head farewell!' These are but
few of the wounds the old man has recelved-accor-
|
comes that this modern Briareous lost another arm,
at Antietam ~
stonewall Jackson, in personal appearance, is
most unIovely-and it is said that he-like the
Ashantees-fles his teeth to a sharp point every
other morning. He stanos eleven feet five inches
for five feet eleven inches, am not certain which,
in his boots-when he has got any.
| His hair is bla OK and furnished to order 6y
Bachelor Of New York. In religion he is at times
a deyout Cathoc-ct least he followed, closely in
the footsteps Of the Pope during one Of his cam:
naipns-and at others he is a colportuer for the
american Tract Society-at any rate he has proba-
bly, left more tracks in Virginia than any , ots
and a9eor sms 70 Bbe pnGer one af~
he beu reads during the intervals of TIE fighting.
nc He e .bstemous in his hs hts having been known
to live nine days off Of one spdne ard barrel OF
h;sIv n IN dress he is exrem ely neat never wear