The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-09-01
RECOLI'ECTIONs OF sTOHEWALL
JACKSON

q.
John Esten Cooke, abounds ia anecdotes Of the
great hero, which show ylmpSes of the inner mau
which dissertation on his character could CON
vey to the public. =" Mystery, mystery is the
! secret oi success was an expression used BY len.
jackson very Citea, aud the people eau never be
! tired reading evep the slightest unr eihg OF this
mysterious man.. whom they almost wolshippeG.
We make several extracts fIom the work:
! jackson at KersStopn.-.At Kernstown, when a
portion OF his ilne gave back before the over
whelmlns numbers assaihng it, he took his staud
close to the enemy amid a storm Of bullets called
to drummer boy, and, placing his hand frmly
upon the boys shoulder, said in his brief. curt
tones, 'Bcat tie rady.' The rally was beaten
jackson remained by the drummers side, holding
MIN TO his work with the iuexo7able hand upon
the shoulder, the rally continued t. roll, aud the
linc .w2s speedily reformed
Tie parting wih the old Stoac,caH ByjgaJe.
Zen. Jackson ordered 70 the Valley, his
old brigade left behind with the Army of
Northern Virginia. On the 4th of October he
took leave Of it, The historian SAYS:
On that day jackson took leave of his old
First Brigade" The officers and men were
drawn up as though in line of battle, aud their
commander appeared in 'front.' he had SO often
appeared before when about ~ give the order for
a charge upon the enemy. But now no enlhu-
s!asm, no cheers awaited him. All knew Tor what
purpose lie came, aud the sorrow which filled
every heart betrayed itself in ttc deep siierco
which greeted his approach. Not a sound along
the line, not hand raised in greeting not mur.
mur even going to show that they recognized their
beloved captain The bronzed faces were full of
the deepest detection and the stern fighters Of the
old brigade were like children about to be separa-
ted FROM their father. jackson approached, and
mastering hss emotion by an effort said In the
short, abrupt tones with which all were 50 familiar:
Il am not here TO make a speech, but siaply to
say farewell 1 first met you at Harpcr's Ferry III
the commencement Of this war, and | cannot take
leave of you without giving expression to my ad-
mir1tion Of your conduct from that dav to this
whether on the march, the bivouac the trutcd
field, the bloody plains Of Manassas, wi.,rc
you gained the well deserved rcpuia alton "i having
decided the fate of the tattie. Throughout the
broad extent of country over which YOU have
marched, by your respect for the rights and the
property Of citizens, you have shown that you were
soldiers, only to Defend but able aud wIlina
both to defend and protect You have already
gained a brilliant and dcscrvcdly high reputation
throughout the Srmy of toe whole Contederacy
aud | trust, in the future, 10y your dce,ie on the
field, and by the assistance of the same kind
Providence who has heretofore favored our cause
you will gain victories and add additional
lustre to the reputation you now enjoy. You have
already gained a proud position in :hc future
history of this second war Of Independence
| shall look with great anxiety to your future
movements, and trust Whenever | shall hear Of
the FicH B,fgode the field Of battle it will he
of still! noblcr deeds and higher reputation won :"
Having gathered these words Jackson paused for
an instant, and his eye passed slowly along the
lirc, as though he wished thus to bid farewell III
individually 10 every Old familiar face, often
seen in the heat Of battle, and 50 dear to Lim
l. | IL .: 4 l.
more than he could bcar-hc could not leave them
with such formal words only-and that iron lp
which lad never trcmbltd in the hour Of deadest
peril now guivercd. Mastered by an uncontroIla-
bic impulse, the great soldier rose in his srrups,
threw the reins on the neck Of his horse with an
m2Iasis which sent a thrill through every heart,
and extending his arm, added in tonts of the
deepest feeling:
"In the army OF the Shenandoah you we're The
First Briyodc! In the army OF the Potomac you
were the First Brjgodc! In the second corps of
the army you are the Fiyt Briy'o3e' Iou are the
First Brtgadc in the affections of your General;
and | hope by your future deeds aud bearing You
will be handed down TO rostcrity as the First
Briyodc in this our secoLd var Of iudcrcudeuce
Farewell"
As the last words ccbucG in their cars, and
Jackson turned to leave them, tho long pent up
feeling burst forth. Three .prol3ugcd aud doaicn-
ug cheers rolled along the line Of the old brigade
and no sooner had they died away than. they were
renewed, and gain. renewed. The calm lace Of
the great leader flushed as he listened to that
sound, but he did not speak Waving his hand in
token of farewell he gailoped away, and the Old
brigade deprived OF ts beloved chief returned
slowly and sorrowfulfy to camp.
Jachs2n's opinion ef on o9ranc. in'o lie
Encmy's couaty.-Jackson wrote TO a friend,
who was the recipient Of his private feelings:
Il am cordially with you in favor Of carrying
the war north Ct the Py'onac'
1t would appear that, lron the beginning Of his
military career, be had looked ioI ward to iva
sion OF the chcmy's territory as the only certain
means Of bringing The war to an end; and, il his
aJrcptIy Terminated caMpagn low4id KoD.nsy IN
J4Gulry be altculiyeiy studied, il %ilI leave the
impresai1n that even iuen, with The great force in
font OF him, he believed lat greater results would
I be achieved by forward movement and transfer
of h4sti!;iios to the region beyond the Potomac,
than by falling back and yielding possession OF the
Valley, II IL oyerrIn and pluDdcred BY The enemy
IL 0du0nce seems, indeed to have been the
prime nazim Of this great man 5 military phi!'
osophy-to strike the Zoe without waiting 10 be
stuck BY hinl-to make hiD ieei the hofrors ol
war aud his Own homes, and thus mpressing upon
tire DeDpie Of the North the ar1cious nature OF the
cente.4 compel an early peace.
4 .jca,., Of tie Greof Leoder-He wore an
old san-embrowned coat, OF gray cloth, Originally
a yerv plain one, and now almost out At elbows
~ coll II sun -embroWned however is scsrcciy tC