Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-06-27
"StOne wall Jac ksOn'' at the VirgiMia
Military 1nstAtute, IT Lexington.

A correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Press gives the following particulars Of
the career of Gen. jackson while at the
Virginia Military Institute
Jackson came to Lexington during the
summer of 1851, think. he took charge
Of the artillery drill. His rank was that
Of Major, in the service of the State of
Virginia. never heard any one express
a belief that he was "smart" man; on
the contrary, he was looked upon as being
slightly cracked" This may appear
very strange now, but to body OF gay
young men, with whom nea,ness of dress
aud equipment, and graceful carriage,
were considered essential to long contin.
aance in the corps,' Jackson had fea.
lures and ungraceful manners, and harsh,
nasal tones in command, and the stern.
! ness with which he treated his subordi
mates, were sure to bring him into ridicule;
and, on bis pushing, as he did. the slight
est appearance of disrespees or inatien~
tion, with what was considered unnecessa
ry severity, be became hated. Still, he
was not Intentionally unjust. and in the
course of time, when they came 10 know
his ways better, and he began to feel the
difference between the regular troops
whom he had SO long been accustomed to
command, and the young gentlemen who
were now under his order, better feeling
arose, and, though hardly be said to be
liked, there was, within couple OF years
after his advance at the Institute, q grow
ing feeling Of respect for bis ability ss an
artilierist his devotion to his duties, and
bis firm. unyielding sense of justice in
dealing with his class. have seen in the
papers some account of difficulty be had,
during the 6rst year Of his prefessorship,
With Cadet -. The account, though
-, p;~hmnnd napers. does
not 'ally WIN my 's."''aaction of the affair.
The difficulty, think, commenceu W
some trifing impropriety on the part Of
the Cadet in the recitation room, or section
room, as the apartments in which the pro,
fessors met their classes we're called in
cadet language. Jacksan ordered him to
leave the room "under arrest Cadet
-, surprised at what he felt gross in.
justice, SO far forgot himself as TO attempt
to explain, when Jackson ordered him to
oe removed. In his anger Cadet -
used expressions which, in the strict dis
ciplinc enforced at the Institute, left no
alternative but bis dismissal or Jackson's
resignation. Cadet was of course
discharged. l have my doubts about the
story Of having waited for him. l
never heard of it at the time, and my op-
portunities were ample l believe that
Cadet did threaten to kill him, and
that jackson carried weapons Of some
kind, either a cudgel or knife, to defend
himself with, but no meeting ever took
place that heard Of. The Richmond
paper speaks of Cadet - wild
boy l think be was nearly, if not quite
six feet high, and very 6ne looking
man, of twenty-five. Being in the first
class, and within few months Of his di-
| ploma, be could net have been under
twenty, and looked much older. During
this period, however Jackson gave a proof
Of his iron nerves, far more in accordance
with his subsequent career than the silly
expressions which the Richmond paper
puts in his mouth. As the Maj or passed
along the front of the barracks, some one
Il know not whether it was the wild
boy" or not) dropped a brick from the
top of the barracks, an immense height
so that it should fall Immediately in from
of that enormous pair of boots whicf
jackson wore, and which gave rise to one
of the nicknames by which he was at frs
called by the younger cadets. / saw th'
brick fall as sat in the window within
twenty feet Of the spot started at hi
danger, but the brave fellow did not eve'
raise his eyes, but strobe on without be
traying any consciousness of what hat
occurred. was told that on being aske'
why he had not tried to detect the guilt
party, Jackson answered that he woul
not honor such uiscreant BY noticin
him at ALL or something to that effect
Very few, however, even believed tha
there was any design to hit hint wa
done, no doubt, to enjoy laugh at hi
expense; but it had the effect of raisin
his reputation, and another nickname wa
) added to bis already ample supply-ths
Of +" Old Hickery.' Another instance Z
bis determination to enforce disciplin
even in trifes, and Of the stern characte
Of the man occurs to me just now. Il
, was drilling the Sd class with field gum
in the manual Of loading aud firing. C'