Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-04
DAILY LEADER.
ST0NEWALL ia IKSnM.
some stories and "Reminiscences OF
--- Him. 81 -.

- hAAbCl III tn6 E6W "
Daily Neacs, who is evidently a great ad
mirer of S~tonewalI jackson, writes som,
anecdotes ofhim, from which we extract
At Malvern Hill, General - received
an order from Jackson to advance and at
tack the Federal forces in their fortified
position, for which purpose he must move
across an open field swept by their artiI
lery. General - was always 'imprac.
ticable," thoughthoroughly brave, and gal
ioping up TO jackson, said almost rudely
"Did you send me an order to advance
over that ield?" 'I did, sir, was the cold
reply of jackson, in whose eyes. began to
glow the light of a coming storm. DIM
possible, sirr' exclaimed General -, in
a tone almost of insubordination, amy men
will be annihilated l-annihilated, I tell
you, sirP jackson raised his finger, and
in his cold voice there was an accent of
menace which cooled his opponent like a
hand of ice.
General -" he said, III always en-
deavor to take care of my wounded and to
bury my dead. Obey that order, sir n
The officer who was present at this scene
and related it to me, decleres that he never
saw a deeper suppression of concentrated
anger than that which shone in Jackson's
eyes, or heard human voice more menac-
ing.
The world knocks down many people
with that cry of q eccentric" by which is
really meant "insane." Any divergence
from the conventional is an evidence of
mental unsoundness. jackson was seen
once in Lexington walking up and down
in a heavy rain before the s~uperinten-
dents quarters, walking for the clock to
strike ten before he delivered his report.
He wore wooden clothes throughout the
summ@. He would never mail a letter
which, to reach its destination, must travel
on Sunday. All these things made him
laughed at, and yet the good sense seems
all on his side, the folly on that of the
laughers. The institute was a military
school, military obedience was the great
important lesson to the student-rigid, I'M
questioning obedience. jackson set them
the example. He was ordered to hand in
his report at ten, and did not feel himself
at liberty to present it before ten, in con-
sequence of the rain. He was ordered to
don a wooden uniform in the winter, and, |
having received no order prescribing or
permitting another, continued to wear it.
~ IL N4OhE LldNGl vi Gritty I
mails on Sunday, and would not take part
in the commission of wrong. This ap-
pears logical at least, however eccentric. |
He rode ungracefully, walked with an
awkward stride, and wanted ease of man
ner. He never lost a certain shyness in
company, and l remember his air of boy
'sh restraint, one day, when, in leaving an
apartment full of friends, he hesitated
whether to shake hands with every one or
not. Catching the eye of the present
writer, who designed remaining, he hast
lily extended his hand, shook hands, and
retired, apparently relieved. His
thus wanted ease but, personally,
he made a most agreeable impression by
his delightfully."- natural courtesy. His
smile was as sweet as a child's, and eVi-
iently sprung from his sounduess of heart.
lady said it wa "angelic." His voice
n ordinary conversation was subdued and
pleasant from its friendly and courteous
one, though injured by the acquired habit
"a West Pointism-Of cutting off, so to
peak, each word, and leaving each to take
of itself. This was always observa-
lie in his manner of talking; but briefest
# the brief, curtest of the curt, was Gen
raj Stonewall jackson on the field of bat
lie and "at work. His words were then
ct fall as though under protest all super !
luities were discarded; and the monosyl- 4,
ables jerked from his lips seemed clipped
fl, one by one, and launched to go upon !
ways. The eccentricities of the .
Individual were doubtless a strong element ;
f his popularity-the DR. IS, habits, bear :
ng of the man, all made his soldiers like +
i'm. General Lees air of imposing dig l
ity, mingled with a certain grave and I
pride, aroused rather admiration =
han affection. Jackson's appearance and I
manner, on the contrary, were such as
onciliate a familiar, humorous liking.
lis dingy old coat, than which scarce, a r
in his command was more faded !
is dilapidated and discolored cap the i
beence of decorations and all show in d
is dress his odd ways his kindly, sim u
lie, familiar manner; his habit of sitting !.
and eating with his men; his indif- u
renee whether his bed were in a COM r
,rtable h~eadquarter tent, on a camp :;
ouch, or in a fence corner with no shelter u
the rain but his cloak; his abstemi- .
lsness, fairness, honesty, simplicity; his :,
ever falling regard for the comfort and :
le feelings of the private soldier; his g
eccentricities and Originalities- =
were an unfailing ~provoeation to fun, y
nd endeared him to his men. Troops are =
harmed when there is any thing in the .
ersonal character of a great leader to q
fun of'@admiratiOn of this genius !
len becomes enthusiasm for his person. :
had aroused the enthusiasm in q
men-and it was a weapon with which .,
struck hard. a
One of the most curious peculiarities of y
ackson was the strange fashion he had of (
Using his right hand aloft and then let =
ng it fall suddenly to bis side. 1t is i'm ~
perhaps, to determine the mean a
G Of this singular gesture. 1t is said Ia,
at he had some physical ailment which q
thus relieved others believed that at "
oh moments he was praying. Either
ay be the fact. Certain it is that he of
n held his hand-sometimes both hands /,
thus aIoft in battle, and that his lips y
ere then seen to move, evidently in -
aver. Not once, but many times, has =
g singular spectacle been presented of a ~
~eutenant General commanding sitting ~
his horse silently as his column moves 81
fore bim-his hands raised to Heaven h,
: eyes closed his lips moving in prayer. y
lie officer told me that at DhancellOrs- n
lie, as he recognized the corpsss of any a.
his old veterans, he would check his y,
rise, raise his hands to Heaven, and ut4 y,
: a prayer over the dead body. -