Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-09
sToNEw ALL JACKSON.

Under the heading Southern Generals in
Outline, Personal Sketches and Anecdotes"
the New York Ners has correspondent who
gives in the first Of promised series Of sketch
es Of Southern Generals, description Of the
personal appearance, traits, &c, Of the greatest
military genius OF the age. This writer says
that his position gave him many opportunities
Of seeing. in undress as it were, many OF the
most notable personages Of the time. He de-
scribes jackson as follows, as he appeared at
Cold Harbor;
Here is what jackson was like in harness on
the field of Cold Harbor The writer was sent
about Eve in the evening, just as A. P. Hill had
been repulsed from McCellan's admirable de-
fences, to ascertain whether Jackson's column
had gone in, and what his dispositions were
A group near an old log house was pointed out
to me, and going there ] asked for the General.
Some one pointed to figure seated on log
dingy, bending over and writing on his knees.
A faded yellow cap Of cadet pattern was
drawn over his eyes-hi< fingers holding pen
ell, trembled. His voice, in addressing Inc, was
brief, curt, but not uncourteous and then, his
dispatch having been sent, he mounted and rode
slowly, alone, across the field. A more curious
figure | never saw. He sat his raw-boned sor-
reI-not the " old sorrel, howrrer-hke an au-
tomaton. Knees drawn up. body leaning for
ward: the whole figure stiff, angular, unberl-
ding. His coat was the dingiest of the dingy-
originally gray, it seemed to have brought away
some of the dust and dirt Of every region in
which he had bivouacked. His faded cap was
pulled down so low upon the forehead that he
was compelled to raise his chin into the air to
look from beneath the rim. Under that rim
flashed two keen and piercing eyes-dark, with
a strange brilliancy, and full of fight" The
nose was prominent; the moustache heavy up
ON the firm lip, close set beneath; the rough,
brown beard did not conceal the heavy fighting
Jaw. All but the eyes were in apparent repose;
there was no longer any tremOr of anxiety
The soldier seemed to have made all his arrange
ments. adone his best and awaited the result
with entire coolness. There was even something
absent and distracted in his manner, as he rode
slowly to and fro, sucking lemon. and looking
keenly at you when you spoke, answering brief
/ " when necessary.
Twice more / saw him that day-frst in the
| the evening. in the midst Of furious shelling
riding slowly with General Stuart among hi'
guns: his face lit up by some burning brush
wood face perfectly cln and uninorei--
And again at midnight, when as l slept in
fence corner, ! felt hand on my shoulder, and
: voice said, Where is the General 2 1t va:
Jackson, riding about by himself; and be tiet
his horse, lay down between me and Genera
-. and began with, " Well, yesterdays wa
The most terrific fire Of musketry | ever heard
Words of unwonted animation coming from
Jacksou-that most matter-of-fact Of speakers
and expressing much.
OF the great soldiers sense Of hurnnr the WI
ter has the following:
jackson had little humor. He was not sou
or gloomy, nor did be look grimly ui1'n -iun
as something which god Presbyterian shoui'
, avoid. He was perfectly cheerful, liberal, an'
rational in this as in everything. but fe had n
: ear for hunnor, As some have none for m''sie.-
A oke was mysterious affair 10 him. Onl.
when 30 very "troaf and staring, that he wb
raj, might read it. did humor Of any sort rtrik
Jackson. Even this thick coaEng Of matte
! Of fact was occasionally pierced, however A
Port Republic sOldier said 10 his companion
2 af wish these Yankees were in he'll. : whereup
4 ON the other replied: don't. fcr If they wer
old lack would be within half mile OF then
D with the S;onevsll Brigade IN front. Nhe