Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-11-14


wish these Yankees were in hell" whereupor
the other replied: ''I don't, for if they were
old Jack would be within half mile of them
with the Stonewall Brigade in front p'-
When this was told to Jackson, he is said to
have burst out into hearty gufaw-most
unusual of sounds upon the lips of the sol
dier. But such enjoyment of fun was rare
with him. l was never more struck with
this than one day at Fredericksburg, at Ger.
eral Stuart's headquarters. There was an
Indifferent brochure published in those days
styled "Abram, Poem," in the comic pre-
face to which jackson was presented in a
most ludierous light, seated on a stump at
Oxhill and gnawing away at roasting ear,
while whole North Carolina brigade behind
in line Of battle, was doing likewise. Gen.
eral Stuart read it with bursts of laughter to
bis friend, and Jackson also laughed with
perfect good humor, but no sooner had the
book been closed than he seemed to forget
it's existence, and said with an irresistibly,
matter Of Fact expression which made this
writer retire to indulge his own laughter -
"By the by, IN going to Culpepsr aohere did
you cross Rapidam ?" His manner was un-
misfakable. It said: "My dear Stuart, all
that is, no doubt, very amusing to you, and
| laugh because you do, but it don't interest
me-" On one occasion only, to the knowl-
edge of the present writer, did Jackson be-
tray something like dry humor. It was at
Harper's Ferry in September, 1862, just af-
ter the surrender of that place, and when
General Lee was falling back upon Sha.ps-
burg Jackson was standing on the bridge
over the Potomac when courier, out of
breath, and seriously 'demoralized," gal
loped up to him, and announced that McClel-
Ian was within an hours ,march of the place
with an enormous army. Jackson was con-
yersing with Federal officer at the moment,
and did not seem to hear the courier, who re-
peated his message with every mark of agi
tation Thereupon Jackson turned round
and said "Has he any cattle with him ?"
The reply was that there were Thousands
"WelI," said Jackson with his dry smile,
You can go. Ny men can whip any army
that comes well p-ovisioned." Of wit, prop
erly speaking, be had little. But, at times,
his brief, wise, matter of fact sentences be-
came epigrammatic. DR.. Hunter Mcclure,
his medical director, once gave him some
whskey when he was wet and fatigued.-
Jackson made a wry face in swallowing it,
and Dr. Mcclure asked if it was not good
wniskey. ooh yes" replied jackson, Il
like liquor, the taste and the effect-thats
chy don't drink It," A good sermon on
temperance.
Jackson could sometimes feel the influence
of passion, as witness the following, which is
an account of how the General received the
news of combinations that were being formed
against him to deprive him of his command
just before the great Valley campaign.
There. were other times when jackson,
s,ung and aroused, was driven from his pro-
priety, or, at least, out of his coolness. The
winter of 1862 was such an occasion. He
had made his expedition to Morgan county,
and, in spite of great sufferings among the
troops, had forced The Federal garrisons at
Bal and Roinney to retire, and accomplished
all his ends General Loring was then left
at Romney, and Jackson returned to Win
chester. All that is we'll known. What
follows is not known to many. General Lo-
ring conceived an intense enmity for Jack
son, and made such representations at Rich
mond that an order was sent to Loring, d.
rect not through Jackson, commanding in
the Valley, recalling him. Jackson at once
sent in bis resignation. The scene which
took place between him and his friend, Col
onel -, thereupou, was stormy one
The Colonel in vain tried to persuade him
that he ought to recall his resignation. ''No,
Sir" exclaimed Jackson, striding fercely up
aud down, II will not hold a command upon
terms of that sort. Z will not have those
people at Richmond interfering in my plans,
and sending orders to an officer under me,
without even informing me. No soldier can
endure it. care not for myself. I'll know
myself; I do not act from anger-but if l
yield now they will treat better men in
the same way! am nobody but the pro-
test must be made here, or Lee and Johnston
will be meddled with as | am" 1t was only
after the resignation had been withdrawn by
the Governor of Virginia without his author
ity, and explanations, apologies, protestations
came from the head of the War Office, that
the design was given up. Such is little
morceau of private history, showing how
Jackson came near not commanding in the
Valley in 1862.