Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-24


Quarters as soon as could safely travel
Having high aud increasing admiration of
the character of Gen, Jackson, and being
personally deeply attached TO him, [ did not
feel myself at liberty to resist the appeal
and although my health did not Justify my
travelling in my then condition, and at that
inclemcnt season OF the year. nevertheless
started on the journey, and arrived at his
Headquarters the I'd of january, 1868.
Upon my arrival there, Immediately COM
menced the preparation of his reports, embra-
cling the BATTLES of Mcdowell, Front Royal,
Middletown, Newtown, Winchester, Har-
risonbprg Port Republic in the Valley the
battles Of Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill in
the Peninsula; of Cedar Run, of Manassas
Junction, Bristoe Station, Groveton and Ux
Hill or Chantilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharps-
burg, Shepherdstown and Fredericksburg
having them illustrated by accompanying
maps, executed by Mr.. Hoskiss, an engineer
April, 1863, and left his Head, Quarters for
the county of Appomattox, OH the day follow
ing. l there heard of the death OF General
Jackson, he having died on the 10th of May.
/ will not cucumber this communication
by letters and d,other evidences of the appre-
citation. of Gen'l Jackson Of the service which
| personally rendered to him, but will con-
tent myself with a single extract from the
deposition of DR.. Fl. H Mcguire, taken in
Winchester on the 4th 6e October, 1865, in
some suits pending against me in the Berke-
ley court for damages growing out Of the acts
of the confederate soldiery. In the close of
his deposition, he says:
"Ikpow the deep sense of gratitude which Gen.
Jackson felt and expressed for the service which
Mr. Faulkner had personally rendered him in wri-
I 1,,v o,rJ
the Gen'l express in strong language, not only at
Head Quarters, but after the fatal wound and
short time before he died"
proceeded in day or two afterwards to
Gen. Lees Head Quarters, to be satisfied that
this reports which L had prepared had all
reached him in safety. I here learned from
Gen. Lee that two Of the reports had not
reached bim. [ rendered to Gen. Lee in
person my resignation, informing him that my
conneXipn with the army had grown out OF
my personal relations with Gen. Jackson, and
would now cease with his death lie ex-
pressed His approval of my course. said that
1 would not be expected to discharge any
further duties i'll connexion with the com
mission which I then held, but he would pre-
fer that would withheld the resignation for
few days, and devote that time to the rccov-
cry oil the lost reports Of Gen. Jackson. He
gave me authority to proceed to Lexington
IL Virginia, North Carolina or any other
points where J. might find it necessary to.
trace them. OGe was found in Lexington,
aud the other at the residence of Mrs Jack
son, in North Carolina.
lu passing through Richmond in pursuit
OF these missing reports, l met with General
Ewe!l, who informed me that the Northern
Army or Virginia had been divided into three
corps, and that he had bean assigned to the
command 0f tic I'd corps. lie Invited me to
accept the position of his chief of staff
told him that could not do so--that L had
occupied that position towards Gen. Jackson
from the strong personal feelings that existed
between us-tiIat whilst l had great cunfi>c
dence in his character, yet must decline to
give him any assurance that l would accept
the position.
Being called to Gen. Lees Head Quarters
again in conncxion with these missing cTa7:s,
L there met with Gen Ewcll again, who was
cncImpcd few miles from him. l there
learned confientially from Gen. Ewcll of his
intended movement North lie rcmarking
to me, if you will 20 with NE, you will soon
be at your home. l accordingly accom- panied
him on his march to the Valley in the eurIy
part Cf June, 1868 was present at the cap
ture OF Winchester on ths l3th day ct that
month, and about noen Of that day az Mr..
Ruthcriords, three miles lrom Winchester,
took my leave OF Gen. Ewe!l and OF the arr
my. lie was to have been at my house that
night, but he cncampcd about u mile or so
North Of the town From there nc scut me
my resignation approved. The next day he
continued his march to Pennsylvania. | re-
mained at my home.
From the date OF that interview at Ruther-
fords, on the 10Th of June, 1868, regarded
my connection with the army as virtually and
substantially terminated. Certain il is that
never exercised the functions Of any Office
from that hour to the present moment
From that time until tne surrender of Gen.
Lee on the 9th of April, 1868, have lived
in the most perfect aud.absolute retirement
free from all counexon with public aauiGs,
On the 25th of April of that year, I re-
turned to my home. l had lost heavily by
the war My property i'll Berkeley, except
my residence, was thoroughly devastated
l found myself deprived OF all political privi-
leges and some civil rights. / was not al
lowed to vOte-to hold otEcc-to sue in the
courts of the State These disabilities still
exist Suits to the amount of nearly $50 900
were brought against NE for alleged liabilities
for acts of confederate soldiers, end most of
my prominent friends in this and the adioin
ing counties were sued in as large if not larger
amounts
Under such circumstances, it was very nat
ural for me as means of self-defeuce and
for the defence of my friends, to desire to
return to the practice of my profession. 1
accordingly at the june term, 1868, made
application to Judge Balch for permission to
qualify at the bar. He said [ could do so if
would take the oath prescribed by the act
of 18th of November, 1868 1 told him that
was impossible, and denied that the law was
designed to embrace attorneys. He invited
argument, and 1 addressed him at length at
the same term. He made no decision upon
the question at that term, aud invited 2, fur
ther argument at the November term l ar
gued the question still more elaboratcly at the