Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-15


house-raisings and country dances.
These things show that he had " touch
of nature" AT the age Of eighteen ne
appears in Washington City, in full
dress of homespun, and his whole ward
robe contained in pair of leathern
saddle-bags. With the stains Of travel
upon him, he goes, accompanied by his
Congressional representative, to see the
Secretary of War, and to apply for an
appointment as cadet at West Point.
His warrant is made out on the spot
He enters West Point in July, 1872 his
literary preparation was defective. But
he overcome every obstacle by his almost
superhuman energy His industry,
honesty, sense Of duty and courtesy won
the respect of his associates and profess
sors At the end of the first year, IN
class of seventy-two, he stood fortyhfth
in Mathematics, seventeen in French,
had fifteen demerit markstfor misconduct,
and was rty-ffthin general merit. AT
the end of the second year he stood eigh-
teen in Mathematics, ffty-second IN
French, sixty-eighth in Drawing, fifty
fifth in Engineering studies; while he had
incurred twenfy-six dement's and ranked
tLirtieth in general merit The next
year he stood in Natural Philosophy
eleventh, in Chemistry twenty-fifth in
Ora wing ffiy-ninth, with no demerlt
for the year, and general merit twentieth.
At the end of his final year he stood
twelfth in Engineering, sixth in Ethics,
eleventh in Artillery, twenty-trst IN In
fantry Tactics and eleventh in Mineralogy
and Geology. His demerit marks were
seven, and his general standing as a
graduate was seventeenth. He graduated
at West Point June 30, 1916, being then
twenty-five years of age, and received, as
was the custom, the brevet rank OF second
lieutenant Of artillery. We next see him
in Mexico, where, by his courage, skill
and brilliant service, he rose, in the short
space of seven months, from the obscure
position of brevet second lieutenant to
the rank of Brevet Major. 1t is said
that no other officer in the army in Mex
leo was promoted so often for merltori-
GUS conduct, or made so great a stride in
rank. We next see him doing garrison
duty in the city of Mexico, quartered in
the National Palace. he literally
lodged "in the halls of the Mohtezu-
mas" Here he studied Spanish, and
freouented the gay society of the place
He resided for aitime among some edu.
Gated ecclesiastics of the Church OF
Rome, where he enjoyed the per
fection of luxurious comfort 1t was
at this period that alvital change in his
religious character commemorative, 1t
is supposed, to the efforts and influence
of his devout commander, Col. Frank
Taylor.
At the close of the Mexican war he
was transferred to Fort Hamilton, Long
Island, where, in addition to the pous
teachings of Colonel Taylor, he enjoyed
the religious instructions of the Rev. Mr..
Parks, an Episcopal minister. He was
baptized by Mr.. Parks, and admitted into
the communion of his church, but upon
the explicit understanding, says his biog,,
rainier. that he should not he considered
member of the Episcopal denomina-
ton, but of the catholic body OF Christ,
land that, if ever his conscience and
Judgment were satisfied as to the most
s ,riptural form of the church, he should
feel himself perfectly free to JON,
whether it should be that OF, some other.
Thence he was ordered to Fort Meade,
Tampa Bay, on the west coast OF FLORIDA.
On the 9th of March, 1851, he was
elected Professor of Natural and Expert
mental Philosophy and Artillery Tactics
in the Military Academy OF Virginia,
where he remained until the breaking out
of the war. Among those whose names
were submitted to the Faculty were Gen;
George B. Mcclellan, Gen. Reno and
Gen. Rosecrans, on the Federal side, and
Gen. G. W. Smith Of the late Confederate
army. But Major Jackson election
was unanimous.
II was at Lexington that the character
of Jackson was matured, cemented and
solodified. There, too, his religious dii-
6culties were solved, and he united HIM
self with the Presbyterian Church, OF
which he died member AT Lexington
he studied closely, indefatigably. In ad-
dition 10 his professional studies, he cul-
tivated pubic speaking in a debating
society, until he became an excellent
speaker. He also was remarkable for
his fervency and eloquence as a leader
in prayer. From 1855 TO 1861 he con-
Quoted sundy school of slaves, con
sisting of "eighty or hundred pupils,
with twelve teachers, who were recruited
from among the educated ladies and
gentlemen of the place" He was mar
ried twice, and was as devoted a hus'
band as he was a faithful Christian. A
valetudinarian from early childhood, he
yet accomplished more labor and
achieved more results than score OF
robust men of the ordinary stamp would
accomplish and achieve by their united