New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-25

ready to r0mp or play, and eXceled in jumping or
climbing. He thus speut his life from nine to six
teen, between the labors of the farm, the studies
of the school-room and pastimes of the country.
We are told he Twas famous driver of oxen"
and excelled in lifting or toatng. We next see
him acting as constable and filling the office with
industry, frmness and fidelity. His uncle was
sort of sporting gentleman. He kept race-horses,
''made up country race matches and employed hs
nephew as his tavorite rider whenever he expect
close cOntest.H 1t was the gossip OF all the
country side that if horse had any winning quail
ties in him, Tom Jackson would bring them cut,
The severe morality of his latter life makes it
almost pleasing to us to hear from his lips that at
the period here referred to, he was an ardent fire.
uuenter of races, of hOuse.raisings ana country
dances These things show that he had touch
of nature"
At the age of eighteen he appears in Washing
ton city in q full dress of homespun and his whole
wardrobe was contained in pair Of leather sad
dlebags With the stains of travel 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, 1912. His literary preparations were defect
ive But he overeame every obstacle by his almost
superhuman energy His industry, honesty and
sense of duty and courtesy won the respect of his
associates and professors AT the end OF the first
year, in class of seveutytwo, he stood forty. fifth
in mathematics, seventeen in French, had fifteen
demerit marks for misconduct, and was fifty first
in general merit. At the end OF the second year
he stood eighteen in mathematics, fifty second in
French, sixty eighth in drawing, and t1ftyf in
engineering studies, while he had incurred twenty
six demerits and ranked thirtieth in general merit
The next year he stood in natural philosophy the
eleventh, in chemistry twentysdfth, in drawing
htty-ninth with no demerit for the year, and gen
eraI merit twentieth. AT the end of his final year
he stood twelfth in engineering fifth in ethics,
eleventh in artillery, twenty first in infantry tao
tics, and eleventh in minerology and geology. His
dement, marks were seven, and his general stand,
ing as graduate was seventeenth He graduated
at West Point June 30, 1915, being then twenty
two years of age. He received, as was the Gus
tom, the breyet rank Of second lieutenant Of
artillery.
We see him next in Mexico, where by his cour,
age, skill and brilliant services, he rose, III the
short space of seven months, from the obscure
position of second lieutenant to the rank of breVet
major. 1t is said that no other officer in the army
in Mexico was promoted so often for meritOriOus
conduct or made 50 great a stride In rank We
next see him doing garrison duty in the City Of
Mexico, chartered ia the national palace. He lite
rally lodged in the halls of the Montezumas. Here
he studied Spanish and frequented the gay society
of the place. He resided for a time among some
educated ecelesiastics of the Church of Rome,
where he enjoyed the perfection of luxurious com
fort. 1t was at this period that vital change in
his religious character commemorative, it is sup
posed, to the efforts and influence of his devout
commander, Col. Frank Taylor. At the close of
the Mexican war, he was transferred to Fort Ham
ilton, Long Island, where, in addition to the pious
teachings Of Col Taylor, he enjoyed the religious
instructions of the Rev. Mr.. Parks, an Episcopal
minister. He was baptized by Mr. Parks, and ad-
mitted into the communion ofhis church, but upon
the explicit understanding, says the biographer,
that he should not be considered a member of the
Episcopal denomination, but of the Catholic
body of Christ" and that, if ever his conscience
and Judgment were satisfied as to the most sCriptu
raj form of the church, he should feel himself per
fectly free to join, whether it should be that or
some other.N
Thence he was ordered to Forte Meade, Tampa
Bay, on the west coast of Florida. On the 18th of
March 1861, he was elected professor of natural
and experimental 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
eral Reno, and General Rosecrans on the Federal
side and General G. w. Smith, of the late Confe6a
crate army. But Major Jacksons election WIS
unanimous.
1t was at Lexington that the character of Jack
son was matured, cemented and solicited. There,
his religious difficulties were solved, and he
united himself with the Presbyterian Church, of
which he died member. AtLexington he studied
closely, indefatigably. In addition to his profess
sonal studies, he cultivated public speaking in a
debating society, until he became an excellent
speaker. he also was remarkable for his feryency
and eloquence as a leader in prayer. From 1855
to 1861 he conducted Sunday school of slaves
consisting of "eighty or hundred pupils with
twelve teachers, who were recruited from among
the educated ladies and gentlemen of the place"
He was married twice. and was devoted hus-
band as he was a faithful Christian. A valetudi-
marian from early childhood, he yet accomplished
more labor and achieved more results than score
of the ordinary stamp would accomplish and
achieve by their united efforts.