Maryland free press., 1866-07-19
CHARACTER OF STONEwALL
.. ." JACKSON.
[From the "Losr CAUSE" by E. A. Pollard.

There was, probably, no more ambitious man
in the Southern Confedcracy than "Stonewall'
jackson. The vulgar mind thinks that it easily
discovers those who are ambitious in q communi-
ty. 1t readily designates as such those who seek
sensations, court notorety in newspapers, and
hold up their hands foI the applause of the null
ttude. But ambition in its true and noble sense,
is very different from these course bids for popu-
lar favor. There is class Of apparently pleasant
minds which, choosing secluSion and mystery
and wearing an air of absence and even misan-
thropy, moving in their daily walks with an ap-
pearancc of profound unconccrn, are yet living
for history, and are daily and nightly consumed
with the fires Of ambition. 1t is this sort of am
bition which cherishes and attempts ideals which
is founded on deep and unconquerable self-es-
teen; and which is often haughtily and even
grimly silent, from q consciousness OF Its own
powers, or an eyer-present belief in its destiny.
OF such on order of ambition those who knew
General jackson best, declare that he was singu-
larly possessed. He believed in his destiny, what
ever religious name he chose TO attach to that
transcendental and ravishing sentiment; he was
fond of repeating to his intimate friends that
''mystery was the secret of success :; and because
he went about his work with silent and stern
manner, that was no proof of the opinion of the
populace that lie was simply II machine OF con-
scientious motives with no sentiment in his COM
position but that OF duty.
great men that they have TO live through pc
riod of misapprehension Of their worth, and often
of intense ridicule. Such was the painful expe-
ricnce of General jackson. At the Virginia mill
tary school at Lexington, where lie was proies-
sor before the war, he was thonght to be stupid
and harmless, and lie was often the butt of the
academic wit Of that institution. Col. Gillem,
who taught tactics there, was taken to be the
military genius of the place, and afterwards gave
evidence of hecorrectness of this appreciation by
| actually losing during the wary in the mountains
| of Northwestern Virginia, the only regiment that
he has ever trusted to command. At the battle
of Manassas, despite the critical and splendid SER
vice which jackson did there, for he stayed the
| retreat in the rear of the Robinson House, and
| in the subsequent charge pierced the enemy s
centre, his stiff and odd figure dCew upon him
the squibs of all the newspaper correspondents on
the field. His habit of twisting his head and in
terolating ''sir' in all bis remarks, was humor-
ously described in the Charleston Mercury. Al
later period of his military career when he made
his terrible wintry march in 1S6l-2 from Win
chester to Bath and Romney, and became involv-
ed in differences with General Loring, it was ac-
| tually reported that he was insane. colonel
came to Richmond with the report that jackson
had gone mad that his mania was that fama-
liar spirit had taken possession of portion O.
his body; and that he was in the habit of walk
ing by himself, and holding audible converse
tions with a mysterious being.
1t was about this time that General jackson
came under the ftful cloud of President Davis
displeasure and he was so much affected by th'
course of the Richmond authorities towards him
in his affair with Loring that at one time he de
termined to resign The extreme sensibility ofhi
nature, and his evident ambition were unniasket
in the letters he wrote to his wife, alluding t
the then probable Of his military career ant
submitting to what he supposed 'the will Q
Cod in the abrupt termination of his hopes
But 1t was not decreed by Providence that tn
Confederate cause should then lose the services @
jackson, and its chief ornament be plucked fror
it, and its great pillar of strength cast down
through paltry official embodiment in Rich
mond. By the earnest persuasions of Governo
, Letcher and othere General Jackson was induce
to withdraw his letter of resignation and tina
sword which might have been dropped in an oil
scure quarrel was yet to carve out the most bri
liant name in the war.
The fame of jackson was first secured and pei
, manently erected in the popular heart by hi
splendid and ever-memorable campaign in th
Valley of Virginia in the spring of 1862. In tha
campaign, as we have seen, in the period of thre
/ weeks he fought four battles; recovered Winche.
ter; captured four thousand prisoners; secure
, seven millions of dollars worth of stores chase
Banks out of Virginia and across the Potomac
and accomplished u list of deeds that threw tn
splendor of sunlight over the fortunes of th
Contederaoy, and broke, at the critical moment
: the heaviest shadows of defeat and misiortun
that had so far befallen them. In the Seven Days
! Battles the name of jackson again rose like
star. And yet it was to gather new ehulgenC
when the names of the Second Man assas and th
Wilderness were to be inscribed alike on the bar
ners of the Confedcracy and the escutcheon OF h
own fame,
i Jsekson's Intense religious character has natr