Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-02-01
Stonewal Jackson in q New Coat.


-sS>-------.
Stonewan Jackson in New Coat.
Major Won Borcke, in Part " of bis in.
teresting "Memoirs of the Confederate War
for Independence" published in Black.
aOoods Magazine, for December, 1865,
gives the following pleasant picture of Old
Stonewall The time being the latter part
of September, 1862, and the place, in camp
near Winchester, Virginia:
"From long rest, after the dissipation
of the past night, I was reused about noon
BY General Stuart, with orders to ride, upon
some little matters of duty, to the camp of
General Jackson. I was also houored with
the pleasing mission of presenting to Old
Stonewall, as slight token of Stuart's high
regard, new and very stunning uniform
coat, which had just arrived from the hands
of Richmond tailor. The garment neat.
ly wrapped up, was borne on the pommel Of
his saddle by one of our couriers, who &C.
coupanied me; and starting at once. l
reached the simple tent of our great gener-
al Just in time for dinner. l found him in
his old weather stained coat, from which all
the buttons had been clipped long since, by
the fair hands of patriotic ladies, and which
from exposure to sun and rain and powder
smoke, and by reason of many rents and
patches, was in a very unseemly condition
When l had dispatched more important
business, l produced General Stuart's pres
eot, in all its magni6cence of gilt buttons
and sheeny facings, and gold lace, and I
was heartily amused at the modest confusion
with which the hero of many battles regard
ed the fine uniform from many points of
view, scarcely daring to touch it, and at the
quiet way in which, at last, be folded it up
carefully, and deposited it in his portman-
teau, saying to me: 'Give Stuart my best
thanks, my dear Major-the coat is much
too handsome for me, but / shall take the
best care Of it, and shall prize it highly as
a souvenir-and now let US have some din.
ner.' But protested energetically against
his summary disposition of the matter of
the coat, deeuing my mission, indeed, but
half executed, and remarked that Stuart
would certainly ask me how the uniform fit-
ted its owner, and that should therefore
take it as a personal favor if be would put
it on. To this he readily assented with
smile, and, having donued the garment, he
escorted me outside the tent to the table
where dinner was served in the open air
The whole of the staff were in perfect &C.
stacy at their chiefs brilliant appearance,
and the old negro servant, who was bearing
the roast turkey from the fire to the board,
stopped in mid.ca with most bewil-
dered expression, and gazed in wonderment
at his master as he had been transfgured
before him. Meanwhile the rumor of the
change ran like electricity through the
neighboring camps, and the soldiers came
running by hundreds to the spot, desirous
of seeing their beloved Stouewall in his new
attire; and the first wearing of fresh robe
by Louis XIV, at whose morning toilet all
the world was accustomed to assemble, nev,
er created half the sensation at Versailles,
that was made in the woods of Virginia by
the investment of Jackson in this new reg
ulation uniform"