The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-01-10

1
and explanations, apologies, ,protestations
came 1romltbe head Of the War sQfice,,
lthas.the design was given upF Sucb,is o,
little. morceal, ,pfr private history show
ling how jackson Ecame, near not com.
hpandiug in the valley in, 1862, 4 q .. Q
] ldi With the exception Of these rare oc-
casops when bis great passions, were
aroused, Jackson was q commonplace
sort of person, and his bearing neither
strikinglgraceful or impressive, He rode
Eupgracefplly, walked with an awkward
stride, and wanted ease and manner, He
\ never lost Q certain .shyness in company,
and ] remember his air, Of boyishI con-
straint, one day, when in leaving an apart;
meDt full Of friends, he hesitated wleth.
er to shake hands with every one, or not,
Catching the eye Of the present writer
who designed remaining, he hastily ex-
tended his hand, and quietly. retired, ap.
parently relieved, HIS bearing thus
wanted ease bat personally, he made a
most agreeable impression by his delight
fully natural courtesy. His smile was as
sweet as a chilTs, and evidently sprung
from his sOundness Of heart IA lady
said it was "angelic' His voice in or.
dinary conversation was subdu4d, and
pleasant from its friendly and courteous
tone, though injured by the acquired hab.
lit-a West Pointism-of cutting off, SO
Flo ospeak, each word, leaving each TO take
care Of itself This was always obserya-
bic in his manner, Of talking; but, the
briefast of the brief, curtest Of the curt,
was General Stonewall Jackson. on tie
| field of batt.e and Cat work. His words
wsre then let fall as if under protest |;
all superauitics were discarded /; and the
monsyllables jerked from his lips seemed
Eclipped Of, one by one,l and launched to
go upon separate ways. The eccentrici.
tics of the individual were undoubtedly
as:rong element Of his popularityLthe
dress, habits, bearing Of the man, all
made his soldiers kehim. General Lee's'
air Of imposing dignity, mingled with q
certain grave and serious pride, aroused
rather admiration than Affection Jack.
sons appearance ard maunery on the con
trary, were such as conciliate, familiar,
humorous liking. His diDgy old coat,
|'than which scarce privatc's in his CON,
mand was more faded his diIapidatsd
aud discolored zap; the absence of deco
rations and all show in his dress; his cdd
ways his kindly, simple, familiar man
ner; his habit Of sitting down and eating,
with his men: bis Indifference whether
his bed were in comfortable headquarter
tent, on a camp couch, or in fence cor.
ntr with no shelter from herain, but his
cloak his abstemiodsness, fairness, hon
esiy, simplicity his never, failing rcga,d
for the comfort and the feelings Of the
private SOLDIER his oddities, eccenirici
ties and originalities--all we're an anfal,
ing provocative to fun, and cndeared him
to his msn. Troops are charmed when
there is anything in the personal charac.
ter of q great leader to rmake fun off,
admiration af his genius then becomes
enthusiasm for his person Jackson had
aroused this enthusiasm in his men--and
it was q weapon with which he struck
lhard. .-. aa .-.aaa.ss.....r .,.,.,. r
| One of the most curious peculiarities
lOf Jackson was tie strange fashion he bad
Of raising his right hand aloft aud then
letting it fall suddenly to his side. II is
impossible, perhaps, to determine the
meaning Of this singular gesture. 1t is
said that he had some physical ailmept
which he thus relieved others believed
that at such moments he was praying -
Either may DO the fact. Certain il is
that he often held his hand-sometimcs
both hands-thus aloft in battle; aud
that his lips were then seen to move, evi.
IDENTIFY in prayer. Not once, but many
times, has the singular spectacle been
presented of Lieutenant General com
manding sitting on, his horse silently as
| his column moves before him his hands
raised to Heaven /; his eyes closed his
lips moving in prayer, One officer told
me that at Charlottesville, as he reoog.
nized the corpses Of any of his old vet.
erans, he would check his horse, raise
his hands to Heaven, and utter prayer
over tho dead hody. s-., ,., q
| There are those who said that all this
indicated partial species Of insanity
that Jackson's mind was not sound. 9th,
er stories are told Of him which aim to
show that his eccentricities amounted 10
crazinesE. Upon this poirt the philoso.
pliers and Psychologists must decide,
The present writer can only say that
Jackson appeared to him to be, on emi
neptly rational, judicious and sensible
person in conyersation-and the world
must decide whether there was any craze.
any flaw or crack, or error in the. terribly
logical processes Of his brain as fighter
Of armies. The old incredulity of Fred.
erick will obtrudc itself upon the mind
II jackson was crazy, il is a pity be
didn'tbite somebody and innoculate them
with small amount Of his insanity ns
a soldier. Ulquestionably the must stri-
king trait Of jackson as a leader was his
Iunerriug judgement and accuracy of'cal.
eulation. The present writer Is familiar
with every detail Of bis career, and does
mot rocall one hlunder. Kerpstown was
fought upon information furnished by.
General Ashby, most accomplished aud
reliable partisan, which turned ont 10 be-
inaccurate; but even in defeat Jackson
,Itherc accomplished the very important
object of returning . large Federal force
IN the valley, which Mcclellan needed on
the Ohickahominy. For instances of the
boldness, fertility and originality Of his