Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-13
cHARAcrEs OF sgoxEwAHL JACK.


cHARAcrEs OF sEoxEwkLL JACK.
{ FiisI lsstt SON. rfit
from ''THE Loer CAUSE" a new South
ern History Of The War. BY Z. A. Pollard,
in the press of E. B. Treat & Co., Publish
err, $50 Grand Street New York. Mr.. Pol
lard is bold and facile writer, but he has
none Of the qualities Of historian. We
think il unfortunate Cor the South that he
has undertaken work that can only be pro-
perly discharged by unprejudiced minds.--
The following extract from his forthcoming
book viii be read with nterest-EDs. US.
&AMl
There was, probably, no more ambifious
man in the Southern Confederacy thah
"Stonewalp jackson. The vulgar mind
thinks that It easily discovers those who are
the ambitious men In a community. 1t
readily designates as such those who aspire
70 Offices and public positions, who seek SEN
sations. court notoriety in newspapers, and
hold up their bends for the applause Of the
multitude. But ambition, in its true and
noble sense, is very different from these
coarse bids for national favor. There is
class of apparently quiet minds which,
choosing seclnsion and mystery, and wear
ing an air Of absence and even misanthfopy,
moving Ia their daily walks with an appear
ance OF profound unconcen, are yet living
for history, and are daily and nightly con-
sumed with the fires of ambition. II is this
sort of ambition which cherishes and at
fempts ideals; which is founded on . deep
~. 4.
haughtily and grimly silent, from con-
sciousness of its own powers, or an ever
present belief in destiny. atls ~
OF such an order Of ambition, those who
knew General jackson best declare that he
was singulsrly possessed. He believed in
his destiny, whatever religious name he
chose TO attach 20 that transccndental and
ravishinR sentiment; he was fond Of repeat
inc 70 his infinite friends that Hmystery
was the secret Of success I" and because he
went about his work with silent and stern
manner, that was no proof of the opinion
of the populace, that he was simply ma
chine of conscientious motives, with no
sentiment in his composition but that of
duty.
II Is not unfrequently the experience of
truly great men that they have to live
through periad of utter Misrepresentation
!. of their worth, and often Of intense r:dicule.
Such was Che painful experience Of Gen
eral jackson. At the Virginia military
school at Lexington, where he was profess
SCR before the war, he was thought to be stu
pid and harmless and he was often the butt
Of the academic wit of that institution.
Colonel Gillem, who taught tactics there,
was taken 70 be the military genius
: Of the place, and afterwards gave evidence
of the correctness of this appreciation by
actually loeing dnring the war in the
mountains of Northwestern Virginia, the
only regiment that he was ever trusted TO
command. At the battle OF Manassas, de-
spite the critical and splendid service 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 drew upon
him the squiba Of all the newspaper cores
pondents on the field. His habit of twisting
his head and interpolating sir in all his
remarks, was humorously described in the
Charleston Mercury. At later period of
his military career, when he made his terri
bic wintry march in 1912 from Winches-
ter to Bath and Romney, and became in
volved in differences with General Loring,
il was actually reported that he was insane.
A colonel came to Richmond with the re-
port that jackson had gone mad that his
mania was that familiar spirit had taken
possession Of portion Of his body; and that
he was in the habit Of walking by himself,
and holding audible conversations with a
mysterious being.
II was about this time that General jack
son came under the fitful cloud Of President
Davis displeasure; and he was 80 much af-
fected by the course Of the Richmond au-
thorities toward him, in his affair with
Lonng, that at one time he determined 10
resign. The extreme sensibility Of his ma
ture, and his evident ambition were UNI
masked in letter he wrote to his wife, al
luding 10 the then probable close of his
military career, and submitting TO what he
supposed :" the will of God" in the abrupt
termination Of his hopes. But it was not
decreed by Providence that the Confederate
cause should then lose the services of Jack
son, and It's chief ornament be plucked from
il, and its great pillar of strength cast down,
through paltry official embodiment in
Richmond. BY the earnest persuasions of
Governor Letcher and others, General jack
son was induced to withdraw his letter Of
resignation, and that sword, which might
have been withdrawn in an obscure quarrel
was yet TO carve out the most brilliant name
in the war. 'IHT .L ~
The fame Of jackson was first secured and
permanently erected in the popular heart
BY his splendid and ever-memoral,le cam
paign in the Valley of Virginia in the
spring of 1862. In that campaign, rs we |
have seen, in the period of three weeks he |
fought four battles; recovered Winchester;
captured four thousand prisoners; secured |
several million dollars worth of stores
chased Banks army out Of Virginia and |
across the Potomac; and accomplished q
list Of deeds that threw the splendor Of sun
light over the fortunes of the Confederacy,
and broke, at the critical moment the heav-
lest shadows Of defeat and misfortune that
had no far befallen them. In the Seven
Days Battles the name Of jackson again
arose like star. And We. Il was to gather
new efalgence when the names Of Second
Manassas and the Wilderness were 10 be in
scribed alike on the banners Of the Confed-
eracy and Che escutcheon Of his own fame.
gackson's intense religious character has
naturally come in for large share Of public
admiration and curiosity. To his merits as
a commander he added the virtues Of an ac-
tive, humble, consistent Christian, restrain
ing profanity in his camp, welcoming army
colporteurs distributing tracts, and anxious
TO have every regiment in his army supplied
with chaplain. Prayer meetings and ere
viyass" were common occurrences in his |
camp, and In these he was quite rs active
and conspicuous as In the storm and action /
Of battle. II was said that he treated the |
itinerant preachers and "circuit riders"
who focked 70 his camp, with much more
distinction than any other visitors; and the |
story is told how, on one occasion, when the |
horse driven BY one Of these itiuerants balk- |
ed at a hill, jackson himself insisted upon
leading and assisting the animal up the
scclivity, In the astonished sight Of his whole
army.
His nature was epicene. We but seldom
see a combination Of feminine tenderness
with a really strong will; but when we do,
We see masked iron in the man, and discover /
the rarest and lofiest type of greatness.
SLsh n combination was most sincere and
striking in jackson. An authentic anocdote
d told Of him, illustrating his extreme ten
derness for whatever was weak or helpless.
Stopping at the house Of friend one wintry |
night, he showed much concern for little
delicate girl Of the family, and counseled
them TO see that her bed was comfortable
Afier the family had retired, jackson was
seen 10 leave his chamber and approach the
bedside Of the little girl, where for some
minutes he busted himself tucking the bed
clothes around her, and making the little