The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-12
VOL. XXXIII.
9ithmond 1ispattl,
wEDNESDAY.............JUNE IL, 1867.
L. A. Pollard's New Work on the War" Lee
and his Licntennnts." !"

T.. A. Pollard's New Work on the War" Lee
and his Lieutenauts."
We have from the press Of J.. B. TREAT &
Co., New York, some Of the advance sheets of
T.. A. PoLLARp's new work on the war" Lee
and his Lieutenants "a collection Of biogra-
phes covering the space and action Of the late
war. The work is very voluminous, and in
cludes some fifty lives in the space of about
nine hundred printed pages. AS an example
OF the style OF the work, we extract the fol-
lowing, which will be read with additional in
terest for its novel estimate of the character
OF the great SroSEwALL JACKSON "a an 0mbi-
tious man and high tempered combatant:
CHARACTER OF sToNEwALL JACKSON.
We have said General Jackson was n born
soldier. This furnishes a larger and more
thorough insight into his character than any
other observation. Weuse the term soldier not
merely rs denoting an aptitude of arms or even
the possession of the military genius, but we in
clude the common association with this profess
sion of an ardent love for glory, 4 thirst for
distinction, peculiar ambition that values
name in history above the coarser gifts of
popularity and power. An ambition, so pure
and ideal ran perceptibly through the whole Of
Jackson's wonderful career His passion for
renown was not of that common type that
seeks the tangible gifts of power and enjoys
the evanescent noises OF popularity. He had
not that order of mind that mistakes "A
ounces puff for fame" and the penny-a-lnes
OF the newspaper for the inscriptions OF histo-
ry His was an ambition that valued - skilled
commendation, and was not entirely insenSi-
Bile TO the praise Of his cotemporarics; but
which mostly and chiefly priced the name III
history-an aspiration after the ideal not the
vulgar hunt for notoriety and its gifts. Such
an ambition is consonant with the most refined
spirit of Christianity; ii resides i'll the depths
ofgreat minds ; and II easily escapes obSerVa-
lNE
silent men of mysterious air and mechanical
manners, living within themselves, conscious
that few can enter into sympathy with them,
and constantly practicing the art OF llnpene-
trable reserve. The world in fact, often de.
cciyes itself in this regard, and has mis- taken
many prominent actors on its theatre for emo
tionleSs and ascetic men. deaf TO pr2ise-the
mere cold figures in a round of duty-who yet
have been inwal dly consumed by the fires of
ambition, and have made daily sacrifice on its
altarS.
There has been a good deal of sighting phi
lOSophy about the emptiness OF historic fame;
Il marked tendency in 4 superficial and mate
REALISTIC school OF morals 10 caricature 1T rs
shadow, and ridicule II rs the OBJECT OF hu-
man life. We reject this philosophy with in
finite contempt and irrepressible disgust. Ma
tiuns have fought for titles TO fame rs above
III other objects of contest, and i'll this have
represented but the aspirations for glory in
the breasts OF the individuals composing the
society. These aspirations are given 10 US by
the Creator; and so far from the love OF glory
being a frailty, 1t may be declared 10 be OF the
very dignity OF human nature.
The writer recollccts pretty story, tfanSIa-
ted from the French, which was published as
a lesson for the times in Richmond newspa-
per in the first months of the war. young man
uses some shallow and plausible phrases about
glory being an empty sound, - the bubble
reputation" &c. His father, L worn veteran,
reproyes him speaks in tender and reveren-
tial language of the great wars teaches the
lesson that the glory OF nation Is n PrI%e OF
arms that all the best and sentimental parts
of civilization proceed from its soldiers and
declares that the mutilatious and sears of his
body are dear rs his children, ornaments OF his
age tokens of his manhood, letters Of his no.
bility even more than stars and crosses OF dIa-
mouds in the eyes of his CounirymCn.
But whatever may be the precise worth OF
martial glory, and however il may be mca
sured by coarse commercial philosophy II Is
certain that it was the dominant passion OF
Jackson's life. and equally certain that IL de-
Iracted nothing from the beauty and harmony
OF his character, and made hl1n none the less
Il man or Christian. The spirit thar c0urted
the greatest amount of danger in the Mexican
war for the greatest amount OF glory showed
the same tendency in the higher career OF
arms from Manassas TO ChancellorsNille. ~
is said that when Jackson was once asked II
he had felt 10 trrpidaliOn when he mace most
extraordinary exposures of his person III the
hnttIes in Mexico he replied that the only
anxiety of which he was conscious IN amy Oh
these engagements was a fear lest ne ShotlIu
n
under II as conspicuous as he desired: and rs
the danger grew greater ne re]Olctd III IL as
his opportunity for distinction. This sehti-
ment OF the true soldier survived TO Jackson
last moments, however emotions OF piety may
have been mingled with the ardor and 10Y OF
the warrior.
The religious element in General Jackson's
character has come i'll for IN undue share OF
public attention and, indeed, some excellent
persons have committed the mistake of taking
The religion of the man rs the stand point OF
the entire view, forgetting mat liie interest," ol
this religious life is merely auNlliary 10 the
interest which Stonewall Jackson mas eNclteu
in the world rs Il master of war. lheTe are
other considerations which make Jachsoh
piety Of very partial interest. II Is true tha'
he was an enthusiast in religion, that ne was
wonderfully attentive i'll hls devotiohs' ana
that prayer was as the breath OF his nostrllS.
To one of his friends he declared that ne mao
cultivated the habit OF praying "ltho"c
ceasing," and connecting asllent testinohy ol
devotion with every familiar act OF lhe oay
{. Thus - he said 'when / take my meals,
there is the grace. When take Z drausi:t VI
water, always pause, rs my paIlte rtCeiSeS
the refreshment, to lift up my heart 10 Iou III
thanks and prayer for the water OF NE.
Whenever l drop a letter in the box, send Il
petition along with il, for Gods blessing
upon its mission and upon the person 10 Wlloii
il is sent. When / break the seal OF Il lettIr
lust received, | stop to pray TO Goa thtl lie
NAV prepare me for its contents, ana make II
a messenger of good But Notwithstanding
the extreme fervor OF Jackson rellSloh' II Is
remarkable that he kept it for certain places
and companies; that he was disposed 10 be
solitary in its exercise; and that he was sln-
gularly innocent of that Cromwelllah lahati'
cism that mixes religious inNocatonS win
orders and utterances on battlefield. lie
nrayed in his tent he delighted in long talks
ON religion with the many cIerSylhen WHO
visited him; he poured out the joys ana asni-
rations of his faith i'll his private correspond
ence but he seldom introduced reiigiom iifn lnto
the ordinary conversation OF his military ne,
and ne exhibited this side OF his character Ill
the army in scarcely anything more IMAM sun
day services in his camp and htoltuai prlel
line in all his official reports acknowledging
the Divine favor. He was very attentive 10
these outward observances but his rel.
gious habit was shy and solitary. lie mao
none of the activity of the priest we
hear but little of his work III the hospl-
tails of private ministrations by the ueath-
bed, and Of walks ana exercises "a !, "'n.as '..as
charity. In his military intercourse ne was
tho military commander; and though heolteh
yisibly prayed on the battlefield, IL was III
inyariabIe silence, and he never ihiAeu tne
,ndihle exhortations OF religion WIN the ciedr
;, nd ringing notes of his orders lot the SihlSe'
such a mixture, we think, Is always OF ques-
,jnuahia taste and sometimes borders on ire
yerenee Thus it il related OF one OF JACKSON
corm.r nastors who had q military euucallon
aud commanded his artillery, lhat IA oiie w
the early battles Of the war, Deiore uehNeiine
the fire of his batteries upon the enemy h'
exclaimed >" May we Kill tnouSanu ouIs Gs ~ r.
and may God have mercy on iheir SOUS -
such utterance is authentic, we thihk theie j.
omething improper and dis stastelu III IN IL.
General Jackson did not have that natGrai
amiability which was the charm oi Lee a, l Sh'
racter and his intercourse win MS "a , -.
'atters of duty was i'm striking contrast to the
generosity Of the latter towards his suDoLoi,
5na,as and his forbearance of censure almost 10