The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-10-28

tiabity. He carried his whole soul into
the church as into all his undertakings. HI
instructed class of young men In Licking.
ton in the evidences of Christianity, and
delivered course Of public lectures on
the same subject in Beverly; Randolph
county, Virginia. He founded and taught
as principal a Sabbath school of African
slaves consisting of about one hundred
pupils and twelve teachers. Being pleased
with the Hebrew system of relious obIations
he scrupulousIy donated a 1.-THE OF his
whole income to charitable purposes, be-
sides literally responding to. ali special ap-
peals when worthy. His religion tinged
all his acts of his life. 1t was to him the
key OF the morning and tho bolt of the
night. ltwas no shining Sunday garment
but his uniform at home aud abroad; his
cloak in hivouac, his armor in battle. Fro.
quently, when his army was being formed
for battle, his attendants noticed that his
lips moved, and his right arm was appraised
they knew that he was in prayer. This
done, his resolution was fixed, and execa-
ton followed the plan as the discharge of a
missile follows the touch of the trigger.
1t will be surprising to many to hear that
jackson was man of the highest amb-
ton. He aspred to emlnence in whatev-
er he undertook. He had that thirst for
glory which is the almost inyariable char
acterislic of elevated minds, and is incon-
ceiyable to all others and he used every
honorable cxertion to win it. At the bat
tie of Chapultepec, where his section mad
lost severely, his friends asked him if he
felt no trepidation when so many were fall
ing around him. He replied, No the only
anxiety OF which he was conscious in any
engagement was fear lest he should not
meet danger enough to make his conduct
under itas conspicuous as he desired and
as the fire grew hotter he rejoiced in it as
his coveted opportunity He held that
high rank in his profession should be the
officers highest consideration. for which
convenience, ease, wealth, and all other per-
sonal comforts should be sacrificed. But
his ambition was never overweening, enyi-
Gus, selfish. or ill-resulated. To an influ-
entail gentleman, who wrote to him for an
appointment for friend during the war.
he answered : /" Ifa person desires office
in these times, the best thing for him to do
is at once to pitch i:to service somewhere,
and work with such energy zeal, and sue
cess, as to impress those around him with
the conviction that such are his merits he
must be advanced or the interest of the
public service must snffer." No fancy, Or
namental gentleman for him !! It was BY
this means that his own ambition sought
elevation. %
He was no intriguer or office-seeker, bu:
in whatever field he labored he pitched in
to obstacles with such "energy, zeal, and
success that promotion sought him. His
was not the selfish ambition of a. Caesar
"ia,a Cesar om nuNus ~ it was not envi- |
Gus like that of Themistocles, whom the |
trophies Of Militiades would not permit to |
sleep; but like that of Washington, it was
inspired by the consciousness of merit,
and chastened by devotion to. duty 1t was
not the vain ambition that loved the up
permost places at feasts,. or builded' the I
monument for the monuments sake; but
it was the God-given desire to bring to its |
highest fruition the talent committed to |
him to become worthy oftrust over many
things by proving faithful over few to
set his light upon a hill, that it might shine |
before men, and that. seeing his good
works, they should glorify the Father who
sent him. eas sss
Jackson's personal appearance sadly dis
those who. had expected to be-
hold the hero of picture He looked, as
he rambled through his camps or his lines
on his gaunt .sorrel horse. more like sail
or, who had accidentally fallen up, and
didn't know how to get down, than like
knightly leader about to perform deeds |
that song and story would remember. An
old faded coat Of gray, upon which every
season had left his mari, rough. boots, a
plain military cap, were his constant dress,
and no stranger who had met him as. he
thus attred rode. unattended oyer the bat
tie field, would ever have dreamed that he
was Stonewall Jackson When he was
in Maryland in 1868 a crowd gathered
near his headquarters to see him. They
expected epaulets, gold lace, feathers, or
namental aides-de-camp, and numerous in
terestipg items ofdisplay Presently Gen.
eral Jackson stepped out OF his tent alone,
and told a sentinel to keep the crowd at
distance. "What shabby looking chap is
thata'' inquired several. !" That's old
Stonewall,' answered one of his men.
g That Stonewall jackson! Well; guess
he's no great shakes after all" said some of
the bystanders; :" he's not much for looks,
anyhow" You had to come within reach
of his eyes before you felt the force of bis
presence, A more resolute. frank, honest,
penetrating eye never illumined human
countenance. When looked into his
.fa,e," said a Federal prisoner, " my heart
canl-. uithin mo II uao Mt ~,ooo.oly,,