The Morning herald., 1875-10-25

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Democrats are now preparing themselves
for the Presidential canvass, and every
where they are making the discovery that
neither party have anything to unite their
members, among themselves, or to differ
entia:e them from their opponents.-Lom-
don Spectator. r'I '' 7..
Stonewall jackson at West Point.
In June, 1912, A. P. Hill, George E.
Pickett, B. D. Fry, and the writer, having
passed our first week at the Military Aca-
deny, were standing together on the south
side Of the old South Barracks at West
Point when cadet sergeant came by us
conducting newly arrived cadet to his
quarters. This new conner attracted our
attention at once. He was apparently
about twenty years Of age, &c.; was we'll
grown; his figure was angular and clumsy;
his gait was awkward. He was clad in
old-fashioned Virginia homespun woollen
cloth; he bore across his shoulders a pair
Of weather-stained saddle-bags, and his
hat was one Of those heavy, low crowned
broad-brimned wool hat. usually wcrn in
those days by overseers, county constables,
wagoners, &c. He tramped along by the
side of the sergeant with an air of resolu-
tlon, and his stolid look added to the in
flexible determination of his whole aspect,
so that one Of us remarked, "That fellow
has come here to stay" His name was
Thomas J. Jackson.
He had rough time in the Academy at
first, for his want Of previous training
placed him at a disadvantage, and it was
all he could do to pass his first examina-
ton. We were studying algebra, and
maybe analytical geometry, that winter,
and Jackson was very low in his class
standing. All lights were put
out at "taps;" but just before the
signal he would pile his CRATE up with an
thrcite coal and, lying prone before it on the
floor, would work away at his lessons by
the glare Of the fire, which scorched his
very brain, till late hour in the night.
This evident determination to succeed not
only aided his own efforts directly, but i'm
pressed his instructors in his favor, and he
rose steadily year by year, till we used to
say, IF we had to stay here another year
old jack would be head Of the class"
By the fourth year he attained position
in the first section, but his lower standing
during the early year of the course and in
drawing, French and some other studies
of lighter and more ornamental charac-
ter, brought his average below the point
to which he had actually attained by the
end Of the course.
In the riding-hall I think his suffering
must have been great-he had a very
rough horse-and when the order came to
'cross stirrups'' and "trot' "Old Jack''
swayed about and struggled hard to keep
on his horse. When we had advanced to
riding at the heads, leaping the bars, &C.,
his equitation was truly fearful; but he
persevered through the most perilous trials,
and no man in the riding g-house would take
more risks than he, and certainly no one
had our good wishes for success and safety
than he.
1believe he went through the very try.
ing ordeal Of the four years at West Point
without ever having hard word or hard
feeling for or from cadet or professor. And
while there were many who seemed to
surpass him in the graces Of intellect, in
geniality and in good fellowship, there VA.
no one of our class who more absolutely
possessed the respect and confidence of all |
than he did.-Lstlsr to Richmond WIg. J