Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-04-21
LYON COUNTY TIMES
StOnewall Jackson.

eral. The following is what she says
You must know that my husband
fell very much III love with Mexico
during his campaign there, and had
there been any sort of assurance OF a
stable government in that country, he
would certainly have made ii his
home. In that event he might have
had no part in thu late struggle be-
tween the States.
Mrs. Jackson took occasion to cor
rect very general misrepresentation
as to her husbands position when war
was about to be declared. 1t is said
that he was in doubt, she remarked,
q, to whether his allegiance was due
to the Union or his state. do not
think that is true. He deplored the
collision most earnestly. He be-
lIeved that patriotic craftsmanship
might have averted it. He loved the
Union as only one who had fought
under the flag could love it. He
would have died to have saved it
in its purity and its just relations.
But he believe that the constitutional
rights Of the States had been invaded,
and he never bad doubt as to where
his allegiance was due. His sword
belonged to his State. He shuddered
at the approach of war. He prayed
fervently and persistenly that an
amicable adjustment might be
reached. But at the very first call he
placed himself at the head of HE
cadets and marched to Harper's Fer
~, where he witnessed the hanging
Of John Brown. From that time un-
til his death he never was out of ser
vice single hour. He would never
take furlough. Mr.. Jackson was
no strong believer in the system OF
slavery. He woul,l never have fought
to preserve that institution. He
fought for the sovereignty of the
States.
Nothing was So certain to him,
she said, as that protracted struggle
would wear the South out. He be-
lieved that we had but one hope, and
that was to press the Federals at
every point, blindly, fiiriously, mad
ly. ave must frighten them," he
used to say. He believed that fatal
mistake was made when our people
failed to take advantage of the splen-
did victory at Manassas. l think he
saw permanent triumph just be-
yond that battle. SO thoroughly was
he impressed with the Importance of
pushing ahead all the time and in
the face of any obstacle, that he was
considered fanatic. A separate
command was denied him for a good
while and obtained at last only by
the persistent efforts of Gov. Letcher.
Mr.. DAVIS, even, was afraid to trust
him with n separate command. When
he did get it he violated all the ac-
cepted rules of war by refusing to go
into winter quarters and forcing his
men to such heroic work that thou
sands of them deserted. 1t seemed
impossible for him to bring the gov
eminent into sympathy with his I'M
petuous plan. This failure saddened
his letters to me. He was contin.
ually apprehensive of the effects If
the slightest delay. He said, wv
must give them no time to think. We
must bewilder them and keep them
bewlldered. Our fight must be sharp,
impetuous, continuous. We cannot
stand very long war;"
JACKSON AND LEE.
He loved General Lee and admired
him beyond measure. "His only
fault is that he is too Slow" he wrote
me once. The dilatory policy of
General Lee he considered great
mistake. But he never lost CONT
dence in the final success of the Con-
federacy. At first many of his Of
ficers and men were somewhat dis
trustful Of his judgment. After be
had led them to half a dozen vic
tories, however, their confidence in
him became boundless, and then he
never had fear. His wonderful tri-
umphs in the valley campaign be
took as matter of course. No mat
ter what odds were piled up against
him he never faltered; his hope never
sank. His men soon came to be
fatalists, and his faith was little short
of theirs. He never feared that he
would be killed. He looked for a
long and happy life under govern
ment of Confederate States.
HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER.
His whole correspondence with me,
said Mrs. jackson, was full of ex-
pressed and implied horror of war
and bloodshed. l am convinced that
one of the reasons impelling him to
the positive and vigorous course that
he pursued was the knowledge that
it must speedily release him from the
repugnapt work in which he was en-
gagged. He was the most tender,
affectionate and demonstrative man
at home that ever saw. His heart
was as soft as woman's; he was
full of love and gentleness. Nothing
but the most positive sense of deep
religious duty could have nerved him
to go through what he did. The
stern, inexorable front that he wore
in public life was the easement be-
meath which he imprisoned his up-