Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-08-14
THE REBEL YELL.
The Music Stonewall Jackson Loved
About His Dyspepsia.

rcsl Kyd Douglas in the Philadelphia Weekly
Times!l
I have referred to Msjor Jackson's ill
health. It took the form of dyspepsia, and
once during the war he told me he had suf.
tered with it for twenty years, aud he knew
OF no misery which attacked man rs it did,
physically, mentally, aud morally, and was as
likely to drive oue to suicide. 1t produced
in him that simplicity OF diet which was as
conspicuous as his simplicity of manners.
lie never was n hearty eater, but often ate
of one ur two tn ngs On the table plentifully,
eating some things he did not like, and lik-
ing many things he did not eat In the
army he rarely accepted an invitation to din-
ner, and when he did it was generally to
obIige his staff. He once said to mo that
hc believed ho was fonder of whiskey aud
brandy than any man in his arufy aud yot
he never tasted it. His discipline COM
menced with himself. and controlled his apS
petite as firmly as he did his troops.
In face aud figure S,onewall Jackson was
not striking. Above the average height,
with a frame angular. muscular, aud tGshlcss,
he was in all his movements. from riding
horse To handling peu, the most ungrace-
ful man in the army. His expression was
thoughtful. and generally elouded with an
air of fatigue. His eye was small, blue. aud
in repose as gentle as young girls. With
high, broad fnrehesd, small, sharp nose, thin.
pallid lips. deep set eyes, and dark, rusty
beard. he was not q handsome man. His
face in the drawing room or tent, soitened
by his sweet smile, was rs different from It,
self on the battle field as little lake In sum-
mer noon differs from the same lake when
frozen. Walkiug'or riding tho General was
ungainly; his main object was to go over the
ground, without regard to the manner OF his
going His favOri,e horse was as little like
Pegasus as he was like Apollo he rode bold
ly and we'll but certainly not with grace and
ease. He was not man of style. General
Lee. on horseback of. was the handsomest
man ever saw II was said of Wade Hamp-
ton that he looked as knightly when mounted
a. if he had stepped out from old canvas,
horse and all Breckenridge was model of
manly beauty and Joe Johnston looked every
inch a soldier None of these things can be
said of Jackson.
Akin to his dyspepsia, and perhaps as a
consequence. was his ignorance OF music
One morning. Mt Ashland he startled young
lady from her propriety by sravely asking her
il she had ever heard new piece OF music
called Dixie" aud as gravely listening to
her while she sang it. lie had heard II
| thousand times from the army bands, and yet
it seemed new to him. Judged BY tho
! ShakoSperean STANDARD, VINO couiu De moro
.'6, for treason. Strdtdgen's and spOiLsy-
Aud yet thero was one kind of music which
always interested and delighted him. 1t was
the .trebeI yeIl' of his troops. To this grand
chorus he never failed to respond. Tho
| difference between the regular ''hurrah" OF
the Federal army and the Irregular. wild yell
! of the Coufederstes was rs marked as the DIFF
ference in their uniforms. The rebel yell
was a peculiar mixture of sounds, kind OF
| weird shout Jackson was greeted with It
whenever he made his appearance TO the
troops, on the march or in battle and just as
invariably he would seize his old gray cap
| from his head in acknowledgment. and bis
Little SorreI," knowing his habit. would
| break into a ssllop and never halt until the
| shout had ceased. remember ono night. at
,at.no, this cry broke forth in the camp of tho
| SronevalI brigade. and was taken up by
brirades and divisions. until it rolled over
field and wood throughout the whole corps.
The General camo hastily and bareheaded
from his tent. and going up to n fence near
nv, he leaned npon it and listened in quiet TO
the rise, climax. and conclusion of that
strange serensde. raising his head to catch
the last sound it grew fainter. and until it
died awsy like an echo along the mountains.
| Then, turning toward his tent, he nuttered
in half sOIiIoany, THAT was the sweetest
music I ever heard"