The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-03-28
miscellaneous.
sroNEwALL JACKSON.


DICK IAllOfs
In the last number OF the Norm Amerl-
can Revie,v General Richard Taylor con-
tributes chapter of "reminiscences en-
titled "Stonewall Jackson and the Valley
Campaign" He tells absolutely nothing
that is new concerning the military ope-
rations which he describes, and the value
and interest of his article is in the
qlimpses it gives of Jackson, who was,
without doubt, one of the most peculiar
and interesting figures which the war
between the States brought into view.
General Taylor saw Jackson for the first
time in May, 1862. This is his descrip-
ton of the meeting:
"a figure, perched on the topmost rail
of a fence, overlooking the road and field,
was pointed out as Jackson. Approach.
ing, saluted and declared my name and
rank; then waited for response. Be-
fore this came, had time to see pair
of cavalry boots covering feet OF gigantic
size. NANCY cap, with visor drawn low
a heavy, dark beard, and weary eyes
ewes afterwards saw filed with intense
but never brilliant light. low, gentle
voice inquired the distance and the road
marched that day.
"'Six and twenty miles -keazletown
road
"'You seem to have no stragglers.'
"'Never allow straggers.'
"'You must teach my people. They
straggle badly
"Abow in reply. Just then my creoIes
started their band and waltz. After
contemplative suck at a lemon, Thought
less fellows for serious work came forth.
I expressed hope that the work would
not be less well done because of the
gayety. A return to the lemon gave me
an opportunity to retire. Where Jack
son got his lemons mo fellow could lind
out but he was rarely without one 10
live twelve miles from that fruit would
have disturbed him as much as it would
the witty dean. Quite late that night
General Jackson came to my campfire,
where he remained some hours. He said
he would move at dawn, asked a few
questions about the marching Of my men,
which seemed to have impressed upon
him, and then remained silent. II ST.
lence was golden, he was bonanza. He
sucked lemon, ate hard tack and drank
water, and, l imagine, his idea OF the
whole duty of man was-praylng and
fighting"
Of Jackson's inability to understand
anything like jest General Taylor soon
had an illustration. The night before
the entry into Winchester, Jackson and
Taylor were together under desultory
fire. General Taylor says
Gan officer, riding hard, overlook u.s.
who proved to be the quartermaster of
the army. He reported the wagon trains
far behind, impeded by the roads in Lu'
ray Valley.
'''The ammunition wagons% (sternly)
"'All right, sir. They were in advance
and doubled teams on them and brought
them through
"'Ah? lin tone of relief)
"To give CountenanCe to this quarter
master, if such can be given of dark
night remarked, joCosely Never mind
the wagons. There are quantities of
stores in Winchester, and the General
has invited us TO breakfast to morrow
jackson, who had no more capacity
for tests than a Scotchman. took this Sc
rioIsly, and reached out and touched me
on the arm. In fact, he was of Scotch.
Irish descent, and his inconsistencies OF
Jokes was de race Without physical
wants himself, he never remembered
that others were differently constituted,
and paid little heed to the commissariat;
but woe to the man who failed to bring
up ammunition In advance, his trains
were far behind; in retreat, he would
fight for wheelbarrow."
Jackson's puritanism appears not to
have been of a very aggressive type. His
conscience was not an Extensively yicari-
GUS one, as appears from the following
anecdote:
"We reached the shallow depression
spoken of, where the enemy could de-
press his guns, and his fire became close
and fatal Many men fell and the whist.
ling of shot and shell oCCasioned much
duCking of heads in the column. This
annoyed me not a little, as it was but
child's play to the work Immediately in
hand. Always an admirer of delightful
Uncle Toby, | had contracted the most
villainous habit of his beloved army in
Flanders, and forgetful Of JaCksons
presence, ripped out, What the HI are
you lodging for? If there is any more
of it. you will be halted under this fire
for an hourp The sharp tones of ia.
miliar voice had the desired effect, and
the men looked as if they had swallowed
ramrods but | shall never forget the
look of reproachful surprise OH Jackson's
face. He placed his hand on my shoul.
der, and said, in a gentle voice: L am
afraid you are wicked fellow and then
turned and rode back to the picket"
Of Jackson's overmastering ambition
General Taylor says:
"I have written that he was ambitious;
and his ambition was vast, all absorbing.
As the unhappy wretch from whose
shoulders sprang the foul serpent, he
loathed it, perhaps feared it, but he could
not escape tit was himself; nor rend
tit was his own flesh. He fought it
with prayer. constant and earnest
Apollyon and Christian in ceaseless COM
bat. What limit to set to his ability know
not, for he was ever superior to occasion.
Under ordinary circumstances it was
difficult to estimate him because of his
peculiarities peCuliarities that would
have made lesser man absurd, but that
served to enhance his martial fame, as
those of Samuel Johnson his literary
eminenCe"
GARFIELD'S LAST EXPERIMENT.