The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-12-07

IIo wns one of tho hardest students
ever at West Point. and for tho first
two years studied as much as sixteen
hours out Of tho twenty four. lie
made il rule to sit with his back to
the door, with bis book before him.
and to speak 10 no one who catered
his ROOM during study. At the end
Of tho first two years. it was thought
he would not bo ablo to 60 through,
and some Of the professors niviscd him
to resign. His pride was touched,
and hc Indignantly replied hc would
| not do so, but would 60 through O'
die. " About tho middle Of the third
year, to use his own words, the scales
fell from bis eyes and he saw through
things at glauCc, Which required
him weeks to see through year before.
After tllas time be- seemed to have had
no trouble in any OF his classes, and TO
huvo taken high rank. His dsmcrits
we're few and Of no consequence. lie
graduated at tho end Of tho fourth year
with distinguished honoEs.
Young Jackson, as horseback
rider on tho race. had no supcriors.
Ills uncle, Cummina e. jackson, kept
number Of bloolcd horses and had n
four milo track on his farm.
" Thomas. " as be always called him,
was his trainer, aud so we'll vas be
taught to ride that hs was never
thrown from bis horse, aud rarely ever
failed to win tho race. Ho looked
awkward on horseback, a9l cut rather
u poor fgurO, from tho fact that he
rod e with short stirrurs aud loaned for
ward-a position his uncle required Of
him when on his fastest steeds running
for a I" big pile and tho habit he
then contracted 10 ncTer afterwards
abandoned. And just here. nj element
in hin never failed to show itself, the
mention whereof must not be ODiittyl.
Notwithstanding he rode bis uucle's
race horses, aud won for him money,
he was moralist in its fullest meaning.
liz observed tho Sabbath, read good
books, abstaiaed from all intcmpcrance
aud was kind to tho poor. IIc early
cspOuscd tho doctrine of forcordiaatiOn,
and cultivated tho belief that men
never die till there time comes, an
error which may have prcmaturely led
to lis untimeIy death.
After leaving West Point, he
entered the United States army and
fought through the Mexican war.
How he burc himself in that war. the
dispatches Of General Scott to Mr..
Marcy bcs, tell. At its close no w''
placed in comnand Of body Of United
States soldiers ut Fort Hamilton, and
suL=squ, ntiy at Tampa Bay, aud after
remaining nj these two places some
lwo y.AIs. his health giving way. he
resigned bis place in tn! army anil
returned to his old homo at JacSson's
| Mills. His uncle. 4 bntch:)or, had a
number Of negro slaves who kept house
| for him, aud attended to his domestic
aTaits. Somo Of them hll nurscl
young Stonewall when q chili, and hi'
meeting with them after uu absence
wa. not unlike an oil time love.feast
Such shaking of hands and laughing
loud enough to shake the house tops
was sight worth seeing.
i Thomas J. Jncksou was noble
| hearted fellow, and Was never known
to have forgotten Kindness or for
sakcn friend,
While at tho Mills, he was c'ost
student Of history aud the laws Of war
and nothing pleased him moro than tt
discuss with tho writer tho Gencralship
of the commanders Of armies, and tn
Treaties made By contcnding forces
! lie often said ho had but one talent
aud "hc would never be anything 6u
Tom Jackson, unless the United State
engaged in war"
lie had read and poulcred closely
the lives Of tue warriors and heroes o
the old and new world, and was sgam
Ored with the "pomp and ciFcumstane
Of war" Taking in review bis owl
matclIess campaigns, it is not wonder
tul that two such masters in the arts 0
war as Julius Cesar and Frederick thu
Great should have become his protO
types. That he often drew inspiration
from their dash ual rapid marches
their disposition Of troops, and dispa'c
of Az cnrmv in his ''yalley campaigns