, 1878-08-15
The Hero and Gentlemen.

|
frequent illusions to him, write to mar
rate an incident that shows peculiar
tlalt in the man.
1t was the fall of the first year of the
war, during the long calm following the
fight Of Munassas, and our army was en-.
Ctmped around Centreyille. Jackson
WAS brigadier at that time and was in
the S cDnd Virginia, Of his brigade. AT
| that time the army wa, very destitute of
clothing. Nearly every one was depend
eut largely on their homes f ra supply.
As my own home was in Kentucky was
cut of from this resource and con'e.
qnently WAS probably the most ragged
man in the army.
Il ha been raining for several days
and when it rains in Virginia it means
mud. The whole country was a sea of
mad, with baggage wagons tloundering
alb 'ut, and troops perched on little
islands of fence rails or wading about in
II vain attempt to find a dry place.
WAS detailed on guard, and as luck
would have it the rain eliminated that
nj ht in violent gale that WAS about the
worst ever experienced. The tent pins
drew out OF the soft ground ut the first
blast, and in the raiu and darkness the
$ ldiers could be heard crying out as they
held on to The tapping canvas to avoid
losing it altogether, or vainly tried to Sc.
cure their tents over their baggage.
From time to time n fly went sailing by
like ghost in the night and added con
fusion ON confusion as it tore through the
camp.
The guard had terrible time going
their rounds, and it is fair to say thai
each individual member stumbled and
fell into the mud at least half dozen
times. You will gather from this that
we were not handsome lot Of men when
day broke and showed every tent Hat on
the ground. However, daylight brought
sunshine and Il fair sky and we consoled
ourselves with the fact that the whole
army hal Jared that night nearly as bad
AS the guard.
The guard. house had been moved into
the church. AS went in from post some
of the men told me that the patrol had
brought in spy captured during the
night. lie was young man in lieu.
tenants uniform, and felt sorry for him
and spoke to him He told me then it
was a mistake. lie belonged to the En-
gneer G rps, and Elrly had seut him for
some maps. Riding along in the dark
his horse took the bank Of the road. 1t
then slipped and fell, catching the lieu
tenant and causing him to faint. Shortly
after the patrol found him and arrested
him.
As the man was suffering offered to
aih him if could be of s4rVrce, where
upon he told me that if | would take a
note to Gen. Smith he would be released
ut once Getting permission from Charley
Stewart who WAS lieutenant Of the guard,
set "f, but failed utterly in finding
where Gen. Smith had located his head-
quarters.
rncra was nothing for it but to go to
Jackson's headquarters and fad out. The
Generals tent mad shared the common
fate, aud he had moved with his staff into
u house with long piAzzi ironting the
r,ad, and there l found them enjoying
| the bright III jrniug sun.
Stepping inside the gate made the
general inquiry if any of them would tell
me where G neral Smiths quarters were.
The officers arrested their promenade
| for an instant aud gazei in surprise ut
the presumption of such a muddy and
ragged soldier and then went ON without
deigning me single word in reply.
felt the blood mount to my face, but
determined to shame them into an an
swer and SO repeated my question.
The result was precisely the same.
begun to run rapid calculation i'll my
mind as to how much gold lace waste
quired to change u man into puppy,
! when noticed that Cen. Jackson had
paused. and was contemplating the scene
FJr II IN Dment his eye rested on me and
then turncd in astOnishmont on his staff.
| His staff did not observe it-they went
on talking and strutting about, while |
waited patiently by the gate. Evidently
/ was TO get no answer whatever.
Suddenly the General stepped abruptly
forward. AS he did so d sudden hush
tell On the group.
"WIIat did you wish to know, sirl" he
a,ked, 10 the kindest Of tones.
told him.
"lf you will come up here can show
you more distinctly"
| went up and he put his hand on my
shoulder and pointed to large flagstaff:
"You sec that tl4g-stntfi very well;
that is where the FIRST Virginia is. GO
along by such and such road-pass such
and such brigaies-be very careful not to
go wrong at this crossing" etc.
lie went ON with care in this manner
and made me repeat the direction over,
which | did with great confusion, for |
was young then, and the general Was very
kind so as not to overwheln me. never
thought our hero would ever even speak
J to me.
lie then courteously dismissed me. A.
glanced mp at the porch, in leaving, !
saw the staff huddled in groups, looking
hs shamefaced as lot OF boys caught
stealing apples.
stepped into the guard-house in pass.
ing aud found the lieutenant just being
released. Yet did not regret my trou.
ble. l had asked question OF an aid
aud got an answer from general