The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-10-20
.sToNEwALL JAcKsoN.s WAY"
Anecdotes of q Confederate General
Who had a Way of His own.
From the American Queen.1

Who had Way OF His own.
From the American Queen
! As is well known, jackson was care
less in dress, in gait, and when astridt
horse he was just as apt to have hi:
| No. 9's dangling out of the stirrups as
in them. A thoughtful man, with OBJ
long features, kindly gray eyes, sombre
| in looks. with a mind never at rest. he
appeared often In what may not inappro-
priatelv be termed fits of abstraction, ,
and apparently oblivious to everything
around him, but at the whistle of a
mimic ball, or the boom of a cannon, how
his whole face Lit up with expectancy
| He was suddenly alive to coming
events" OF Jackson's rigid discipline |
will here put on record an instance.
While boy, [ was coming out of the
postoffice in Lexington, Va, one morn
ing, and, as | came out, youth of some
seventeen summers passed In, clad IN a
black suit. | stopped for minute on
the pavement at the postoffice door, with
my face toward the Virginia Military
Institute, of which jackson was then
a professor. jackson was coming up the
street at the time, and only few yards
from the door. The cadet was In eiti-
zen's dress, and had "run the blockade"
to get letter from "'his girl" and had
thus violated two rules-cOme to town
in citizens dress, and without leave
He was coming out, unconsciously, into
the ''snare of the fowler :" but he
CHANGED to spy jackson within a few
yards of the office, and instantly sprang
back, jumped over the counter, flew
past the postmaster, and leaped out of
the back window, cat style, on ''all
fours"
jackson took in 'the situation" at
glance, for, as the cats heels were dis
appearing out of the back window, Jack
sons stern countenance darkened the
door, and he cried out in a stentorian
voice: "Irecognize you, sir! go 10 the bar
racks and report yourself under arrest ?
Many mentor would have been blind
to the escapade, would have tried not to
have seen his pupil, would have twink
ed at it, but not so with jackson ON
the contrary, he quickened his pace and
was an interested spectator to the lively
movements of his pupils heels. But it
has been mystery to me ever since,
how in the world jackson recognized
that cadet by his No. Z boots as his
heels were disappearing out of the win
dow. When | saw jackson again he |
lay dead ON the field at Charlottesville.
To show Iackson's listlessness on impor- |
tant occasions, | will record another in
eident. 1t is well known that ''Stone-
wall" was not mere map-fghter, or at
tackled the enemy on scientific principle |
He made war as Claiborne Mason made |
his (Jackson's) bridges, by intuitive
knowledge and common-sense principles.
And when many general was planning
| battle on maps, jackson had fought
md won them by the celebrity of his
But to the point On certain night,
lear the banks of the Rappahannock, a
council of war was being held, at which,
IS matter of course, Gen. Robert E.
lee presided. jackson was the last to
inter the commander-in-chieFs tent He
at down, crossed his lank legs, folded
lis arms, and was lost in thought in a
ew minutes. The subject and manner I
f attack was deliberately discussed in all
is details, for nearly an hour, on the
maps and plan of battle, and conclu-
ion nearly arrived at, when Gen Lee,
fishing to hear Jackson's opinion-he l
ad not opened his mouth during the
ntire discussion-asked him for his
Jews; but, mtrabiLe dictu! Jackson was {
ound asleep, and, when reused up, his
nswer to Lees question was (without
D much as opening his eyes,: ooh, run {
hem into river ?" His suggestion was
dopted, and bold, stand-up attack was Z
lade and the enemy was NOT only HrlIn |
ito the river" but clear across it. {