The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-04-17
Number 6.
STONEWALL JACKSON, THE PRO

My first recollection of Stonewall Jackson is
when was college boy at Lexington, Va, in
the fall OF 1860. am not able to say whether it
was the peculiar carriage of the stiff, military
looking Institute Professor who daily passed the
college grounds that was of chief interest to the
students OF Washington College, or whether the
stories told of daring and reckless courage in his
early military life, invested him with halo of ro-
| nance and made him an object of hero worship
| In their youthful minds. Whatever the cause. the
solid tramp of Major Jackson on the plank walk
would be the signal to stop all games of mirth
that may have been in progress ON the college
campus until he had passed. The stiff, stolid-
looking man would pass on, turning neither to
the right nor left, but single tonch of his cap
was the silent recognition given of the deferenta
respect shown by the boys q HoilANinE27o
"Old Jack" as he was familarlyi called by ca
diets and students, was so plain in manner and at
tire, there was littls effort at show his feet
were SO large and his arms and hands fastened to
his body IN such an awkward shape that the
cadets didn't take much pride in him as professor
They feared him in the lectureroom, they paid
the strictest Difference to him on parade, hut in
showing stranger the sights about the Institute
cadet was never known to point oat 'Old lack"
as one OF the ornaments of the institution He
was more popular with the college students,
who did not have the same reasons for fearing
the austerity OF his manner, but who knew him as
the son-in,law oftheir college President the Rev.
George Jankin. ~
My first meeting with Gen Jackson in the social
circle was one evening when he called to see a
friend at our clearinghouse. / shall never forget
the impression his manner and appearance made
upon me. Boy as was looked upon him with
reverential awe. had heard the stories of his
etruSSlss irA ~orly Ifs efhe-- aked from
his house tn Lewis County to Washington to
| receive his appointment a cadet to West Point.
of his being ill-prepared, and the difficulty he had
| in keeping up with his classes; and that had
heard of his brilliant career in Mexico, OF his
| mounting the walls of fCherubusco with the Amer
ican tas In his hands; and here now was the hero
! of my youthful enthusiasm before me- He was
so different from what thought a hero ought to
be! There was SO little animation, no grace, no
enthusiasm. All was stiffness and awkwariness
He sat perfectly erect his back touching the back
of the chair nowhere; the large hands were spread
out, one on each knee, while the large feet, stick
ing out a. an exact ght~angle to the leg 1.-THE an
gle seeming to have been determined with rnathe
matical precision) occupied an unwarranted
space, The figure recalled to my boyish mind
what had once seen-a rude Egyptiancarved
figure intended to represent one of the Pharaoes
But when the conversation commenced / lost
sight of the awkward looking figure. even lost
the reverentia1 awe which had so deeply i'm.
pressed me at first ] only saw the mild eyes
emitting gentle beams, and only heard a So n
Tneodious voice-speaking, it is true, IN short
crisp sentenceS-but withai mild and winning
as womans. then understood how it was that
Major Jackson could be a hero. UNDERLYING that
rough, uncomely exterior was vein Of the most
exquisite sentiment. In the soul of the man was
that magnetism which attracted and that power
which controlled and made -him the master of his
fellow men. In after days, when saw the up
lifting of his dusty cap excite the widest enthusi
asrn among his veteran legions, knew whence
the power ated.-- Wkeelise Reesster. nlIa