Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-19
HOW sTONEwALL
PRAYED.

And How He Talked In the So
eial Circle, and at a Political
Meeting-Farewen to Lexing-
ton-A School Boys RecOliec-
lions of the Hero of the Con-
federaey.
Correspondence OF tbs Register.
My first recollection OF Stonewall Jack
son is when was a college boy at Lex
ington, Va. in the fall OF 1860. lam not
able to say whether it was the peculiar
carriage of the stiff, military looking In
stitute Professor who daily passed the
college grounds that was OF chief interest
to the students OF Washington College,
or whether the stories told Of daringand
reckless courage in his early military
life invested him with a halo OF romance
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 or mirth that may have
been in progress on the college compus,
until he had passed. The stiff stolid
looking man would pass on, turning his
head neither to the right nor left, but a
single touch OF his cap was the silent
recognition given oil the deferential re-
spect shown by the boys.
"Old Jack" as he was familiarity call
ed by cadets and students, was 10 plain
in manner and attire, there was 70 little
effort at show, his feet were SO large and
his arms and hands fastened to his body
insuch an awkward shape, that the cadets
didn't take much pride in him as a pro-
lessor. They feared him in the lecture
room, they paid the strictest Difference to
him ON parade, bit in showing a stranger
the sights about the Institute a cadet
was never known to point out 'Old
Jack" AS one OF the ornaments OF the
Institution. He was more popular with
the college students who dill not have
the same reasons for fearing the austeri-
" OF his manner, but who knew him as
the sOn-in-law of their college president,
Rev. George Junkins.
IN THE SOCIAL CIRCLE.
NV first meeting with Gen. jackson
in the social circle was one evening,
when he called to see a friend at our
boarding house. | shall never forget
the impression his manner and appear
anCe made up on ne. Boy as / was, l
looked upon him with a reverential awe.
had heard the stories of his struggles
in early life, of how he had walked from
his house in Lewis county To Washing
ton to receive his appointment as a ca
Diet to West Point, OF his being iiiy pre-
pared, and the difficulty he had IN keep
ing up with his classes; and then | had
heard of his brilliant career in MexIcO,Of
his mounting the walls OF Cherubusco
with the American flag IN his hands;
and here now was the hero Oi my youth
full enthusiasm before me. Tie was SCI
different from what | thought a hero
ought To bel There was SO little anima-
ton, no grace, DO enthusiasm. All was
stiffness and awkwardnesS. He sat per-
iectly erect, his back touching the back
of the chair nowhere, the large hands
we're spread out, one ON each knee,
while the large feet sticking out at an
exact right angle to the leg, (the angle
seeming to have been determined with
mathematical preCisiOn), occupied an
u~nwarranted space. The figure recalled
to my boyish mind what | had once
seen, a rude Egyptian carved figure IN
tended To represent n oil the
PharOahs.
But when the conversation com
menced | lost sight Of theawkward look
ing figure. | ever lost the reverentlai
" which had so deeply impressed me
at first. | only saw the mild eyes emit
ting gentle beams, and only heard a soft
melOdiOus vOice-speaking, II Is true, IN
short, crisp sentences,-but withal as
mild and winning as a wOman's. then
understood why it was that Major jack
sou could be a hero. Underlying that
rough, unCOmelv exterior was a VEN oil
the most equisite sentiment. In the
soul of the mar 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 uplifting of his dusty cap excite
the Widest enthusiasm among ms
veteran legiOns, | knew whence the
power emanated.
JACKSON A KESRIDGE
The next time | heard Jackson talk
was in a political meeting one night IN
the town OF Lexington. Ii was during
the memorable presidential canvass OF
1860. ROckbridge county was a stald
old Wing community. The majority OF
Democrats, under the leadership OF Gov.
Letcher, supported Douglass. The
Breckenridge men had a small force,
The leading spirits of this faction called
"A meeting one evening at the Court
house. 1t was a small gathering, and
when the two leaders, Col. Massie n
Frank Paxton, had reported their resolu-
tons. a voice from the rear part OF the
building. in a quick, decisive tone, was
heard to call out mir. Chairman All
eyes were instantly turned toward the
Speaker and beheld the stiff looking
figure of Major Jackson. No n suS-
pected him OF being a politician
and a general anxiety was manifested to
know what he Vas going to say and con
seauently the strictest attention was paid.
In a speech Of fifteen minutes he re-
viewed the resolutions, endorsed them,
spoke of the dangers threatening the
south. the duty Of taking a firm stand,
and then sat down. lie displayed one
quality Of an orator not alwaysexhihited
byIpoiitical speakers when he was done,
he quit.
The Frank Paxton spoken OF IN this
connection. wen out the next spring a.
a lieutenant in the ROckbridge Ritiemen,
and when he was killed at Chanceilors-
vile held the position OF brigadier-een,
eral. and iell at the head OF JacksonS old
.'StonewaI' brigade. His was rs daunt-