The Northern Pacific farmer., 1881-03-17
STONWALL JACKSON'S DEBUT.

11O" I110 UEl1n Oluekt3a1N kAHOCACA 4NOA6C1kCc
Out of Amateur Soldiers.
While enjoying the heyday of our almost
amateur soldering the singular, unprece-
dented and outrageous announcement spread
at Herper's Ferry that one major general
and his brigadiers had all been superseded
by one Major jackson, man who, until
that time, had never been heard of by one
out of every hundred of the garrison. Ihad
an early opportunity of seeing Colonel
jackson, who was elaborately discussed, and
who as I said, kept himself very close.
reported to headquarters as officer of the
day. I think that in all descriptions which
I have seen of jackson injustice has been
done to his personal appearance. l have
before me note of the impression he made
on me this first time ever saw him, with
out the glimmer Of his after fame before
my eyes, made while the impression was still
fresh in my mind. When I entered his
door he was at his desk. OF course, had
no business going to him at all, but this was
in the early, innocent days. l saluted
and said that I come for orders.
He rose and approached me with
out anything of that stride in his gait
which has been SO often referred to in de-
scriptions of him. think he had something
of it when in high cavalry boots, he dis
mounted from his horse, but notordinarily.
There was nothing ungainly or ungraceful
in his movements, though there might have
been some military stiffness. He had a
rather slender figure and the manners and
bearing of a gentleman. His features were
regular and, as it struck me at the time,
somewhat delicate. There was something
PECULIAR about the expression of his eye
rather an abstracted air, I think, though
that scarcely expresses it. The impression
made on me may he gathered from my i'm
promptu answer made to the question of an
officer when returned to my quarters as
to what I thought of jackson. I replied
that he was either a genius OF crazy, could
not rightly tell which. We know he was
not the latter. His eyes were that dark blue
gray that have the appearance of being al
most black at times; but they were mild,
gentle eyes, that were pleasant to look at.
It is to be recollected that am writing of
jackson before the world had ever heard of
him; man unknown to fame, and most
probably equally unknown to himself. Itake
it that he was about five feet eleven inches in
| height and about thirty six years Of age. One
was impressed mainly by his gentleness and
| sedateness. Nothing can give better idea
of this trait than my first conversation with
him. He told me that he wished to throw
a picket out in the direction of Hagerstown,
and asked me to recommend a company for
that purpose. Keen for any service and
anxious to be relieved from what was at
that time disagreeable duty, the total mis-
apprehension of the duties Of soldier
among officers and men rendering the posi-
ton of officer of the day, no sinecure, sug-
gested my own company. He then very
briefly gave me directions as to the course
it should take, etc. then told him that as
the men were all new to the duty and the
officer in command in my absence, though
most excellent young man and all that,
was totally inexperienced, wished that he
would have me relieved so that might be
with my company. His quiet reply in a
low. soft voice: ''The lieutenant you de-
scribe is just the sort of man want, -
destroyed my hopes, and had the annoy
ance Of seeing my men marched off to their
first duty outside Of camp without me; but
as low and soft as his tones were I was at
once convinced that remonstrance was use
less