The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-08-18
THE REBEL YELL.
The Music NOnearUU Jackson L0red
About his Dyspepsia.

Oh dyspepsia, anu once turing tue
war he told me he had suffered
with it twenty years, and he knew
of no misery which attacked a man
as it did, physically. mentally and
morally, and was as likely to drive
one to suicide. 1t produced in him
that simplicity of diet which was
as conspicuous as his simplicity Of
manners. He never was a hearty
eater, but often ate Of one or two
things On the table plentifully. eat
ing some things he did not like and
liking many things he did not eat.
In the army lie rarely accepted an
invitation to dinner, and when he
did, it was generally to oblige his
staff. He once said to me that he
believed lie was fonder of whisky
and brandy than any man III his
army ]; and yet he never tasted eth
er. His discipline commenced with
himself, and controlled his appetite
as firmly as he did his troops.
In face and figure Stonewall Jack
son was not striking. Above the
average height, with "a frame angu
lar, muscular, and feshless, he was
in all his movements, from riding
a horse to handling a pen, the most
ungraceful man in the army. His
expression was thoughtful, and gen
orally clouded with an air OF fati
que. His eye was small. blue, and
III repose as gentle as a young girls.
With high, broad forehead, small.
sharp nose, thin paliid lips, deep
Sc. eyes, and dark, rusty beard, he
was not a handsome mao. His
face i'll the drawing room or tent,
softened by his sweet smile, was as
different from itself On the battle
fed as a little lake in summer noon
differs from the same lake when
frozen. Walking or riding the Gen
eral was ungainly ; his main oh
ject was to go over the sl0uEd
without regard to the manner OF
his going. His Jlvorite horse was
little like Pegasus as he was like
Apollo ;::ae|rode boldly and well. bat
certainly not with grace and ease.
He was not a man of style. Gene
raj Lee, Oh horseback or off, was
the handsomest man l ever saw.
1t was said of Wade Hampton that
he looked as knigltly when noun
ted as if he had stepped from au
old canvas, horse and all. Breckin
ridge was a model of manly beauty,
and Joe johnson looked every inch
a soldier. None Of these things can
be said Of jackson.
Akin to his dyspepsia, and per
haps as a consequence, was his is
norance OF music. One morning at
Ashland he startled Il young lady
from her prOpriety. By srave!y ask
ing her it she had aver heard Il new
piece of music called Dixie" and
as grave!y listening to her while
she sang it. He had heard it IA
thousand times from the army
bands, and yet it seemed new to
him: Judged by the Shatespea
rean standard, who could be more
lift for %treasons, stratagems, and
spolls! And yet there was one
kind of music which always interes
ted and delighted him. 1t was the
s'rebel yelr' Of his troops. To this
grand chorus he never failed to res
pond. The difference beween the
regular "hurrah" Of the Federal ar
my and the irregular, wild yell Of
the Confederates was as marked as
the difference in their uniforms.
The rebel yell was a peculiar mix
ture of sounds ; a kind If weird
shout. jackson was greeted with
tsvhenever he made his appearance
to the troops, on the march or in
; and just as invariab bly, he
would seize his old gray cap from
his bead in acknowledgment, and
his "Little Sorrel," knowing his hab
it, would break in a gallop and new
Dr. halt until the shout had ceased.
[ remember one night at tattoo this
cry broke forth IN the camp of the
Brigade, and was taken
Up by brigades and divisions, until
trolled over thefield throughout the
whole corps. The General came
and bareheaded from his
:ent. and, going up to the fence
hear by, he leaned upon it and lis
;ened in quiet to the rise, climax
md conclusion Of the strange sere
made, raising his head to catch the
asst sound, as it grew fainter, and
Until it died away like an echo