The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-30


the celebrated forced march to Romncy
Virginia, in the winter Of 1862 there was
howl all along the line for h. removal
rs fanatical incompetent, but Governor
Letcher knew his man, and refused 10
revoke his commission. Again, before
the war, in 1860 he had gathered together
some 500 negro children and taught
them in Sunday school in Lexington,
Virginia, and this raised terrible storm
throughout the State. But he kept the
even tenor of his way undisturbed. lie
was as firm as adanant where he thought
his duty was concerned
1t was only during the seven days
iigh. that the main body OF the army
came to recognize Jackson in person.
Ills photographs do not give an adequate
idea of the man. They do not mark him
apar: rs II leader of men, and show that
inherent fitness for high participation in
the events Of that epoch which the
chances of war had brought TO light.
says one of his men: 1T would have
been easy To have mistaken him for the
courier of one Of his brigadicrs, for oil
external tokens TO the contrary; his
single. breasted coat Of rusty gray, snu-
scorchcd about the shoulders, until il was
almost yellow, and his plain cadet can,
OF the same hue. tilted forward until the
vasor rested almost upon his nose, were
mcancr in appearance than the makeup
of many smart fellow whose muskct
was the badge of his station, and not n
quartermnster in the corps but would
have considered Jackson's gaunt old sor.
rel bad swap for his own nag. But the
bright aud piercing look of his steel blue
eyes, when Que could get glimpse ut
them under the cap brim, the firm set of
his lips. and the impatient Jerking of his
arms from time to time told Of the eager
working Of the energetic soul within"
And the description is true one to the
letter.
After the seven days battle, whenever
there was great cheering on any part of
the line, it used to BE- said by the listen,
ers: Its either Jackson or rabbit"
Now the meaning of this was that when
ever rabbit was started in the bivouac
OF brigade the entire complement of
officers and men would turn out TO pursue
bunny, and, by heading him off hero and
turning him there, poor bunny, who in
the end would become bewildered by the
diabolcal yclls aud cheers which met
iilm at every turn, was generally captured
Now General Jackson stunned, if he
could, the demonstrations which greeted
him whenever he passed camp Of his
own corps or Of Longstrcct's. The men
would gather on the roadside waving
their hats and yelling like demons, the
yells being taken up from camp to camp,
as old Jack" went skurrying along on
his old sorrel AZ fast as he could lay feet
to the ground. There was spice of mis-
chievousness in this, for soldiers are like
h., l.
Jackson hated no!oricty, but their admi
ration aud enthusiasm for him were such
that they would have charged tho very
gates of hades at his bidding. Never
were more genuinely sorrowfui tears shed
than those that fell from the eyes Of his
army on Jackson's bier.
| recollect that just before tha battle
of Fredericksburg (Burnsidc's) General
j. Il. Is Stuart presented Jackson with n
bran new uniform, covered with gold
lace ami stars. and rs gaudy as Il pea
cocks train. Jackson had never worn
1t, but on the morning Of the grand
assault Stuart had persuaded him To put
it ON. Accompanied by Stuart aud some
of his staff he rode slowly in front IF the
Confederate lines from right to left but
he was not recognized until he reached
Pickctrs division, then placed in the
aen're OF the iine. Stuart mischievonsly
pointed out the gorgeous looking individ-
ual 10 some officer of tho division, and it
ran down the line like wildfre, "Old
Jacks got new uniform !" Instantly
the men leaped upon the breastworks,
yelling wildly and swinging their
hats, until Jackson could bear it no long
ger, but, turning reprouclsfll look upon
Stuart, he clapped spurs to old s:-rcl and
galloped off to his own command.
Suffice it to say, he pulled his new duds
off as soon rs he had an opportunity.
Now, who can explain the philosophy
of it? Neither Johnston, nor Beaure.
gard, nor Longstree. nor Hill, nor
early, nor even Jeb Stuart were ever
looked upon by the army in the same
light Us Lee and Jackson. And yet all
these officers were worthy of euthusias.
tic admiration and unfinching support
It is one of the mysteries that make ns
believe that actions and events are
largely beyond the ken of the pure reas.
en:ng faculties.