Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-14
StOnewaII Jackson, ile Teach
err

StOnewaII Jackson, ihe Teach
er.
A former pupil writes to the New
Orleans Times-DemOcrat the fol.
lowing illustrating the ecceutricity
OF "StOnewal" Jackson.
commencement day occu;ed
annually on July 4, and we had
been drilling with much regularity
and cOnstancy for several weeks
previous, in order to make q credi
table display before the numeiOoa
visitors who ilOcked to Lexington
on that occasion. 10 was only a
day or two before the glorious
Fourth and We had been marched
to the parade ground for artillery
drill, and Prof. Jackson was on
instructor in artillery tactics. We
were dressed in our best from top
TO toe, az we expected many visl
tors to witness the drill. We bad
scarcely commenced operations be
fore an Omlnous daIk cloud made
It's appearance Ia Che southwest,
and soon storm OF wind and rain
burst upon rs with much sudden
violence. The lightning flashed,
the thunder rolled, and the rain
fell but the drill went on without
stOppage or ntermissiOn. and COM
mands could only be understood by
the waving sabros and military
signs. This was rather too much
for cadet iOrbeaiancc, although
subjected to the strictest military
discipline, especially on drill and
parade; and we soon cOncOcted q
plan to steal a march upon our
grim-loOking instructor, and TO put
stop to what we considered avery
arbitrary proceeding.
"Did he really not dismiss the
drillf' you may again ask. Not
bit Of it. sold Jack" proceeded
with the manOeuvers with the same
calm equanlmity as if it was a calm
June morning and not cloud above
horizon. But our ingenuity was
equal to the occasion, and we hest
tated not moment. We had a
reaular code OF private telegraphic
signals, Ineligible to none except
the initiated, and the "word" was
tclegraphed down the line $50 re-
move the linch-pins," which order
was executed in the twinkling Of
an eye. The next command from
our commanding officer was "trot,
march," which we executed with
much alacrity and precision. The
wheels Of the artillery carriages be.
ing minus the linchpins each one.
of course, assumed an independent
direction and the battery was
placed "hOrS dc combat" considera.
bly, out of line and scattered i'm var
lOus directions. This, of course,
ended the drill for that day at least,
aud the satisfaction Of "getting
even with sold Jack fully com.
penSatcd Us FOX our drenchlng by
the rain.
As an instructor, Prof. Jackson
appeared to be careful and pains
taking; but he fell far short of be.
ing a success in thlt line. But
Jacss0n's fame does not rest upon
his career as a professor; the lat
ter IS mere episode in his lie, and
among many OF his admirers is not
taken into consideration at all. At
recltallOns he shot out questions
Ike words of command, and the
student who answered quickly ana
rapidly was sure to receive better
mark than one who replied slowly
and with deliberation. lie tOicrl-
ted no laggards, and Voc be aato
the cadet who might be nes'irtl,
Of studies or the proper pcrior-
nance Of his military duties. He
carried his soldier manners .uto
the class room, and cni0ined sll
cncc and close attention during ic
citations. Thosoat the blackboard
were supplied with wooden point
ers in demonstrating problems, and
handled them with the same pre-
csiol a. they did their steel sabcis
on drill or dress parade, whilst
those called upon for oral cues
tiouing took position apart from
the rest Of the class and assumed .
the position OF soldier at squad .
drill.
There was little or no social in-
tcrcOurse between him and the ca /
diets. fla student went to him in
his private room, for some eXpla
NATHAN or instruction in regard TO
his studies, the conversation was
strictly TO the subject in
hand, and that through with, he
bowed and retired without farther
delay.