Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-16
JACKSON AS A TEACHER.
How Cadets at Lexington Got Even
with 'sOld Jack"

How the Cadets at Lexington Got Even
with ''Old Jack"
a former pupil writes to the New Or
leans Times Democrat the following illus
trating the eccentricity of ''Stonewalr'
jackson:
commencement day. occurred an
nually on July (, and We had been drilling
with much regularity and cOnstancy for
several weeks previous. in order to make
a creditable display before the numerous
visitors who fiOcked to Lexington upon
that occasion. 1t was only q day or two
before the glorious FOURTH and we had
been marched 10 the parade ground for
artillery drill, and Prof. Jackson was
our instructor in artillery tactics. We
were dressed in our best from top
TO toe, as VI expected many visitors
to witness the drill. We had scarcely
commenced operations before an OminOus
dark cloud made its appearance in the
southwest, and soon a storm Of wind and
rain burst upon us with much sudden
violence. The lightning flashed. the
thunder rolled. and the rain fell: but the
drill went on without ~stOppage OF inter-
mission, and commands could only be IN
derstood by the waving sabres and mill
taTy signs. This was rather too much
even for cadet f0rbearance, although sub
Jected to the stTicteSt military discipline,
especially on drill and parade; and we
soon cOncocted a plan to steal a march
upOn grim-lOOking instructor, and to
put a stop to what we considered a very
arbitrary proceeding.
"Did be really not dismiss the drill ~
you may again ask. Not a bit of it. sold
Jack" proceeded with the maneuyres
with the same e~qua1imity. as If it was a
calm June morning and not a cloud above
the horizon. But our ingenuity was equal
to the occasion, and we hesitated not q
moment. We had a regular code of pri-
Vate telegraphic signals, Ineligible to
none except the initiated; and the swoTd7
was telegraphed down the line "tO remov
the linch-pinS,~ which order was exc
cuted in the twinkling of an eye. The
next command from our commanding off,
Ger was ''trOt, march" which we executed
with much alacrity and precision. The
wheels of the artillery carriages being mi
nus the linch-pinS, each one. of course.
assumed an independent direction: and
the battery was placed "hOrs Ia combat"
considerably out of line and scattered in
various directions. This. Of course, ended
the drill for that day at least; and the
satisfaction Of "getting even' with sold
Jack" fully compensated us for our
drenching by the rain.
As an instructor, Prof. Jackson ap-
peared to be careful and painstaking; but
he fell far short Of being a success in that
line. But JackSon's fame does not rest
pom his career as a professor; the latter
is a mere episode in his life, n among
many of his admirers is not taken into
consideration at all. At recitations he
shot out questions like words of CON-
mand. and the student who answered
quickly and rapidly vas sure to receive a
better mark than one who replied slowly
and with deliberation. He tolerated no
laggards, and Woe be unto the cadet who
might be negligent OF studies or the prop
er performance of his military duties.
He carried his soldier manners
into the classroom, and en-
joined silence and close attention
during recitations. Those at the black
board were supplied with wooden point
eTs in demonstrating problems, and han
died them with the same precision as
they did their steel sabres on drill or dress
parade, While those called upon for oral
questioning took position apart from the
rest Of the class and assumed the position
Of a soldier at squad drill.
There was little or no social intercourse
between him and the cadets. 1t q student
went TO him in his private room for some
explanation or instruction in regard to
his studies, the conversation was con-
fined strictly to the subject in hand, and
that through with, he bowed and retired
without further delay.