National Republican., 1885-04-25

him YOURSELF" Jackson made a motion |
toward me, but be liked me too we'll, al
though 30 much older, to strike me, and, |
moreover, 1 was we'll armed and could |
have defended myself. In fact, all Of us
were chagrined aud disappointed at tho
outcome of our military enterprise, and
IL was we'll that there were mutual
friends present to pour oil on the troubled
waters.
SENT OUT OF THE CITY.
Well, the next morning Gen. Cooke
sent an order to tako tho Fairfax mon
out of the city by the first train. When
went TO the calaboose with the order
for the release of the disorderlios. thoy
were the sorriest looking set of men i
ever looked upon-olothes torn, eyes
blackenod, faces bloody-and as shame
faced rs sheep-killing dogs caught in the
act. l found that Jackson had, however,
in spite of his anger, already sent them
q stiff 'jigger" Of whisky and cup OF
coffee apiece, so that they we're we'll able
TO march without further attention.
What n contrast from the hearty recep-
tion of the day before, when We
marched up King street TO the
depot in the subsequent disgraceful
retreat. Before we started, however,
Capt. Jackson informed Thomas and my
self, Tell those rascals l want nothing
more to do with them. Take them back
to tho court house and disband them. j
leave you boys as my residuary legatees,
and think you will have sweet time
with the legacy" =.
Well. can only soy that we sneaked
into the village whence We had so proudly
marched few days before with our pin-
mage torn and our tail feathers bedrag-
gled, so to speak, and neither Thomas
nor myself had tho heart to attempt to
keep tho men together even IL wo could
have done SO legally. Our experience
had been q damper on our idea Of the
high character of the volunteer before he
had been regularly inducted into the re.
sponsibilities of the hide-bound edicts Of
the army regulations. Accordingly,
whom we got in sight Of the village wo
told them mot meaning to be irreverent),
"Go thy ways for this time. When we
have moro convenient season We will
call for ye."
That ended my connection with jack
sons battery, and never saw him again
until / saw him a month afterward in
his coffin at the homestead on tho river
road, above the Chain Bridge, when
went to attend his funeral.
| This episode of the contest / have
| WT2bLBu DGChubo buCn hhlhkb Nv NV bch
into the histories. These are minor
phases known only to the participants,
which / think are likely to be Of more
interest to tho general reader than the
ponderous statistical reports Of which the
historian mainly makes use.
And l want to say hero that l knew
Jackson we'll. lie was not the brute and
bully that he has been alleged to have
been in the histories. 1t is true that he
was man of violent passions, and OF
great physical prowess, for in physique
he was a perfect Hercules. But he wa:
good and jolly friend. and his purse was
ever open to tho needy. He was man
college bred and of good natural ability,
and his executive powers were Of the best
believe, upo my honor, that when he
killed Col. Ellsworth, he thought he wal
performing patriotic duty, and that, too
when he must have been aware that hC
was sacrificing his own life in the act
And that will be the verdict, think, o.
those who knew the character Of the man
And will state finally that am mo-
saying anything as to the rightfulness ol
wrongfulness of tho act of killing Col
Ellsworth itself. but as to what believe
to be the motives underlying and prompt
ing the act. THOMAS j. MURRAY.