The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-19
STONEWALL JACKSON.
Personal "reminiscences and Anecdotes OF
Ills Character.
his CAREER At THE Y. N. INSTITUTE
Recolisctions of Him by Dr. j. "iiha"'
Jones. Formerly Chaplain OF the army
ofNorthern Virginia.
fFor tho Times.l

wan Jackson. the gathering Of the veterans OF
the old Foot Cavalry" to gaze on the me-
Ifka nresentment Of their old COMMANDER
which the genius Of our great artist has gwen
40 the world. the reunion of old comrades
and the recalling of thousand halo"eo
memories of the camp, the march, the o'-
vouac and the battlefield. will excite fresh ana
wide interest in all that pertains to the career
If the Great soldier who filed two continents
with his fame.
The distinguished orator Of the day, Gen
eraI i 4 farly. will doubtless make an able
aud exhaustive presentation OF the mihtary
career Of his chief, whom he so bravery Iol-
lowed in his great campaigns, and whose
name and fame he is so capable OF dehneat,ng
and SO ready 20 defend. All will rejoice tnet
THIS sturdy old soldier has lived 10 see TINS
worthy monument 10 bis corps COMMANDER
and the full text Of Early on Jackson VIII DC
pagerly read by thousands who are not pIIVl-
legged 70 hear It and VIII pass INTO hIS'oty
highest authority on the great themo Oh WHICH,
lie treats. u.a
But II Il nay be permitted one who counts
II a HIGH honor 10 have been one OF stone
walls men" to recall some personal relnlnls-
sences and anecdotes inusTrsuves oi a,o sT1
character Of our great leader l snail esI 1
II privilege 10 do SO Tor the readers VI AAA
Times
MAJOR JACKSON OF THE V. N. l.
Iused to hear the cadets of the Virginia
Military Institute speak Of quiet. eccentric;
but hard-working professor, whom they cailea
"Old jack or Fool Tom Jackson" and
anon whom they delighted to play all sorts OF
pranks Stories of his eccentrcitles were
tife-such as his wearing thick uniform ID
the swetering heat Of summer because he had
received no orders TO change It, or OF ms
pacing up and down in front OF the superln-
n Ia Anfl
cause he would not deliver his report one
minute before the appointed time.
While he had by hard work, mastered the
subject which lie taught, he had but little
capacity for Importing instruction, ana
showed 80 little tact and skill as teacher
that Just before the breaking out OF the war
q committee of the alumni OF the Virginia
Military Institute, headed by Colonel John b.
Strange. who was killed at Sharpsburg,
waited Oh the board of visitors and
demanded the removal of Professor Jackson
for utter incompetency" There were tradi-
tions that he greatly distinguished himseH ID
the Mexican war, and stories were told OF nls
walking back and forth on road piowed by
the enemys artillery to inspire his men with
courage: sitting all alone on one OF his guns
after his men had been driven of, because he
had received no orders TO leave ana
of his standing to his guns on an
other occasion after his infantry support
had fed and driving off greatly superior
force of the enemy But his brilliant career
and rapid promotion 10 Mexico had been we'll
nigh lost sight of. and when, in the early
days Of the war his old neighbor and friend
Governor John Letcher. nominated him 20
the Virginia convention for a commission as
colonel. a member arose and asked: Who Is
this Major Jackson, anyhow ?" and IL took all
The eloouence Of the Rockbridge delegates to
secure his confirmation.
remember that the soldiers at Harper's
- Il ala
asked Who is this Colonel Jackson?p but
that before he had been in command forty
eight hours we felt his strong hand, recog-
nized the difference between him and certain
militia officers who had previously had charge
OF the post, and realized that we were at least
under the command OF real soldier and a
rigid disciplinarIan.
MY FIRST MEETING WITH HIM.
saw him frequently at Harper's Ferry
sometimes paced the lonely sentinels beat in
front of his headquarters-b the first time |
ever came in personal contact with him was
at Darkesville on the 4th Of July, 1861, when
we were drawn up IN line OF battle to meet
General Patterson. The skill and tact with
which he had reduced the hgh-splrited rab-
bic which rushed to Harpers Ferry at the
first tap of the drum into the respectable
Army Il the Shenandoah, which he turned
over to General J. (. Johnston the last of
May, and his skirmish at Failing Waters
(which wethen exaggerated into an important
victory, had won him some reputation, and l
was anxious to see him again.
have vivid recollection OF how he i'm
pressed me- Dressed in simple Virginia uni
form, apparently about thirty-seyen years old,
six feet high. medium size, gray eyes which
seemed TO look through yOn, light brown
lair and countenance in which deep benev-
olence seemed mingled with incorporating
sternness. he impressed me as having about
him nothing at all Of the "pomp and circum-
stance of war, but every element which en-
tiers into the skilful leader and the indomit-
able energetic soldier, who was always ready
for the fight.
But his appearance year later is still more
wildly impressed upon me. Who that ever
belonged TO the Foot Cavalry" does not re-
member that old gray uniform, which soon
became soiled with the dust of the valley,
those cavalry boots and jinglng spurs, that
old cadet cap which tilted on his nose. and
that raw-boned sorrel which he rode, and
which the bows used to say could not run
except towards the enemy"
Just before the battle of fredericksburg
his intimate personal friend, the chiyalric
"Jeb Stuart" presented him with beautiful
regulation" Confederate uniform, and when
he appeared IN II for the first time that day
the boys did not recognize him. but soon the
word ran down the line, 1T is Old Jack with
new clothes on" and then cbeered him as
usual. That magnificent uniform has been
".
which we used 20 see him ealloping
along the lines, amid the deafening yells Of the
brave fellows who followed him with loving
devotion and enthusiastic confidence is pho
tographed forever in the memory of every
survivor OF his old corps and will DO vividly
recalled at the unwilling OF the monument in
Lexington.
THE SOLDIER.
Jackson was born soldier and il would be
for me pleasant task 10 sketch his military
career, which has been the marvel of the
world, and shall be the study of military crit
les as the years 60 on; but ADLER pens than
mine Will describe him as a soldier. and shall
not, therefore, in these papers attempt any
detailed history of his campaigns, his bat
ties, his military achievements for that were
70 give the history of the Army Of Northern
Virginia during the two years he was con-
nected With IT, But shall rather give 4 few
salient points which shall illustrate his char
acter as a soldier. and show something of his
splendid deeds on the field of Mars.
THE RAPmIrY OF HIS MOVEMENTS.
He was noted for the rapidity Of his move.
ments. An able Northern writer has said
lie moved infantry with the CELEBRITY of cav
airy" and some Of his marches have scarcely
aparallel in history.
After his march to Cumberland and Rom.
ney IN the winter Of 1sGl-'62. when many of
MS men were frost-bitten. and some persisted
from the intense cold he had scarcely rested
.axx4l H..