Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-31
StcnewaII Iackson's Last Day in Lexington
REV. j. W. Jones in the Richmond Times.l

He was accustomed to prepare himself for
the exercises of this school 1.-THE colored Sab
bath School he had started by the most care
full study of the lessons The day before he
left home for the war was Saturday, and he
was very busy all day long making every pro
paration to leave at moments warning. He
paid all outstanding accounts, and settled up
as far as possible his worldly affairs, while
his devoted wife was busily plying the needle
to prepare him for the field. At the supper
table Mrs. jackson made some remark about
the preparations for his expected departure,
when he said, with a bright smile: my
Dear, tomorrow is the blessed Sabbath day.
1t is also the regular communion season at
our church. | hope l shall not be called to
leave until Monday. Let us then dismiss
from cur conversation and our thoughts every
thing pertaining to the war, and have together
one more quiet evening OF preparation for our
loved Sabbath duties.
Accordingly the dark cloud of war was
pushed aside. He read aloud to her fol- awhile
from religious magazines and newspapers,
and then they went to their accustomed studies
of the Bible lessons which were to be taught
on the morrow to the cOlored Sunday School.
1t was such a bright, happy Saturday evening,
as is only known in the we'll regulated Chris
tian home. Alas! 1t has proved the last that
he ever spent under his own roof tree. Early
the next morning telegram from the Cover
nor Of the Commonwealth ordered him to
march the corps Of cadets for Richmond at
1890 o'clock that day. Not waiting for his
breakfast he hurried to the Institute and spent
the morning making necessary preparations
for the departure of the cadets, not forgetting
to send request to his pastor that he should
be present to hold with them brief service
before they marched forth at the call of their
sovereign State.
At II o'clock he came home to take a hur-
ried breakfast and make few personal az
rangements. The last thing he did before
leaving home was to retire with his wife into
their chamber, read part of the fifth chapter
of Second Corinthians, beginning "For we
know that if the earthly house Of this taber-
nacle were dissolved we have building of
God-an house not made with hands-eternal
in the Heavens" and then made an humble,
tender, fervent prayer, in which he begged
be dissipated that the God of peace might
calm the storm and avert the calamity of war
OF that He might at least 60 forth with him
and with the young men under his command
to guide, guard, help and bless them.
At II o'clock the venerable pastor was pres
ent to make the corps of cadets an appropriate
address of Christian counsel, and to lead in a
fervent, tender prayer.
AT the appointed hour, to the exact minute
Major Jackson gave the order: Attention /!
Forward, march %
And thus the loving husband babe adieu to
his home. The faithful church member turned
est Sunday school teacher left his lesson u"-
taught, and the peerless soldier marched forth
from the parade ground to win immOrta |
fame-to come not back again until his body
was borne to its burial in the beautiful ceme-
terry at Lexington, in the Valley of Virgin
ia - and two continents were bursting with
the fame of "Stonewall" jackson.