The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-07-30

II W f ~. ~. l. ~ N l. 1
+ delivered the Grafton
.RH m on the occasion of the
MsJ unwilling ofthe bronze
tT statue of Stoncwall
<ss5<5,Lnf Jackson at Lexington,
sfss Va, last week. His
remarks of course were based on the
military character and achievements
of the great soldier, and in every re
spect it was valuable contribution to
the history of the war in which both
men played a conspicuous part. We
publish the following extracts from the
address and we find it in the Norfolk
Vrginian. 1t is useless to add that
we could not devote the same space to
any subject that will be read with
deeper interest by the brave exConfed-
crate who followed Lee and Jackson.
Gen. Early said:
owe are assembled here" he said :,
''for the purpose Of manlfestlng our
respect and admiration for one of the
most illustrious characters that have
figured in the annals Of history.
"Thomas Jonathan Jackson was
born in Northwest Virginia in 1924.
His military career began in 1912,
when he was admitted TO West Point,
from which institution he was appoint
ed second lieutenant in an artillery
regiment in the United States army.
His first service in the field was the
Mexican war under General Scott,
from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico.
He participated III all the actions on
that line, displaying such courage and
devotion as to be twice 5revetcd.
THE STONEWALL BRIGADE.
''In 1851 he was appointed professor
of natural philosophy and artillery
tactics IN the Military Academy at
this place Lexington, Va. When
the secession of the Southern States
took place, and Abraham Lincoln, in
violation OF the fundamental provisions
of the constitution and the eternal
principles of liberty, declared war
against the seeding States, Virginia
took her stand with her sister States of
the South. Major Jackson, like all
true Nirginians, stood by his native
State and devoted his energies and his
life to her service. His first act was
to conduct the corps of cadets to Rich
mond in the latter part of April for
the purpose Of drilling and instructlng
the volunteers who were being muster
ed into the defense OF the State, under
the supervision of General Lee. On
April 18th he was appointed by Gov
ernor Letcher a colonel in the Virginia
forces and ordered to take command
OF Harper's Ferry, which had been
abandoned by the Federal authorities
after attempting to destroy the stores
and machinery at that point. He
found the place occupied by militia
and volunteers, of whom he took com
mand \ brigade was organized, and
Colonel Jackson took command until
relieved by General Joseph (. John
ston, who was assigned to the COM
mand in the latter part OF May. Very
soon thereafter brigade Of Virginia
regiments was formed and Colonel
Jackson assigned to its command.
This was the brigade that afterward
became distinguished as the 'Stonewall
Brigade On the 18th OF June he was
commissioned a brigadler- general IN
the Confederate service, but still re-
manned under the command OF Gen
eral Joseph f. Johnston. About this
time Harper's Ferry was evacuated by
General Johnston, as Patterson was
moving with a considerable force from
the North, and Mcclellan was repre-
scented as moving from the West to
unite with him. After some maneu-
vering of the troops under General
Johnston, which had organized into