Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-19
The rJnve,l,ng a. Lexington


egure in our war. hut neither romance nor
eccentricity contributed to tho popular
affection which he commanded.
He was without ostsntation, but it was
mot q leverage which he employed for
advertising effect.
OF his subordiuates he demanded obedi-
erce and strict attention to orders. From
his superiors he exacted the courtesy and
consideration due his rank and station.
He was Christian with no narrow preju-
dices. In the course he pursued he saw
clearly the path of duty TO God and his
country.
With great cherity and tenderness of
o,eart. he vet had no federation for skulk-
ers. Put all deserters in rons," was his
etern command He was cruel but to be
kind. He could not conscientiously
condone the offence of man who cowardly
deserted his post and possibly!imperilled
whole army.
He was a tall man, with astoop which he
brought from the lecture-room when he
quilted his classes and took the field, and
he nearly always seemed preoccupied, but
he was thinker and an actor both. He
studied out his campaigns with little con-
sultation with others and then hurled his
troops upon the enemy like a red-hot bolt
shot from clear sky. He had what has
been described as "shrewd, dry smile"
and possessed much homely wit, as when
one of his officers told him Get Port Re-
public perhaps) that it was no use to
bridge the river; that it was only waist
deep, and that his troops couldford it. and
be replied: "Oh. yes; but wet chicken
won't fight" He knew the discomforts o.
bedraggled clothes. He wanted to throw
bis men into action in the best possible
condition, and he felt that before them
Il would DO impossible for the enemy to
stand. Major Mason built tho bridge
with wagons and the fight was won.
At times JACKSON marched his men mer-
cilessly as it seemed: but after events el-
ways justified him in their eyes. In the
beginning his men murmured much. They
could not understand his movements; he
explained nothing; they only knew that
they were always footsore and frequently
hungry. But after few battles they
learned that they were led and cared
for properly by great genius, who
thoroughly knew the art of war; who
kept bis own good counsels, marvellously
mystified the enemy. and always found
the opportunity to pounce down upon
unprotected fanks or unsuspecting Gen.
tres.
JACKsoN's Valley campaigns will always
command the attention of the military
student. They are among the most thrill
lnp of war studies. There the General
showed all the needful qualities of an in
dependent commander. He was absolute
master. for events followed each other
with such rapidity as TO make communica-
zion with Richmond impossible II desira-
BILE, Later on this great captain became
lieutenant of LEE. and there is nothing in
the recollections of our war sweeter than
The thought of the love of these two men.
We know that JACKSON had the most ex-
allied opinion of LEE as a soldier and as
Christian man. LEE (who, too. was man
free from envy and jealousy lost no OPP
portunity to sound the praise of JACKSON
"Our great Stonewall," as he once referred
10 him in the presence of President DAVIS
and wbose lamentation upon the death OF
JACKSON was as earnest as it was eloquent
and appreciative.
We come TO think of all these things now
when the statue to JACKSON erected over
his grave at Lexington is about to be I'M
yelled. Sixteen years ago there was an
august ceremony Of this kind in the Capt.
col Square at Richmond. That statue YVES
from the hands Of Mr.. FOLEY. the greatest
English sculptor of our times. and ii came
as a present TO Virginia from English
admirers Of JACKSON. Now we are to unveil
D work of equal. If not superior merit, the
product of MIR. VALENTINES genius, whose
good fortune it has been to be selected to
design and furnish the monuments over
the graves of LEE and JACKSON both.
The ceremonies at Lexington Will be the
occasion OF such gathering of JAcKsoN's
men as has not been seen since their re-
union here in October, 1875. These vete-
rams are all entitled to inches in history.
Qhey deserve we'll of their country, and we
cannot doubt that the people of beautiful
and classic Lexington will treat them with
that hospitality tor which they are no less
renowned than for the noble educational
(nstitutions and sacred dust within their
precincts.
As part of our contribution to the sue
cess of the occasion, we present the public
this morning with many chapters recalling
the stirring scenes and heroic times in
which JACKSON moved. The freshest and
best of all these is the interview with
DR. HUNTER McGuIgE (who is now on his way
90 Europe). in which he gives vast deal
of information personal TO General JACKSON
and OF such general interest and import
epce as to warrant us in declaring our be-
lief that no life Of JACKSON will hereafter
DO written without the author drawing
literally from this source. DIR. McGURE
was dear and trusted friend of JACKSON.
and wss the medical director Of that army
corps. His opportunities were therefore
great. and that he was keen observer and
il an agreeable talker. all who read what he
has to say to-day will agree. In the light OF
his vivid but never over. strained descrip-
Zion Of 1.-THE Thunderbolt Of War;
We ses him now--the old souched hat
Cooked DER his eyes askew;
The sarewd dry smiie-the speech 90 pat
So calm, 80 blunt, 20 true.