Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-26
LEE AND sToNeWALL JACKSON.
Few People Know That These Great Gen
erals Once Lived on Long Islnnd

Generals Robert +. Lee and Thomas
Jonathan {" Stonewall") Jackson, says the
New York Adcertiser, were, during their
early military careers, stationed at Fort
Hamilton, on the Narrows. This fact IS
generally unknown and has been forgotten
by all except the older inhabitants of the
little garrison village.
Among the men who remember these
two great southern chieftains is Joseph
Lake, the aged village blacksmith. who is
still hale and hearty.
In reply TO a query respecting his recol-
lections, Blacksmith Lake said, II remem-
Der General cat that time Captain Lee
very distinctly. Many a time he stopped
at my little smlthy TO have his horse shod.
pleasant, affable man, with kind word
for everybody. Many's the chat that
had with HIM back in '43. He was about
thirty-five years of age then: a fine sol
dierly figure and should say about five
feet nine inches tall. His complexion was
dark. and he wore black moustache and
side whiskers. The Lees were very popu-
lar among all classes while they remained
in this village.
Major Jackson came here in 184s. He
was n distant. odd sort of man, and many
Of the villagers thought hisImind was af-
fected, his actions were 80 eccentric. lie
was in the habit of taking long iauuts
through the country back of the fort and
if you came upon him suddenly you would
find him cutting and slashing the air with
his cane as if host of Mexicans were try
to capture one of the guns of his battery"
Congress made large appropriations for
improving the defences of New York har-
Dor in the early forties, and q good portion
Of the sum was used in strengthening Fort
Hamilton. the now Anticipated fortress on
the Long Island side Of the Narrows. A
corps of engineers under command of
Captain Robert +. Lee arrived at the fort
in 1912. Captain Lee was accompanied by
Mrs. Lee and his two sons-CustIs and
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee There was
no Officers row. at the fort in those
days. and Captain Lee leased a frame
dwelling on what is now Fourth avenue,
near Ninety-ninth or Clark street, from the
CortelyOu estate.
FORMER HOME.
The former home of the distinguished
southern leader IL still standing, but has
been altered, and is now occupied as a
fourth-rate hotel. The Lees were very So
ciable while at the fort, and were on very
friendly terms with many of the old fami-
lies living in the vicinity.
In 1916 the engineer corps, commanded
by Captain Lee, finished it's labOrs at the
fort and were ordered elsewhere, greatly
to the regret of the numerous Long Island
friends of the family.
After the victorious American troops
under General Scott had entered the City
of Mexico and peace was declared south of
the Rio Grande the First artillery regi-
ment was ordered to Fort Hamilton and
Major Thomas jonathan Jackson, after
ward known as Stonewall" Jackson. ac-
companied his regiment to that station in
1s4s.
Major Jackson was not of a sociable dis
position. and did not mingle much with
the civilians of the surrounding district.
He IL remembered as a man Of deeply rell-
gious sentiments. Stories of his eccen-
triclties are plentiful. He was greatly con-
cerned about his physical condition, and
believed himself to be SO constituted that
the food he consumed afforded more nu-
triton to one limb than to another.
One story told about him is that
he was convinced that certain
kind of biscuit agreed with him so
well that he adopted 1t as staple article
of diet, and on the occasion of banquet
given by tho officers of the Governors
Island garrison, to which their brother Of
hcers from neighbOring posts were hidden,
Major Jackson, before departing for the
scene of festivity, provided himself with
@ little basket containing supply OF his
fayorite Wand. On being asked his reason
for so doing, he answered that he felt con-
WINGED that an indulgence in the dishes
provided at the banquet would disagree
with him. and that he proposed ignoring
them and dining on his tayorlte biscuit.
BOTH MEMBERS.
Both of the great southern cheftains
were members of old ST. Johns Protes-
tant Episcopal church during their stay at
II chat Cor,
eral Lee was the architect Of the quaint
old edifce which stands at the corner OF
Ninety-ninth street and Fort Hamilton
avenue opposite the Government property,
but the records show that the church was
erected some time before the advent OF the
Lees, Lee was q vestrYman Of the church
and an active worker IN its behalf.
In the baptlsmal register appears the
following entry:
ION Sunday. the twenty-ninth day Of
April, lS49, | baptized Thomas Jefferson
jackson, Major United States Army-SpOn-
sors, Colonies Dlmick and Taylor, also OF
the army. III. ScoPIELD."
The Rev. Mr.. Scofeld was mistaken in
regard to Major Jackson's middle name.
The widow of the General, while visiting
friends at the Fort. examined the register
and announced that the name Jefferson
should have been jonathan" General
Jackson subsequently joined the Presbyte-
rian Church. The baptlsmal font at which
jackson was baptized stands near the main
entrance Of the church. The bowl is OF
Carrara marble. the pedestal of a peculiar
light sandstone. A more modern but
much less artistic font Is now in use. Old
st. Johns church and its interesting relic
narrowly escaped destruction by fire during
the past winter, but through the exertions
of the local fire department, soldiers from
the fort, and villagers, the flames were con-
fined to the vestry.