The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-19
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NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Lille OF StOneWall jackson. by HIS
Wife. (New York: Harper & Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short & HARMONY
This biography depicts very fully the in
most home-life of this Southern hero,
which seems to us too sacred to be opened
to public gaze. 1t is wholly wanting in
a critical history of those campaigns of
prominent part, and in an analysis of
his character as military commander,
which has given him his great renown
both in this country and in Europe. His
biographer has marred the character of
her husband and her hero by bringing to
light again a reported interview he had
with Captain, afterwards General, Bar
ringer, of the Confederate army, in
which he advocated raising the black
flag, and giving ''no quarter to the vio-
laters of our homes and our firesides"-
sentiment so inconsistent with the
character of her husband that we are
forced to reject the reported interview
as untrue, or incorrectly stated. His
friends have done more to mar his fair
fame than his former enemies, who re-
gard him as most kindly and generous
foe. AT the capitulation of Harper's
Ferry in 1852 he paroled the officers, re-
stored to them their side-arms and bag
gage, and furnished them with transport
.tation within the Union line. Such acts
as these belle the statements of his indis-
Greet friends. When he had received his
mortal wound at Charlottesville, and
from his exposed position was liable to
capture by the Union troops, Gen. Lee
insisted that he should be removed to a
place of greater safety, but he remon-
strated against it and said IF the enemy
does come, I'm not afraid of Them l
have always treated them kindly and am
sure that they will be kind to me-
These do not seem to be the sentiments
of a man who ever advocated the indis-
criminate and inhuman slaughter of
those fighting against him. His friends
have done his memory grievous wrong
him.
The North has always looked kindly
upon Stonewall Jackson and melted out
her Judgment of him, even when his sue
cess was bringing confusion and dismay
into her borders, with spirit tempered
by high appreciation OF the noble quail
ties of his character. The influence of
Puritan ideas had not so far lost its pow
er upon the people of the North that they
did not recognize in this man spirit
kindred with their own, although per-
verified by the influences that surrounded
him. At the breaking out of the war
Jackson was teacher at the Virginia
Military Institute at Lexington; a quiet,
commonplace man enough to all outward
appearances; filling out the work of each
day in quiet, unobtrusive manner;
kind, gentle, but firm of purpose, of a
strong and deep religious feeling, which
expressed itself in most self sacrificing
and Christ-like ways, impressing himself
upon those who observed his character
as a man Of great reserved power, whom
some strong influence from within or
without might arouse into heroic action.
He was intense in his Southern sy1npa-
thies and convictions; a firm believer in
the legitimate character Of slavery and
in the doctrine of State rights, a strong
supporter of Breckenridge for the Presi-
dency in the great contest of 1860.
Whatever doubts Lee aid other promi-
nent Virginia statesmen may have had in
regard to their future course there was
no wavering Oh his part. He unhesitat-
ingly and with the tirmness and enthu-
siasm of conviction, cast his lot with the
South. The first clash Of arms excited
him to instant and energetic 4ctivity.
He it was that captured che United
States arsenal at Harper's Ferry in May,
1861. He commanded q brigade at Bull
Run, and so impressed his indomitablc
and inflexible will upon his hitherto I'M
tried troops that they stood immovable
as u stonewall, and so made for them
selves and their great leader an imperish-
able name.