The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19
THE LITERARY WORLD.
4 MExo7R OF "sT0xEwALL JACK
sow nj HIS WIFE.
what Disraeii Says About the Critics--The
Eass OF Criticism and the Dinscul-
ties of Construction.

THOMAS J. JACKSON tStonewall
Jackson). by his wife. Mary Anna
Jackson. With an introduction by Hen
~ NJ. Field. ID. ID. New York: 1892.
Harper & Brothers. 500. For sale by
West. Johnston d Co.
DisraeM hit the critics hard when he
said that they are those who have failed
in art and literature. While so pro-
nounced a statement is an eyaxgeration,
the critics do seem to be possessed of a
spirit OF excessive fault-hnding and dis
content Defects exist In every work-in
every character; 81 Is so easy TO say. Il
do not like g." and condemn thing
which upon examination Is often found
70 possess a high degree Of merit. II re-
ouires knowledge and feeling 10 appre-
ciate and understand: TO praise properly.
but TO appreciate and understand should
be the only aim OF the critic. Unless the
critic approaches the author In THIS spirit
he is incapable OF rendering a Just YER
dict. our attitude toward Mrs. Jackson's
Life OF her husband could not be other
than one OF sympathetic Appreciation
The preface to the book. i'm which the wife
and mother speak so tenderly and so
sorrowfuly. warns us that we are about
20 enter the holy of holies," and that
trenchant criticism and harsh judgment
should not be for this simple story, writ
ten out OF a woman's heart"
As time passes interest concerning the
civil war seems TO increase rather than
10 diminish. The further we progress
from that terrible struggle the clearer is
our view of the real issues at stake, and
OF the courage and devotion displayed by
our countrymen, who by their deeds and
eacrifices made II the most splendid
ucriod OF American history"
There were great commanders, and men
Of lofty. sublime character oil both sides,
vet no one as commander and man stands
ont with the same heroic distnctuess.
fixing the attention aud compelling the
admiration Of the world as does Stone
wall jackson. The study OF him as a
military genius. or as simple, Christian
gentleman. who loved home and wife and
Ell domestic pleasures with an ardor and
honesty, only TO be seen in very pure
oatures, Is equally fascinating. Mrs. Jack
son does not attempt more OF the details
Of her husbands campaigns and army
life than are essential to the natural
movement Of her narrative His domestic
relations, the tenderness of his heart, the
slnclencss and sincerity Of his devotion,
md above all the strength and steadfast-
ness of his Christian character-in his
case. the leaven which leavened the whole
iump-these are the points which her
book emphasizes and illumines-and she
makes very delightful reading OF IT. Her
STYLE is direct and unpretentious, with
a touch here and there of the old fashion
letter writer, formal. yet always graceful.
The book throws no new light upon
Jackson's campaign. The facts as 10 That
famous one Of the Shenandoah Valley re-
main materially the same. Indeed. this
subject has been so much more thoroughly
aud comprehensively treated by others,
cspecially by the military critic, William
Allen. chief Of ordnance OF the Second
Corps Of the Army OF Northern Virginia,
that as a military treatise the book pos
sesses neither special value nor interest.
AS a study Of character II is inimitable-
here will rest its real fame In history and
iierature With that intuition born of
love and a womans nature Mrs. Jackson
has caught and crystallized all the finest
Qualities of the mird, all the most exalted
sentiments OF the SOUL all the purest and
sweetest feelings Of the heart. when IN
that Christian hero, her husband, com
bined to make him the most picturesque
figure and unique character OF modern
times.
The letters written by General Jack
sen TO his wife during the years OF their
married life are full of tender consid-
Ciation. He possessed the art OF using
endearing terms and saying sweet noth-
ings" with such consummate skill tnat
there Is not suggestion or the weak or
doting husband in the fondest or his
words: In them all there is felt the pres
ence OF pure. manly love, charming ana
refreshing 10 be brought In contact with.
Mrs. Jackson gives serious consluera-
ton 10 a much controverted SUBJECT
Stonewall Jackson's position in regard TO
yaisinr the black flag. Military critics
about agree that General Jackson did
not favor any such method or warfare
yet Mrs. Jackson does not accept their
oninton. nor could she we'll in the face
~ the evidence she brings 10 bear as
proof 20 the contrary. Her authority
mat General Jackson did advocate rals-
ing the black flag is her Drother-h-ia"'
General Rufus Barringer, and when the
80 an the case are reviewed, there
cor no found no reason for imputing a
,,,art ~ humanity TO Jackson II ne ala
sdvIse This policy. At the time OF NC
C.Iallan's disasters In the Peninsula some
tmnortant changes were made In the
n-Hr,horn army. The armies OF Banks,
Irremont and Mcdowell which General
Jackson had beaten and ba1leu III SUI
cesston. were merged into one army
Snovn as the Army of Virginia ana zen
49, 49, IN Pone. whose deeds in the West
bad gained him a reputation. was placed
81 the head OF this new army Inc uii,
sorsnt corns of this army were locate1
,asnnctiveiv between Winchester anu
Middletown, at Manassas ana a' rieN
ericksburg st. nov, cana
General Pope, acting in his new ca ,pa
oitv made himself VIGOROUSLY oOJec'loi,-
ssia nv the course which he pursued.
Tns erst thing which he did was TO issue
an address and "orders." both as OF
1e,s,ve and unworthy OF an honorapie
colder IS such things could possibly DE.
Tha address was filled with extraVasahl
boasts OF what his Western army hau ac-
comnlIshed. and Of unsparing condenina-
lion OF the military methods winch nc
flund IN operation in Virginia. The or
~,ars which followed could not be jusuheo
~. anv OF ;he laws OF civilized warfare
,hov seemed formed only to give express
.,on N the savage cruelty Of ruthless
t,.vader General order No. 'directeu
the troops Of his Pope's) commahu 10
suhslst upon the country In Which 'iie',
Generations were carried on. Heneta'
order No. notified the people wi'hlh
pone's tines that they would be helo re-
soorsthIe for all damage done by guer-
rillas 10 telegraphs. railroads ana trains
tr hi, rear: that they would he turned
= M an masse. and forced TO rerair All
.nch damages, as well as 10 pay the
exnenses incurred In coercing the per
foTmance OF work; and that II soldier
a, ca,no follower should be fired upon at
snv Mace distant from settlements, the
-.t.ht,, dya miles around SnOuiu