The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-10-18
COL. SAMUEL NJ. JACKSON.

JackSonVllle Academy, at Jacksonville,
Indiana county, Pa, but before COM
pleting his course, the death of his father
compelled him to leave school and aban-
don his contemplated liberal academical
education.
At very early age Colonel jackson
displayed an active interest in military
affairs, and when only thirteen he was
enrolled as drummer hoy in company
of the State Militia, evincing in child.
hood those talents which were afterwards
of incalculable value to his Country in
the hour of her sour distress. For eff
cient service he was promoted, step by
step, until he received Captains COM
mission, and when the dark clouds of
rebellion broke in their Il aitorous wrath
Captain jackson was one of the first to
protter his services in the great struggle
to maintain one flag and united coun-
try. He recruited Company G, or the
Apollo Independent Blues, of the Elev-
enth Pennsylvania Reserves and was
commissioned its Captain when it was
mustered into service. His signal abili-
ty as soldier could not long remain un-
noticed. On July End, 1861, he was made
Major of his regiment; on October 2sth,
he was promoted the office of Lieutenant
Colonel, and on April 10th, 1862, hardly a
year after he first donned the blue, he re-
ceived the sword and commission of
Colonel. The talents of the man were so
marked, his character so distinguished,
that advancement in the service was as
steady and natural as the flow of the ir-
resistable tide. At the head of brave
Regiment he proved himself gallant
officer, and through the whole of his
three years service was a CONSPICUOUS
figure in all the campaigns in which his
Regiment was summoned to duty. At
the battles Gaines Mill, Second Bull
Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred
ricksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness,
Spottsylvania Court House, and Bethes-
da Church, Colonel Jackson and his Reg
lment showed the fighting worth OF
pennsylvania blood, rendering particular
distinguished service at South Mountain,
Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and the
Wilderness. At Spottysvania he COM
manded his Bragade and so we'll and
so ably did he bear himself in
this battle that he was breveted Briga-
dier General for his gallant conduct.
But 1t was at Gettysburg that Colonel
Jackson so eminently displayed his Keen
ness of judgment, and powers of COM
mand. On the second days fight his
regiment, just arrived on the battle field,
lay in the front of the slope Little Round
Top, overlooking that terrible valley of
death from which the Third Corps had
been driven back. The supports sent to
the relief of third were fearfully broken,
the enemy flushed with the success, was
steadily advancing with a terrible and
resolute purpose to carry the hill. Mo-
ments, then, were as vital as hours, their
was no time to await orders from super
iors, and Colonel Jackson, quick to see
and realize the danger of delay, on his
own responsibility ordered his regiment
forward, and was at once followed by
the commands in his rear. Down the
slops they charged, and hurting them
selves like thunderbolts on the columns
OF the advancing enemy, they fought
foot by foot back across the Valley of
Death, regaining the entire field so near
ly and irretrievably lost.
At the battle of the Wilderness he
again displayed his signal ability to COM
mand, and his ready power to meet an
emergency, however trying. While
commanding both his own and the Sec
cond Regiment, he finally found himself
cut OFF from his Division by a strong
force of the enemy. Thus isolated from
the Union forces and surrounded by a
confident foe, the situation presented but
one Of two alternatives-deatho or surren-
der But Colonel Jackson never learned
how to surrender; the chance of cutting
his way through the enemYs lines, des-
perate though it was, was promptly ac-
cepted, and at the head of his troops
with IAN unequaled valor, they broke
through the rebel forces, and by a cir
cuitous route reached the Union front,
where for several hours they had been
given up for lost.
During three years of active, hard SER
vice, Colonel Jackson won the confidence
and respect of his superiors and the es-
TEEN and admiration of all within his
command, and when mustered out he
returned to his home and the quiet pur-
suits of business life. To keep warm
er and more vivid the memories of his
soldier life, its comradeships and past
dangers, Colonel Jackson allied himself
with Whitworth Post No. 50, G. A. r., OF
Apollo; Encampment No. l, U. V. L.,
Pittsburg, and the Pennsylvania Com
mandery of the Loyal Legion. For
some time after the close of the war he
was engaged in the oil business in We.
mango county, but in 1869 returned to his
native county of Armstrong and was in
the same year elected to the State Legis
lature, and reelected the following year
In this position, as in every other that
Colonel Jackson has filed, both military
and civil, he won the confidence of those
whom he served that, four years later
he was elected TO represent the 4lst Sen.
atorial district, composed of the counties
Of Armstrong and Butler in the State
Senate. At the close of his term of office
he was again honored by the offer of re,
nomination, which he felt compelled tc