The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-05-02
StOnewall Jackson's Sunday School.

In the Century, Mr.. George w. Gable.
in an article on "The Center Side of
Two Great Southerners," relates the
following story of Stone wall Jackson,
which was told to Mr.. Gable by George
H. Moffet, of the Evening TELEGRAM, of
Portland, Or. Stonewall Jackson,D
he said, "openly deplored, as did so
many other great leaders of the South,
the institution of slavery. Yet he was
firmly convinced that its existence was
not only guaranteed by the national
constitution, but sanctioned by a di-
vinely inspired scripture. / heard him
say as much in the only political speech
he ever made. 1t was at a meeting
held in Lexington, Va, in the election
campaign of 1860, his voice coming un-
expected from seat in the rear of the
house, where he had risen in support
of an aggressive resolution. He was
then Major Jackson, a professor, as
every one knows, in the Lexington
Military Institute. He was frequent
visitor in the house where, as a college
student, | boarded, and | had more
than CLce heard him express in private
conversation the same conviction which
he, on that one occasion only, declared
in public.
"My acquaintance with him was
only such as boy of sixteen wou.d
have with a man of mature years. Our
only point of intimate contact Law in
the fact that taught a class in the
now famous coloIed Sunday-school
which he had organized in connection
with the Presbyterian church of the
town. But | believe this Sunday
school of negro children of which he
was the superint endent lay CLOSER to
his heart than any her obi ct on
earth, exc PIT his home and family. In
The war, though much under legal age.
became a private cavalrvman. Some.
times | saw General Jackson. In Au.
gust, 1862, the day before he met and
drove back Pope's army in the battle of
Cedar Run, | was riding down the road
leading north from Orange court house,
on my way from brigade headquarters
to join my regiment on the Rapidan,
when l overlook a division of infantry
on the march, going towards Culpep-
per. The active movement of our
forces indicated the sharp work that
was near at hand. When | reached the
head of the column / found General
Jackson, his cap drawn over his fore
head, riding alone and apparently bur-
led in deep meditation of his strategic
plans. | rode by with silent salute,
but he recognized me, called me to
halt, and, riding up by my side, began to
talk about the colored Sunday school in
Lexington. 1t was a great gratifca-
ton to him, he said, that the school
was being kept up in his absence. So
we parted, and he rode on to bloody
victory.
"And once again: 1t was the after
noon of the first day of the second
Bull Run battle, and one of the most
critical moments of Jackson's whole
military career He had come round
through Thoroughfare Gap, putting
the Bull Run mountains and Pope's
whole army between himsef and Lee.
Pope had turned, Closed in on him and
brought him to bay. The battle had
been raging for hours, and though
Longstreet had come to Jackson's aid
no one could say that Jackson's hard
pressed left would not be overwhelmed.
Our battalion of cavalry under Major
Patrick had been halted near Groveton,
and sharpshooters were deployed to
meet the army, who were coming down
the Warrington pike. At this moment
General Jackson rode up. There was
hard fighting everywhere. He conversed
for few moments with Major Patrick
and then turned aid spoke to me. He
said that certain of our men on all emf