The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21
A Christian Soldier.

Mohett in the Century Magazine for
December. upholds the position of
Rev. c. c. Brown in his sermon on
the negro, which was published in last
weeks issue of the Watchnaan and
Soathron:
stonewall Jackson openly deplored,
as did so many other great leaders of
the South, the institution Of slavery.
Yet he was firmly convinced that it's
existence was not only guaranteed by
the national Constitution but sane
toned by a divinely inspired scrip
ture. heard him say as much in the
only political speech he ever made.
1t was 3: meeting held in Lexington,
Va, i'll the election campaign of 1860,
his voice coming unexpectedly from
a seat in the ear of the house where
he had risen in support of all aggres-
sive resolution. He was then Major
Jackson, a professor, as every one
knows, in the Lexington Military
Institute. He was a frequent visitor
in the house where, as a college
student l boarded, and l had more
than once heard him express in pri-
vate conversation the same %convic-
tons which he on that one occasion
only declared in public
My acquaintance with him was
only such as a boy of sixteen would
have with a man of mature years.
Our only point of intimate contact lay
in the fact that | taught a class in the
now famous colored Sunday-school
which he had organized in connection
with the Presbyterian church of the
town. But l believe this Sunday
school of negro children of which he
was superintendent lay closer to his
heart than any other object on earth
except his home and family. In the
war, though much under legal age, /
became a private cavalryman. Some
times I saw General Jackson.
In August, 1862, the day be-
fore he met and drove back
Pope's army in the battle of
Cedar Run, I was riding down the
road leading north from Orange Court
House, on my way from brigade head
quarters to join my regiment on the
Rapidan, when l overlook a division
of infantry on the march, going
towards Culpeper. The active move
ments Of our forces indicated the
sharp work that was near at hand.
When l reached the head of the
column ! found General Jackson, his
cap drawn down over his forehead,
riding alone and apparently buried in
deep meditation in his Strategic plans.
I rode by with a silent salute, but
he recognized me, called to me to
halt. and, riding up by my side,
began to talk about the coIored Sum
day school in Lexington. 1t was a
great qualification to him, he said
that the school was being kept up in
his absence. SO we parted and he
rodeon to bloody victory.
And once again I: it 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 himself and Lee.
Pope had turned, closed in upon him
and brought him to bay. The battle
had been raging for hours, and
though Longstreet bad come to
Jackson's aid, no one could
yet say that Jackson's hard pressed
LETT would not be overwhelmed. Our
battalion Of cavalry under Major Pat.
rick had been halted near G~roveton-
almost in the center Of the field
of battle-and sharpshooters were de-
ployed to meet the enemy, who
were coming down the Warren
ton pike At this moment General
Jackson rode up. There was
hard fighting everywhere. He con-
versed for a few moments with Major
Patrick, and then turned and spoke
to me. He said that certain of our
men on an eminence above the road
were needlessly exposed, and babe
me ride to them and call them in.
l had started to obey, when he sud.
denly stopped me with:
"Oh! | had a letter a few days ago
from DR.. White, and he tells me
that our Sunday-school is still kept
up
That was we'll. | went my way
to execute his command, and be
rode back to his infantry. l never
saw him again.
The "Colleton' plan suggested as a
solution to the convention calling en-