Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-02-03

war, He was always on time. 1t was
trad ltion with his soldiers that when, at
Richmond, Lee heard the sound of
JackSon's guns away off on McClellan's
right, he took out his watch and calmly
remarked: jackson is on time"
General Lee knew all that this re-
mark implied-the arduous toll and
sleepiess energY-yet be expressed no
surprise; he expected nothing less OF
Jackson.
Shortly after sunrise on the morning
after the battle Of Fredericksburg, as
was walking along the ridge above
Hamilton's Crossing and about thirty
yards from one OF the batteries, passed
within few feet OF General Jackson,
who had taken up mis- position alone on
this vantageground for the purpose OF
accommodating. Put be was not doing
very much OF itjust at that time, for he
/ was seated On the ground, leaning
against hickory sapling, and last
asleep. He held his brdle-rein in one
hand and his feId-gIasS In the other,
aud did not awaken as | walked along
the path within touching distance vi
him, but seemed to be sleeping as calm
ly as had seen him sleep years before
In tho church at Lexington.
However. his slumoers were destined
| to be OF short duration, for q battery OF
heavy guns on the Stafford Heights
soon opened with a volley, directed
against the battery near the spot where
Jackson was quietly sleeping. The ire
OF these guns continued only for short
| time, but while II lasted the din was
terrific, not to speak of the destruction
wrought by the hurtling missiles, for
! the very first gun that opened this
morning salute sent d shell right into
the muzzle of the cannon nearest TO the
general, broke il from its trunnions,
| killed two horses, and hurled the piece
back into the barbette, which the gun
ners were trenching out at the time, an
operation which they had had no leisure
to do the day before while the battle
was raging.
Several days after this time l met
! General Jackson riding across the battle
| field about two miles below Fredrlcks-
| burg. He was riding alone and very
slowly, with his head hanging down, as
! If 10 profound thought. He halted
! few minutes and spoke 10 kindly,
| friendly way, out made no alluslon TO
the battle, the sad, melancholy evidences
/ Of which were all around us
! A few weeks before his death visit
| ed mis- headquarters for the last time.
He at that time occupied for his Office
an outbuilding Of an old manor-houSe at
Moss Neck, on the Rappahannock, which
! had been used In happier times Us
| sporting lodge. On the walls OF this room
still hung pictures of race horses, game
cocks aud the trophies OF the chase.
| 0ae was impressed, on entering here,
,, with the ludicrous incongruity OF these
pictures to the grim surroundings and
TO the taste OF the grave, religious SOL
der who occupied these quarters. After
a pleasant conversation Of half an hour,
took my leave. as ii proved, forever,
of General Jackson, who had now won
world wide fame, aud was still the
same modest, fii1ent man | had met
for the first time at Lexington, eleven
years before.
When Jackson died, many OF his
intimate friends believed that his death
portended the dowfall of his cause, aud
never had much hope Of its success
from budL ldbdl udJs Uub MS 0O.ulol
grieved his loss as no others could
grieve for him. Afterward, on every
battle field where the tide of war made
against them, they would exclain in
their extremity: "Oh, il Jackson had
been here! If Jackson had been here!
The Duke OF Wellington once ex-
pressed the opinion that the presence Of
Napoleon on field Of battle was worth
all OF 20, 900 men. 1t would be difficult
to computs how manv men the presence
OF jackson on battlefield was worth.
There was but one "Stonewall" Jack
son. His presence in any battle where
the victory wavered in the balance, his
soldiers thought, was worth all the diff
ference between victory and defeat.
Brave men lived before Agamem-
nom" and there were brave and able Of
ficers living after Jackson, but his con-
slant success had wrought such faith
in his old soldiers, and they we're so
dazzed by the popular applause and
enthusiasm which his presence every
where inspired, that they truly believed
there was none to come after him that
could fill his place.