The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-17
STONEWALL JACKSON.
Gen. Grants Estimate of The Famous
~ = y Confederate. 4s

Confederate. ss
The Union Leader Highly Respected
Jackson but Thought His Achieve
ments Did Inot Justify sHis Fame
Against Sheridan He Would Have
Failed.
(From Young's "Around the World
with General GRAVITY
General Grant was asked how he rank
StonewalI Jackson" said the General,
sat West Point and in Mexico. AT West
Point he came into the school at an
older age than the average, and began
with o low grade. But he had so much
courage and energy, worked 50 hard, and
governed his life by discipline so stern
that he steadily worked his way along
and rosa far above others who had more
advantages. Stonewal Jackson,at West
Point was in a state of constant i'm
provement. He was religious man, then,
and some of us regarded him as fanatic.
Sometimes his religion took strange
forms-hypochondria that an
evil spirit had taken possession of him.
But he never relaxed in his studies of
his Christian duties. knew MIN in
Mexico. Hs was alwass brave aud
Trustworthy officer, none more so IN the
army. never knew him or encountered
him in the Rebellion. question whether
his campaigns in Virginia justify his
reputation as great com mander. Re
YVES killed zoo soon, and before his rank
allowed him great command. 1t would
have been test of generalship II jack
son had met Sheridan in the Valley, in
stead of some Of the men he did meet.
From all l know of jackson, and all
Ees OF his campaigns, 1 have little doubt
of the result. Ii jackson had attempted
on Sheridan the, tactics he attempted so
successfully on others he would not only
have been beaten hut destroyed. Sudden,
daring raids, undar a fine general like
Jacks on might do against raw troops
and inexperienced commanders, such as
we had in the beginning of the war, but
not against drilled troops aud COM
which Jackson is famous, and which
achieved such remarkable results, belong
ed entirely to the beginning of the war
and to the peculiar conditions under
which the earlier battles were fought.
They would have insured destruction to
any commander who tried them upon
Sherman, Thomas Sheridan, Meade, or.
- 60 0f Is
sequently, Jaokson's fame as general
depends upon achievements gained before
his generalship was tested, before he had
chance of matching himself with a
really great commander. No doubt SO
able and patient man rs jackson, who
worked SO hard at anything he at
tempted, would have adapted himself to
new conditions and risen with them. He
died before his opportunity. ~
Railways respected jackson personally
and esteemed his sincere and manly cha.-
acter. He impressed me always as man
of the Cromwell stamp, a Puritan-much
more of the New Highlander than the
Virginian. If any man believed in this
Rebellion he did. And Lis nature was
such that whatever he believed in be-
came deep religious duty, duty he
would discharge ut any cost. 1t is mis-.
take to suppose that ever had any feel
ing for StoHewall jackson but respect.
Personally we were always good friends;
his character had rare point of merit,
and although he made the mistake of
fighting against his country, If ever
man did 60 conscientiously he was the
man.
~ knew Albert Sidney johnson before
the war. When he was sent to Utah l
had high opinion of his talents. When
the war broke out he was regarded an the
coming man of the cOnfederacy. / shared
that opinion. because I knew and
esteemed him, and because 1 felt, as we
all did, in the old army, where there was
publio opinion among officers as to who
would come ont ahead. In many cases,
In most CAGES, our public opinion was in
error. Bragg had great reputation in
the South. Bragg was the most con-
tsntious Of men, and there vas story in
Mexiso that he put every one in arrest
under him, and then put himself in
arrest. Albert Sidney johnson might
have risen in fame, and we all had conf
denea in his doing SO; but he died too
soon for us to say what he would have
done under the later and altered condi-
tons Of the war; The southern army had
many good generals. Lee, of course, was
good soldier, and SO was LonRstreet in
Mexico. He was a fine fellow, and one
Of the lest of the young officers. do
not know that there was any better than
Joe Johnston. l have had nearly all
the.southern generals in high com mand
in front of lie, and Joe Johnston gave
me NOR e anxiety than any of the Others
I was never half 50 anxious about Lee
Uncle Reuben's Surprise.
Uncle Reuben was visiting the metrop-