Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-23


the nature OF Stoncwall Jackson as any
man has ever enjoyed. believe Jack
son was as fond OF me as he over was
OF any man OF our times. II was for his
wife to awaken and nurture, and since
his death to disclose TO the world the
deep tenderness OF that wonderful char
acter, tenderness never before suspected
by any human being TO exist.
In the life and letters Of Stonewall jack
son. published by her. are revelations OF
affectionate gentleness unknown TO any
bui TO her. The world owes her untold
gratitude for this work. so beautifully
accomplished. that II will be a classic ar
known.
AT WEST POINT.
I entered the Military Academy at West
Point in June, 1872 A week afterwards n
cadet sergeant passed. escorting n newly
arrived cadet TO his quarters. The per-
s0nal appearance OF the stranger was so
remarkable as to attract the attention OF
several of u.s. who were standing near
and chatting together. Burkett Fry. A..
T. Hill, and George Pickett, all Vir-
ginians. and destined TO be distinguished
generals. made our group. The new ca
Diet was clad in gray homespun, wag-
goner's hat, and large, heavy brogans;
weather-stained saddle-bags were over
his shoulders. His sturdy step, cold.
bright gray eye, thin, firm lips, caused
me to say. "That fellow looks as II he
has come TO stay" and on the return OF
the sergeant / asked him who that cadet
was. He replied: cadet Jackson, Of
Virginia. WhereUuon L at once ascend
ed to his room to show him my interest
in him, a fellow-countryman In a strange
land. He received my courteous ad-
vances in a manner so chilling that it
caused me to regret having made them,
and l rejoined my companions with criti-
cisms brief and emphatic as to his in
tellectual endowments. Days and weeks
went by. with no change in the "snap-
shot" estimate then impaired. one eve
ming, while Fry and Hill and I were lol-
ling upon our camp bedding, the evening
police was going on, and cadet jackson,
from Virginia." was upon duty about our
tent. when 1, DESTROYS again TO be affable
and playful with our countryman, lifted
the tent wall, and addressed him with
an air Of authority, and mock sternness,
ordering him to be more attentive TO his
duty, to remove those cigar stumps, and
otherwise mind his business. His reply
was look so stern and angry as to let
me know that he was doing that job.
Whereupon, let that tent wall drop and
became intensely interested in my yell
low-back novel. So soon as police was
over arose and girded my loins saying
1 had made Cadet Jackson. of Virginia,
angry, and must at once humble myself
and explain that ] was not really in
command Of that police detail. / found
him at the guard tent. called him out,
.of1 loo Hf,I hot /
made a mistake just now in speaking TO
you in a playful manner-not justified by
our slight acquaintance. l regret that
did So" He replied with his stony
look, THAT is perfectly satisfactory,
sir" Whereupon / returned to my COM
rades, and informed them that. in my
opinion, cadet Jackson. from Virginia,
Is a jackass," which verdict was unani-
mously concurred in; and we all with
one accord began TO array ourselves for
the next duty in order and thence for
ward nobody in that tent projected
with that cadet until our four-years
course was ended, and we were enamel
pated from the military prison Of West
Point. for we all liked and respected him.
After our encampment of two months
was over we went into barracks and
were arranged in section alphabetically,
and thus it was Mcclellan and L sat side
by side; for very brief space, though.
Next week he went up till he became
head. while l remained tutisimus IN
medic for four blessed years. L was
very sorry TO lose Mac. from my side,
especially during Rotations, for he used
TO tell me things, and was a great help;
besides he was such u little bred and
born gentleman. only 10 years and
months, while I-God save the mark
was %.
"Old Jack" as we called him. hung
about the bottom. at the first January
examination all below him were cut Off.
he was foot and probably would have
been cut off also. but his teachers OBJ
served in him such determined inten-
ton to succeed that they felt sure ne
would constantly improve-and he did.
Our rooms were small, each with two
single bedsteads Qron), a bare, cold
floor. and an anthracite CRATE. 'Old
Jack" a few minutes before taps, would
pile his CRATE with coal, so as 10 have
bright. glowing fire when taps sounded
and all other lights were out.
Then he would lie prone upon the floor,
when the light enabled him 10 study
the lesson for the day, and very soon he
began TO rise in his class, and we all
were glad of his success, for cold and
as he was, he was abb
solutely honest and kindly, intensely at
tending 10 his own business, and as 1t
was, he came to be near the head OF our
class. the largest that had ever graduated
there. We had altogether 16i members
those turned back into tive
sixty after four weary, profit
less years TO mel.
Then Cadmus Wilcox, Archie Bolts,
Dominic" Wilson, and "Old Jack" as we
now called Jackson of Virginia. travelled
on together to their Virginia homes. and
arriving in Washington took q room in
Browns Hotel. All four were in one room,
and IL was blazing hot, for they were |
right under the roof. Cadmus, on reach |
ing the capital Of the nation, was invited |
10 spend the evening with the Secretary /
Of War-Ar. Jefferson Dayis-and did not /
return TO his room until about 1 o'clock |
A. NJ. He paused, the door was locked |
and the sounds Of boisterous reyelry |
were roaring within.
For some time he demanded entrance in |
vain, and when at last admitted found |
''High links" were enacting there. Poor
Archie in his fine new uniform lay slum- !
bering upon a bed, while Dominic and |
sss1s nm