Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-20

and then rare sight or beauty ana grace
OF lights and greenery. holly and misfie
toe In the castle hallsl And one younl
man. at least, our Sandy Pendieton, me-
his fate in a pair OF black eyes that
night.
About q week later, General Jackson
had earache. and DIR. Mcclure said nc
had taken cold, and must go to a room
IN the house. And the General consent
ed to occupy an office-buiiding in the
| grounds 1t was a small frame house
a story and half high, that stood to the
left and front of the mansion, under the
fine trees. 1t was a country-gentleman :
Office. There was a little lobby In the
the front; on the left a wood closet, and
on the right a narrow stairway leading
| TO an attic-room. Entering the office
room, an open fireplace was at the oppo-
site end. On either side OF the door were
| book-shelves on which were farmers
| books, horse and cattle registers, agri-
cultural reports, Virginia Codes, and
miscellaneous lot of old-time books. ON
the walls were framed pictures OF famous
horses and fine cattle, and over the
mantel a tinted picture Of a rat-worry.
The Generals cot was placed TO one SIDE,
the small table on the other. Two or
three stools completed the furniture. And
on the wall hung the Generals sword,
his overcoat and cap. and in the corner
lay his boots. A guard marched to ana
FRO before the door, an Irishman usually
from the Irish Battalion, and he took his
duty OF protecting the General with great
pride and seriousness. The General him.
self was caught outside one bad night,
and no persuasion could induce the guard
TO believe the General himself
WINTER QUARTERS.
In that modest little Office he spent the
mir
ton only as 1t was urged that cold or
sickness contracted in a tent would i'm
pair his efficiency in the duties devolved
upon him. That he regarded these duties
seriously, / need not say. II the cam
paign was over and winter compelled a
cessation of active movements, all his
energies must be engaged in preparation
for the earliest spring Not for a moment
would he think of an absence. He was
not absent a day. He earnestly dis
couraged absence in all others. The
morning hours, and much OF the after
noon, were spent In the important work
he now took in hand. His meals were
taken with his staff in a dining tent at
our camping grounds, and he spent little
time at the table. First In the morning
the stan, one after another, called with
written reports Of conditions and wants.
Quartermaster, commissary, ordnance,
medical affairs all passed daily under
his attention, and necessary orders were
issued or communications written. The
acknowledgement then came with two de-
partments OF work-papers that came
from army headquarters, or through Gen.
eral Lee. from the War Department, to
be transmitted to all divisions, and
papers passing up from the divisions to
the commander of the army. Notes were
taken of communications that were TO be
written out in the Office of the adjutant-
general Then there were reports of the
nspector-general, reports from the mill
tary court of the corps in session at
the typographical engineers as to map |
making. There was the survey of mill |
tary roads. After these matters of Inn !
portant routine. there were letters to |
write Of military Importance to General |
Lee to the Secretary OF War, to COM |
mittees of the Confederate Congress.
The preparation Of reports of the bat
ties OF the last campaign occupied his at
tenton, and were written at his dictation,
sometimes by me. and sometimes by
Colonel Charles j. Faulkner. Late in
the afternoon the work was laid aside,
and the General went out for a ride, or
more commonly Tor a walk through the
forest, and usually alone. In the eve
ming great stacks of papers, prepared by
his own direction, were brought for his
signature, and he signed his name until
he fell asleep over his table: often wrote
T. j. Jakson In his haste and WEAKNESS.
All his capacity for organization was
exercised and developed. or all the null
titude Of affairs In that large corps there
was nothing Of which he did not know
and which did not receive his earnest at
Lention. And under that energetic id
there was work everywhere,
appointment Of officers, dis
,iplne, inspection, drill And the COM
nand soon responded in improved con-
1ition. The return of absent officers and
men was a matter of great concern.
Every possible effort was made to fill the
ranks. From the homes and the hospitals
arms, ammunition, ordnance stores,
rations, clothing, shoes, blankets, wagons,
horses. harness, medical stores, were
eplenished. Every bureau Of the
Richmond War Department was kept
wake by Jackson's demands. II the
torres were not forthcoming he would
know the reason why.
All this work found fits frequent inter-
upton in the visits OF important people,
General Leo and staff sometimes called
or a short interview. The four division
frequently dsmounted at
lis door. Brigadiers and colonies some
ines came with special applications
lembers of Congress from Richmond
anne to spend the day. No more well
ONE guest ever came than General j. |
:. b. stuart. Stuart's first visit TO that
loss Neck office was memorable. With
lanking sabre and spurs and waving
lack plume he was warmly greeted at
he door. Papers and work were all
astily laid aside. No sooner had he
ntered than he saw the pictures on the
'alls. He read aloud what was said
bout each noted race horse and each
plendid bull. At the hearth he paused
D scan with affected establishment the
orrd picture of a certain terrier that
ould kill so many rats in a minute. He
retended to believe that they were Gene
Al Jackson's selections. With great
olemnity he looked at the picture and
hen at the General. He paused and :.
topped back, and in solemn tones said
g wished to express his establishment
nd grief at the display of General jack
on's low tastes. 1t would be a sad dis I
ppointment TO the old ladies OF the
ountry who thought Jackson was a good
ian. General Jackson was delighted
boYe measure. He blushed like a girl
nd hestated. and said nothing. but to !
i'm aside and tell me 10 see that a !
pod dinner was prepared for General
tuart And all the genial humor and |
'olic OF that splendid cavalier were en- I
yed exceedingly, and with utter in
lpacity for response. {
ENGLISH VISITORS. :
Among our visitors were several officers y
the English army who had great de- [
re TO sees Stonewall Jackson, the hero
the Shenandoah. There was Mr.. Law I