The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-11-14
The Departure of 81

when was recruiting in 1861. 81
Jackson presented himself for enlist
ment He was as hOmely and slab sid
edaslf he had been cut out OF swamp
log with a wabbIy saw. tried TO get
rid Of him. but couldn't, and be be-
came soldier.
Then began the struggle between 81
Jackson and the United States of
America. The United States demand
ed obedience on the part OF 81. and 81
demanded that he be allowed to paddle
his own canoe as he thought best. BE
was reprimanded. sent to the guard.
house, bucked and gagged and pun.
lshed in various other ways, but he
called the blum every time. They were
ready to court martial him when We
marched away to fight the first battle
OF Bull Run, but he escaped from ar.
rest and Joined US on the feld and
was the only man in the regiment to
reap any honor. Single handed and
alone he captured the only Confeder.
ate prisoner taken In that fight and
marched him back to the Potomac.
Our captain tried to make 81 believe
that he had done his whole duty and
could go home with flying colors, but
81 wasn't on the so. On the contrary.
he was In the guardhouse again the
day after turning his prisoner over
1t has always been a mystery to
the thousand men OF the Fourth infan.
try how 81 Jackson deled the United
States and held Ills own. In the two
years he was with Us he put in nine
tenths Of his time III the Euardhouse.
-Four different courts martial sat on
him and sentenced him to prison, but
for some reason the findings were al
ways revoked. A hundred different
times he was threatened with being
drummcd out, but the threat was nev.
err carried into execution. He was cx-
amlncd by the surgeons and his dis
charge recommended, but he beat them
Mt the game. He was sent into the en-
emy's country with the hope that he
would be captured, but he always
squeakcd through. He was sent with
the tcamstcrs with the hope that the
mules would end his career with their
hoofs. hut not n foot ever reached him,
He'd fight. and fight we'll but he would
not obey orders. During those two
years he never drilled single time or
had spnde IN his hand. He never
stood sentry for an hour, aud If he re.
manned on picket 1t was because he
preferred to.
When 81 had been defyfng the Unit
ed States for two long years. he be.
came discouraged. The load was be-
coming loo heavy for him. There were
also rnmors to the effect that the next
court martial would land him ut the
Dry Tortucas 10 drug ball and chain
behind him. Obstinate and mullsh us
he was he realized That one man
couldn't hope to beat military discl.
plIne forever. He hadn't been worsted
vet, but It might be good thing to
ouit while honors were even. 81 Jack
SONG first decision was to quit and bis
q.pond to leave the service In a blaze
or glory not soon to be forgotten
Those Of us who were watching him
noticed that be had something on his
mind, but were far from suspecting
what q programme he was mapping
out. To the west Of our camp Of 5000
men was a corral holding 5000 mules
and horses. The 6.OOO men were occu.
pying about $500 tents. The guards
about the corras nfterward remem-
bercd seeing 81 hanging about for two
or three days, but his plans were not
suspected. At Che western side of the
Enclosure were hundreds OF bales Of
hay and bags OF oats and corn for use
OF the animals, and the hot sun had
dried the bushes until they were like
finder.
One night 81 wns ready for his fare
we'll II was a moonless night. with
the wind blowing strong from the west
and signs of n storm at hand. He had
no goodbys to exchange and very little
TO pack up. 1t isn't at all likely that
kind word Mt the last would have
altered his plans in the least. but no
kind word greeted his ear. On the
contrary, the captain. who happened
to run across him, squared of and said:
See here. 81. I've got mighty tired
of all this. and I'll give you the
/ straight tip that If can't get you out
Of my company III throw up my com
mission"
81 only grunted in reply, and half an
hour later he was preparing his sur.
Prise party. He lodged the guards Of
| the western side of the corral and
brought up among the hay, and five
minutes later big flame was rising
from the bales. 1t needed but the smell
and sight OF fire to stir up a panic
among the horses and mules. In three
or -four minutes they were circling
around the Enclosure in mad mob,
with shouts of alarm from all the
guards. Twice the mob tore around
the big field. squeallng, kicking and
neIghinC. and then It headed for q spot
on the eastern side. and the fence went
down with a crash that could be heard
n mile away. The tire caught the
bushes and followed the horses. and
the horses dashed straight upon the
| camp. A thousand tents were knocked
down and a thousand men injured
while two or three hundred OF the ami
mails came 30 grief. This was only
half Of srs plan, however. The fire
swept up to the corral fence. and the
| ewing snarke set the FIRST tents on fire.