The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-14
THE DEPARTURE OF ST.

drilling i've or six farmer boys in the
days of 81 when 81 Jackson, presented
himself for enlistment 81 had been
working in Sawmill for years. He
was twenty-five years old and as home
~, ungainly and slab sided as if he had
been cut out of a swamp elm saw log
with a wabbly saw His temper was
on a par with his looks. 1t was fitful.
cratic and cross grained. Attempts
were made to discourage him from
signing the muster roll, and, although it
was pointed out to him over and over
again that the union could be saved
without his assistance, ne obstinately
refused to be convinced. He had made
up his mind to go to war. and to go in
company 3, and his name was finally
placed on the roll. We had hardly
reached cantonment. where we We're
to be drilled and equipped for the
front, when ST developed. Most of the
company were watching to see which
Way he would jump, as he had been
alternating between good and bad. The
eA-saWyer made up mis- mind to three
or four things. and those things consti-
tuted' policy. He would assist to
save the union, but he would take his
own way about it; he would drill as
little as possible, and he would work
not at all. he would obey his superiors
rats'er than be shot. but he would do a
heap of lodging and bluffing. When
81 Jackson got settled down into his
policy, he made a good deal OF trouble
Tor company B. While we were yet
IN the state service and it was diScOv-
cred that he was a human mule. he
was escorted out of camp and told to
stay out. He appealed to the general
and was returned to camp and sworn
In with the rest of us. Upon his re-
fusal to drill he was sent to the guard
house, and upon his refusal TO work he
was reported as insubordinate and
every effort was made to get him to
desert He wouldn't CO. however. He
was with US when we started for
Washington, and he was with us when
we pitched our. tents at the chain
bridge.
Then began the struggle between ST
jackson and the United States of
America. The United States demanded
| obedience on the part of ST. and 81
demanded that he. be allowed ito 15addle
nus own canoe as he thought best He
was reDrimanded, sent to the guard
house, bucked and gagged and pun
! ished in various other ways, but he
called the bluff every time. They were
ready to court martial him when we
marched away to fight the first battle
OF Bun Run. but he esca ped from ar
rest and Joined US on the field and
was the only man in the regiment to
reap any homer. Single handed and
alone he captured the only confederate
prisoner taken in that fight and
marched him back to the Potomac Our
captain tried to make ST believe that he
pad done his whole duty and could go
nome with flying colors, but ST wasn't
on the go. On the contrary, he was in
the guardhouse again the day after
kturnlng his prisoner over. VI f' a7asi
II mas always been a mystery to
the thousand men of the Fourth infan-
try how 81 Jackson defied the United
states and held his own. In the two
years he was with us he put in nine
tenthS of his time in the gllardhouse
-Four different courts martial sat on
| him and sentenced him to prison, but
Tor some reason the findings were al
ways revoked A hundred different
times he was threatened with being
I hI1f hn xx-oe.
er carried into execution. He was 'ex-
amined by the surgeons and his dis
charge recommended, but he beat them
at the game. He was sent into the EN-
emy's country with the hope that he
would be captured. but he always
tsquea<ed through. HesQwas sent with,
| the teamsters with the hope that the
mules would end his career with their
hoofs, but not a foot ever reached him.
/ He'd fight and fight well, but he would
4 not obey orders. During those two
years ne never drilled a single time or
had a spade in his hand. He never
stood entry for an hour. and if he re-
NAMED on picket it was because he
preferred to.
When ST had been defying the Uni
ted States for two long years. he be-
coming too heavy for him. There were
4 also rumors to the effect that the next
| court martial would land him at the
| Dry TortugaS to drag a ball and chain
/ behind him. Obstinate and mulish as
hec was. he realized THAT one man
couldn't hope to beat MISUNDERSTANDING
| forever. He hadn't been worsted yet
but it might be good thing to quit
while honors We're even. ST Jackson's
/ first decision was to quit and his second
to leave the service in a blaze of glory
not soon to be forgotten. Those of us
| who were watching him noticed that he
/ had something on his mind. but were
far from suSpecting what a programme
"a vas ont To l1c Of
camp of 5000 men a corral holding
5000 mules and horses The 5000 men
were occupying about $500 tents. The
! guards about the corralS afterWard re-
two or three days. but his plans were
not suspected. At the western side of
! the Enclosure were hundreds of bales of
4 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 ST was ready for his fare
| We'll 1t was moonless night, with
the wind blowing strong from the west
and signs of a storm at hand. He had
! no goodbys to exchange and very little
| to pack up. It isn't at all likely that a
kind word at the last would have alter
| ed his plans in the least, but no kind
word greeted his ear. On the contrary
the captain, who happened to run across
him, squared off and said;
4 See here, 81. I've got mighty tired
" tlI19, anu II give you the SITd1SnL
! tip that if I can't get you out of my
company I'll throw up my commission"
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
drought up among the hay, and five
minutes later a 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 We're circling
around the inclosure in mad mob with
shouts of alarm from all the guards
Twice the mob tore around the big field
squealing. kicking and neighing, and
| then it headed for spot on the eastern
side, and the fence went down with D
crash that could be heard a mile away
The fire caught the bushes and followed
the horses. and the horses dashed
STRAIGHT upon the camp. A thousand