Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-01-20


Ssra'nr HRS euhgy IN Genera Lee /;
sal he llu.'cd lh- snnivsr-aries of lis
Drih woul aIwsgs To- observed, and AZ
ter p,Ai.g jn~t iri!u'e To- the women
of tec ; nth uok his seat AMID much
applause
The next sentiment VS. General
+. J jackson, S,onewsll - "Lnok I!
'he'e : Jacesop, standing like stone
wall 49, which wss responded 10 hy
Representative Champ Clarke, rf Miss
ouri.
Mr. Clark. after some introductory re-
marks delivered in pleasant vein,
which we're greatly enjoyed, said in part +:
"Some French philosopher once said
that it is frequently the unexpected
which happens. The truth of this para
dox was fully verified during our civil
war. II at the beginning of that calami-
tous conflict, all the prophets in America
had been called upon TO predict who
would become the great captains, an1 ii,
by any lucky chance, one of them had
named a small dealer in leather and
green hides as the successful leader Of
union troops and plodding, praying
pedagogue in the Virginia Military In
stitute AS the most brilliant soldier of the
Confederacy, he would instanter and
without ceremony have been clothed
with a straightjacket and consigned to
padded cell. II is hardly overstating
the case to say that when that shot was
fred at Sumter, which was heard round
the world, Ulysses Simpson Grant and
Thomas Jonathan Jackson were, of all
the graduates OF West Point, amCng the
most unpromising. Yet impartial his
tory will record the fact with iron pen
upon her glowing page that they were
two of the most colossal figures 10 that
gigantic contest. Whether circumstances
make men or men create circumstances
is a problem impossible of solution and
about which people will forever dispute.
However that may be, Grant and Jack
SOD, perhaps uncousciously. POSSESSED
military genius Of the highest order and
were only awaiting the occasion for its
display. 1t came aud to them il brought
enduring fame.
"There is tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the food. leads on 20 fortune"
"Grant and Jackson so took it aud
stand today in the very small group of
the worlds really great soldiers. Thee
you can count on your fingers without
counting twice, but whoever else is MISS
ing Grant and Jackson will be there.
Fate plays fantastic tricks with men.
The well authenticated truths OF history
are sometimes rs startling and appear as
impr Jbable as any tsle from the Arabian
Nights. Sidney Smith of witty memory
once said Originally God made
round holes aud three cOrnered holes
and round people and three-cornered
people, but that many Ofthe round people
had gotten into the three-cornered holes
while many Of the three-corncred people
got into the round holes; consequently
there are many insists. Most as
suredly Jackson got into the particular
place designed for him by nature
Jackson was considered on all hands as
a decidedly slow coach while teaching
mathematics at Lexington, Va. Even
bis friends thought, when he was appoint
ed colonel of volunteers, that he was as
sumlhg responsibility for which he was
too weak Ind that he was about as near
the top Of the military ladder az he was
likely to climb. When he was placed
in charge of Harper's Ferry. there was
almost universal objection on the ground
Of his supposed unftness. Such was
the dismal beginning of the most bril-
liant military career Of modern times.
The first opportunity that came the
Ualvinistic schoOlmaster stood revealed
a. q iu!l-panOplied son of Mars. Out of
the smoke aud din and carnage of his
first battlefield, Jackson's star rose
bright as Sirius and blazed with ever
increasing splendor till he was gathered
to his fathers. To pray necessarily, tc
watch vigiantlY, to march astoundingly,
to fight vi toriOuslY seemed to be the
tour self-impOsed duties of this pious,
modest and heroic man. The sight Of
his foes fred his ScOtch.Irish blood and
sent ii boiling like melted lava through
his veins. General Forrest declare d
that the whole secret of success in war
il to get :here first with The most meE
This was also .IacksOn's theory an4 he
marched his men so rapidly thev came
to be known az Jscksons Foot Cav.
airy. They gloried in this title, and
today all over the land there are men
who would not exchange the right to say
Il once belonged to the Stonewal brigade
foa the brightest cross of the Legion OF
Honor that ever cleaned upon French
mans breast. When the world saw
jackson destroy Banks, scatter Pope's
forces as chat before the wind and
double up Hooker's magnificent army
like a jackknile, it was apparent that an
equal to Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal
or Napoleon had appeared among men.
Friend and foe alike came 10 regard him
with admiration and with awe. IL is
safe to say that had Iackson's advice
been followed at Fredericksb irg, Burn
sides entire army would have been cap
tured, Washington would have been
taken, peace established and today the
Southern Confederacy would have been
one OF the proudest nations on the globe.
But such was not to be. Jackson died
in the morning o. this fame before The
banner was traiIed in the |
dust, just after a victory worthy to rank
With Blenheim, Malplaquet, MareEgo or
AusterIiiz. When Jackson died, Lee
said that he had lost his ght hand; the
rtoneaJsrataa faIt that ,ha;r ch;af dafan