Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-02-08
A stonewaI JacksonI .,,.,


the city hall last night, Mr.. Thomas
w. Miller, attorney, appeared before
the body and exhibited letter which
was written by General I. J. (Stone-
WALL jackson on the battle field at An
tietam, to lady in the vicinity who
kindly sent him his breakfast. General
jackson did not know her name. so he
gave her the assumed name of Miss
Fairfield, " suggested by the thought
that, since she was lady, she NJ Il st
be "fair," and the "field," of battle on
which he ate the breakfast she had SC
kindly furnished him. coupled togeth.
er gave the origin of the name he en-
ployed.
Mr.. Miller explained tn at commit
tee from the Sons of Confederate Vet
Grams had been delegated to take the
letter to the Confederate Museum at
Richmond, and it was desired that the
veterans namea committee from theil
body to act as joint committee,
which was done, Mr.. H. S. Trout hay-
ing been named as the chairman, an d
Major c. G. Taliaferro as vice-chair.
man.
MIR. Miller in his ad1ress before the
Veterans, said:
II have seen thousands of you march
ing, but this is the fist time | have
had the honor to appear before this
camp of veterans, and | trust the camp
will take some part in the ceremonies
we propose carrying out.
'In 1881 was in the town OF Sharps-
burg, Nd, and there called on lady
friend of mine, Miss Julia B. Grove. l
saw letter framed, and noted it was
written by General T. J. jackson and
dated on the day of the battle of Sharps-
burg. 1t was addressed to Miss Fsir-
field | enquired as to the history of
the letter. She told me that on the
morning of the battle, while i, was
raging, she was informed that General
Jackson was without breakfast, she
sent it out to him. After eating it Gen.
eral Jackson said he must thank the
lady for it, but as he didn't know her
name, he must make a name for her,
and inasmuch as it was received from
fair lady. and on the field of battle,
he would call her Miss Fairfield
"The incident didn't pass from my
mind, SO when we recently reorganized
the camp of the Sons in this city,
wrote Miss Julia and stated that while
| knew it would be great sacrifice on
her part to give up the letter, it would
not be the first sacrifice she had made
for the Confederacy, and [ waited her
to send me the letter to go from the
Albert Sydney Johnson Camp to be
sent to Richmond, Va, for the Con-
federate Museum. She wrote me she
would gladly do so. but she had given
it to her nephew. Ny letter was to
him, and he agreed to loan it to us
for time. a
at occurred to me, that while we
knew Jackson as a thunderhoIt of war,
this letter revealed him in light that
was new; at least, that / had neve
looked upon him, and that is, as a ten.
der-hearted gentleman. In the mid st
of the bloody battle, still he did not
forget his duty as a gentleman, to ac-
knowledge the courtesy extended to
him by lady, and l think this letter
would be of peculiar interest to all
that fought under the stars and bars.
"Albert Sydney Johnston Camp has
appointed committee to go to Rich
mond and deposit THIS letter in the
museum. l have the letter, thinking 1t
would be Of interest to the veterans
who fought under him. 1t is due them
that they have the first sight of this
letter that has never been pub lished,
and trust that they will appoint COM
mittee in conjunction with us to go to
Richmond and deposit what / COM
slider priceless souvenir or relic Of
that great and able man.
The letter:
"Sharpsburg, Sept. 18th, 1862.
"Miss Fairfield:
81 have received nice breakfast, for
which l am indebted to your kind
ness. Please accept my grateful appre-
citation of your hospitality.
Very sincerely yours,
L. ]. Jackson"
The letter is written on a half sheet
of ordinary note paper, ruled, with
lead ncil.-Roanoke Times.