Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-12-23
Served General StonevyalI Jackson
A Darby of the Old Days and His
Story.

Lexington, Va, Dec. 2S-In thi.
quaint and historic old town, the rest
ing place Of the bodies of the South's
two greatest generals Robert Edward
Lee aud Thopoas Jonathan Jackson,
there lives typical darky OF the old
regime.
This old negro il "Unele Jetrn and
is character known not only in Vir-
ginia, but throughout the entire South
for Uncle JEFF was the and
only COOK and body servant oe'Stone-
walln jackson.
Old and poorlyclad, and partially
crippled, the old man may almost
daily been seen on LeXin gton's neigh
boring roads, trudging along, always
in happy frame Of mind. But on
the one day of the week, Sunday
presto! the change is complete. Fully
arrayed in beaver of black, frock
coat and pepper aid salt trousers, the
old man attends services at the Jack
Ron Memorial Presbyterian Church,
the sane church which the Genera
himself attended.
Pinned to his coat, proudly display
ed are numerous medals and. badges
galore, gathered together at the var
ieus Confederate reunions, for the old
negro attends them all. Then down
in the breast pocket Of his coat lies a
button, Confederate, well treasured, fer
it was upon the coat Jackson wore
when he was shot.
Born as a slave, he devotedly follow
cd "Aarse 1om," as he then knew
jackson, throughout tie latter
school days. while Jackson was st
West Point the old negro WAS forced
10 stay NJ home, nut here, he would
have you know, he was no "fiel hand ,
bat "keuse niggak.' After the Mex
lean War Jackson resigned his com
mission, accepting the professorship
OF natural philosophy at the Virginia
Military Institute, Lexington, so that
again the negro slave was thrown into
the service of his saaster. Even to
tais day the old fellow IL quite fav-
lite among the esd.ts there.
"Unele JsfT's" age no one knows
but himself, and alike in this respect
Unite womankihd, the old man will
net aiyulgs his secret. There are 4
few now who remember him as child
and those few are afraid, fol personal
reasons TO admit it. Although natur
ally rather rsticent. there is one sub,
Ject which will draw the cid nan out,
and that is of the proves and bravery
Of his frlead aud master, "stonswall
jackson.
En- dar's one Ting as sure sn'
csrI'in as dsr's Lord in de Heabsn. -
he will tell you, "ef de Gen had er
lived, de Confed rates would er won, er
Sey been fig htin' yIt. All followea
him Trough de entire battle, Harper's
Fesry, BGll Run, Man'kus en- up in
ys' STATE, sub, arsun' Sha'psburg en-
Antietam, Wy sub, de YaRks war SO
fear sb Gsn'r raj dat dey dere selves a
rsnsin'. All he have say was jss' Boo.
aad dey run lax cray.
"Yo' knows, sub, dat All Done all OBJ
&c Cen rails cookin' sub, an he wuz
semmen, ain nevah sed nothin'
against wat waz put sfore him. Dat
is cspsin' oAet'-here the old darky
gave ehuckle. "Itwa up de Ferry
De Cen raj he jes' taken de arsnal.
Essrytng den want ton up in de
South lax later. Still puilets wasn's
q plentiful, suh SO, sub dat dey wasn't
''Bus Al got nold or Two, good an
plump Az done sn up jes so nice en-
brown, sub, az Ia de ebsnin pat 'em
on de table. De Gea raj, he ter me, he
say, "Look q ysEs EFF ,whar desc cum
frum? 60 A - ls man lef' 'em
fer liza, an All goss cut laughia' fit ter
kill. WhsE day cum frum? Whar he
s'poss?
"Wal, sub, don't yo' know hs tux
dem chickens ober ter some old private
or mother! Vas, sub, OATS What he did.
"But de Geu'ra use treat me jes' as
nice as baby. Many er time TO de
war de General say, heah, jeff. .yeres
quarter TO polk chops All ispartial
TO chops, sub. 'Yo is expensive mig
gBh, he says, 'yo' know JsfY', q gen-
men neyah gives niggah lessn a
quatah. Thar kee, sub. All knswsd
yo' TO- grmmsn, subj"