The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-10-22
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u - the rush OF victory. Sue
was Jackson's faith in God an
himself, he inspired not only hi
victory. but the entire confedel
acy felt sure Of ultimate triumph
while he was in the field. No warrio
was ever worshiped by his people a
was this Soldier Saint of the Los
Cause. While he lived and fought thu
people Of the south saw in him thu
Incarnation of Gods justice struggling
for them. When the wound which wa
inadvertently given by his own mel
at Charlottesville terminated fatally
the news came as chilling shock t.
southern hopes. The history of mod
ern times affords no parallel to the
deep sorrow that throbbed in the
hearts of the confederate people wher
Jackson died. Those who had never
seen his face Wept for him as for theil
nearest kindred. They began to real
lie that with him removed their cause
was doomed. AS one Of the leaders
declared when he heard the news OF
Jackson's death. God has deserted us
else he would not have taken Jack.
son"
In being SO bowed down with grief
at Jackson's loss, 1t must not be I'm.
derstood that they loved Robert e.
Lee and their other generals less. for
to the first named at least, their deyo-
ton amounted to idolatry, but there
was something in Jackson that the
others did not possess which appealed
70 the people Of the south, and gave
them sublime confidence. This was
the reflection Of his absolute faith
that the hand of Providence was
guiding him on
Christened "stonewaIi" at Manassas
Stonewall Jackson, as every school.
boy knows, was plain Thomas ]. Jack
son until In the battle of Manassas
when the day. seemed to be going
against the southern forces. Gen. Bee
rode up to Jackson and in despair
exclaimed: They are beating us
back" and Jackson replied: Then we
VIII give them the bayonet." Catching
the inspiration Of Jackson's fndomit.
able Will, Bee galloped back to his
command and shouted: There is
jackson standing like a stone wall.
Rally behind the Virginians. Follow
me- Gen. Bee charged at the head
of his men, and in a little while fall
mortally wounded with his face to the
'front.' From that time Jackson was
known as "Stonewall," and his com.
mand became immortal as the Stone.
wall brigade.
Stonewall Jackson's ancestors had
lived in Maryland and Virginia for
more than 100 years and were Of
scotch-1rfsh descent. They were all
honest. God-fearing people, and thew
were OF fighting blood, taking a con.
spicuous part, first In the Indian
troubles. and then In the revolution.
airy war
Not Robust In Boyhood.
me boy who was to become
one of the greatest military command.
ers the world has ever known Was
born in 1924 in Clarksburg among the
beautiful mountains of what wac tben
virginia, and now West Virginia. He
was left an orphan at an early age,
Dy the death Of his father. and his
mother being unable to support him.
ne lived with an uncle, through whose
Kindness he was given the benefit of
the best schools Of those times with.
out showing any special aptness az
scnoiar. he by perseverance mastered
whatever he undertook. and through
hard study learned his lessons we'll
Like all genfuses of war he excel,ed In
mathematics AS a boy he was not
strong physically, and in his early
years suffered a partial paralysis.
which later disappeared through the
strenuous exercises at the military
academy.
Served as County Constable.
Partly for the healthful outdoor
work that the office would give
and partly to obtain funds to aid in
his further education, he secured the
appointment as constable in his dis
trict. He was under age at the time,
but was in such general favor that no
one raised the question as to the legal
fty OF the court appointing minor toi
the Office. He performed the dut;ac
OF this place with industry and fide,.
ity, though the kind of people he was
thrown in contact with officially were
not such as to aid in the DEVELOPMENT
of character.
AS ne approached manhood he
did not display that sober ser;.
Gus nature that afterwards dom;.
mated him. The STANDARDIZATION of
everything he did, and his rnle Of
making every act of his life re-
igious act came later. At this time
ne was little different from other
young men in attending horse races
house raisings and country dances.
His truthfulness and aggressive hon.
esty remained untarnished from child.
hood. He was always modest Golf
reliant and full Of dignity and cour-
tesy
Success in Mexican War.
AT the age of Is he obtained
West Point cadetship and entered
that institution. His literary educa.
ton had not been thorough. and he
progressed with difficulty. In the ex.
aminations which closed the first half
years novitiate, he came within
fraction of failing. He steadily i'm
proved, however, through his earnest
application and untiring perseverance,
and graduated at the age of %, in
1886, seventeenth in a class of about
Wore on Wis;