Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-08-30
stenewaII Jackson's scabbard Speech

StonewalI Jackson's Scabbard Speech
Capt Milton Rouss. an ante -bellum v
NJ / mar. has. at our request. kindly
furnished the Spirit of Jefferson
the following authentic account of an in
cident which. occurring just prior to the
War Between the States, showed the ev-
ident pluck of the afterward great Stone
wal. Jackson. and foreshadowed the
dauntless courage which later on marked
the brilliant career of that invlncible and
wonderful southern soldier, under whom
Capt Rouss himself served as a gallant
officer:
A few days before Lincoln issued his
proclamation calling for $1,000 volun-
teers to put down the rebellion. the
Union people in and around Lexington
raised a Union flag at the corner near
the Court House on Nam street. The
following night several cadets procured
augers and bored the pole full of holes.
so that it fell. trailing the beautiful flag
in the dust. The next day being Satur-
day. number of the cadets visited the
town, and soon dispute arose between
them and some of the citizens. Three of
the cadets were put IN the lookup. Soon
the news spread, and the corps of ca
diets almost to a man. numbering some
200, seized their muskets and rushed for
the town, determined to release their
comrades. The superintendent, Col.
Smith. hearing the tumult hurried to
the point where the cadets were forming
at the lower edge OF the town. and urged
them to wait till all officers were on
hand, and insisted on their forming in
regular company order as when on drill.
Gen McCausland, then a professor at
the V NJ l, also told them that it was
best to give up the idea of attacking the
town, as they were well prepared for us
with two volunteer companies aud near
ly all the citizens at or near the court
house waiting for us. but that If we must
go he would lead us. Just then several
citizens were observed coming towards
Us from the town, and 1t turned out to
be the Mayor and two or three other
men of prominence, who at once declared
that mistake had been made and the
cadets were being released and would be
with US in few minutes. This seemed
to satisfy the boys. and Col Smiths or
der to right about and march to barracks
was promptly obeyed. Stonewall Jack
son was on hand. too. and wore his
sabre, but had little to say.
A meeting of the corps was called IN
Major Preston's section room at the bar
racks, and Col Smith addressed the
corps on The Union" which was not
popular subject, and received but little
applause. Major Preston followed in a
very pretty speech on Honor Bright, ;"
which hardly suited either. Then there
was pause, and one OF the cadets called
for Major Jackson. when to the surprise
of everybody, "Old Jack" as we all
called him. turned and faced us, evident
ly little excited His address was
short and nearly as follows: Military
men when they make speeches should
say Blu. few words and speak them to
the point. | admire the spirit you have
shown in rushing to the defence of your
comrades, but | commend you particu-
larry for the readiness with which you
have listened to the counsel and obeyed
the orders of your superior officer S. 1t
looks as though we were on the verge of
civil war. the greatest calamity that can
ever befall a people. and to be avoided
by all possible means, but if come it must
1t behooves us to draw the sword and
throw away the scabbard." Suiting the
action to these words, he drew the sword
and threw back the scabbard We had
never seen him so excited, with ewes
flashing as they did so often afterwards
10 battle. The cadets fairly went wild
over this little speech that meant so
much aud was so handsomely spoken,
and from that hour "Old lack" was
their idol. MILTON RoUss.
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