The Virginia enterprise., 1910-10-21
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y the rush Of victory. Such
was Jackson's faith in God and
himself, he inspired not only his
own men with the certainty of
victory, but the entire confeder-
acy felt sure Of ultimate triumph
while he was in the field. No warrior
was ever worsh1ped by his people as
was this Soldier Saint of the Lost
Cause. While he lived and fought the
people of the south saw in him the
incarnation of Gods justice struggling
Tor them. When the wound which was
inadvertently given by his own men
at Chancellorsville terminated fatally,
the news came as a chilling shock to
southern hopes. The history of mod
ern times affords no parallel to the
deep sorrow that throbbed in the
hearts OF the confederate people when
Jackson died. Those who had never
seen his face wept for him as for their
nearest kindred. They began to real
lze 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, it must not be un-
derstood that they loved Robert E
Lee and their other generals less. for
TO the first named at least, their devo-
ton amounted to idolatry, but there
! was something in Jackson that the
otners did not possess which appealed
10 tne people of the south, and gave
tnem 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
excla1med: "They are beating us
back and Jackson replied: Then we
Will give them the bayonet." Catching
the inspiration Of Jackson's indomit-
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
or MS men, and in little while fell
mortally wounded with his face to the
front. From that time Jackson was
known as "Stolewau," and his COM
nland 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-lrlsh descent They were all
honest, God-fearing people, and thew
we're of fighting blood, taking a con-
sp1cuous part, first in the Indian
troubles, and then in the revolution
ary war.
Not Robust in Boyhood.
The 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 was then
Virginia, and now West Virginia. He
was left an orphan at an early age
by 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 as a
scholar, he by perseverance mastered
whatever he undertook, and through
hard study learned his lessons we'll
Like all geniuses of war he excelled in
mathematics. AS a boy he was not
, strong physically, and in his earlv
years suffered 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
trlct. lie was under age at the time,
but was in such general favor that no
one raised the question as to the legal
lty OF the court appointing a minor to
the office. He performed the duties
OF this place with industry and fidel.
lty, though the kind of people he was
thrown in contact with Officially, were
not such as to aid in the DEVELOPMENT
| Of character
AS he approached manhood he
ala not display that sober, seri
aus nature that afterwards domi-
mated him. The spiritualization of
everything he did, and his rule Of
making every act of his life a re-
llg1ous act came later. At this time
he 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, SELF
reliant and full of dignity and cour-
tesy.
Success in Mexican War.
At the age of IS he obtained a
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 a
fraction of failing. He steadily i'm
proved. however, through his earnest
application and untiring perseverance
and graduated at the age of %, in
1846, seventeenth IN a class of about