The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-10-29

~ 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
"hl1e ne was in the field. No warrior
was ever worshiped 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
AZ Chancellorsville terminated fatally.
me news came as. chilling shock to
southern hopes. The history of mod
ern times affords no parallel to the
deep sorrow that throbbed in the
nearts 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
ize that with him removed their cause
was doomed. As one of the leaders
aecIared when he heard the news of
Jackson's death, God has deserted us
else he would not have taken Jack.
son.. 'ssst
IN be1ng SO bowed down with grief
at Jackson's loss, it must not be I'M
derstood that they loved Robert r
Lee ana their other generals less, for
20 tne nrst named at least, their deyo-
taon amounted to idolatry, but there
was something in jackson that the
otners did not possess which appealed
20 the people of the south. and gave
them sublime confidence. This was
the reflection of his absolute faith
that the hand of Providence w.e
guiding him on.
Chrlstened "stonewalI" at Manassas
Stonewall Jackson, as every school
boy KNOWS. was plain Thomas j lack
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 indornit.
able viii, Bee galloped back to his
command and shouted: There is
jackson standing like a stone wall.
Rally behind the Virgintans. Follow
me" Gen. Bee charged at the head
OF his men, and in little while fell
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.
Stonewan Jaekson's ancestors had
lived in Maryland and Virginia for
more than 100 years and were of
scotch-Irish descent. They were all
honest, God-fearing people, and they
we're of fighting blood, taking a con-
sptcuous part, first in the Indian
troubles, and then in the revolution
airy 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 ape
by the death of his father. and his
mother being unable to support him.
he 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 q
scholar, he by perseverance mastered
whatever he undertook, and through
hard study learned his lessons well
Like all genfuses of war he excelled in
mathematics As 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 healthfuI 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 |
ity of the court appointing minor to |
the Office. He performed the duties |
OF this place with industry and fdel-
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 he approached manhood he
did not display that sober, seri-
GUS nature that afterwards domi-
mated him. The spiritualization of
everything he did, and his rule of
making every act Of his life a re-
ligious 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
- = n =