The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-25
JACKSON IN WAR TIMES.
Mother OF Soldier First Prayed
Against Him, Then Fervcntly For
Him.

Roanoke, Va. News.
r. Z. Lee Camp Of Confederate
Veterans, Of Richmond, has been dis
cussing Miss Mary Johnston's book,
THE Long Roll" The veterans. and
especially the chaplains. object to
the quantity of profanity ascribed in
the book Of the Confederate soldiers,
particularly to General Ewell; and
all seem to take umbrage at the de-
scription OF the personal peculiarities
Of Stonewall Jackson. such as his
fondness for lemons his habit Of
Jerking his left hand into the air. his
fits Of profound silence, his reticence
and his occasionally harsh discipline.
1t is useless, however, to attempt
TO parade the Confederate Army as
an army OF saints. Probably 1t con-
tained a larger proportion OF earnest
ly pious men than any army in the
field since Cromwefi's day. but it had
Its share Of rapscallions and hot
blooded, careless-ta alking. fighting
men, MT always as particular in
their language as they should have
been. In fact, some Of the old
scamps to this day lack circumspec-
tion in their conduct and conversa-
ton. and sometimes do and say things
for which we hope their gray heads
are bowed in reverent contrition and
in honest. humble purpose Of amend
ment.
As to General jackson. those of us
who can recall the early days Of the
war know that among the women
and children at home there was deep
distrust Of him and widespread be-
lief that ne was a madman. This
must have come from the letters
from the soldiers in camp. The
writer recalls that his grandmother.
with two sons In the Second Regi-
ment Of the stonewall brigade, had
the habit OF locking herself in an up
stairs room at "the Parsonage" down
In Hanover county. and praying for
a solid hour daily for deliverance Of
those sons from General jackson.
Whether the old lady really prayed
for Stonewall's death or merely for
his resignation was a matter be-
tween herself and her Maker. but
after the valley campaign her family
devotions. and presumably her private
prayers contained very warm invo-
cations for the life and health and
success Of General Jackson.
There IL also recollection that on
an occasion the fine old lady in the
rervor OF her supplications lost the
key 10 the room in which she had se-
cluded herself. and it was necessary
to remove her backward down a lad
der from a second-storv window, with
the assistance Of two plantation
hands who. with the negro sense of
humor. were unable to restrain oc-
casional outlaws at the predicament
II "ole Miss" while her daughters
below were forced to crack their ribs
In silent agonies of laughter; and
when they. could control their VOICES
TO adJure her. in carefully modulated
tones. to be careful. The descent was
not Of a character which would take
prize at a hook and ladder demon
stration of a hreman's parade.
We hope there will be many edit
ions Of THE Long Roll" and that in
the later ones some Of the swearing
Will be omitted. General Ewell, VIC
are told. was converted and became
a sincere and consistent Christian,
and there is no need to charge u
against him the colloqual sins Of his
earlier days. but there Is no use in
attempting to den ounce as a slander
= book which bears every evidence
IT being Photographic In Its accuracy
IN many respects. because Of blemish-
IS which can he rem edied.