Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-01-16
stonewalI Jackson at Frederick burg


| Just TO enquire alter The cid soldiers
aches and pains, to give word of Cheer
and to hear one of gossip. we stoppea at
/, his door.
Come in. Doctor" said the old x 4nd
mother, land see Albums Chris mas
tree, very pretty one. nicely adorned
with trinkets and candy. 1.-The neigh
bors have been very good" explained
the old laldy, Several nice booklets
have been sent-one from the minister's
new wife amongst them Good we
said, ''that is one thing at least that
Mars'e John will endorse" and we
grinned feebly.
But what picture is that under the
tree" "Oh." answered the old grand
mother" ''that is General Jackson
Alum calls him her visitor" Greatest
soldier on earth. spoke out the old man.
Let me tell you story"
Now, Thornton Manuel has been true
to every trnst, and James McGarry says
he was good soldier-fought, suffered
and starved to the end, with no niggers
to fight for, and he is the proud owner
of a cross of honor. The old mans
feet are lettering toward the grave, but
his eyes are on the heights toward the
sunrise. All glory to those old soldiers
who are looking for the coming of the
"Son of Righteousness with healing on
his wings" SO we are going to let him
tell his story, as We don't think he would
lie.
1T was on the night of the battle of
Fredericksburg II had been a good
day to us, as we had made the ground
blue with Yankees. l had been a cou-
r;er for A. p Hill that day, and was
dead tired, aud SO dropped down in the
trenches for an hours rest. We were
well entrenched, you see. and could
have whipped the world.
1T was bright moonlight night, and
everything in our front was quiet, ex-
cept the cries of the wounded Yankees
for water. Suddenly from our left a
man jumped over the works and walked
rapidly toward the river bottoms in our
front. We could see his figure as he
passed to and fro.
"Aftera while he returned, and as he
came near our works, a wounded Yam
kee raised his head and cried cu'. wa
ter, water, for Gods sake give me
a drink of water The man stopped.
said something to the Yankee, and then
climbed over the works near where |
was lying. Reaching down, he said to
the soldier near him. give ME your can
teen But the soldier looked up and
rather insolently cried out 4 will be
damned If l do, Old Jack will move the
earth tomorrow, and l will need a little
water. Besides it is only dying YAM
kee anyhow. The man stiffened up,
and in tone of command said. give
me your canteen, sir The soldier
Jumped to his feet with the exclamation:
who in the hell are You anyhow COM
ing here with such authority People
call me General Jackson answered the
man. oh, excuse me. Genera, said
the soldier, as the canteen and several
others were pressed into his hands. The
general took the canteen, vert 70 the
Yankee, and, lifting up his head, gave
him the water. We could hear him sob
bling out his thanks. Returning he gave
the cauteen to the soldier, and without
word passed ipta our lines. After he
passed in the soldier remarked bows.
did not really need that water. Old
Jack will make night attack, and we
will drink from the river. Af.srward
We learned he did counsel a nia ht at
tack, You see he had been over the
whole ground, saw the Yankees build |
ing their pontoou bridges to recross the
river on, OWNED their intention, and |
knew he had them within his grasp
Unfortunately the other generals were
not so fortunate. and overruled him in |
the council of war. But | believe it is |
pretty well conceded now that if night |
attack had been made Burnsides army
would have been destroyed. Yes, the /
general knew he had them, and time
enough to spare to give dying Yankee
a drink of water. B.