The farmer and mechanic., 1913-11-04
WHEN STEWART MET THE WIDOW
OF GENERAL STONEWALL JACKSON
Fleet And President Honored Chleftams Wldo" ana
Daughter-How Miss Jessie Wilson Com1or1eo
Grief-Stricken Mother-Abe Lincon's Lie Mash.
By HOWARD \. BANKSo

constant touch with Librarian Stew
art and his books, and many useIui
bit Of information does he dig up 1of |
us. Mr.. Stewart was member OF the |
class Of 1881 o the Naval Academy,
Of which Major Zebulon Il. Vance,
Jr. l.. $. A.. retired, of Charlotte, and |
Rev. Samuel Wilson, presbyterian
pastor at Carbonton, N. c., were also |
nembers. The latter and Archdea-
con OF Pennsylvania; Cyrus Townsend
Brady, class of 1881, are the only Two
men whom Annapolis has ever uls-
charged into the ministry. Unlted
States Senator Weeks, OF Massachu-
setts, and Admiral Uriu. of the Jap
anese Navy, and a distinguished
Christian gentleman who has SeveraI
times attended the class reunions, were
graduates of this class, and Mr.. Stew
art is secretary of their class splendid
organization. 1t has done good
work in organizing and training the
naval militia of the States. The class
was in part legislated out of the serv-
ice by rider on the regular naVal
appropriation bill of 1882 which pro-
vded that only ten OF the graduates
should be retained. Senator Vance
unwittingly voted his own son out or
the service, as likewise did Represent
ative Bollen, OF Tennessee. There was
great Indignation when it was found
lust what havoc the rider played with
the future of a large number of Splen-
did young men. but all efforts to undo
the damaging legislation were un-
availing. They had put one over on
the usually wary North Carolina Sen
ator and indeed the majority of Con-
gress. Ensign Vance afterward enter
ed West Point.
Mr.. Stewart came into the secre-
tarys office the other day with copy
OF Hearst's Magazine in his hand.
"Are you reading Mrs. Stonewall
Jackson's charming biography Of her
husband?" he asked. These articles,
richly illustrated, are attracting wide
spread attention. JacksOn's name will
be one of the universal names OF his
tory. During cruise with Mr.. Dan
iels to Newport this summer l met
naval officer Of exceedingly attractive
personality. We were thrown together
only half an hour, but during that
time l found the bent Of his mind was
naval strategy. He has seemingly
read everything worth while ever
written along this line. and knew
Jackson's history by heart. He said
that Jackson felt that he could be
more useful to his country by resign
ing from the army and retiring to a
quiet place in order to study Ma
= poleon and the great military cam
paigns OF history so that he might
be in a position to render the high
est service to his country in time o1
future crisis. Librarian Stewart fel
to talking Of Jackson, and inciden
tally referred with evident pride t.
an incident in his life in which h
was thrown in touch with Mrs. Jack
son. and Miss Julia, afterwards Mrs
Christian.
"At the Yorktown celebration il
October, 1911. "Said Mr.. Stewart .
was a midshipman on the flagship
Tennessee
launch that carried diStinguishe
visitors between shore and the shiI
About y. M, on the last day, l ha
taken the last visitor from the Ten
nessee to the wharf in the strear
launch Rocket. While I was wait
ing at the landing, two gentlemen an
two ladies came to the launch an
asked me to be taken to the Tennes
see. The ladies were introduced t
me as Mrs. Jackson and her daughte
Miss Jackson The mother was ia
and rather short of stature. Th
daughter was dark, graceful and ha
in measure the charming presens
Of the mother.
my instructions were positive
bring off no more visitors but whe
the gentlemen introduced themselv,
rs General Fields and RepresentatiN
Finley. I decided to take them. The
entered the launch and we were SOC
at the Tennessee. When we wei
aboard the officer of the deck scowlt
at me and muttered something tn
1 was glad not to hear more plainl
Although ! was very tired. having he
most onerOus duty | did my best
entertain the visitors. and was shoy
ing the beauties of the gun deck VIII,
General Field whispered to me tn
the ladies were the widow and daug
ter of Stonewall Jackson.
The widow and daughter Of Ston
wall Jackson are on the gun dec
and sent the message to the captai
We had just turned to walk aft, VIII
tall. gaunt Captain Fyffe appeare
rushing toward us with outstretch
arms and led the visitors to the a
miralS cabin. Messengers were Sc
nying. the band was ordered up
hcerS were ordered into dress III
form. wiS-wig signals brought Office