The Colorado statesman., 1915-06-26
AFRO-AMER|CAN CU[[|NCS

Giles B. jackson, among the wealth
lest Negroes In Richmond, Va, and
known throughout the state, was born
a slave in Goochland county about
sixty-1ve years ago. He has been
chosen president of the exposition
which is to be held in that city in
July in commemoration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the emancipation and
of the achievements of the Negroes in
this country. He has secured a fed
eral appropriation of sos, 200, an ap-
preparation from the New York legis-
lature of $500. a Councilmanic ap'
preparation from the city of Richmond
of $4,000 and several lesser donations.
Jackson is the leading Negro law
yer in Virginia. and at one time was
prominently identified with the po-
litical life of President Mckinley, who
commissioned him as colonel to
take part in the inaugural parade in
1901. In 1905 Jackson was placed in
command of the third civic division
in the Roosevelt inaugural parade at
Washington, and Mr.. Roosevelt, when
he visited Richmond, in 1906, called
at Jackson's Office. and from in front
of it addressed crowd of several
thousand Negroes. who cheered him
Justify
Jackson's law offices are decorated
with bronze busts of Presidents Nc
kinley and Roosevelt. large picture
of Gen. U. S. Grant and staff, and a
portrait of Abraham Lincoln, besides
pictures of all the other presidents
from Washington down.
Jackson has a vivid recollection of
General Grant. whom he saw three
times, twice as a prisoner of war.
During the war Jackson followed his
master. Col. Charles w. Dickinson of
Fitz Lees cavalry. as body servant.
When he was captured by the Union
troops in Caroline county he asked to
be taken before General Grant. There
he begged to be allowed to return
through the lines to his master, whom.
he said, he had left wounded upon the
battlefield, General Grant granted him
permission and gave him pass.
jackson says he asked to be al
lowed to leave the Federal lines at
night SO that he could guide himself
on his journey by the stars. This was
allowed General Grant cautioned him.
however, that he might be shot by a
picket, and told him If he was halted
to stop at once and give the password,
which was, Friend of the Union"
He started out in the darkness and
soon experienced some nervousness,
whereupon he recalled the advice of
the Union commander At once he
began repeating the password at ev-
cry step, and finally began shouting
Friend of the Union" so loudly that
he was surrounded by eight or ten
patrols, who demanded to know If he
believed he was the only friend the
Union possessed. Jackson showed his
pass and was allowed to proceed.
Jackson again fell into the hands of
the Federals at City Point, Va, not far
from Petersburg. Here he told his
captors that he knew General Grant,
the Confederate lines, and he wished
to be taken before him again. He
showed his pass, whereupon they took
him to Grants headquarters, about
five miles away. and to his delight the
general recognized him.
We'll, my boy" said General Grant
I'VE seem to have you again. Do you
still want to go back to your master,
or have we caught him also?"
Jackson replied that his master was
still living and not yet captured. He
begged to be allowed to return to Ibis
people," and Grant consented.