Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-09-15

When the great Jackson lay dying
in the little house at Guinea Station,
In Virginia, his delirious wanderings
took him back to the fields of battle,
and he called out orders as though
directing the movements of his
troops. When he said. "Tell A. P.
FHill to prepare for action" one knew
that he was again marshaling his men
for battle; but a tenderer thought
was with him when he said, "Tell
Major Hawks"-his trusted commits
sary, on whom depended the welfare
of his devoted followers. and thus
he was thinking of them just before
he murmured: "Let US pass over the
river and rest under the shade of
the trees"
Maj. Wells ]. Hawks, though be-
yond the age for military service,
and of naturally delicate constitu-
ton, was one of the first to respond
to the call of Virginia when ordering
her troops into active duty. He was
then already the regularly commits
stoned commissary of the End Vir-
ginia Volunteer Infantry, under
command of Col. j. D. Allen: and
that regiment was ordered TO Har-
per'S Ferry. he accompanied it, with
such commissary stores as could be
gathered in short time allowed, and
he was probably the first commissary
to issue rations to Southern troops
in Virginia, filling his first requisition
in Halltown, jefferson County, Va,
on the evening of April 18, 1861.
From the position of regimental
h. I,,a oil ,,nf,I
he became the chief commissary of
Stonewall Jackson, and served with
that Christian hero until he received
his death wound at Charlottesville.
He ever enjoyed the highest esteem
and confidence of his General, and
Jackson's last thoughts reverted to
his trusted commissary.
Major Hawks had gone to Charles
Town. Va, (now West virginia., in
early life and embarked in the coach
making business, and, although a
man of Northern birth. he SO COM
pletely identified himself with the
people and interests of that section
that he became a true Virginian in
every sense. For some years before
the war he was one of the most pop
ular and efficient school commission
ers in the county, and twice repre-
scented the people of jefferson Coun-
ty in the Virginia legislature, serv--
ed as mayor of Charles Town, and
for a long time was State director in
the Bank of the Valley. Returning
home after the surrender, he found
great portion of his property de-
stroyed by the vandalism of North
ern soldiers and set about reestab-
fishing his business, which he later
turned over to his son. His health
gradually failed until the end came
on May %, 1878. In respect to his
memory, the business houses gen
orally in the town were closed dur
ing the funeral services. The hymn
sung at his funeral, his favorite Sc
lection in his last days, was the fav-
orite spiritual song of Stonewall
Jackson and was the last hymn which
that great chieftain heard sung on
earth. In life and death he had ex-
emplifed the teaching of the Chris
tian religion, and he died in full as
surance that "all is well"
From a Tribute by His Son, A. w.
Hawks, Ruxton, Md.
General Thomas Jonathan Jack
son, "Stonewall' as he is called. was
not only the most earnest Christian
man ever knew, and the greatest
general, but. above all, he knew how
to select men. When he picked out
his staff, for instance, he did not
care where they were born: all he
wanted to know was if they were
true to the Southern cause and fitted
for the special positions he wanted
them for. That is the reason that
Mai. Jed Hotchkiss. from New York
State. and my father, Maj. Wells j.
Hawks, born in Massachusetts, were
on his staff.
Ny father moved to Virginia early
in life and identified himself with
the State and the South. His home
was in Charles Town, Jefferson
County, Va. He was twice elected
as a delegate to the general as
sembly, chosen mayor of Charles
Town, director of the bank, a school
commissioner of the county, and
treasurer of the Board of Education.
During the John Brown raid, he en-
tertained Governor Wise and his
staff at his home. When the War
between the States began, he I'M
mediately, although over age. went
into active service.
General Jackson was attracted to
nv father and made him captain
and chief commissary of the Stone
wall Brigade, and, as General jack