Year: 1863

Correspondence Of the London Times


brought out from Nassau a box of goods
for General Stonewal jackson, and he asked
me when was at Richmond to come to his
. camp and see him. left the city one morn
ing about O'Clock, and about ten landed at a
station distant some eight or nine miles from
Jacksons or jas his men call him, "Old Jacks.
camp. A heavy fall of snow had covered the
country some time before to the depth of foot
and formed a crust over the Virginia mud,
which is quite as villainous as that of the Ba-
laklava. The day before had been mild and
wet, and my journey was made in drenching
shower, which soon cleared away the white
mantle of snow. You cannot imagine the
Slough of Despond had to pass through.


Wet to the skin, stumbled through mud,
waded through creeks, passed through pine
woods, and at last got into camp about
O'Clock. then made my way to small house
occupied by a General as his Headquarters. l
wrote down my name and gave it to the order
ly, and was Immediately told to.walk in The
General rose and greeted me warmly. ex-
pected to see an old untidy man, and was most
agreeably surprised and pleased with his ap-
pearance. He is tall, handsome, and power
fully built, but thin. He has brown hair and
brown beard. His mouth expresses great
determination. The lips are thin and COM
pressed firmly together; his eyes are blue and
dark, with keen and searching expression.





about 40. The General, who is indescribably
simple and unaffected in all his ways, took off
my wet oyercoat with his own hands, made
the fire, brought wood for me to put my feet
on TO keep them warm while my boots were
drying, and then began to ask me questions on
various subjects.


At the dinner hour we went out and joined
the members of his staff. At this meal the
General said grace in fervent, quiet manner,
which struck me much. After dinner re-
turned TO his room, and he again talked 10 me
for long time. The servant came in and
took his mattress out of cupboard and laid
it on the floor. As / rose to retire the GEN
eral said, Captain, there is plenty of room on
my bed; hope you will share it with me-"
i thanked him very much for his courtesy, but
said; d;"Good-night." and slept in tent, sharing
the blankets Of one of his aides-de-camp.


In the morning at breakfast time noticed
that the General said grace before the meal
with the same fervor / had remarked before.
An hour or two afterwards it was time for me
to return to the station; on this occasion,
however, had a horse, and turned up to
the Generals quarters to bid him adieu. His
little room was vacant, so | stepped in and
stood before the fire. / then noticed my great
coat stretched before it on a chair. Shortly
afterwards the General entered the room. He
said, Captain, have been trying to dry your
great coat, but am afraid have not succeed
ed very WELL" That little act illustrates the
mans character. With the cares and respon-
sibilities of vast army on his shoulders he
finds time to do little acts of kindness and
thoughtiulness which make him the darling of
his men, who never seem to tire of talking of
him. Jackson is a man. of great endurance;
he drinks nothing stronger than water, and
never uses tobacco or any stimulant. He has
been known to ride for three days and three
nights at time, and if there is any labor to
be undergone, he never fails to take his share
of it.