STONEWALL JACKSON

Evening Star, Issue 20634, 6 November 1930, Page 1

STONEWALL JACKSON

A GREAT SOLDIER “ AS SAFE IN BATTLE AS IN BED “ In the history of ths American Civil War there is no figure at once so elusive and so attractive as the man who is known to posterity as “ Stonewall Jackson.” The, life-story of this remarkable character is told by Mr Allen Tate in " Stonewall Jackson, the Good Soldier * (says ‘ John o’London's Weekly ’). It was at the battle of Bull Run that Thomas Jackson earned the nickname by which he will always be remembered. But the quality which it indicates was characteristic of him throughout his entire He had none of the graces and charms which make for popularity, was reserved in his planner, and utterly devoid of humour or imagination. But he .had all the soldier’s instinct for discipline, never argued, and always obeyed orders. WAITED ALL NIGHT. Mr Tate cites an amusing instance of the fantastic lengths to which Jackson’s obedience would go. He was acting as military professor •at Lexington at the time, and on a bitterly cold night had been summoned to the office of the Superintendent of the Academy. “ Jackson arrived precisely on time; be was asked to sit down. Then the • superintendent, remembering something he had to do, rose and told Jackson to remain until he returned. The worthy superintendent meant to be gone only a few minutes, but he got into conversation with some people and forgot all about Jackson. It was very late when he remembered him. He supposed Jackson had waited a reasonable time and gone home. But coming into 'his office next morning, he saw Jackson sitting bolt upright .in the same chair as he had sat in the night before.” As a young man, he had seen service in Mexico, but it was. the .American Civil War that gave him his chance.At the very beginning of the campaign he joined the Confederates. Whatever scruples be may have had were quickly silenced. He was a man of simple piety, and doubtless felt that the Lord had pointed out the way. Within a few months this somewhat awkward soldier had proved himself a master in the art of military strategy. Had he lived, the future history of America might have been very different. HIS DEATH AN ACCIDENT. Courage, resourcefulness, and piety were the dominating notes of his character. No man ever feared death less. Like our own General Gordon, lie believed these things had already been determined by a higher power-: “ Captain,” he said to one of his sub" ordinates, “ my religious belief teacta;* me to feel as safe in battle as in bec. ; God has fixed the time for my deati < I do not concern, myself about thal, but to be always ready, no. matte* when it may overtake me.’,. Hit interest in theology never wavered, and in the intervals of fighting hm would discuss the problem of predestination and free will with his religious pastor. . , . It is one of the ironies of history that Stonewall Jackson should have • met his death as the result, of a shot fired by one of his own outposts. His disappearance from the scene , of action was a heavy blow to the Confederates,but no unfitting, end, perhaps, to a lifetime of faithful service and stainless loyalty.