STONEWALL JACKSON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1168, 5 August 1885, Page 4

STONEWALL JACKSON.

General Jackson's wound, received under the circumstances I Have described, became very seriotis when inflammation set in. On hearing, three days after the fight, that'he was' suffering with it, I rode to. his quarters, in a little farm-house near Cehtreville. Although it was barely sunrise, he, was out under the trees, bathing the hand with spring water. It was much swollen, and very painful, but he bore himself, stoically. His wife and baby had arrived the night before. , His little daughter Julia was still in long dresses, and I remember tossing her, to her great delight,, while breakfast was being made ready on a-rude~table under the trees. Of course the battle, was the only topic discussed at breakfast. I remarked in Mrs Jackson's hearing : " General, how is it that you can keep so cool and appear so utterly insensible to danger in such a storm of shell and bullets as rained about you when your hand was hit?" He instantly became grave and reverential in his, manner, and answered in a low tone of great earnestness : " Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no .matter ,when it shall overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face : " Captain, that, is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave." I. felt ,that this lasttremark was intended as a rebuke for my, profanity, when I had complained to him on < the field of the apparent .abandonment of my battery to capture, and I apologised; ■ He heard me and simply said '* Nothing can justify 'profanity.?'- '" :- v- 'SvV. 'x; -I L

I never knew him to let profanity pass without a rebuke but once. The incident was reported to me by the chief actor in it, Major John A. Harman, who was Jackson's chief quarter- master, and a man of extraordinary qualifications. It happened at Edwards Ferry, on the Potomac, when our army was crossing into Maryland in the Antietam campaign. Majorgeneral D. fl. Hill's division was crossing, when Jackson rode up, and found the ford completely blocked with Hill's waggon train. He spoke sharply to Hill (who was 1 his brother-in-law, they having married sisters) for allowing such confusion. General Hill replied that he was not a quarter-master, or something that implied it was no part of his business to get tangled waggons out of the river. Jackson instantly put Hill under arrest, and turning to Major Herman, ordered him to clear the ford. Herman dashed in among the waggoners, kicking mules, and the apparently inextricable mass of waggons, and, in the voice of a stentbr, poured out a string of oaths that would have excited the admiration of the most scientific mule driver. The effect was electrical. The drivers were frightened, and swore as best they could, but far below the major's standard. The mules caught the inspiration from a chorus of familiar words, and all at once made a break for the Maryland shore, and in five minutes the ford was cleared. Jackson witnessed and heard it a.ll. Harman rode back to join him, expecting a lecture, and, touching his hat, said : " The ford is clear, general ; there's onJy one language that will make mules understand on a hot day that they must get out of the water." The general, smiling, said : " Thank you, major," and dashed into the water at the head of his staff.— " Century."