first generation they cleared the land, established mills, and tilled the soil. In succeeding generations they were lawyers, judges, members of the Legislature, and soldiers, filling offices of usefulness, and occasionally of distinction. Their manners were plain, their houses and style of living unpretending, but the class to which the family belonged was justly regarded as one of the most intelligent and respectable in the Commonwealth.

Jonathan Jackson practised law for many years with success, and became a thriving citizen, but his latter years were overshadowed by misfortune. His wife died, and the amiable gentleman having become security for needy friends, found all the hard-earned profits of his profession swept away. When he died in 1827, he left his children penniless. Jackson was then three years old. The child was thus left, upon the very threshold of life, to learn the hard lesson of poverty. It is the old story which meets us at the commencement of many a great career, and need not be dwelt upon. The boy was taken to the house of a Dutch farmer, his uncle-in-law, who probably did not make an agreeable impression upon him, as he soon ran away and took refuge with a kind aunt, the wife of Judge Allen of the Court of Appeals. It is said that when the lady gently chid the forlorn young runaway, and urged him to return to his uncle, he replied, with great calmness and decision, "Maybe I ought, ma'am, but I am not going to." Another uncle, Cummings E. Jackson, now came to his succor, and took him to the old family homestead near Weston. Here he remained until he was sixteen, acquiring the rudiments of a plain English education at an old field school, and assisting his uncle in the labors of the farm. His subsequent acquisitions were all due to the hours spent in study at West Point and Lexington.

The character of the boy at this time seems to have been earnest and energetic. At sixteen he had secured so high a reputation for intelligence and probity, that the Justices of the County Court of Lewis elected him constable, the duties of which office he performed with credit and efficiency. It is probable, however, that the position did not please him, and hearing

that there was a vacancy at West Point, he at once determined' to apply for the appointment. This intention was expressed to a friend, Colonel J. M. Bennett, who urged the high standard of studies at the great public school, and asked the boy if he had prepared himself. Jackson's reply was, "I am very ignorant, but I can make it up by study. I know I have the energy, and I think I have the intellect."

This reply pleased Colonel Bennett so much that he at once sat down and wrote a letter of introduction to the representative of the district in Congress, urging him to assist the youth, and with this letter in his pocket Jackson resigned his office of constable and set out for Washington. An incident of this journey indicated how much importance he attached to the observance of his promises. He borrowed a friend's horse to ride to Clarksburg, where he expected to take the stage, promising to leave the animal at a certain stable in the town, but upon reaching the place found that the stage was several miles upon its way. This was a serious disappointment to the ardent youth, and a friend, seeing his trouble, urged him to ride to the next town, where he could come up with the vehicle, promising to send after the borrowed horse and return him to his owner. The temptation to accept this offer was great. The roads were ancle deep in mud, and the stage rapidly rolling on its way; the only obstacle was his promise to leave the horse at Clarksburg. He declined the friendly offer, delivered the horse at the appointed place, and shouldering his baggage set off on foot through the mud to catch the stage. He came up with it, and proceeded to Washington. This occurred in June, 1842. Jackson's application was successful, and on the first of July in the same year he was admitted a cadet at West Point.

CHAPTER II.

CADET AT WEST POINT.

SUCH is a glimpse of Jackson, the orphan boy, at home in Virginia. We have next to look upon the country-bred youth, clad in the neat uniform of the West Point cadet, and making indefatigable exertions to keep up with his class. His studies were algebra, geometry, and French, and in the same class with him were Generals McClellan, Foster, Reno, Stoneman, Couch, and Gibbon of the United States army afterwards, and Generals A. P. Hill, Pickett, Maury, D. R. Jones, W. D. Smith, and Wilcox of the Confederate States army.

It may encourage others to know that his progress was slow. At the end of the first year his standing in a class of seventy was 45 in mathematics, 70 in French, and 51 in general merit, with 15 demerits. During the second year he made visible progress, however. At the examination he stood 18 in mathematics, 52 in French, 68 in drawing, 55 in engineering, and 30 in general merit, with 26 demerits. At the end of his final year he was 12 in engineering, 5 in ethics, 11 in artillery, 21 in infantry tactics, 11 in mineralogy and geology; had 7 demerits, and his graduating standing, including all previous drawbacks, was 17. His "general standing" in his first year had been 51; in his second 30; in his third 20; in his fourth it was 17. One of his companions declared, with apparent justice, that if he remained four years longer he would graduate at the head of his class. This progress had been the result of hard study. Of genius, in any form, we find no traces in him at this period. All was resolute toil. He did not penetrate the subject before him at a glance, but mastered it by laborious application, breaking the obdurate husk only by incessant blows. Every hour brought progress. What he once acquired was drilled into his mind, and every step which he ascended was solid under his feet.

Of the youth's personal appearance and deportment at this period of his life some traits are remembered. He was not social in his habits, and made no figure in society. His natural character and his position in life were both opposed to the fun, frolic, and abandon of the volatile youths at great public schools. He had come to West Point to secure an education which would enable him to rise from his "low estate" of dependence upon his relations, or the distasteful drudgery of his office of constable, and from this great object he permitted no social enjoyments to divert him. The self-denial was not difficult, however. Jackson was not fond of society, and made no impression in it. He was neither gay nor witty, and had little or no humor. In character and appearance he was sedate and earnest; in manner shy and ungraceful. The recollection is still preserved of many of his personal peculiarities-his simplicity and absence of suspicion when all around him were laughing at some of his odd ways; his grave expression and air of innocent inquiry when some jest excited general merriment, and he could not see the point; his solitary habits and self-contained deportment; his absence of mind, awkwardness of gait, and evident indifference to every species of amusement. These eccentricities attracted attention, and were the subjects of jesting comment; but this comment was not ill-natured. The kindness and simplicity of the hard-working youth seem to have made him many friends, and disarmed all hostility.

In relation to his intellectual faculties, his associates are unanimous in declaring that he exhibited no indications whatever of his future career. They gave him credit for an amount of industry and energy which would enable him to accomplish much, but there is nothing to show that his most intimate friends at this time suspected him of possessing any thing resembling military genius.

CHAPTER III.

LIEUTENANT OF ARTILLERY IN MEXICO.

JACKSON graduated and received the appointment of breve! second lieutenant of artillery on July 1, 1846. He left West Point at a fortunate moment. The United States were at war with Mexico. All the roving and adventurous classes of society swarmed toward the Rio Grande, fired by the fancy of picturesque warfare in a romantic country; and it is probable that Jackson, then but twenty-two, shared this general excitement. He was assigned to the First Regiment of United States Artillery, then serving under General Taylor in Mexico, and proceeded immediately to join his command. It is known that he had a strong desire for active service, but this craving was not for some time gratified. The regiment remained inactive until the spring of 1847; but active operations then commenced, and the battery to which Jackson was attached was sent to take part in the assault on Vera Cruz. About the same time he received his appointment as second lieutenant, and commanded a battery of siege guns during the bombardment. His conduct under fire for the first time must have been creditable. In August, for "gallant and meritorious conduct at the siege of Vera Cruz," he was promoted to the rank of first lieu

tenant.

After the fall of this fortress, the American army advanced upon the city of Mexico. All Jackson's aspirations now pointed to a position in the light artillery. The command of heavy guns did not suit his temperament, and his preference for service in the field was soon gratified. Captain John B. Magruder led the storming party at Cerro Gordo and captured a Mexican battery, which General Scott thereupon presented to him as a reward for his gallantry; and Jackson immediately applied for a position under Magruder.