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.

ment.

LIEUTENANT OF ARTILLERY IN MEXICO.

JACKSON graduated and received the appointment of brevet 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 exciteHe 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.

"I wanted to see active service," he said in after years, "to be near the enemy and in the fight; and when I heard that John Magruder had got his battery, I bent all my energies to be with him, for I knew if any fighting was to be done, Magruder would be on hand.'"

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He succeeded in securing his transfer, and took a prominent part in the assault on the enemy's intrenched camp at Contreras, and in the stubborn struggle which followed at Churubusco. "My fire was opened," wrote Captain Magruder, "and continued with great rapidity for about an hour. In a few moments Lieutenant Jackson, commanding the second section of the battery, who had opened a fire upon the enemy's works from a position on the right, hearing our own fire still further in front, advanced in handsome style, and kept up the fire with great briskness and effect. . . . . Lieutenant Jackson's conduct was equally conspicuous throughout the whole day, and I cannot too highly commend him to the major-general's favorable consideration."

This report was addressed to "Captain J. Hooker, A. A. G.,” afterwards General Hooker.

In the report of General Twiggs the young lieutenant was mentioned for "gallant services;" and for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco," he was brevetted captain. On the 8th of September came the victory of El Molino del Rey; and on the 13th the city of Mexico was stormed and taken.

Jackson had borne his fair share of the toils and dangers of the campaign, and had secured high commendation. The source and character of this commendation place his merit beyond question. General Scott twice mentioned him in his report, and declared that he had "gained merited praise." General Worth wrote: "After advancing some four hundred yards we came to a battery which had been assailed by a portion of Magruder's field-guns-particularly the section under the gallant Lieutenant Jackson, who, although he had lost most of his horses and many of his men, continued chivalrously at his post, combating with

noble courage." General Pillow wrote: "Captain Magruder's field-battery, one section of which was served with great gallantry by himself, and the other by his brave lieutenant, Jackson, in the face of a galling fire from the enemy's intrenched positions, did valuable service preparatory to the general assault. . . The advanced section of the battery, under the command of the brave Lieutenant Jackson, was dreadfully cut up and almost disabled." Captain Magruder made mention of the young man's services throughout his report, and wrote: "I beg leave to call the attention of the major-general commanding the division to the conduct of Lieutenant Jackson of the First Artillery. If devotion, industry, talent, and gallantry are the highest qualities of a soldier, then he is entitled to the distinction which their profession confers."

This warm testimony to the young soldier's skill and courage was not disregarded. For "gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Chepultepec, September 13, 1847," he was brevetted major. In less than a year he had risen from brevet second lieutenant to brevet major, distinguishing himself so greatly in every action as to attract the attention, and secure the especial notice of his generals, including the commander-in-chief. "The brave Lieutenant Jackson "-"The gallant Lieutenant Jackson"-his "devotion, industry, talent, and gallantry these tributes to his merits as a soldier had been showered upon him by some of the bravest and most famous officers of the army; and such praise must have thrilled to the very depths of a heart, at that time, if not afterwards, passionately sensitive to military glory.

An incident, which appears to rest upon good authority, will serve to convey an idea of the young lieutenant's coolness and nerve. His section had opened fire on the enemy's intrenchments, and drawn upon itself a whirlwind of iron which tore man and horse to pieces. Men fell around the guns at every moment, and the fire of the enemy at last became so terrible that the bravest of the cannoneers fled from the pieces. Only Jackson and a sergeant were left, and dismounting, the youthful