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he laughed heartily. His propensity for lying on the ground had much to do with the dingy appearance of his uniform. His old coat was covered with dust collected from the battle-fields of many regions, as he slept upon the earth, in rude bivouac, after the hard-fought day. All this endeared him to his soldiers, at whose camp-fires he would stop to talk in the friendly fashion of the officers of Napoleon, and whose rations he would frequently share. The sight of his faded coat and cadet cap was the sign to cheer, and "Old Jack" was personally adored, as in his military capacity he was regarded by his men as the greatest of leaders. Even his peculiarities became sources of popularity, and endeared him to his troops. It was said of Suwarrow that his men mimicked him, gave him nicknames, and adored him. It was the same with Jackson. His troops laughed at

his dingy old uniform, his cap, tilting forward on his nose, his awkward strides, his abstracted air, and christening him "Old Jack," made him their first and greatest of favorites. There was one peculiarity of the individual, however, which they regarded with something like superstition. We refer to the singular fashion he had of raising his hand aloft, and then suddenly letting the arm fall at his side. On many occasions he made this strange gesture as his veterans moved slowly before him, advancing to the charge. At such moments his face would be raised to heaven, his eyes closed, and his lips would move evidently in prayer. The same gesture was observed in him, as we have seen, at Chancellorsville, while gazing at the body of one of his old command. He was plainly praying, with his hand uplifted, for the welfare of the dead man's soul.

We have given an outline of Jackson's chief traits as a soldier. Intellectually, he does not appear to have been conspicuously endowed beyond the sphere of his profession. His mind was sound and just, but not brilliant or original. He was a good mathematician, a patient thinker, and displayed a native good sense in his views and opinions, but, except in military affairs, he exhibited no traces of genius. He was a clear and intelligent but not a powerful or original writer. Such of his let

ters as we have seen do not differ in a noticeable degree from those of mediocre men. He seemed to possess little imagination or poetry. His genius was practical, and dealt with the phenomena of nature, the principles of science and philosophy, and the realities of the world around him. It will remain an interesting problem whether he would have distinguished himself in the conduct of civil affairs. It is certain that he would have been a dominant man, and as President would have administered the Government in accordance with his views of

right, without regard to persons. Whether he would have proved himself as great in the cabinet or the chair of the Executive as in the field, is doubtful.

An officer long intimately associated with him gives an excellent summary of his character.

"Apparently dull in some directions," says this gentleman, "he was in others an original and patient thinker. As a military genius no other remains like him. Judging with quick and seldom erring sagacity, he was as prompt, energetic, and successful in action. Humble before his Maker, gentle in daily life, with an amiable sweetness to chosen friends, and a sincere politeness toward every human being, he was habitually brief and decided in expression, steadfast in purpose, and when fully aroused, as in the crisis of battle, sublime in the fire of his spirit. A man of prayer, faith, simplicity, purity, and power."

There is little doubt that the views of the present generation, including the writer of these pages, concerning Jackson the soldier, are more or less mingled with undue admiration. His faults are not seen; his merits may be exaggerated. But as a man, his virtues were recognized even by his opponents. The trait of character which conciliated most the regard and respect of his enemies, was the profound sincerity and earnestness of his nature. There was no doubt about Jackson's utter truth and honesty. Life with him was a serious affair, and he seemed to have no time for enjoyment even. At West Point he studied conscientiously, avoiding all lighter occupations; in Mexico he betook himself to hard fighting; and at Lexington his whole

soul became absorbed in the performance of his humdrum duties, and the earnest endeavor to discover the will of his Maker, and conform to that will in all things.

The students laughed at the silent and awkward professor, who found enjoyment apparently in nothing but religious exercises and hard work; but they could not understand the " great thoughts" and certain joys which the taciturn soldier derived from his religion.

We cannot here define the exact religious views of this eminent man. He has been called a fatalist, from his ultra indiffer ence to danger; but fatalism, proper, is an absurdity. That he held the Presbyterian view of predestination is certain; but to discover and perform the will of God, without regard to that or any other dogma, was his "meat and drink." With him, his religion was his life. It was the broad foundation of all his thoughts and words and deeds. He seemed to live, consciously, under the eye of God, and to shape all his actions with reference to the divine approval. He had no time to think whether this or that in his character, his actions, or his utterances, was conventional" or not-pleased or displeased his fellow-man, Am I conforming my life to the will of God? was always and under all circumstances his only question.

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From this profound and controlling piety sprung his virtues, his peculiarities, and his true greatness. Contemplating the profound significance of his position as an immortal soul, tarrying for a season only upon earth, and destined by its conduct here to shape for all eternity its own weal or woe, all other things became poor and inconsiderable in his eyes; what men -thought of him, how he appeared in society, what dress he wore, what food he eat, what worldly enjoyments he neglected, or what worldly honors he missed or secured. Something of the old spirit of the Man of Tarsus was in the heart of Jackson, who had his meditations and his work, and could afford to neglect the purple and the feasting, and endure all things for the faith that was in him.

Jackson died before he reached the age of forty, and had but

two years of life for the display of his great faculties. But this period was long enough. In that contracted space of time he accomplished results which will render his name and fame immortal. Few human beings ever equalled him in the great art of making war-fewer still in purity of heart and life. It was a nature almost altogether lovely which lay under that faded uniform of the great soldier. No stain of insincerity, or meanness, or vain-gloriousness marred a character which combined the loftiest virtues of the gentleman, the soldier, and the Christian.

He sleeps now, cold to praise or blame; but a poor writer, proud to have touched his hand and followed him, offers this page to his illustrious memory.

APPENDIX.

I.

GENERAL JACKSON TO COLONEL J. M. BENNETT, DESCRIBING THE PART TAKEN BY HIS BRIGADE IN THE FIRST BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, CAMP NEAR MANASSAS,

July 28th, 1861.

MY DEAR COLONEL: About four o'clock, A. M., on the 21st, by request of General Longstreet, I sent him a reënforcement of two regiments. Subsequently I received an order from General Beauregard to reënforce General Bonham. Afterwards I received an order from the same officer to reënforce General Cocke. Finally, I was instructed by him to take such a position as would enable me to reënforce either General Bonham or General Cocke. These instructions were executed in the order in which they were given. About an hour after I had taken such a position as would enable me to throw reënforcements toward either of the two Generals, so as to give timely assistance, I received a message from General Cocke, who requested me to guard the Stone bridge. I promptly moved in that direction, and halted at a place indicated by the guide. Whilst in this position, I had reason to believe that General Bee was hard pressed by the enemy, and I accordingly moved in the direction of the firing, and at the same time sent a message to the General that I was reënforcing him; hoping that such an announcement would so inspirit his troops as to keep back the enemy till my arrival. But I had not advanced far before I met his command falling back. I passed on, with the understanding that he would try to rally his troops in my rear. So soon as I had nearly reached the summit of the next hill, I placed two pieces of Captain Stanard's battery in position, firing on the enemy. I also placed two regiments of infantry (Colonel Preston's and Colonel Echol's) in the rear of the battery, concealed from the enemy's view. One regiment (Colonel Harper's) was placed on the right of the battery, and principally in the woods. One regiment (Colonel Allen's) was placed on the left of the battery, and the re

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