THE OLD VIRGINIA TOWN, LEXINGTON.
WHERE LEE AND STONEWALL JACKSON ARE BURIED-
REMINISCENCES OF STONEWALL JACKSON,
BY DR. J. WM. JONES.
Lexington, Va., is the most interesting town of its
size in the South. The Washington-Lee University
founded by the "father of his country " and presided
over by Robert K. Lee, when he surrendered life's
duties, i- tin- most prominent and conspicuous institu-
tion of the place. It ha- a beautiful chapel, across the
campus from the University main building, in whirl,
the body of Gen. Lee rest-, and over which is that life-
like work of Edward V. Valentine, representing, in
white marble, the soldier and Christian as if asleep on
hi- couch. The old'mansion in which Gen. Lee re-
sided is near by, and it is the residence of Gen. Curtis
Lee, his son, and successor as President of the Univer-
sity. It is the family residence as well, the daughters
residing there
The Virginia Military Institute grounds adjoin
those of the Washington-Lee University, and are en-
tered through its campus. Thisold place, with its an-
cient cannon ornamenting the grounds, was especially
interesting on the occasion of the visit which induces
thi< article, for it was in honor of its President, who
went tn the front with its corps of cadets in L861, and
never returned until he had "crossed over the river,"
honored second to no soldier hero of any country or
time.
This writing is from memory of an only visit made
there .Inly 21, 1891, an account of which was written
at the time hut never published, and the copy lost.
The l.ee- wire all at home and cordially interested
in honoring the memory of (Jen. Thos. .1. Jackson. It
was the greatest day in the history of old Lexington,
for the attendance was much larger than that when
the formal presentation of the recumbent figure of
(ion, Lee occurred
A superb colossal bronze statue of Stonewall .lack-
son had been provided, and his body had been re-
moved from the original family lot to the central cir-
cle in the old cemetery of the town, and the bronze
figure <it is also by Mr. Valentine) was in position.
The principal ceremonies were had under the broad
shades of the University campus, some half a mile
away, at the conclusion of which the great procession,
numbering perhaps i>(mkiii, passed through the main
streets and near the old church, where Jackson taught
his Negro Sunday-school. The military — infantry,
cavalry and artillery — passed by the cemetery and
formed on an adjacent slope in rear.
By the statue, still under a white mantle, there was
a platform -covered in while bunting, upon which
Mrs. Jackson ascended, taking her two grand-children
with her. She was dressed in black, her heavy black
veil thrown over her shoulders, and the noble face
giving cheer to the little children who were to pull the
-I'd. Both children were dressed in white, their
white face- and waxen curls producing the strongest
contrast with tie- devoted widow of Stonewall Jack-
SOn. The writer occupied a position that could not
have been improved for the sight and. meditating
upon it all. he thought much of whether he would not
give his life, it' by so doing all the South could have
the comfort of the BCene.
' At the signal little Julia Jackson Christian pulled
the cord, and the magnificent figure of the Christian
soldier stood- as if in life, mid the shouts of thousands
w ho followed him to the death, ami other thousands
of women, maidens ami young men who had grown
up in the faith that a greater soldier than Stonewall
.lack-on had never gone to battle. The bright child
who exclaimed "I vinderveiled it." was frightened by
the noise of cannon, musketry and human voice.- that
followed her act.
The hospitality of the people was remarkable. The
pride and gratitude that their little town among the
hills was the home and the burial place of Lee and
Jackson was enough to bestir the entire people to the
utmost to make every visitor a guest. The writer was
fortunately assigned to the delightful home of Mr.
McDowell!
Every old soldier present must have wished that he
had served under Stonewall Jackson. The negro men
of the town who had the honor of being taught by
him in his Sunday-school, wherr boys, were proud of
it. One practical old man of the town, in comment-
ing upon him as teacher at the Institute, said he was
never proud of him until the Sunday that he started
for the war. Then, dressed in military uniform, with
spurs and on horseback, he seemed to be exactly in the
proper place.
)R. .1. WM. JiiNK.s' RECOLLECTIONS OF STONEWALL JACKSON.
It seems fitting in this connection to give reminis-
cences of Gen. Jackson, by Dr. J. YVm. Jones, who was
first to write and commend the CONFEDERATE Ykt-
BRAN through its prospectus. It was written at the
time referred to above for the Atlanta Journal:
I have to-day, after a lapse of thirty years, a very
vivid recollection of his appearance, and how- he im-
pressed inc.
Dressed in a simple Virginia uniform, apparently
about 37 years old, six feet high, medium size, gray
eves that seemed to look through you, 'light brown
hair, and a countenance in which deep benevolence
seemed mingled with uncompromising sternness, he
impressed me as having about him nothing at all of
"the pomp and circumstance" of war, but every ele-
ment which enters into the skillful leader, and the in-
domitable, energetic soldier, who was always ready for
the tight.
At First Manassas Jackson won the sobriquet of
"Stonewall." which has supplanted his proper name,
and will cleave to him forever.
The chivalricand heroic Bee, who had been steadily
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CONFEDERATE VETERAN.