In this brief sketch of our great Southern hero, I have endeavored to portray, amid the blaze of his matchless military genius, the unchanging rectitude of his conduct, the stern will-power by which he conquered all difficulties, his firm belief in an overruling Providence, and his entire submission to the Divine Will. These traits of character were the corner-stones upon which he reared the edifice of his greatness, and upon which the young people of our day will do well to build.
Teachers may introduce this book as a supplementary reader into the fourth grade, as I have been careful to employ as few words as possible outside of the vocabulary of that grade.
In preparing this work, I used chiefly as reference and authority the Life of Lieut.-Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, by Prof. R. L. Dabney, D. D., who was, for a time, Jackson’s chief of staff, and who had personal knowledge of his character and military exploits.
Acknowledgment is due Col. James H. Morrison for valuable assistance rendered, and to Mrs. Thomas J. Jackson, of Charlotte, N. C., and Mr. M. Miley, of Lexington, Va., for furnishing valuable illustrative matter.
I am also indebted to the kindness of Messrs. Paxton and Henkel, the editors, respectively, of the Rockbridge County News and the Shenandoah Valley, for files of their reliable journals, containing accounts of the more recent events recorded in the last chapter.
Mary Lynn Williamson.
New Market, Va.
Stonewall Jackson’s Way.
Des Rivieres.
Come! stack arms, men; pile on the rails,