CHAPTER VI.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR.

THE reduction of Fort Sumter was held by the North to be the signal for a general war. The only standing army which Virginia possessed was a single company of soldiers, employed to guard the public property of the commonwealth at the capitol. Her old militia system was but just reviving from a long desuetude, and she possessed no men, with any military training, beyond a few volunteer companies in her cities, and a few hundred cadets at West Point and Lexington. But vigorous measures were now resorted to, to repair these defects. Colonel Robert Lee, who had resigned his commission under the Federal Government, placed himself at the disposal of his native State, and was at once appointed MajorGeneral and Commander-in-Chief of all the forces of the Commonwealth by land and sea. Camps of instruction were started; the most important being Camp Lee-named after him—a mile beyond Richmond. Here several thousand volunteers were assembled, and the more advanced cadets of the military school were summoned from Lexington to

JACKSON PREPARED.

83

provide for their instruction and drill, the duty of escorting them being confided to Jackson.

The rapid march of events thus recorded found our hero quite prepared. Entertaining in his house, about this time, a much esteemed Christian friend, and conversing with him on the all-absorbing topics of the hour, the guest retired for the night, depressed and anxious at the prospect of an inevitable war. Meeting Jackson in the morning, he found him cheerful and composed, accounting for his tranquillity by calm words of trust-" Why should the peace of a true Christian be disturbed by anything which man can do unto him? Has not God promised to make all things work together for good to them that love Him?"

The general reliance placed in his courage and sagacity at this time abundantly revealed itself. To his practical judgment all eyes turned in every difficulty as it arose. To organise the new military force, to correct defects as they appeared, to anticipate and provide for future contingencies in the service, and to superintend the military academy, constituted the varied and overwhelming duties which engrossed all his time. At this time the Presbytery of Lexington assembled in his church, to hold their half-yearly meeting. These reunions, with their special and frequent services, their varied devotional exercises, and the congenial intercourse which they involved, had always proved most refreshing to his spirit. So absorbing, however, were his

engagements on this occasion that he was unable to be present during the entire sitting. Retiring to rest on the Saturday night, he expressed a hope that the ensuing Lord's day would prove one of exemption from the troubles of the hour, and undisturbed worship and communion. "Let all discussion of the questions and politics of the moment be avoided," he said. "Let us have a day of rest."

At

A hope not destined to be realised, however, as he was called away from the house of God and the table of the Lord to conduct the cadets to Richmond. Hurrying to the Institute, he proceeded to make arrangements for the march, one of which was to request his pastor to attend at twelve o'clock to give them Christian counsel and a parting prayer. eleven A.M. he returned to his house, took a hasty breakfast, and then read with his wife the fifth chapter of the second Corinthians. Kneeling down, he poured out his soul in earnest prayer, and left his house never to enter it again alive. Though his affairs were unsettled, he forbore to ask for a single day's delay, and from that time never lodged a night away from his men. Very shortly afterwards his family removed to the house of a friend, and his domestic establishment was broken up.

Having mustered the cadets at twelve, and received Dr White, he invited him to commence the service with the significant remark, "We march at one P.M. precisely." Everything being ready within a quarter of an hour of this time, an officer approached him

with the inquiry whether they had not better set out. His only reply was to point to the dial-plate, and with the stroke of the hour he gave the word, "Forward! march!" During a momentary pause in their journey he wrote to his wife :-"Here, as well as at other points of the line, the war spirit is intense. The cars had scarcely stopped here before a request was made that I would leave the cadets and drill a company."

From Richmond he wrote, April 23:-" Colonel Lee of the army is here, and has been made MajorGeneral. His services I regard as of more value to us than General Scott could render as commander." In allusion to a report that General Wingfield Scott was about to return to espouse the cause of Virginia, his native State.

"The cadets are encamped at the Fair Ground. We have excellent quarters. So far as we can hear, God is crowning our cause with success."

The camp of instruction being under the charge of another officer, Jackson was now comparatively unemployed. By the major part of the people, and by the authorities, he could plainly see his powers were held in no very high repute. But though anxious for work, he was unwilling to agitate for it, contenting himself with assisting informally in the drill and discipline of the mass of recruits. On one of these occasions he was accosted by a man who told him that he had been appointed corporal of the guard for that day, that he was entirely ignorant of his duties, that

the officers over him seemed quite incapable of teaching him, and begged that, as he appeared to be an officer of rank, he would give him a few hints. Jackson at once assented, went over all his rounds with him, and completely won his heart by the patience with which he explained salute challenges, and all the other different instructions required.

Not that he was to remain long without definite duties. A few days, indeed, after he had reached Camp Lee, the idea was entertained of employing him in the engineer department, with the rank of major. This appointment, however, was so clearly out of his line, that remonstrances were addressed to the council, urging upon them his nomination to a different post. The result was that he was commissioned colonel of the Virginia forces, and ordered to take command at Harper's Ferry. "Who is this Major Jackson," it was asked by some one in the convention when the appointment was communicated, "that we are asked to commit to him so responsible a post?" "He is one," replied the member from Rockbridge, "who, if you order him to hold a post, will never leave it alive to be occupied by the enemy." Accordingly the governor handed him his commission, and he departed at once for his command.

Writing to his wife, he says, "I expect to leave here about half-past two P.M. to-day for Harper's Ferry. I am thankful to say that an ever kind Providence, Who causes all things to work together for good to them that love Him,' has assigned me the post which I