Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/51

 Stonewall Jackson's Scabbard Speech. 45

this, together with his eccentricity, caused him to be looked upon as an unpractical man.

He was also unpopular with some of the professors, and amongst the cadets he was regarded as the butt of the school. At times, on his way to and from barracks, walking as usual with measured step, body erect and eyes to the front, cadets have been known to throw stones just in front of him, not to strike him, but on a wager that he could not be made to look around. On he would go, without ever turning his head or changing his gait, or, as some have alleged, without even blinking his eyes. Up to the time the writer became a second-class man, when, by the voluntary action of his, the leading section, such conduct was broken up, it had been the custom of many of the members of Jackson's classes to create wanton disorder in his section-room, often to the extent of downright disrespect. He was imperturbable throughout it all, never losing his dignity nor seeming in the least annoyed.

But if held by many in low estimate as a teacher of Physics and Astronomy, he was respected by all for the gallantry he had dis- played in the Mexican War. His military record was well known, and criticism of his methods in the class-room was frequently off-set by some such remark as, " But old Jack knows how to fight.". His conscientious discharge of duty and uniform soldierly bearing could not but be admired. As an instructor in artillery tactics he gave sat- isfaction. His explanations of the battery movements were clear and concise, and his commands were given with determination and force. He alone of all' the officers of the Institute pronounced the word "oblique" in his commands as if spelled oblike. Another peculiarity was the manner in which he carried his sabre when walking to or from duty. Although belted around him, he invariably held it in a horizontal position, well up under his left arm, handle to the rear, curved edge up, and left hand seizing the scabbard near the middle. f

Now that civil war was daily becoming more probable, and the strain of excitement was too great for much interest in academic studies, Major Jackson began to be estimated less by his qualifications for the class-room than by his fitness for the field.

Men, as well as women, admire the brave. That Jackson possessed courage, no one doubted; that he was well suited for subordinate command, and, if so ordered, would march unflinchingly into the jaws of death, every one believed; but if asked to name the pro- fessor at the Institute most likely to rise to the highest rank and win