Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/307

 General Thomas J. Jackson. 301

ened by one whose character and achievements touched the imagina- tion of the world, and created the ideal of a true soldier of the country and of the Cross."

When the Dispatch representative visited Dr. McGuire's office he was engaged in preparing for his trip to Europe, but despite the de- mands on him in a business and professional way, he cheerfully ac- corded the time necessary for the interview.

DR. M'GUIRE'S REMINISCENCES.

" Where did you first see Jackson ? " asked the reporter as soon as the Doctor had consented to be interviewed.

"I went to Harper's Ferry," said the Doctor, "as a member of Company F, Second Virginia Regiment, and soon after, for the first time in my life, I saw Jackson. At that time he was a colonel. He was then commanding the army at Harper's Ferry, which was known as the army of the Shenandoah. Soon after reaching Harper's Ferry I was commissioned by Governor Letcher, who then com- manded the Virginia forces, as medical director of that army. When I reported to General Jackson for duty he looked at me a long time without speaking a word, and presently said: ' You can go back to your quarters and wait there until you hear from me.'

" I went back to my quarters and didn't hear from him for a week, when one evening I was announced at dress-parade as medical direc- tor of the army.

"Some months afterwards, when I asked the General the cause of this delay, he said that I looked so young that he had sent to Rich- mond to see if there wasn't some mistake.

" Not long after this General Joe Johnston succeeded Colonel Jack- son in command of the army, and the latter was given command of all the Virginia forces at Harper's Ferry. Shortly after General Johnston took command I was relieved from duty by some regular old army surgeon. Jackson asked then that I should be assigned to his command.

" When General Joe Johnston came up to supersede Jackson, he came without any written authority from the Confederate Govern- ment. Jackson declined to turn the army over to him, and made him wait until he could get the orders from Richmond before he per- mitted him to assume command.