Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/322

 316 Southern Historical Society Papers.

was appointed to West Point, but owing to the fact that he was poorly prepared to enter that institution he never took a high stand- ing in his classes. He was graduated in 1848 and ordered to Mexico, where he was attached as a lieutenant to Magruder's battery- He took part in Scott's campaign from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, and was twice breveted for gallant conduct at Cherubusco and Chapultepec attaining the rank finally of first lieutenant of artillery. After the Mexican war he was on duty for a time at Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, and subsequently at Fort Meade, Fla., but in 1851 ill health caused him to resign his commission in the army and return to his native State, where he was elected Professor of Natural Sciences and Artillery Tactics over such competitors as McClellan, Rosecrans, Foster, Peck, and G. W. Smith, all of whom were recommended by the faculty at West Point.

HIS MARRIAGES.

Soon after entering upon his duties at the institute he married a daughter of Rev. Dr. Junkin, president of Washington College, and upon her death in 1855 he visited Europe on leave of absence. Some time after his return he married a daughter of Rev. Dr. Morrison, of North Carolina, who is still living.

VIRGINIA'S CALL TO ARMS.

Upon the secession of Virginia Major Jackson (as he then ranked) was among the first to answer the call to arms of his State, and wrote to Governor Letcher, offering to serve in any position to which he might be assigned. The Governor immediately commissioned him a colonel of Virginia volunteers. He was placed in command of the troops at Harper's Ferry, and upon the formation of the Army of the Shenan- doah, which was commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston, he was placed in charge of the brigade with which his name was thenceforth identified. At First Manassas, where he gained the name of Stone- wall, and where, as Dr. McGuire narrates above, he was wounded in the hand just before his brigade made its onset, he rode up and down the line and cried out three times, "All's well; the First bri- gade will have those guns ! We will drive them across the Potomac to-night !" In less than thirty minutes the prediction was literally fulfilled. The brigade had the enemy in full retreat upon Wash- ington.