Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/316

 312 Southern Histor'i<-l Sn,-iety Papers.

and " Old Jack," with only one garment, were singing with stunning effect "Benny Hahn's Oh," and executing a barefooted back-step in time to the music. Each composed his own poetry, in tones which resounded through the house and over the Avenue, till old Mr. Jesse Brown sent his compliments, with a request that they "would stop that noise." This was "Old Jack's" first and last frolic, to which in years long after his fame had filled the world he dimly alluded, when he said he was too fond of liquor to trust him- self to drink it.

As for poor Dominie, his long pent craving was never slaked any more until his enfeebled frame was laid to rest in a soldier's grave, off in the shadow of the Rockies.

SECOND IN A DUEL.

From the moment that Jackson entered upon his duties in the army, he evinced that terrible earnestness which was the character- istic of his conduct in battle or in work.

My squadron of the Mounted Rifles escorted four siege-pieces, which he was charged to deliver safely in Monterey, and he did it with an unrelenting energy which was necessary to get them through. During the battles in the Valley, he served as a lieutenant of Ma- gruder's battery, and won many distinctions. Having entered the service as a second lieutenant, he was brevetted first lieutenant, cap- tain and major, in one year's field service.

While serving in the Valley of Mexico, he acted as second in a duel between two officers of one of the new infantry regiments the roth, I believe. General Birkett Fry told me the incident, as fol- lows:

Lieutenant Lee, of Virginia, was the adjutant of the regiment, who, feeling himself aggrieved by Captain --, of Philadelphia, sent him a challenge. The Captain was an avowed duelist and an expert rifle shot, and accepted Lee's challenge. They were to fight with rifles at forty paces. Jackson and Fry were seconds to Lee. Jackson won the word, which he delivered, standing in the position of a soldier, in stentorian tones, audible over a forty-acre lot. The rifles cracked together, and Jackson, astounded that his man was still standing, said to Fry: " What shall we do now ? They will de- mand another shot." " We will grant it with pistols at ten paces," said Fry, and as he said, the second of the Captain came forward