The following letter appeared in the London
Times, from an Englishman who came over to join our army, and at this time is very interesting:
‘
I brought out from
Nassau a box of goods for
Gen. Stonewall Jackson, and he asked me when I was at
Richmond to come to his camp and see him. I left the city one morning about 7 o'clock, and about 10 landed at a station distant some eight or nine miles from
Jackson's, or as his men call him, "Old Jack's," camp.
A heavy fall of snow had covered the country for some time before to the depth of a foot, and had formed a crust over the
Virginia mud, which is quite as villainous as that of Balaclava.
The day before had been mild and wet, and my journey was made in a drenching shower, which soon cleared away the white mantle of snow.
You cannot imagine the Slough of Despond I had to pass through.--Wet to the skin, I stumbled through mud, I waded through creeks, I passed through pine woods, and at last got into camp about 2 o'clock. I then made my way to a small house occupied by the
General as his headquarters.
I wrote down my name and gave it to the orderly, and I was immediately told to walk in.
’
The General rose and greeted me warmly.--I expected to see an old, untidy man, and was most agreeably surprised and pleased with his appearance.
He is tall, handsome, and powerfully built, but thin.
He has brown hair and a brown beard.
His mouth expresses great determination.
The lips are thinned and compressed firmly together; his eyes are blue and dark, with keen and searching expression.
I was told that his age was 33, and he looks about 40.
The General, who is indescribably simple and unaffected in all his ways, took off my wet overcoat with his hands, made up the fire, brought wood for me to put my feet on to keep them warm while my boots were drying, and them began to ask me questions on various subjects.
At the dinner hour we went out and joined the members of his staff.
At this meal the
General said grace in a fervent, quiet manner, which struck me much.
After dinner I returned to his room, and he again talked for a long time.
The servant came in and took his mattress out of a cupboard and laid it on the floor.
As I rose to retire the
General said: "
Captain, there is plenty of room on my bed; I hope you will share it with me." I thanked him very much for his courtesy, but said "Good night," and slept in a tent, sharing the blankets of one of his aids de camp.
In the morning, at breakfast time, I noticed that the
General said grace before the meal with the same fervor I had remarked before.
An hour or two afterward it was time for me to return to the station.
On this occasion, however, I had a horse, and I turned up to the
General's headquarters to bid him adieu.
His little room was vacant; no I stopped in and stood before the fire.
I then noticed my greatcoat stretched before it on a chair.
Shortly afterward the
General entered the room.
He said: "
Captain, I have been trying to dry your greatcoat, but I am afraid I have not succeeded very well." That little act illustrates the man's character.
With the care and responsibilities of a vast army on his shoulders he finds time to do little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness, which make him the darling of his men, who never seem to tire of talking of him.
Gen. Jackson is a man of great endurance;he drinks nothing stronger than water, and never uses tobacco or any stimulant.
He has been known to ride for three days and nights at a time, and if there is any labor to be undergone he never falls to take his share of it. I thought of entering the army as a volunteer as many Englishmen have done, but I have had the unexpected good luck to received an appointment in the
Inspecting Department.--
Preselection Charleston as the scene of my labors, my reason being that the whole force of the
Federal armada is about to be thrown against this portion of the
State.
I accordingly returned to this place, and am now awaiting the fight.
I have very good pay, enjoy an excellent table, and am accommodated to most comfortable ters. with some other Englishmen, in a well furnished house.