Jackson, Thomas Jonathan (1824-1863), an American soldier. He was a native of Virginia. His parents were of Scotch-Irish stock. Young Thomas was left an orphan at the age of three. Learning when a young man that his congressman had a cadetship at West Point at his disposal, he set out on foot to request it. He appeared at Washington clad in a suit of homespun, carrying his belongings in a pair of saddle bags on his back. He was dirty, foot-sore, and hungry, and very poorly prepared to enter the school. His pluck appealed to the congressman, however, and he was appointed. He was a hard student and fought his way upward. His class contained an unusual number of brilliant students, including McClellan, Gibbon, Pickett, Maury, and others. The professors declared that, if the course had been a year or two longer, Jackson would have been very near the head, if not at the head of his class. He won a reputation in the Mexican War. In 1851 he became a professor in the Virginia military school instituted at Lexington, but he was never successful as an instructor. He was a slaveholder and a warm friend of the negro. Each Sunday he used to gather his slaves together for instruction in Bible history. When the war broke out Jackson was opposed to secession, yet went with his state. He was one of the ablest soldiers developed by the war and became General Lee's right hand man. In the first battle of Bull Run his command was noted for its steadiness. One of his brother officers made the remark, "There stands Jackson like a stone wall." He was known ever afterward as "Stonewall" Jackson. In 1862 he conducted the famous Shenandoah Valley campaign in Virginia, and was made a lieutenant-general. He was with Lee at Fredericksburg. While returning from reconnoitering at the battle of Chancellorsville, his party was fired upon by mistake by his own men. He fell wounded, and died May 10, 1863. During the campaign he rode a famous raw-boned sorrel that was unable to "run except toward the enemy." He was such a favorite with the troops that his whereabouts could be told by the heartiness of the cheers which greeted him wherever he appeared. North and South unite in remembering Stonewall Jackson as a man of integrity and ability on whose name there is no stain. In 1905 President Roosevelt gave pleasure to the entire nation by the appointment of Stonewall Jackson Christian, a grandson and namesake of the general, to a cadetship at West Point. See LEE; CIVIL WAR. We see him now--the old slouched hat, Cocked o'er his eye askew; The shrewd, dry smile, the speech so pat, So calm, so blunt, so true, The "Blue Light Elder" know 'em well; Says he, "that's Banks--he's fond of shell, Lord save his soul! we'll give him--"Well, That's Stonewall Jackson's way. Silence! ground arms! kneel all! caps off Old Blue Light's going to pray. Strangle the fool that dares to scoff! Attention! It's his way. Appealing from his native sod In forma pauperis to God-- "Lay bare thine arm, stretch forth thy rod: Amen!" that's Stonewall's way. He's in the saddle now. "Fall in! Steady the whole brigade! Hill's at the ford, cut off--we'll win His way out, ball and blade!" What matter if our shoes are worn? What matter if our feet are torn? "Quick-step, we're with him before dawn!" That's Stonewall Jackson's way! --John Williamson Palmer.