State

Stonewall Jackson’s Courtship Machpclah Church, where Jackson worshipped while visiting Miss Mary Anna Morrison in North Carolina. He fell in love with a young' laily who lived in Lincoln County anil did most of his courting' while a guest at her home. By HARRY Z. TUCKER IT is easy to accept Stonewall Jackson as a brave and warring soldier charging on to victory, but most of us find it difficult to think of him in terms of a tender lover, wooing and winning the heart of a fair maid. History has left us to believe that he had little fancy or imagination concerning love; that when he bent his knee, it was in prayer to God and not to kiss a woman’s hand. Such is the general accepted pic¬ ture of Jackson, always a stern and serious man inclined to few words. But research proves that he was a man of great feeling, kind and simple, unpretentious. The heart of Jackson, calm before the cannon of the enemy, trembled at the touch of a woman. It was thus the lonely Thomas Jonathan Jackson came to Lincoln County. North Carolina, in the late fall of 1856 to woo Miss Mary Anna Morrison, daughter of Dr. R. H. Morrison, a learned Presby¬ terian minister, and pastor of Machpelah Church. The memory of a charming face and a merry laugh could no longer be with¬ stood. Jackson, like other men, had fallen a victim to this very human frailty, love. First Meeting in 1855 It was in the summer of 1855 that Anna Morrison first met Stonewall Jackson, a professor at Virginia Military Institute. She was on a visit to her sister. Isabella, the wife of Major D. H. Hill, who was professor of mathematics there. Anna was greatly impressed with Thomas J. Jackson. Although his manners were rather stiff and formal, she observed that he had a certain dignity that definitely marked him as no ordinary person. A letter had been duly received by Miss Morrison, heralding the coming of her friend. A servant spied the tall horseman as he rode up the long avenue to “Cottage Home." the sedate country resi¬ dence of the eminent divine. His THE STATE. July 26. 1947 erect bearing and military dress divulged the fact that he was the Virginia soldier of which the house¬ hold had been all excited for sev¬ eral days. Major Jackson was ushered into the house in great style, and there met Dr. Robert H. Morrison, found¬ er and first president of Davidson College. The two men were instant¬ ly at ease, for there was much in common between them. Both great students of theology, their minds were instantly akin. The conversa¬ tion naturally turned to religion and books, and Dr. Morrison was favorably impressed with the young swain. Though Major Jackson’s form of attach was direct, he experienced unforeseen difficulties in his ma¬ neuvers, encountered interference and delay. The Stubborn Fire But in the course of time he was bowed into the stately white par¬ lor, where he was warmly received by Anna and introduced to her bevy of pretty sisters. Soon the acquaintance of a summer. past was renewed, and all would have been well had not the fire in the parlor refused to burn. Smoke was in his eyes, everywhere there were clouds of it; but only a pitiful little blaze could be coaxed from the dry kindling. A servant was called, a second, and a third; more light- wood was used, more wood brought, but the fire stubbornly re¬ fused to burn. Anna looked her misery and Major Jackson became stiffer as the moments sped. Disconcerted, the lovers were compelled to return to the library and the family circle. Dr. Morrison went to investigate the smoking chimney. To his astonishment he found that a num¬ ber of bricks had fallen, cutting off all draft. Soon a smiling servant invited young Jackson into a warm parlor, cheery with a glowing backlog; and before bedtime came Anna had plighted her troth to the Virginian. The following morning Jackson bade the Morrison family adieu, and asked a private conference with the father. Having won his consent to a marriage with Anna in July, the young officer saw no reason for further delay but set off immediately for home. The happy suitor had ridden a distance of several miles, when it occurred to him that he had made, some statement to Dr. Morrison1 which might be misunderstood. It was a matter of little importance, but the extreme integrity of Jack- son was such that he could tolerate no thought of a misunderstanding with his future father-in-law. Turning his horse, he rode the five or six miles back to “Cottage Home." and elucidated his state¬ ment in such clear precision that there was no mistaking his words. Deeply Religious One cannot separate Thomas Jackson and his thoughts from God. He walked with Him and talked with Him. saw Him in every movement of nature and (Continued on page 29) з