Some more quotes from Jackson

Here are just a few quotes from Thomas J. Jackson taken from Life and Letters of "Stonewall" Jackson by his wife Mary Anna Jackson. They shed some light on his character. This first quote is from a letter to his wife which he wrote while he was organizing troops at Harper's Ferry. This little quote shows how charitable he was. Jackson writes:

"I am very thankful to an ever-kind Providence for enabling you so satisfactorily to arrange our home matters. I just love my business little woman. Let Mr. Tebbs have the horse and rockaway at his own price; and if he is not able to pay for them, you may give them to him, as he is a minister of the Gospel...."

This next quote is also from a letter written to his wife while encamped at Winchester in July of 1861. Again Jackson writes:

"God will, I am well satisfied, in His own good time and way, give us the victory.... In reply to your queries, I am sleeping on the floor of a good room, but I have been sleeping out in camp several weeks, and generally found that it agreed with me well, except when it rained, and even then it was but slightly objectionable. I find that sleeping in the open air, with no covering but my blankets and the blue sky for a canopy, is more refreshing than sleeping in a room."

Mrs. Jackson quoted a notebook entry of her husband he had written after the death of his first wife Ellie. He wrote:

"Objects to be effected by Ellie's death: To eradicate ambition; to eradicate resentment; to produce humility. If you desire to be more heavenly-minded, think more of the things of heaven, and less of the things of earth."