Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — Admired His Courage. [ARTICLE]

Admired His Courage.

When Gen. William H. Gibson, of Ohio, delivered an oration a short time ago before the New York Confederate Veteran Association he told an anoodote of Stonewall Jackson whioh has never been printed. It is a story whioh illustrates the best side of the old Confederate General’s character. "When Stonewall Jackson entered Fredericksburg in 1862,” said Gen. Gibson, “there was in that town an old friend of mine, named Zaoharius, who was the pastor of the Methodist Church. The Confederate General entered the place early Sunday morning, and when the hour of morning servfoe arrived Zacharlus was much disturbed to notice among his congregation Stonewall Jackson and several of his officers. My old friend was particularly disturbed!becauso he had prepared to make a pr ayer for the President and the suooess of the nation’s cause, and he was afraid of offending Stonewall Jackson, whom he knew to be a particularly bad man to affront. “When the time came for the prayer Zocharius hesitated a little, but at length his courage camo and he wont on with a particularly fervid exhortation for divine favor upon the Unionists’ sido. After the service Stonewall Jackson camo up to the minister and said: * ‘That was a very good sermon of yours, but I notleod that when you offered prayer you Beomed rather embarrassed.’ “Zacharius admitted tho fact, whereupon Jackson said: ‘I am glad you acted aa you did, for I can thoroughly respect a man who has the courage of his oonvictlons.’ ” —Now York Times,