. . . I trust that my darling little wife feels more
gratitude to our kind Heavenly Father than pride or elation at my promotion.
Continue to pray for me, that I may live to glorify God more and more, by
serving Him and our country. ... If you were only here, you would have a very
nice house, the description of which I will postpone until after answering your
letters; and if there isn't room, it will be deferred for the next letter, as
it will take nearly a whole letter to tell you how very nice it is. And if your
husband stays here this winter, he hopes to send one of his aides for one
little somebody. You know very well who I mean by “little somebody.”
And now for an answer to your questions; and without stating
your questions, I will answer them. My command is enlarged, and embraces the
Valley District, and the troops of this district constitute the Army of the
Valley; but my command is not altogether independent, as it is embraced in the
Department of Northern Virginia, of which General Johnston has the command.
There are three armies in this department — one under General Beauregard,
another under General Holmes, and the third under my command. My headquarters
are for the present at Winchester. A major-general's rank is inferior to that
of a full general. The rank of major-general does not appear to be recognized
by the laws of the Confederate States, so far as I have seen; but there may be
some law embraced in the Army Regulations which I have not seen. At all events,
the President appoints them in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States,
and these appointments are only for the war. As the regulations of the army of
the Confederate States do not require the rank of major-general, there is no
pay and no staff appointed for it; but I expect to have two aides, and at least
an adjutant-general. I am making up my staff slowly, in consequence of desiring
to secure a good one, and some of them being at a distance. My promotion places
me between a brigadier and a full general; but I don't think that either a major-general
or a full general will be paid any more than $301 per month (the pay of a
brigadier), but as commander of an army my additional pay is $100, making in
all $401 per month. I send you a check for $1000, which I wish invested in
Confederate bonds, as I think, as far as possible, persons should take
Confederate bonds, so as to relieve the government from any pecuniary pressure.
You had better not sell your coupons from the bonds, as I understand they are
paid in gold, but let the Confederacy keep the gold. Citizens should not receive
a cent of gold from the government when it is so scarce. The only objection to
parting with your coupons is, that, if they are payable in gold, it will be
taking just so much out of the Treasury, when it needs all it has. Give my love
and congratulations to William1 upon his promotion. I saw Captain
Barringer at Manassas, and his regiment of cavalry presented a fine appearance.
I send you a letter announcing that Amy2 has gone to a better world.
The tears came to my eyes more than once while reading it.
__________
1 His brother-in-law, Major W. W. Morrison.
2 His faithful old servant.
SOURCE: Mary Anna Jackson, Life and Letters of
General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), p. 205-7
