JACKSON, William
Hicks, soldier and capitalist, was born at Paris, Tenn., Oct. 1, 1835, son
of Dr. Alexander and Mary W. (Hurt) Jackson. His parents early removed from
Halifax county, Va., to Paris, and thence to Jackson, Tenn. They belonged to
the best stock of Virginia, and bequeathed to their sons, Howell Edmunds and
William Hicks, the high qualities which made them both eminent men. Descended
from such ancestors and trained by such parents, William Hicks Jackson
displayed in early life the strong impulses, and acquired the complete
self-control, which have so distinguished his manhood. His preparatory
education was received in the best schools of Jackson, and at West Tennessee
College, where he evinced strong intellectual powers. He gained reputation
among his schoolmates as the stout defender of the weak against the strong. In
1852 he was appointed a cadet to West Point. Although hard study and severe
regulations were irksome to his fiery spirit, he was guided by his firm resolve
to gratify the wishes of his father, and was graduated in 1856 with credit to
himself. In his career at West Point he displayed the same traits that marked
his boyhood, and was recognized as a leader among his comrades. After the usual
furlough and some mouths spent at the barracks at Carlisle, Pa., he was sent,
in 1857, to Fort Union, New Mexico, where, as an officer in the regiment of
mounted rifles, he took an active part in the principal Indian fights in that
territory with such men as Kit Carson, La Rue, and others as his guides. The
adventurous character of this service was well suited to the bold and ardent
temperament of tile young soldier. He was frequently complimented in orders
from headquarters of both department and army for his gallantry and good
judgment. Although not an advocate of secession, his intense loyalty to his
native state induced him, when the first shot was tired in the civil war, to
resign his commission in the U. S. regular army, and to offer his services to
the Confederate States. After an adventurous journey in running the
blockade at Galveston, he finally arrived in Tennessee, was appointed a captain
of artillery by Gov. Harris, and summoned before the state military board at
Nashville, which retained him two weeks in consultation on the subject of the
equipment of cavalry and artillery. He then reported to Gen. Pillow at Memphis,
and served on his staff in the campaigns of Missouri and Kentucky. He was
assigned to the duty of organizing a light battery at Columbus, Ky., with which
he reported to Gen. Pillow. On Nov. 7, 1861, followed the battle of Belmont, in
which he performed the exploit of conducting three regiments of infantry to the
rear of Grant's army, routing it until securing a Confederate triumph. For this
service he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In this battle his horse was
shot under him, and he received a minie-ball in the right side, which,
inflicting a wound at the time supposed to be fatal, has never been extracted.
He was placed by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston in command of all the cavalry in
western Tennessee, and was engaged in many severe minor battles there and in
northern Mississippi. He led the brilliant dash on Holly Springs, Miss., Dec.
20, 1862, that resulted in the capture of 1,800 infantry, many cavalry,
millions of dollars' worth of stores, and Gen. Grant's private papers. The loss
of this secondary base of supplies compelled Gen. Grant to abandon his campaign
by land against Vicksburg, caused him to return to Memphis and organize his
river campaign. This brilliant service gained him promotion to the rank of
brigadier-general, and the unique distinction of being mentioned in Gen.
Grant's “Memoirs” as the only man who came near capturing him. Gen. Jackson was
next assigned to the command of the second division of cavalry under Gen. Van
Dorn, in Tennessee, the first division being commanded by Gen. Forrest, and
soon after participated in the battle of Thompson's Station, which resulted in
the capture of Col. Coburn's Federal brigade of 1.600 infantry. In the autumn,
at the request of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, Gen. Jackson joined him at Canton,
Miss., and commanded the cavalry of his army in the movement for the relief of
Vicksburg. Later, at Johnston's request, he was transferred with him to the
army of Tennessee, and during the Georgia campaign commanded the cavalry on the
left wing. Among the gallant exploits during this period were the defeat of
Kilpatrick at Lovejoy Station, and in connection with Gen. Wheeler, the capture
at Newnan, Ga., of 1,500 Federal cavalrv. Gen. Jackson was selected by Gen.
Hood to join him in the invasion of Tennessee. His division led the advance in
pursuing Gen. Schofield's retreating forces, held them at bay for an entire
night at Spring Hill, participated in the battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864,
and led the Confederate advance to a point only a few miles from the fortified
city of Nashville. At Murfreesboro, Jackson defeated the Federals and drove
them back to their intrenchments, and after the battle of Nashville, his
division covered the retreat of Hood's army. He was now placed in command of
Forrest's cavalry troop, and the Texas brigade, and was recommended for
promotion by Gens. Dick Taylor, N. B. Forrest, Joseph E. Johnston, and
previously by Polk and Hardee; but having incurred the displeasure of Pres.
Davis on account of arresting a friend of the president's brother, Joseph, he
failed to receive the promotion. Gen. Jackson next served in the Alabama campaign,
defeating Gens. Croxton and McCook, and arrived at Marion Junction, where he
learned of Forrest's defeat at Selma. Then came the final surrender at
Gainesville, Ala., May 9, 1865. Gen. Jackson performed his last military
service as Confederate commissioner in association with Gen. Dennis, Federal
commissioner, for the parole of the troops at Gainesville and other points.
Returning to his home at Jackson, Tenn., the retired soldier entered upon his
peaceful career as a cotton planter. On Dec 15, 1868, he was married to Selene,
daughter of Gen. W. G. Harding, a highly accomplished and lovely woman. She
died Dec. 18, 1892, leaving three children: Eunice, wife of Albert D. Marks, a
son of ex-Gov. Marks, and a prominent attorney of Nashville; Selene Harding,
wife of William R. Elliston, and William Harding Jackson, who succeeds his
father in the management of “Belle Meade,” and gives promise of emulating his
father's usefulness. At the request of Gen. Harding, Gen. Jackson became his
assistant in the management of the vast stock farm, “Belle Meade,” comprising
5,500 acres, where he found opportunity not only to indulge the tastes so
firmly implanted in him as a boy on his father's plantation, but also to devote
his mind to the development of scientific agriculture. He was the projector and
moving spirit of the agricultural journal known as the “Rural Sun,” which was
long the most popular agricultural publication in the South. He was president
of the company with Col. J. B. Killebrew as chief editor. In his own language, “Agricultural
journals, like almanacs, should be calculated for the latitudes they are
designed to serve. . . . My observation has taught me that many young men of
the South, in their efforts to apply the teachings of the northern journals to
the conditions of the South, have led them into disastrous errors.” Refusing
the highest political offices which his fellow-citizens desired to thrust upon
him. preferring rather to be the power behind the throne than the shadow upon
it, he has proved his public spirit and shown the highest attributes of
citizenship by devoting his energies to contributing to the material
development of the country, and has accepted positions tending to promote the
public welfare. He has been president of the state association of farmers; was
organizer and for many years president of the national agricultural congress,
and state bureau of agriculture of Tennessee. In the latter capacity he was
influential in creating the office of state commissioner of agriculture, and in
promoting the publication of that notable work, "The Resources of
Tennessee," of which the secretary of the board, Col. J. B. Killebrew, was
editor. This work has been published in many different languages and scattered
abroad, and, according to leading authorities, was the most eminent agency in
first attracting immigration to Tennessee. As president and fiscal agent of the
state bureau of agriculture, no money could be spent without his signature. So
well was this duty discharged, that the whole work of the department was
completed, including the publication of the “Resources of Tennessee” (1874), at
a total cost of $13,500, leaving $6,500 out of an appropriation of $20,000 to
be returned to the state treasury. In recognition of this distinguished service
and economical expenditure, he was complimented by a vote of thanks by the
general assembly of Tennessee. In addition to his work as an agriculturist,
Gen. Jackson has been an active promoter of various public enterprises: as
president of the Safe Deposit Trust Co., of Nashville, of the Nashville Gas
Light Co., and of the Nashville street railway, which he took over when in the
hands of a receiver in a disordered condition, and reorganized and
rehabilitated, financially and materially. In no instance has his genius been
more conspicuously displayed than in the perfection of the great “Belle Meade,”
celebrated in poetry and song, which experts from England pronounce to be the
best managed and most complete stock farm in the world. It is the home of
Iroquois, the most famous race-horse, and now one of the most valuable
stallions in the world, who won on the English turf an unequaled triumph. Here
are also Luke Blackburn (imp.), Great Tom, Tremont, Loyalist (imp.), Clarendon,
and other “kings of the turf”; as well as extensive herds of thoroughbred
Jersey cattle, Shetland ponies, and the finest deer park in America. “Belle
Meade” is a typical southern home, the frequent scene of true southern
hospitality, and here Gen. Jackson has entertained Pres. and Mrs. Cleveland,
cabinet officers, statesmen, authors, poets, and many foreigners, including
members of the nobility from different countries. In many other ways, also, he
has contributed to the material prosperity, and stimulated the progress, of his
native state. He has erected at Nashville the finest office and apartment
building in Tennessee, a model of architecture. He was a moving spirit in
promoting the great Tennessee Centennial exposition of 1896-97, and declining
the presidency served as chairman of its executive committee. Since the close
of the war he has been the advocate of sectional conciliation, and has exerted
his powerful influence at all times and at all places, but especially in the
Confederate Veteran Association, in which he has long held high rank. By
promoting such public enterprises and exerting an influence so salutary and
potent, Gen. Jackson furnishes an illustrious example of the private citizen of
public spirit who, declining political office, “does more than armies for the
commonweal.” The well-known author and scientist, Col. J. B. Killebrew, who has
known him over a quarter of a century, has well said: “Gen. Jackson is a strong
man, mentally, physically and morally. He never does anything by halves. He
never rests as long as there is an improvement to be made. Whatever he puts his
hands on, prospers. He has an intuitive knowledge of men, and therefore his
agents are always the best for accomplishing the purposes for which he selects
them. In the organization and conduct of the many large enterprises with which
his name is associated, he has acquired the habits of thought peculiar to all
successful men. He goes directly to the point, and he has all the precision of
a martinet, with the power of a conqueror. Broad, but accurate; diligent, but
deliberate; patient, but prompt; kind, but firm; fearing no weight of
responsibility, yet not careless of it, he always meets and overcomes
difficulties.”
SOURCE: The National
Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 9, p. 212-3
