Stonewall Jackson's lemons

[dixie1861]

I'm glad to hear that he liked peaches better than lemons. Nothing beats a good Southern peach.

 

[Jamieva]

I could be remembering wrong, so don't quote me on this. Maybe @cash remembers from some of Bud's talks over the years. I believe that him saying it's not lemons would be due to the scarcity of lemons available to him. I think that is what I remember but I could be just dreaming that.

 

[Carronade]

Perhaps Davis could have followed Lincoln's example and ordered a case of lemons for his other generals

 

[Ainatari]

The killer Angel's novel mentions this 'fact' as well...sigh...

 

[redbob]

I would think that with Jackson's gastric problems (either real or imagined) the acid from lemons or other citrus fruits would have given him some serious problems.

 

[General Casey]

My mother always told me when I was a child I would eat lemons whenever she bought them went to the grocery. Even today, if I get water with lemon, I'll eat the lemon slice.

 

[donna]

Always enjoy water with lemon.

 

[redbob]

Always enjoy water with lemon.

Or with the Sothern Table Wine...Sweet Tea.

 

[donna]

Lemon is good in Coca Cola too. We have that often.

 

[James N.]

I would think that with Jackson's gastric problems (either real or imagined) the acid from lemons or other citrus fruits would have given him some serious problems.

Perhaps, but since it's quite possible or even likely that Jackson's problems were psychosomatic there probably wouldn'tve been any adverse reactions! Supposedly, peaches were actually his true favorite, so he was probably safe there.

 

[Ainatari]

I read that his health problems generally worsened when he was bored or just not doing well in his life...once the war started it's amazing how his health improved.

 

[SJU5]

I was at Jacksons grave just last week and lemons galore !!!

 

[GELongstreet]

I was at Jacksons grave just last week and lemons galore !!!

At least they put them before the correct Jackson.

 

[gjpratt]

I will add my $0.02 since this thread has been resurrected. This is the first time I have heard that Jackson's penchant for lemons may be just a legend. I grew up in the middle of the Western Theater and was a late student of the Eastern Theater as a result of attending UVa. I have always taken the lemon association as gospel. The first books I read about the Eastern Theater were Freeman's Robert E. Lee and then Lee's Lieutenants. I am almost certain that I picked up the lemon association there. But two passages from these books are provoked two of the most poignant, near supernatural CW experiences I have had. I made a special trip to Virginia to experience the Chancellorsville battlefield. For different reasons too long to explain, this place always held a special meaning for me before I knew it was an important battlefield. And its association with Le and Jackson. I made this pilgrimage shortly after I finished both sets of Freeman's books and had the irresistible urge to commune there. I arrived there after sunset and the Park was officially closed, but I had to go to the final meeting spot, which required a short walk from the parking lot. It was the anniversary of their last meeting. As I was paying my respects, the woods suddenly erupted with Whip-Poor Will calls. A cacaphony. This was mentioned by Freeman. I was totally spooked and could not get back to the car fast enough, but it remains a vivid memory of hallowed ground. In 1994, I was driving down I-81 with my 10 yera old son and I stopped in Lexington (1st visit for me) to see Lee Chapel and the cemetery. When I saw the lemons on the ground around the grave, just like the photos in this thread, I was again moved and felt a connection, all because it was an article of faith that Stonewall had a peculiar affinity for lemons. It was a great way to begin educating my son about Jackson, why his brother is named Jonathan and it opened up a lot of history education as we walked around the cemetery and spotted graves of other CW figures.

 

[donna]

Thought bump this thread. Like these pictures of Jackson's grave with the lemons. Have visited there several times and have always seen the lemons.

 

[Aaron Rider]

I'm glad to hear that he liked peaches better than lemons. Nothing beats a good Southern peach.

Actually, the best peaches are grown right here north of Gettysburg. A good Southern peach is a close second, but the conditions in Adams County are just about perfect for peaches.

As an aside, I was in Lexington one week ago and, yes, the lemons are still there. I photographed two of them.