Laura Jackson Arnold

[Al Murray]

I see the eye witness to her cheating is a peeping Tom!

I should note that my notes (made many years ago) are a snippet of a huge file and I only took down things I found interesting at that time. In deference to her there is graphic, vivid medical testimony in the file about her condition with her doctor testifying that it was unlikely that she had been interested in a physical relationship with anyone at all for many years. The peeping Tom may not have saw what he thought (?wished?) he did.

 

[diane]

I should note that my notes (made many years ago) are a snippet of a huge file and I only took down things I found interesting at that time. In deference to her there is graphic, vivid medical testimony in the file about her condition with her doctor testifying that it was unlikely that she had been interested in a physical relationship with anyone at all for many years. The peeping Tom may not have saw what he thought (?wished?) he did.

I wouldn't be surprised if what he saw was simply her helping a sick soldier to his bed, or something like that. If he was sneaking around her windows in the first place, he was wanting to find dirt. And, I'd reckon he was lucky she didn't notice him - she was enough like her brother he would have found his pants full of buckshot!

 

[Al Murray]

I wouldn't be surprised if what he saw was simply her helping a sick soldier to his bed, or something like that. I

Thats what I thought, or maybe giving an old friend a hug as he goes off to battle. It seems that sexism reigns eternal!

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Yes, nurses were forever and ever being ' snitched ' on, formerly ' turned in', having to defend themselves, over this stuff. It was a ragingly puritanical time and think about the work they did- remember Hancock's wound for instance? Drove the prudes right out of their minds, females being involved caring for wounded men. A lot spent the war fighting for their reputations as well as for the mens lives, it was ridiculous. The really maddening thing is if any of them wrote of that aspect of it, they were immodest then too. Remember Dix's dictum, no nurse could be pretty on the grounds she would be too well liked by the men and cause trouble? Dix wanted her nurses homely as heck, easier to defend homely women against charges of behaving poorly- " You mean Alice, really? Are you kidding me, does she LOOK like anyone's idea of a good time? " ** sigh **

Jackson's poor sister must have had TB? Dying in a sanatorium and after 20 years! You hate haring this. Sanitoriums could be anything from a huge institutional place to a kind of boarding house where TB patients lived until they died. My grandmother was in both- heck, most of her family was for generations. They faded away slowly instead of died some dramatic death, horrible. Off thread- my mother never knew her, but that's how close TB was to our generations.
Thanks for this story- and all of it. Another facet to his life which underlines that deep streak of romantic or something. I can barely stand reading of his attachment to his wife and the things he said of his daughter- if he'd lived maybe you could read it, you know? Too difficult knowing he wasn't coming back and I'm too big a wuss.

Nice job Hanna!

 

[hanna260]

Alright, bit of an old thread, but I found a really cool resource, Jackson's papers online- including a ton of letters to Laura!

Here's some quotes- he was a real softie to her. Grace is his niece, Anna Grace.

"I send you a lock of Ellie's hair which she reluctantly parts with because of its color, which she hopes may prove more acceptable to your taste than it has ever been to hers. My message to you is that you must prize it very highly as being the token of a sister's love and from a brother's wife.

Send us a lock from your hair and also one from Grace. Tell her to give me the prettiest she has so that I may look at it when I am so far off that I cannot see her pretty face. Tell her furthermore that I have told her Aunt that Grace is very pretty & her conduct much as good as her face."

Here's a link to the full letter and more: http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=8381

 

[hanna260]

Alright, two more letters. I just really like how this one shows the depth of their relationship- and also his tortured relationship with God and all that God represents- and the ultimate hope and love and greatness that God is to him too. There's a lot of feeling in this letter- that you just don't think of (or I don't) when you hear of Jackson.

"Time as it passes brings me to the renewal of the pleasant duty of writing to my sister, though there is nothing here of which I am aware that can be of interest to you, beyond what may be felt in an only brother. Let pleasure result from the mere act of writing to you. Our lives have been checkered in a most marked manner and we are still, notwithstanding all the ill omens of our youth, living even beyond the usual period of human life and I trust that before us are the brightest of our days. In taking a retrospective view of my own life, each year has opened as I consider, with increased promise and with my present views, the future is holding richer stores in reserve. Could you only believe with myself then would you also bear the present with patience and look forward to the future with a calm serene and pleasurable delight.

I too have crosses, and am at times deeply afflicted! But however sore may be the trials they lose their poignancy, and instead of producing injury I feel that I am but improved by the ordeal. But how is this accomplished? By throwing myself upon the protection of him, whose law book is the wonderful Bible. My dear sister I would not part with this book for countless universes. I feel ready to make every sacrifice to carry out the will of him who so loved us, as to give his only begotten son to die for me. How exceedingly great must have been that love!

http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=8021

And then this one. Also beautiful and touching. Also shows the softie underneath the Old Blue Light exterior- he loved his sister and his faith in God is just breathtaking.

"My Dearest & only Sister,
Your melancholy letter has brought tears to my eyes. Yet I would never have you conceal anything from me because of the pain which it may cause me. If your health is really as you state, I would rather know it. My dearest sister, with tears in my eyes and a heart devoted to my God, I look into the future beyond the limits of this transient life of care; and see the dark gloom which is to exist throughout infinite duration. That whilst I am "to shine like a star in the firmament for ever and forever," you are to be assigned to unending misery.

What my dear sister is this life, and all its joys, compared to that which is to come. How happy would I be did I but know that beyond this probationary life we should be together for ever more, there with those who have gone before us, to enjoy endless happiness. My sister, do reflect upon my course of life, think and see if I have ever erred since arriving at mature age, and then consider how I could ever have been satisfied of the truth of the Gospel; unless it is true. Have I ever erred in the affairs of this life? Remember too what strong irreligious influences have been brought to bear on me and yet in spite of all opposing obstacles, I am one of the most devoted of Christians.

Will you not have some faith in the prayers of a dying mother & brother? My dearest sister, do throw yourself into the hands of God. Throw yourself upon his mercy, repent of your sins and believe that the father will accept your prayers, and forgive your transgressions, for the sake of his son's merits. Remember that he hath said that they who come unto him he will in nowise cast off."

http://www.vmi.edu/archives.aspx?id=8031

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

OH my gosh. This is exactly what I keep referring to about Jackson- the general of the famous forced marches who had so little patience with exhausted stragglers. His writings to different people show this terribly compassionate, kind and fiercely faithful man. We've all heard how he drove the men a little crazy with mandatory worship services on Sundays, forbid certain things but I've come to admire that aspect of Jackson. It must have been how someone of his depth of feeling endured what he had to do- he genuinely wanted the men to see what he did. That's a serious statement, Jackson's depth of feeling. It's at odds with other things we know of him but what other conclusions are there?

Hanna, perfect additions to this thread, thank you! A lot of these threads get pulled up in Google searches by non-members. You know, people looking for general ( pun alert ) information on someone. The more added the better for CWT, much less the topic.

 

[southern blue]

I don't know how I missed this the first time around. This is the sort of story that I enjoy reading. It certainly does shed a different light on General Jackson.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I don't know how I missed this the first time around. This is the sort of story that I enjoy reading. It certainly does shed a different light on General Jackson.

Yes, super isn't it? The first inkling I'd had was only a few years ago here on the forum. Someone posted something on Jackson's letter speaking of his daughter and it flattened me. That began an interest on this side of him, fascinating and awfully tragic considering how much was lost when he died. Not to the army, to his family.

 

[donna]

I missed this one too. Great thread with so much I didn't know.

I always thought it so sad that they didn't connect again before Jackson passed away. They were so close at one time and seems so sad they couldn't talk or write again. Let's hope in the after life they did reunite.

 

[michaelcooley]

This is a fantastic conversation. I wrote two paper on Rich Mountain my degree in history (2013) and a treatment for my MA in English. I was immensely interested in Laura and called the county courthouse to get information about the divorce. The woman who answered the phone said that it was impossible to view divorce records and was of no help to me. I called the historic society and talked to someone there. I never heard again from them. Once again, I'm pulling out my notes with thoughts of going back to work on the project. Al Murray, your notes are fantastic. I'd love to hear from you. - Michael Cooley

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

This is a fantastic conversation. I wrote two paper on Rich Mountain my degree in history (2013) and a treatment for my MA in English. I was immensely interested in Laura and called the county courthouse to get information about the divorce. The woman who answered the phone said that it was impossible to view divorce records and was of no help to me. I called the historic society and talked to someone there. I never heard again from them. Once again, I'm pulling out my notes with thoughts of going back to work on the project. Al Murray, your notes are fantastic. I'd love to hear from you. - Michael Cooley

Please bring back a link, when you've published? Love to see the results ( and thank you! )

 

[hanna260]

Huh, this thread is a blast from the past. @michaelcooley, I second @JPK Huson 1863!