Now! Then! The Times reports how, on the eve of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Stonewall Jackson wishes above all to talk about York Minster and its splendid organ

30 December 1862: The Times reports how, on the eve of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Stonewall Jackson wishes above all to talk about York Minster and its splendid organ

Times. 1862/12/30. The Southern Confederacy. London. Get it:

Excerpt

At a distance of seven miles from General Lee’s headquarters, near the little village of Bunker Hill, were the headquarters of the hero of heroes of this struggle, General “Stonewall” Jackson. We had been taught to expect a morose, reserved, distant reception; we found the most genial, courteous, and forthcoming, of companions. A bright, piercing, blue eye, a slightly aquiline nose, a thin, tall, sinewy frame, “made all over of pin-wire,” a great disregard of dress and appearance – these are the characteristics of General Jackson’s exterior. There is also about him a very direct and honest look. The disappointing circumstance is that his voice, which is rapid in its utterance, is weak and unimpressive. Passionately attached to the Valley of Virginia, which has for so long been the principal scene of his achievements, idolized by the inhabitants of Winchester and of the Valley, General Jackson has acquired such a fame in that entire neighbourhood that it is sad to think what would happen if the one life round which such prestige clings should yield to a stray bullet or to the chance of disease. Sinewy and wiry as the general seems, it is impossible not to fancy that he is wearing himself terribly by his restless, sleepless activity, by his midnight marches, and by the asceticism of his life. The respect and consciousness of his presence, and what that presence means, exhibited by his staff, impressed me very strongly, and seemed to exceed the respect exhibited towards General Lee. He spoke a few hearty words of admiration of General Lee, saying that he never should wish to serve under an abler commander. But his heartiest and most enthusiastic utterances were in admiration of the cathedral edifices of England, and notably of York Minster. He dwelt with great animation upon the vibration of the air produced by the deep notes of the organ in York Minster, and which he had never heard equalled elsewhere. It is rare to find in a Presbyterian such appreciation and admiration of cathedral magnificence.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.
Abbreviations:

ER: East Riding
GM: Greater Manchester
NR: North Riding
NY: North Yorkshire
SY: South Yorkshire
WR: West Riding
WY: West Yorkshire

Comment

Via John Bibby, who also points to Lord Wolsey, who reported that “He told me that in all his travels he had seen nothing so beautiful as the lancet windows in York Minster” (Bibby 2022).

How similar are the modern-day acoustic and organ?

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Original

At a distance of seven miles from General Lee’s head-quarters, near the little village of Bunker Hill, were the head-quarters of the hero of heroes of this struggle, General “Stonewall” Jackson. We had been taught to expect a morose, reserved, distant reception; we found the most genial, courteous, and forthcoming, of companions. A bright, piercing, blue eye, a slightly aquiline nose, a thin, tall, sinewy frame, “made all over of pinwire,” a great disregard of dress and appearance – these are the characteristics of General Jackson’s exterior. There is also about him a very direct and honest look. The disappointing circumstance is, that his voice, which is rapid in its utterance, is weak and unimpressive. Passionately attached to the Valley of Virginia, which has for so long been the principal scene of his achievements, idolized by the inhabitants of Winchester and of the Valley, General Jackson has acquired such a fame in that entire neighbourhood that it is sad to think what would happen if the one life round which such prestige clings should yield to a stray bullet or to the chance of disease. Sinewy and wiry as the general seems, it is impossible not to fancy that he is wearing himself terribly by his restless, sleepless activity, by his midnight marches, and by the asceticism of his life. The respect and consciousness of his presence, and what that presence means, exhibited by his staff, impressed me very strongly, and seemed to exceed the respect exhibited towards General Lee. He spoke a few hearty words of admiration of General Lee, saying that he never should wish to serve under an abler commander. But his heartiest and most enthusiastic utterances were in admiration of the cathedral edifices of England, and notably of York Minster. He dwelt with great animation upon the vibration of the air produced by the deep notes of the organ in York Minster, and which he had never heard equalled elsewhere. It is rare to find in a Presbyterian such appreciation and admiration of cathedral magnificence.

342 words.