Levi JACKSON, CSA Veteran

The Dillon Herald, Dillon, South Carolina
February 15, 1923, Vol. 30, No. 30

DEATH CLAIMS BRAVE SOLDIER
Mr. Levi Jackson Passes at His Home
Near Dillon After Brief Illness

While the passing of Mr. Levi Jackson, better known as "Uncle" Levi", whose death occurred Monday morning at his home near Dillon, another brave follower of Lee and Jackson has been drafted from the thinning ranks of the living to join his comrades on the other shore. The end came peacefully and "Uncle" Levi obeyed the final summons as calmly as he had faced the dangers of the battlefield in the days of civil strife.

As late as last Friday Mr. Jackson was on the streets of Dillon greeting his friends and acquaintance in his usual cheerful way. In conversation with several gentlemen he said if the Lord spared him till next July he would pass his 86th year. Apparently his health was good and he showed unusual vitality for one of his years. He conversed freely with those about him and looked into the future with confidence. He was ill only a few days and his passing was a severe shock to those with whom he had mingled a short while before his death.

"Uncle" Levi was one of the bravest soldiers that ever followed Lee and Jackson. He was one of six brothers who went through the war all of whom were good soldiers. Mr. Jackson himself volunteering in 1862. He was sent to Camp near Florence, S. C. being transferred from there to Manassas, Va., where he went into his first battle under command of Kershaws Brigade, McLure's Division, Longstreets corps.

He was in battle at Orange Court House, Culpepper, Ga., twice at Malvern Hill, Jamestown, the Battle of Seven Pines, the Battle of the Crater near Petersburg. He was wounded in the battle of White Oak Swamp or Riddles's Shop, the Battle of Winchester, the Battle of Guinea Station and at Strauseburg, being wounded in both arms in the latter battle. He was also in the battle of North Ann River, being sent from there to Sharpsburg.

Next he was sent to Gettsyburg, Pa., and from there to Missionary Ridge in Tennessee. He marched from Chattanooga to Knoxville where he was engaged in another battle, thence to Bristol, Tenn. and on to Virginia where he took part in the battle of Wilderness, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. At Spottsylvania Court House he was engaged in forty days of continuous fighting.

Mr. Jackson had a war record of which any soldier should be proud. He never shirked. He was always among the first to respond to the bugle call and no braver soldier ever followed Lee and Jackson. He was a born soldier and even though advanced in years he watched the movements of troops in the late war with keen interest. He knew the positions of the various armies at the front and commented in characteristic style on the different maneuvers they employed in outwitting the enemy. Trench warfare was not pleasing to "Uncle" Levi. He criticized it as being too slow. He often said that old Stonewall could take and army of men like those who followed him through the civil war and reach Berlin while the allied armies were thinking about it.

At the close of the war Mr. Jackson returned to his home and engaged in farming which he followed until the day of his death. He did not accumulate much of the world's good, but he lived the life of a good citizen, doing his duty as he saw it, with charity toward all and malice toward none. His passing removed a familiar figure in the life of the community, and he will be missed not only by those with whom he came in close contact each day. But also by those who know him by his cordial greeting and friendly spirit.

He was buried as he would have wished with military honors, the local National Guard turning out to a man, in full uniform, as a mark of respect to the memory of a man who was deserving of respect in every sense of the word.

Transcriber's note: The rest of the article was missing from the microfilm.

Transcribed by Helen B. Moody from microfilm at the Dillon Library, Dillon, South Carolina

Submitted by Helen Moody, 15 Sept 2003.