About Christmas, 1856, Maj. Hills household were at breakfast at his home at Davidson College, when one of his servants came to the door and announced to Mrs. Hill that “Aunt _____”, one of the negro slaves of Dr. Morrison’s was there just from “Cottage Home”, the name of Dr. M’s. home. She was called up and gave Miss Hill the “news”. In reply to Mrs Hill’s question as to whether “Miss Anna had had any beaux lately, she said she did not know but there was a gentleman there then and she heard that he was there to see Miss Anna. In answer to inquiries she said she had seen him out walking – that he was a tall man and had brass buttons on his cap – that one of the little boys had blacked his boots and he said that they were very big ones. There upon Maj Hill laughingly remarked “that must be Jackson”. This conjecture of Hill’s was after some days confirmed by further news from “Cottage Home” – that Maj. Jackson had during the Christmas recess at the V M Institute, got a short furlough and had come down to visit friends in N.C.

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In May 1857 at Davidson College N.C., I recd. the following letter from Major Jackson.

Lexington, Va. May 25. 1857.

My dear Friend: I suppose that you are looking forward to the coming vacation with all a Professor’s interest in such seasons of relaxation and enjoyment. I do not wish to interfere with your summer arrangements, but if you can without too much inconvenience officiate as a groomsman for me about the middle of July next when I am to be married to Miss Anna Morrison I will regard it as a special favor. Our friend Thomas Preston is to make one of the official number.

As the time is somewhat distant I have as yet only mentioned the subject to friends.

Your friends here are [in] usual health. Massie is probably a little more under political excitement than is consistent with his comfort, as on the uncertain suffrages of a popular election depend his prospects of being a member of our next Legislature.

Please let me hear from you as early as convenient.

Your sincere friend.
T.J. Jackson.

Thomas Preston who is referred to in this letter was the oldest son of Co. & Mrs. F. L. Preston, a Prof. at the V.M.I. He was a fellow student with me at Washington College and my room-mate the session of 1854-5, at the University of Va.

“Massie” spoken of in the letter had graduated some years previously at the V.M.I. and was then practicing the law in Lexington, Va and an intimate friend of Col. Jackson and a half brother of my first cousins in Waynesboro.

The next month, at Davidson College, I recd. the following letter from Major Jackson.

Lexington Va. June 8th 1857

My dear friend, Please accept my thanks for consenting to officiate as groomsman for me in the event of the time fixed for my marriage not preventing you from so doing.

When I wrote to you I expected that the ceremony would take place at such a period as would not interfere with your vacation after the 16th of July to which you refer as the date of your Commencement. But from a letter written on Tuesday last I see that the day named is later than the 16th and it may be found necessary to postpone beyond the time mentioned.

Should you expect to remain south after the 16th July, please let me know how long, as this will enable one to determine so soon as I learn the wedding day whether you can without inconvenience be present.

If your plans for the summer require that you should leave after Commencement, you must not interfere with them in the least on my account.

It was not my design when I wrote you to occasion you any delay Should you be coming north at once you need not give yourself the trouble of writing. It may be that the time is definitely fixed before this and that before your letter comes to hand I may be able
to speak positively of the period.

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