The Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson, had been on one occasion
most hospitably entertained in the house and by the family of an old
Virginia friend. It was known at the time that some very important
movement of the Confederate army was afoot, and just as the great
general was about to take his departure from the house in which he had
been so royally received, the host, eager with curiosity and presuming
on old friendship, took the general aside, and begged him for some
information as to the coming demonstrations. Passing his arm
affectionately around his old friend General Jackson said in a whisper,
"My dear friend, can you keep a secret?" "Yes--Yes!" was the eager
reply. "And so can I," was the response, as the general mounted his
horse.