14 MAY 1965, Page 15

Foot Cavalry

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SIR.—In last week's Spectator. Mr. Goronwy Rees classed Thomas Jonathan Jackson as one of the Southern cavalry leaders in the War of the Rebellion. His famous infantry corps (retire, 'the Stonewall Brigade,' was indeed known as 'the foot cavalry' because their commander made them march so fast. This may be what Mr. Rees means. I also note, with pain, that Mr. Roy Hattersley attributes the best of American jokes to Oscar Wilde. 'Good Americans when they die go to Paris' was said by Tom Apple- ton, of Boston, and given currency by 'The Auto- crat of the Breakfast Table,' Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. of Boston. Oscar stole the joke, which' would not have surprised Whistler.

Peterhouse, Cambridge

DENIS BROGAN