Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-01-19

" = udF0 UCcA 1CfuOooCu w CIV PoOAAoisy
to the following circular to the members Of
the Old ss.Ssat,nawall." We hope that it may
meet with ready response, and that each
one may look upon the object to be effected
as labor of love:
WINCHESTER, January 1 1866.
To the ssycseors Of the StonewaU Brigade:
I write to you on a subject in which you
must ever feel a deep interest. A strong
reverence for the memory Of Stonewall
jackson and strict regard for our renewed
allegiance to the United States need not be
inconsistent, much less conflicting. Were
he living he would still be our friend although
not our General He is dead it is right
that we should not neglect the memory Of SO
good man.
When General jackson died, Mrs. jack
son had his body taken to Lexington and
buried, as she thought most consistent with
his wishes and his character, in the grave
yard of his church There, after his bril-
liant and renowned career, he sleeps in a
simple grave-quietly and well.
Shortly after the death Of our General,
when the Stonewall Brigade met together to
take such action as they deemed proper to
show their respect for their lost General and
friend, they determined, appropriately and
delicately, to place simple monument over
his remains. :
was instructed to communicate this
earnest wish of the Brigade in the matter,
II, Of
son with that wish if it was agreeable to her
feelings. She kindly replied that she sin
cerely appreciated the motives which promp-
ted the request, and that it was pleasure
to her to be able thus to crafty a body Of
soldiers and friends whom she loved as they
had loved her husband She accordingly
granted the request with only, the condition
that the proposed monument should pc char
acterized by simplicity as the Generals life
had been. Subscriptions were accordingly
raised, confined to the members of the Stone
wall Brigade and the Rockbridge Artillery,
and the sum of six thousand dollars was, in
a week, placed in my hands, and by me de-
posted in bank in Richmond. AS it was
not deemed practicable to erect a suitable
monument during the war, the money was
converted into Confederate bonds. It was
lost. General Jackson's grave is unmarked
by single stone The Stonewall Brigade
exists no longer as an organization, but ma
nv of it's men still survive. and with them a
sacred regard for the memory of their first
commander To the survivors Of this Brig
ade, and the Rockbridge Artillery formerly
an important part of it, I now propose, hav-
ing received the consent Of Mrs. jackson, to
erect suitable monument over the grave of
our friend 1t is tribute to the mightiest
and best beloved of our dead, which | con-
cede can in no wise conflict with our duty to
State or country. We may surely mark the
spot where lies the body of him, whom his
tory will make live forever.
To the end of this letter are appended the
names of gentlemen in different parts of Vir-
GINA, where the former members of the
Brigade principally reside, to whom the
subscriptions can be paid. When the neces-
sary sum is raised arrangements will be made
to have the monument erected at once, after
consultation on it's style and character with
Mrs. jackson and the influential friends of
the General. 1t is desirable that the matter
should be conducted with the same delicacy
which characterized the original undertaking.
No appeal, | hope, is necessary to the
honor and feelings of the survivors of that
Brigade. To our keeping has been confded
the remains of that great and Christian SOL
der, whose honored name we shared for four
eventful years.
HENRY KYD DOUGLAS,
Formerly Inspector stonewall Brigade,
and A. [. Gen. to General Jackson.
Will the following gentlemen act in this
matter as indicated in the body of the letter:
Then al please communicate Nth the acra-
ter upon s,5Iht Of his address, and if there
is any reason wiz any one cannot act as re
quested, inform him o. the fact, and suggest
thehame of some one to tqlpply his place
They will please endeavor to bring the sub:
iect to the attention of those addressed, ano
get others to interest themselves. Tht
specified subscription may be one dollar OF
half dollar. Those who are able may give
as much more as they wish but it is right
that in this matter the tributary mite Of ths
Generals huublest friend should not be de-
clined. Gen. James A. Walker, Pulaski
county; Gen. VIM. Terry, Wytheville; Col
F. W. M. Holiday and Maj. R. W. Hun
ter, Winchester; Prof Hunter Mcclure
NJ D., and Lieut.. r. Fisher, Richmond
Maj. Jacob R. Braithwaite, Baltimore; Lit
tleton Macon Charlottesville, Prof. James
} White and Capt. Archie Graham, Lexington
Col. j. @. A. Nadenbousch, Martinsburg
Capt. f. +. Barnhart Shepherdstown; Col
VIM. Allan and Capt A. NJ. CARRIER, Staun
ten; Gen. J, R. Jones, Harrisonburg; Col
A. Spangler, Moorefeld; Maj. JAS. New
ton, Greenvillc; Capt. G. H. Shearer
Charlestown; Capt. Grace, Hamp
shire county; McHenry Howard, Baltimore
and any others who may feel an interest il
the matter
All papers favorable please copy.