The weekly Arizona miner., 1870-06-11
Che >< aNmer,
The Story of a Rebel Song,

y,osenau Jaekson's Hag was written at Oakland, Aleghany county, Maryland, almost within hearing of the guns at Antietam. About ten days after the battle 1t Inst ap- pcared in print, inthe columns of tue Baiti- more Republican (by the author), headed Pound on the Body cf A Sergeant Of the Oid Storowall Brigade, Killed at Winches- ter" The original copy had dropped from his pocket in the heart of the Federal en- camp,nent at Antietam he then being special correspondent of Northern journal.
 Taken from the Repabiieaa, the song was at once set to music and published simulta- neousy by two music dealers in Baltimore, but with different aires. The one to which it was popularly sung throughout Virginia, and especially in the Confederate army in the Valley, was composed by young Fred erick Benteen, q remarkable musical genius, whose early death was not only private but 6 public loss. The sympathizers of Bal timore caught the tune as eagerly as they had that of Hy af1rsaaad; but their enthusiasm met with a rude check at the hands of the reigning provost-marshal, who seized and burned the sheets, destroyed the plates and cauterzed the wound inflicted upon loyal hearts by applying red-hot oath of allegi- ance to several of the music-sellers of the city
 But the song had already gone through "the lines" It was reprinted in Richmond, and galy sung by every woman and child in the Valley of Virginia-especialy by the ad- mirers oi Gen Jeb Stuart, with whom it was fayorite ditty. Once, the author, in pass ing alone and by night from Gen. Breckin- ridges army (then lying near Woodstock to Richmond was arrested at Gordonsyile as Federal spy, and while guarded by two sen tries in the public room of an inn was recog- nized by stranger as the man who wrote .StoaeraH .idckson's Uay.
 In every printed collection of the poems and songs of the war this one has been awarded prominent place, and almost every compiler has sought for information concern ing its origin and authorship. At one time the title of the song was used as a handy newspaper phrase, to describe the character istic exploits of its hero; and Nonerdu Jdek- son's Hay appeared at the head of reports and editorials in the Southern press.
 As an example of the interest 1t aroused we may mention that Dr Oliver Wendell Holmes, in his lively lecture on the Songs of the War spoke of Sone,eaR Jackson's UdV as by far the best song that had come from the rebel side Another writer cites it as fine example of the true and stirring bal lad, comparing it with Whittier's wellkDown Barbara Freitchie. A leading New York Journal once characterized it as "a ballad that will last as long as the war is remembered ;n and Pataams MoatAty has twice pointed to it as a genuine inspiration. Nor has its fame been confined to this country. A literary nobleman of England wrote to an American poet, requesting him to procure, if possible, an autograph copy of the song.
 In every place it has appeared anonymously, except in Miss Mason's compilation, published in Baltimore; by her it is erroneously ascribed to one De Riviere," Of course, its text by frequent reprinting, has suffered much damage at the hands of printers, proof readers. With the exception of the original draft in the old Rspubiicda, and a copy fur pished long afterwards by the New York Round Table, the one here given, is the only correct copy ever printed.
 In Virginia the authorship has commonly been attributed to a very uncertain "lady." The legitimate parent of the song is we'll known Journalist and magazine writer, for meriy of Baltimore, whose name is familiar to the readers of the Ahaatic Monthly; and many ladies and gentlemen of that city are cogHizant If the facts here first made public, setting forth the true story of IStoaerau Jack- sOn's Way eas
 sToSEwALL JAcKsoS's WAY.
 
 Come siack arms men Pile on the rails,
 Stir up the camp-fre bright!
 No matter If the canteeu falls
 We'll make roaring night. " H siss eA Here Shenandoah brswls along,
 There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong
 To swell the brigade's rousing song
 Of StonewaIi Jackson's way.
 We see him now; the queer slonched hat
 Cooked OCT his eye askew; w rf shrewd, dry smile; the speech so pat,
 So calm, so bluut so true E
 The cute old Elder knoss them well;
 Says he, |" That's Banks--hes fond of shell;
 Lord save his souli Wen give him Welt
 That's stonewsll Jaekson's way.
 Silence. Ground arms Kneel all Caps of!
 Old Biue lights going 10 pray;
 StraBgie the fool that darcs to se0ff-
 AtfeDtIoBi It's his way.
 Appealing from his native sod,
 In lorna pqssperis, to God
 Lay bare Thine army Stretch forth Thy rod
 Ahem w--t that's stonewall's way.
 He's in tlse saddle now; Fall In, ar
 Steady! the whole brigade af Hillp at tbe ford--cut oM We'll win
 His way 0uf hall and blade