New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-06
From the New York World]
TIKI STORY OF A REREL SONG,
BY A LADY OF BALTIMORE.

BY A LADY OF BALTIMORE.
| "Stonewall JacksOn's Way was written
| at Oakland, Allegheny county, Maryland,
| almost within hearing of the guns of Antie-
| tam. About ten days after that battle it
| first appeared in print in the columns of the
| Baltimore Republican. (by the author),
| headed "Found on the Body of Sergeant
| of the Old Stonewall Brigade, Killed at Win.
| chester" The original copy had dropped
| from his pocket in the heart of the Federal
| encampment at Antietan, he being then
special correspondent of Northern journal.
Taken from the Republican, the song was
| at once set to music, and published slmul-
taneously by two music dealers in Balti.
more, but with different airs. The one to
| which it was popularity sung throughout
Virgins, and especially in the Confederate
army in the valley, was composed by young
Frederick Benteen, a remarkable musical
genius, whose early death was not only q
private but public loss. The "sympa-
| thizers' of Baltimore caught the tune as
eagerly as they had that of my Mary land;"
but their enthusiasm met with q rude check
at the hands of the reigning provost mar.
shall, who seized and burned the sheets, de-
stroyed the plates, and cauterized the wound
| inflicted upon loyal hearts by applying red
hot oath of allegiance to several the music
sellers of the city.
But the song had already gone through
ssthe lines" It was reprinted in Richmond
| and gaily sung by every woman and child
in the Valley OF Virginia, especially by the
| admirers of General Jeb Stuart, with whom
| it was favorite ditty. Once the author, in
passing alone and by night from General
Breckinridge's army (then lying near Wood
stock to Richmond, was arrested at Cor
louisville as Federal spy, and while
guarded by two sentries in the public room
of hu ctr
''the man VINO wrote 'Stonewall Jackson's
Way"
In every printed collection OF the poems
and songs of the war this one has been
awarded a prominent place, and almost
| every compiler has sought for Information
concerning its origin and authorship. At
one time the title OF the song WAS used as
handy newspaper phrase, to describe the
characteristic exploits Of its hero; and
"Stonewall Jackson's Way" appeared at
the head of reports and editorials ID the
Southern press.
AS an example of the interest it aroused,
we may mention that DR.. Oliver Wendell
Holmes: in his lively lecture on the Songs
OF the War; spoke of "Stonewau Jack5ons
Way" as by far the best song that had come
from the rebel side. Another writer cites
it IS a fine example of the true and stirring
ballad, Comparing it with Whittier's we'll
known barbara Freitchie." A leading
New York journal once characterized it as
"a ballad that will live as long as the war is
rene mbered;" and Putnana's Monthly has
twice pointed to it as genuine inspiration.
Nor has its fame been confined to this coun-
try. literary nobleman of England wrote
to an American poet, requesting him to pro-
cure, If possible, an autograph copy Of the
song.
in every place it has appeared anonymous
ly, except in Miss MasOn's compilation, pub
I, IA. l. - l..
ascribed to one "De Riviere." OF course,
its text. by frequent reprinting, has suffered
much damage at the hands OF the printers
proof.readers. With the exception Of the
original draft in the old Republican, and
copy furnished long afterward by the New
YORK Round Table the one here given is the
only correcs copy ever printed.
In Virginia the authorship has commonly
been attributed to very uncertain "lady."
The legitimate parent of the song is a we'll
known journalist and magazine writer, for
merly OF Baltimore, whose name is familiar
to the readers of the atlantic Monthly; aud
many ladies and gentlemen of that city are
cognizant of the facts here first made pub
lie, setting forth the true story Of "Stone-
wall Jackson's Way:
sToNEwALL sTONEwALL's WAY.
Come. stack arms, men! Pile on the rails,
Stir up the camp fire bright!
No matter If the canteen fails
Well make a roaring night.
Here Shenandoah brawls along,
There burly Rlue Ridge echoes strong,
To swell the brigade's rousipg song
OF StonewalI Jackson's way.
We see him now; the queer. slouched hat,
Cooked DER his eye askew;
The shrewd, dry smile; the speech so pat,
So calm, so blunt, so true!
The cute old Elder knows them we'll;
Says he, 'That's Banks-he's fond of shell;
Lord save his soul! Wen give him"-Well !
That's Stonewall Jackson's way.
Silence! Ground arms! Kneel all! Caps off
Old *Blue-light's going to pray;
Strangle the fool that dares to scott
Attention! It's mis- way
Appealing from his native sod,
In lorna pGuperis, to Cod
'Lay bare Thine arm! Stretch forth Thy rod!
Amen !"-That's Stonewalps way.
He's in the saddle now: Fall in!
Steady! the whole brigade.
Hills at the ford-cut Off; we'll win
His way out ball and blade.
What matter if our shoes are worn?
What matter if our feet be torn?
Quick step! We're with him before morn
That's StoneWall Jackson's way.
The suns bright lances rout the mists
OF morning; and, by George!
Here's Longstreet struggling in the lists,
Hemmed in an ugly gorge.
Pope and his Yankees whipped before,
"Bay'nets and grape - hear Stonewall roar.
Charge. Stuart! Pay off Ashby's score,
In Stonewall Jacksons way!
All, maiden wait, and watch, and yearn,
For news of Stonewall's band;
All, widow! read, with eyes that burn,
That ring upon thy hand;
All, wife! sew on, pray on, hope on
Thy life.shall not be all forlorn.
The foe had better meier been born,
That acts in Stonewall's way.
p.
Enough comparatively young at mis- death. he |
was old his ways and in the affections OF ms men
WALsHE's New FURNISHING GooDs.-The
amount of taste displayed by Mr.. 3. I.
Walshe, No. ITO Canal street, in the selec- |
ion of his spring stock this season, has been
. matter of considerable comment among