Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-05-13
From the New York World.
The story Of n Rebel Song.
BY A LADY OF BALTIMORE.

aH4oSI =. "A.nld neaI1nB OF the guns OF An
tletam. About ten days after that battle
1t first appeared in print in the columns of
the Baltimore Republican (by the author,)
headed: "Found on the BODY of a Ser-
geant Of the Old Stonewall Brigade, Killed
at Winchester" The original copy had
dropped from his pocket in the heart of
the Federal encampment at Antietam, he
beIng then special correspondent of a
Northern journal.
Taken from the Republican, the song
was at once set to music, and published
simultaneously by two music dealers in
Baltimore, but with different airs, The
one to which it was popularity sung
throughout Virginia, and especially in the
Confederate army in the Valley, was COM
posed Icy young Frederick Benteen, q re-
markable musical genius, whose early
death was not only public but a private
loss. The ''sympathisers'' of Baltimore
caught the tune as eagerly as they had
that OF my Maryland;" but their enthu-
slasm met with q rude check at the hands
OF the relgning provost-marshal, who
seized and burned the sheets, destroyed
the plates, and cauterized the wound in
iicted upon loyal hearts by applying o
red-hot oath of allegiance to several of
the music sellers of the city.
But the song had already gone through
''the lines" It was reprinted in Rich
mond, 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 Woodstock to Richmond, was
arrested at Gordonsville as Federal Spy,
and while guarded by two centres in the
public room of an inn was recognized by
stranger as ''the man who wrote Stone
wall Jackson's Way"
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
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 al
the head of reports and editorials in the
Southern press.
we may mention that DIR. Oliver Wendell
Holmes, in hislively lecture on the 'tSongs
of the War" spoke Of "Stonewall jack
sons Way 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 ballad, comparing it with
Whlttler's well-known Barbara Freit-
chic" A leading New York journal once
characterized it rs ''a ballad that will live
Putnam's Monthly has twice pointed TO it
as genuine inspiration. Nor has its fame
been confined to this country. A literary
noblemaE of England wrote to an Ameri-
can poet, requesting him to procure, If
possible, an autograph copy of the song.
,,,ans1n dn very PLACE it ,I las appeared anony-
tion, published in Baltimore; by her 1t is
crronoouely oscribod to one "DeRivivere.
Of course, its text, by frequent reprinting,
has suffered much damage at the hands Of
printers proof readers, with the excep-
ton Of the original draft in the old Re-
publican, and @ copy furnished long after
wards by the New York Round Table, the
one here given, is the only correct copy
ever printed.
In Virginia the authorship has common
" been attributed TO very uncertain
Gladly" The legitimate parent of the song
is q well-known journalist and magazine
writer. formerly Of Baltimore, whose name
is familiar to the readers OF the Atlantic
Monthly; and many ladies and gentlemen
of that city are cognizant of the facts here
first made public, setting forth the true
story Of 'StoneWall Jackson's Way"
sTcNEwA11 JAcKsoN's WAY.
Come. stack arms, menE Pile on the rails,
Stir up the campfire bright
No matter if the canteen fails
Won make a roaring night.
Here Shenandoah braWls along,
There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong,
70 swell the brigade's rousng song,
OF StoneWau Jackson's way.
We see him now; the queer, sIouched 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 well
Says he, ''ThGts Banks-he's fond OF shell
Lord save his soull Well give him"-Weus
That's StonewaQ Jackson's way.
silencel Ground armsl Kneel all! Gaps on
Old *Blue-Ight's going to pray
Strangle the fool that dares to scoff-
Attention. It's his way.
Appealing from his native sod,
In fOr71d pGgtper'iS. to God
"Lay bare Thine arm! Stretch forth Thy rod !
Amen that's StoneWslPs 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 worn z
What matter il our feet are torn
Quick step! We're with him before morn
! That's StoneWau Jackson's way.
| The sun's bright lances rout the msts
| Ofmorning and, by George
| Here's Longstreet struggling in the lists,
! Hemmed IN an ugly gorge.
| fopo and his Yankees whipped before.
| 'Bay'nets and grape !" hear 6tonewaiI roar.
Charge, Stuart! Pay of Ashbys score,
In Stonowall Jackson's way!
All, maiden wait. an watch, and yearp,
For news CT Stcuowails band
An. widow read, with eyeB that burn,
That ring NJ On thy hand
Ali, w.fs! sew on. prGy on, hope onl
Thy life shaI not be ali fOrlorn.
The fCo hal better nc'er been born,
That ac-I IL StoucwGlPs way.
Though comparatively young at his death
he wac old III his ways, ana in the affections o
his men.
A torpedo under the pavement of q st
Louis street the other day exploded, great
ly alarming the neighbor5. A long bottle
which apparently had been filed will
powder, and TO which small bar of iroI
had been attached, had been showed in I'm
der the curbstoue, and was doubtless ig
nited by a slow match. Tho explosion
was of extreme violence, nptearing n por
tion of the sidewalk, sbattering windov
pane8 and shaking the mortar from th'
houscs ia tho vicinity. Most fortunatel.
| nobody was burt.