Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-07
WAR PHRASES.
A Few OF the Notable Expressions
Growing Out Of she War.

The COLLATION. OF Tue ISudEhaDio puTaSos
growing out of the war with the South is
not a work Of great magnitude, but yet
there are a number Of sayings that have
become a part Of history. Edward A. Pol
lard contributes to Appleton's Journal a
COMPENDIUM of few of these, accompanied
by a brief account Of their origin. First
among those expressions that found its way
into the public press and general war-tslk,
was Jefferson Davis first supplication to
the federal authorities.
1--WE DESIRE ONLY TO BE LET ALONE"
In his first message ID the Confederate
Congress, at Montgomery, Ala, "Presi-
denLn Davis undertook the defence of the
right of secession, aud crowned an elabo-
rate argument with the declaration quoted
above. It was an unfortunate and weak
expression, very vulnerable and easily
twisted to the purposes Of caricature. It
came, indeed, to be extensively caricztured,
and thus obtained popular quotation,
much against the dignity Of the Southern
cause. Every rogue "desired only to be let
alOne;" it was the ludicrous excuse for all
sorts of crime, when the newspapers want
ed to make laughing-stock of any scape-
grace, in situations of embarrassment, all
the way from the police court to the his
torical drama. A popular priRt in the
shop windows of Northern cities illustrated
the argument, and lampooned its author as
a burglar making off with his plumber, an
armful of miniature fortresses, and ships
of war, and bags Of money, 'Uncle Sam"
clinging to his coat-tails, and the detained
victim, With an air Of injured innocence,
exciaiming, as he attempts to escape out
of window, Il desire only to be let alone!"
The aspiration Of Mr. Davis for Southern
Independence could scarcely have been
more unfortunately expressed. 1t gave q
handle to ridicule which was long used
against the South, and which Jet OCCASION
ally serves turn for popular derision.
''sToNEwALL" JACKSON.
"There are Jackson and lis men, stand
ing Like a stone wall"
The above words have been treasured in
the south as he. ole legend of what was its
most briliisn5 and decided (not deci -ive)
victory IN the late war. In the battle of
Manassas (ss the south yet persists in call
ing it, rather than "Bull Run"-the solitary
instance where it has not allowed the north
to name the fields Of the war; the cODfeder-
ate lines were broken ID the early part of
the day. Gen. Bee, who commanded some
South Carolina troops among those frag-
ments, sought in vain to rally them, until
Jackson and the Virginians came to sup
port them, near the "S5Ona Bridges" and
then the distressed general called out loud
II the words recorded above. The words
have been especially endeared aud preserv-
ed in the south in their application TO Jack
son individually, having bestowed upon
him the name Of "Stonewall." It is proper
TO explain here that Gen. Jackson always
and very peTJinently declined the name for
himself, and insisted that it belonged TO his
command, and that he had no right to
usurp it from them. He was content to
remain plain Jonathan Jackson. Bnt
the southern public persisted in applying
"StOnewalr' to him, with such success that
he was never afterward popularity known
by any other name; and, indeed, it was so
commonly accepted that many have ,ais.
taken it for the bona .fde baptismal desig-
nation Of the great southern general. Gen.
jackson was anxious TO perpetuate the
name on his cOmmand-then a brigade
drawn from some counties of Piedmont,
Virginia; but, in the subsequent reorganiza-
ton of the confederate army, the brigade
was broken up and lost its identity, aud
the person Ofits old commander alone re-
manned to associate and preserve the mem
DRY Of the scene at Manassas.
''THIS Is A GOOD PLACE TO DIE IN"
Another incident of memorable words
occurred on the same field of Manassas, a
little while after Bees exclamation and his
fall. 1t was noon when the confederate
left wing, suffering and disordered, had
ay1snH on 4hn rafafaan fhn
house" and the faderals were bringing up
their reserves for an increased attack. The
crisis was perceived by Gen. Beauregard,
a. distance of four miles, he then being on
the other wing of the army, looking for de-
v6lopment of the battle near Centreville.
He swept over the distance as fast as his
horse could lay his hoofs to the ground
be bestrOde beautiful blooded animal,
present from boswell, q sOmewh hat famous
horsefancier OF Richmond-and rider and
horse burst like splendid spparition into
the midst of the disordered and tremulous
scene near the Henry house. The scene is
described BY one of Gen. Beauregard's staff,
who rode at his side, as grand and effecting.
The blue and the gold of ''the Grand Army"
of the north stood in masses on the plain,
or were woven into the forest; the light of
SPLENDID summers sun pulsed On the scene;
the blue seats Of the distant mountains fig
ured an august amphitheatre; the suspense
of tens of thousands of hearts breathed on
ly expectation, and locked for what was
next to come. Turning to those immedi-
ately near him, and with 8 great thought
glittering in his eyes, Gen. Beauregard said
simply, but with an inteDseness that sent
every brief word to the heart, "This is a
good place to die in" The words were in
stsntly caught up; they passed from month
to month; they were undoubtedly part of
the inspiration which, ten minutes later,
enabled the confederates to hurl back the
foe, and constituted the first wave Of tri-
umph that the southern arms had had in
that variable day.
''BOMBARD AND BE DID %
When Mcclellan, in 1852, was coming up
ethe Peninsula" to invest Richmond, there
was in that city day of excitement which
has since become historical. 1t was an
nounced one afternoon that the federal
feet, was ascending the river, and, as the
water avenue to the confederate capital was
then almost open, the expectation was i'm
minent OF range of iron-clads appearing
off Rockets and bombarding the city. The
bells were ruDg for general alarm, and
basty and excited concourse Of people soon
filed the city hall. Mayor Mayo addressed
them in tremulous tones, but with spirit
to which bis age and gray hairs afforded
contrast. He said that, no
doubt, Richmond would soon be under the
fire of the enemy's feet. As there was no
military commander of The place, JohDson's
army being yet distant, the demand for
surrender would probably be made upon
himself, and his reply would be, to take
musket, notwithstanding the near eighty
years on his shoulders, and go into the
ranks OF the defenders of city that his an
cestors had founded. Great applause en-
sued, in the midst Of which Gov. Letcher
arose. He said be had better reply III re-
serve for the enemy than that which "Uncie
Joe" Ghe mayor had suggested. They
,vo,,l6 r,ro ha bIv make their first demand of