Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-02-05

town, Nd, writes 10 tue OuHtWoTedH,
published in Baltimore City, as fol-
lows:-
In September, 1861, the organization
of the Confederate army in Virginia
was changed. Gen. Joseph E. John
ston assumed command Of the depart
ment, with bis headquarters in the
"Army of Northern Virginia" which
was under ths immediate command of
Geu. Beauregard. At the same time,
Brigadier Generals Longstreet and
Jackson were promoted to the rank of
Major Generals, Longstreet, the senior
in rank, remained with the army Of
Northern Virginia Jackson was soon
detached from it and sent to Winches-
ter, to take command of the few troops
composing the "Army of the Valley
District"
The officers and men of the Stone
wall Brigade received the announce
ment of General Jackson's promotion
with equal qualification and regret.
The rank and fle-whose confidence
in their General began very early in
his career, and was never shaken-re-
joiced that he was appreciated and
valued, but they wondered what would
become of them when he left. One of
them, a corporal, who afterwards be-
came an officer distinguished in his
regiment, declared with inimitable
emphasis, that although, "Old Jack"
had kept him in the guard-house for
two weeks, for little or nothing, yet if
the General would consent to remain
with his brigade, he would be willing
to spend half Of his time in the guard
house, until the end of the war,
provided ne was always let out in time
of battle The officers generally, were
of the same opinion, although some
expressed their regret at the Generals
promotion they doubted his ability to
manage larger command, or as one
of them put it, they feared the govern
| mcnt had exchanged frst-class Briga-
der for commonplace Major General.
These few did not, like the men in the
ranks, feel the warmth of this dawning
genius, who afterwards rose so rapidly
and so grandly.
The brigade was encamped at Cen
treville On the morning of October
4th, il wa. announced that the General
would take leave of it by General
Order, but he would receive any Off
Ger who might desire to call upon him.
Accordingly, a number of them, repre-
senting each regiment and company,
went to pay their parting respects to
him. As Lieutenant in the Second
Virginia Regiment, was one of them.
The interview was brief As we took
our departure, being the youngest in
years and rank, was the last to say
good bye l then ventured to say,
that having recently been in the ranks,
I desired to express the great regret Of
the soldiers at parting with him; and
while they wished him every success in
his new command, they hoped he would
not forget that he left behind brigade
that would be ready to obey his call
promptly if he should ever need their
services. With a pleasing brightness
in his eyes, he replied: 81 am much
obliged to you and the soldiers of my
brigade; want TO take them with ME
but cannot; whether / shall be with
them again or not, | will never forget
them. In battle will always want
them"
As little a, I expected then to be a
member of his staff, still less did |
foresee of his coming fame, or recog-
nize in advance tho foremost soldier
of all his time"
1t having been represented to Gener-
al Jackson that the men were very
anxious to see him before he LETT, ne
reconsidered his intention, and consent
ed to see and say farewell to them.
The brigade was drawn up in rear of
the camp of the Second Virginia Regi-
ment, and formed in column of regi-
ments closed en- masse. The General,
accompanied by several of his staff,
rode up to the troops upon his "llttle
sorrel." After glancing for moment
over the silent and attentive mass, he
took off his cap, and in his quick, sharp
and earnest voice, addressed them as
follows:
TNorE.-This speech was reported
at the time for the Richmond Dispatch,
by Sergeant Harri, Towner, of my
company, and myself. 1t will be found
also in Cookies Life Of Jackson, taken,
I suppose, from that paper. Sergeant
Towner was killed at Kernstown, and
a gallant soldier he was.
"Officers and men of the First Bri-
gade am here simply tosay farewell.
/ first met you at Harpers Ferry, in
the beginning of the war, and l cannot
take leave of you without giving ex-
preston to my admiration of your con-
duct from that day to this, whether OIL
the march, in the bivouac, the tented
field, or that bloody plains Of Manassas,
where you gained the well-deseryed
reputation of having decided the fate
of the battle. Throughout the broad
extent of country over which you have
marched, by your respect for the rights
and property of citizens, you have
shown that you were soldiers not only
to defend, but able and willing bot. to
defend and protect You have already
earned brilliant reputation, through
out the army and the whole Conteder-
acy, and trust that in the future, by
your own deeds in the field and by the
assistance of the same kind Providence
who has heretofore favored our cause,