Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-02-17

l SECRECY
"sToNEwAL1 .JAcKsoN's ONLY SPEECH.
| BY MEMBER OF HIS STAFF. -
Editors of the Baltimorean In Sep
TENDER, 1861, the organic alton of tn
Confederate army in Va. was changed
| Genl. Joseph E. Johnson assumed com
| mand of the department. with his head
quarters in the sArmy of Northern Vir
ginla," which was under the immediate
command of Gen. Beauregard. AT the
same time, Brigadier Generals Long
/ street and Jackson were promoted to the
rank of Major Generals. Longstreet the
senior in rank, remained withsthe army
| of N orthern Virginia; Jackson was soor
detached from it aud sent to Winches'
ter, to take command of the few troops
| composing the ''Arny OF the Valley
District
The officers and men of the Stone
wall Brigade received the announce
ment of General Jackson's promotlan
with equal qualification and regret. The
| rank and fle-whose confidence in their
General Began very early in his career,
and was never shaken -rejoiced that be
was appreciated and valued, but they
wondered what would become Of them
when he left. One Of them, a corporal,
| who afterwards became an officer dlstin-
guished in his regiment, declared with
inimitable emphasis, that although 'old
Jack had kept hun 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
he was always let out in time OF battle
The officers generally were of the same
opinion, although some expressed theil
regret of the Generals promotion; the!
doubted his ability to manage a larger
command, or as one of them put it, theJ
feared the government had exchanged
frst-class Brigadier fd commonplace
Major General. These few did not like
the men in the ranks, feel the warlatl
of this dawl1ing genius, who afterwards
rose so rapidly and grandly.
The brigade was encampsd at Centre
vile. On the morning of October 4th
| it was announced that the General woult
take leave of it by General Order. bu
he would receive any officer who nigh
desire to call upon him. Accordingly
a number of them, representing each
regiment and company, went to pay
their parting respects to him. As lieu
tenant in the Second Virginia Regiment
/ was one of them. The interview wal
brief.-As we took our departure, being
the youngest in years and rank, was
the last to say goodbye. / then ven
tured to say, that having recently beer
in ranks, I desired to express the regre
Of the soldiers at parting with him; an6
while they wished him every success ii
his new command they hoped he woule
not forget he left behind brigade tina
would be ready 10 obey his call prompt
ly if he should ever need their services
With a pleasing brightness in his eyes
lie replied: 81 am much obliged to yo,
and the soldiers Of my brigade; | wan
to take them with me but cannot; wheth
er l shall be with them again or not, ]
shall not forget them. In battle viii
always want them. . i'aa
/ AS little as / expected then to be i.
member of his staff still less did l fore
see of his coming fame, or recognize II
advance the foremost soldier of all hi
time" s,
1t having been represented to Gener-
| al jackson that the men were very snx
ions to see him before he, left, he recon
sidered bis intention, and consented t.
see and say farewell to them.
The brigade was drawn up in rear 0
the camp Of the Second Virginia Iegi
ment, and formed in column Of regi
ments closed en- naasse The Genera
accompanied by several Of his stafford
up to the troops upon his little "sorrsl.
After glancing fol- moment over tn
silent and attentive innass,Ke took off hi
cap, and in his quick, sharp and earnes
voice, addressed them as follows:
FNoTE. This speech was reported a
the time for the Richmond Dispatch
by Sergeant Harris Towner, Of my corn
pany and myself. 1t Will be found ais
in CookcaJsife Of Jackson, taken sut
pose, from that paper. Sergeant Towfi