Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-02-22
MIscELLARE6US.
STONEWALL JACKSON'S ONLY
SPEECH.

Maj II. Kyd Douglas, member of "Stone-
wall" Jackson's staff, writes to the Bahi-
MORGAN as follows in relation to an interesting
incident in the life of that great Christian
hero. Maj. Douglas says:
In September, 1861, the organization of
the Confederate army in Virginia was changed.
General Joseph L. Johnston assumed com>
maud of the department, with his headquarters
in the army of Northern Virgins" tshiSh
was under the immediate eomt1aud of Com
cral Beauregard. At the same time, Brigadier
Generals Longstrcet aud Jackson were pro-
NOTED to the rank of Major Generals. Long
street, the senior in rank, remained with the
Army of Northern Virginia, Jackson was soon
detached from it and sent to Winchester, to
take command of the few troops composing
the Army of the Valley District"
X
1t having been represented to General
jackson that the men were very anxious to
sec him before he left, he rccousidered his in
tention, and consented to see and say farewell
[ to them.
The brigade was drawn up in the rear of
the camp of the Second Virginia Regiment,
and formed in column of regiments closed en-
masse. The General, accompanied by several
OF his staff, rode up to tho troops upon his
'ittle sorrel." After glsncing for moment
over the silent and attentive mass, he took off
his cap, and in his quick, sharp earnest voice,
addressed them as follows:
"Oficers aud men Of the First Brigade: /
am here simply to say farewell I first met
you at llarPer's Ferry, in the beginning OF
the war, aud [ cannot leave you without Civ
ing expression to my admiration of your con-
duct from that day to this, whether on tho
march, in the bivouac, the tented field, or the
| bloody plains of Manassas, where you gained
the well deserved reputation ofhaving 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 eltizsus, you havo shown that you
were soldiers not only to dsfoud, but able and
| willing both to defend aud protsot. You
, have already earned brilliant reputation,
! throughout the army and the whole Confed-
eracy, and trust that in the future, by your
own deeds in tie Geld and the assistance of
| the same kind Providence who has heretofore
favored our cause, you will gain more victories
aud add additional lustre TO the reputation
| you now enjoy. l shall look With great anxi>
city to -FOUR future movements, and hope,
whenever I shall hear of the First Brigade on
the field of battle, it will be of still nobler
deeds achieved, and of higher reputation won"
Here patsing and rising in his stirrups, he
dropped the reins upon the neck of his horse,
and stretching out his gaunt aud gauntleted
right hand, he continued in a voice that sent
| a thrill through every soldier there:
In the army of the Shenandoah you were
the First Brigade in the army of the Potomac
you were the First Brigade in the second
corps of this army you are the First Brigade.
\ Ou are the First Brigade in the affections Of
your General, and hopc, by your future
deeds and bearing, you will be handed down
to posterity as thu First Brigade in this, our
second war for independence. Farewellw
Standing erect in his stirrups, his gIoved
hand raised above him, his swimming ewes
passed slowly over the uncovered heads of his
soldiers, where many swimming eyes met his,
and then he settled gently into his saddle
AS he gathered up the reins in his left hand
aud turned his horses head, the whole brigade
broke forth in one of those wild, triumphant
shouts, by which 1t afterwards became SO we'll
known to the enemy, and which the General
pronounced ''the sweetest music he had ever
heard" As if unable to bear it calmly, he
seized his old cap from his head and striking
his spurs into his horse, galloped away and
while the shouts followed him and still rupg
IN his ears. he disappeared over tbe hills and
departed for his new field of labor and of
glory.
This is the only reported speech of Stone
wall Jackson. The rest Of his life was oc>
cupied innaking history; In doing great deeds
tor otherstO vrite about and speak about, for
u He was TirRinia's greatest son,
he that Eon IN ali his fights
NOR ever lost = Southern gun.