Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-07-28
Saturday, July 2S, 1877.
From tie Philadelphia Weekly Times. :.
Annals Of th9 War.
Chapters of Unwritten History.
St0ne1O0U Jackson
ind His Men.
BY MAJ. II. KYD DOUGLAS,
OF Jacksons Staff.
BY MAI. II. KYD DOUGLAS,
OF Jackson's staff.

1t was on the field Of Manassas, q bright
Sunday afternoon, the 2lSt Of July, 1861. The
armies Of Mcdowell and Bcauregard had been
graphing with each other since carly morning,
and in their mutual slaughter took no note OF
the sacredness Of the day nor its Brightness
In Washington Gen Scott was anxiously a.
waiting the result Of his skillful plan of battle,
and General Johnston had come down from
the valley Of Virginia in response to Deaure-
gard S appeal" If you will help me, now is
the time" Holly had the field been contested,
and the hours passed slowly to men who had
never tasted of battle before. Waverng had
been the fortunes of the day, but il wat evident
the advantage was with the Federal army, aud
before our brigade went into action, it seemed
to US the day was lost. After changing posi-
ton several times, without fighting, General
jackson learned that Bee was hard pressed
and he moved 10 bis assistance, marching
through the wounded and stragglers who were
hurryiDg to the rear. 1t was then after o.
clock and the general formed his brigade a.
long the crest Of the hill near the Henry House,
the men lying down behind the brow Of it, in
support Of two pieces Of artillery placed in po-
sition TO play upon the advancing foe.
General Bee, his brigade being crushed and
scattered rode up - General Jackson, and
with the excitement and modification Of an
untried but heroic soldier, reported that the
enemy were beating him back
"Very well, general, it can't be helped, re-
piled jackson.
But how DO you expect to stop them ?"
81 80, to Isrr 81
swer, briefly.
General Bee wheeled bis horse and galoped
back TO his command. As he did so, General
Jackson said to Lieutenant Lee, of his staff {:
.' Tell the Colonel Of this brigade that the cue
my are advancing that when their heads are
seen above the bill, let the whole line rise,
move forward with a shout, and trust to the
bayonet. am tired Of this long range p0rk
In the storm which followed Bees return 10
his command, he was soon on foot, his horse
shot from under him. With the fury Of des-
pair be strobe among his men, tried to rally
and to hold them against the torrent which
beat upon them aud finally n voice which
rivaled the roar Of battle, be cried out "Oh,
men, there are jackson and his Yrgiuans
standing behind you like a stone traH 7" Ut
tering these words Of martial baptism, Bee fell
dead upon the field, end left behind him fame
which will follow that Of Jackson as a shadow.
1t would be but the repetition Of history to
mention, at length, the movements Of Jacksou's
Brigade that day 1t was Bee who gave him
the name Of -" Stonewall, but il was his own
Virginians who made that name immortal
This brigade checked the victorious tide of
battle, but to turn it back was no easy labor
Around the Henry House aud its plateau the
contest ragged with renewed violence aud vacil-
lating success for an hour; and then jackson
led bis men 10 their last bayouet charge and
pierced the enemys centre. The timely arri-
val Of Kirby Smith and Early upon their flank
finished the work, and defeat was turned into
a rout. General Jackson will be forgiven for
this sentence in a letter TO a friend: You
will find, when my report shall be published,
that the First Brigade was to cur army what
the Imperial Guard was to Napoleon through
the blessing Of God it met the victorious enc
my aud turned the fortunes Of the day"