South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-01-18
osah Valley IN The diflsrept conn

ties.
Gen. jackson and his stsff oaIces.
rode up In front OF tbs brikhle after
We were formed On the hill l1de. end
looked up and down the line, ho then
slowly raised his cap and ssaid. on.
cers and soldiers os the nrst brigade /
am not here 60 make 9pooch. but
simply to cay farewell, I firDl net son
AZ Harper's Ferry, ia the cosAmencs-
ment of this war, and | cannot take
leave Of you without giving express-
ion to my admiration. Tor your conduct
from that day to this whether on the
march, the bivouac. the tsuted field,
or the bloody plains Of Nfanassss,
where you gained the well deserved
reputation OF having decided the fate
ofthat battle. Throughout tho broad
extent of country over which you
bave marched, by your respect for the
rights and property of citizens, you
have shown that you are soldiers. not
only to defend, but able aud willing
both to defend, and protect. You
have already gained brilliant aud
deservedIy high reputation, thr ongh-
out the army, aud the whole Coufed-
eracy, and l trust in the future, by
your deeds on the field, and by the
assistance of the same kind provi.
dence, who has heretofore favored our
cause, you will.gain moro victories,
and add additional lustre to the repu.
tation you now enjoy. You have al
ready gained proud position in the
future history OF this our second war
OF independence. I shall look with
great anxiety to your future move.
ments, and l rust, whenever shall
hear OF the LIST brigade on the field of
battle, 1t will be of still nobler deeds
achieved, and q higher reputation
won.
Here be paused and glanced proud
ly around him. Then raising himself
in his s!irrups and throwing the reins
on his horses neck he exclaimed in a
voice of such deep feeling, that it
thrilled through every heart in the
brigade Gu the army Of the Shen.
andoab, you were the first brigade,
in the army OF the Potomac
you were the first brigade, in the
second corrs Of this army you are the
first brigade, you are the first brigade
in the affections CT your General, and
| hope by your future deeds and bear
ing. you will be handed down to pos.
terity, as the first brigade in this our
second war of independence. Fare
WELL
A pause, and then arose cheer af-
ter cheer, so wild and thrilling that
the very heavens rang with them.
Gen. Jackson waved farewell to his
men, and gathering his reins, rode
rapidly away.
Although l was there and heard
General Jackson speak the above re-
marks, have coried it from sPol.
lard's Life of Jackson This was the
only time ever heard him open bis
mouth to make a speech. except once
afterwards he spoke a few words in
my presence. He was a man who
had very little TO say.
Now / don't consider that the Stone
wall brigade was better than o.ber
brigaies. for there were plenty of 9TH
ers who did as good service as they
did aud it any otker brigade had been
situated as we were at the first battle
of Manassas, have no doubt but
what they would have done as we'll az
we, and gained the same reputation.
We had to pay dearly for our reputa-
ton afterwards, for whenever there
was any extra hard duty to perform.
General Jackson always sent his old
brigade to that post of duty, for fear
tho other brigades, under his COM
mand, would think aud say that he
favored bis own, consequently we of
ten had harder duty to perform than
the others.
IcoSTIyurD7