Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-05-02
saint Iarg's Beacon.
ACdafederals Song That Has Made IL MayI
Ia The World.

written at oakland Allegheny coun
ty, Nd, aluost within hearing of the
guns of Antietam. About ten days
after that battle it fret appeared in
print in the columns Of the Baltimore
Republican (by the author,) headed
Found on the Body Of Sergeant Of
the Old Stonewall Brigade. Killed
at Winchester" The original copy
had dropped from his pocket in the
Federal sncampment at An.ietap. he
being special correspondent Of q
Northern journal.
Taken from the Republican, the song
was at once set to music, and publish
ed simultaneously by two music deal
ers in Baltimore. but with different
airs. The one to which it was popu-
larly sung throughout Virginia, and
especially in the Confederate army in
the valley, was composed by young
Frederick Bentee, a remarkable mu-
sical genius, whose early death was
not only a private but q public loss.
The "sympathizers" of Baltimore
caught the tune rs eagerly as they
had that Of "My Marylsnd;" but their
enthusiasm met with rude check at
the hands Of the provost marshal, who
seized and burned the sheets, destroy
ed the plates, and cauterized the
wound inflicted upon loyal hearts by
applying rsd-aot oath of allegiance
to several of the music sellers Of the
city.
In every printed collection Of the
poems and songs of the war this one
has been awarded prominent place.
and almost every compiler has sought
for information concerning the origin
and authorship. At one time the Ii
Gle of the song was used as handy
newspaper phrase to describe the
characteristic exploits of its hero; and
'Stonewall Jackson's Way" appeared
at the head of reports and editorials
in the Southern press.
AS an example Of the interest it
aroused, we may ment on that DR..
Oliver Wendell Holmes, in his lively
lecture on the "Songs Of the War,"
proclaimed it as by far the best song
that had come from the Rebel side.
Another writer cites it as fine exam
pie of the true and stirring ballad,
comparing it with Whittier's we'll
known barbara Frietchie." A lead
ing New York journal once charac-
terized it az ga ballad that will live
as long as the war is remembered"
and Putman's Monthly has twice
pointed to it as genuine inspiration.
Nor has its fame been confined to this
country. A literary nobleman Of
England wrote to an American poet,
requesting him to procure. if possible,
an autograph copy Of the cong.
But the song had already gone
through "the lines" It was re- print
ed in Richmond, AID gaily sung by
every woman and child in the valley
of Virginia, especially BY the admirers
of Gen. Jeb Stuart, with whom it was
favorite ditty. Once the author. in
passing alone and by night from Gen.
Disadvantages army (then lying near
Woodstock) to Richmond. was arrest
ed at Gordonsville as Federal spy,
and while guarded by two seHtries in
the public room of an inn, was recog-
nizsd by stranger as "the man who
wrote ''Stonewall Jackson's Way.
In every place it has appeared
anonymously except in Miss Mason's
compilation, published in Baltimore;
by her it is enormously ascfibed TO
one |. De Riviere." Ofcourse, its text,
p.by frequent re-psintiag. has suffered
much damage at the hands Of the
printers proof readers. With the ex-
ception of the original draft 10 the old
Republican. aud copy furnished long
afterwards by the New York Round
1cble. the one here given lie the only
correct copy ever printed.
In Virginia the authorship has com.
monty been attributed to very IN
certain "lady." The legitimate par.
emit of the song is well-known jour
nalist and magnificent writer, former
ly of Baltimore, whose name is famil-
lar to the readers of the atlantic
MontAly, and many ladies and gentle
men of that city are cognizant of the
facts here first made public setting
forth the true story of "Stonewall
Jackson's Way.
:, sToNEwALL JAcKsoN's WAY.
Come, stack arms, menl Pile on the rails
Stir up the campfire bright
No matter il the canteen fails
Well make roaring night.
Here Shenandoah brawls along,
There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong
To swell the brigade's ruusing song
OF Stonewall Jackson's way.