Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-08-07

he could think OF no better way 10 ac-
knowledge the extraordinary compli-
ments than by double rations all
round Then he had started by one
Of those staggering forced marches
which were his way" 10 join Lee at
Sharpsburg, where he came up in time
to take command of the left wing for
the bloody doings OF the 18th.
On one OF the first days of October
six gentlemen, including myself, and
two ladies took leave of Oakland, went
by train TO point opposite Han
cock, crossed the Potomac there in
small boats, took carriage at Han
cock. drove through Fairview 10 Ha-
gerstown, and thence south TO Antie-
tam Creek and Sharpsburg. On the
battlefield we traversed the Bloody
Line and the ground that death had
ploughed when Mcclellan hurled upon
StouewalI's thin lines the legions Of
Hooker, Summer and Mansfield. Then
make our way TO the railroad. 1t was
rude country vehicle, long and mar
row, having the seats on the sides and
the door in the back As We labored
over the stony road torn in desperate
ruts by the artillery and the trains,
the men Of our party climbed out and
in, again and again, to relieve the
horses; and in one Of these struggles
lost my copy of the song | had
thrust it carelesSly into the breast
pocket of my coat, where it protruded
and finally worked out somewhere on
the road. So the original draft Of
'Stonewall Jackson's Way was
dropped in the very midst Of the
graveyard he had helped to make,
and was probably found by those who
were prepared to appreciate its sig
nificauce.
We had gone but a little way when
an aid galloped up and requested Us To
draw out from the road and halt IA few
minutes until the President could
pass There chanced to be n patch
of grassy landing there, and we had
barely time to alight when the Presi-
dent, accompanied by a general Off
Ger, whom we supposed TO be McClel-
Ian, passed us, driving slowly, and
courteously returned our salute-the
salute of at least three "rebelsn Then,
for the only time in my life, looked
into the face Of Abraham Lincoln, the
saddest and most weary face have
ever seen in the flesh. have seen
such a face ina picture Of Rembrant's, :,
the "Christ Blessing Little Children, -
in the National Gallery in London. 1t
was the face OF the Man Of Sorrows
and acquainted with grief.
In Baltimore | told the story Of the
song to my father, and, at his request,
made Immediately another copy Of
it. This was shown cautiously to
certain members Of the Maryland
Club; and trusty printer was found
who struck of II dozen slips OF It,,
principally for private distribution.
That first printed copy Of the song
was headed Found on Il Rebel Ser
geant OF the Old Stonewall Brigade
Taken at Winchester. The fabulous
legend was for the misleading Of the
of the Federal Provost Marshal, as
were also the address and date:
"Martinsburg, September 10, 1862. "
One Of those slips fell into the hands
Of the editor Of the Baltimore Re
public an. a Democratic sheet OF the
most pronounced secessionism, and,
not having the fear Of provost mar
shals before his eyes, he printed it.
He was promptly arrested and the
publication Of his paper suspended,
but very soon resumed on terms pre-
scribed by the military authorities
Even so efTectual a warning did not
suffice to deter two intrepid publish
ers of music (Willig q Benteen) from
producing the song in shapes adapted
TO the requirements Of the irrepressi-
BILE Dixie piano. Willig had fitted it
to a old Scotch air, and young Ben
ton set it TO a tune that he made for
it. TO which it was afterward most
commonly sung. But plates and
sheets were seized, and the enterpris-
ing publishers were gdmonished in
terms which it seemed 10 them wise
to heed. The plates were broken and
the sheets burned at the provost's
Office, but copies had already found
their way to Richmond, and the song
prescribed in Baltimore was sung
there, and in every town and camp in
the valley.
In the summer Of 1883, being again
in Baltimore. | found INV maine in
published list OF men who had been
drafted the day before. That night,
without baggage, funds or farewells,
took an underground train for the
Shenandoah Valley. and passed at
midnight the Federal pickets at Kear-
neysviIle, near Harper's Ferry. !
found that the song had preceded
me; it welcomed me at Winchester
and Charlestown. and ladies sang it
for Inc who had lately sung it for
"Jeb" Stuart, that rollicking rider Of
raids having a fancy for ii.
In August, 1864, | rode with Gener-
al Breckenridge when Early followed
Sheridan from Strasburg to Shep-
herdstown, the line Of Yankee 're-
treat" marked by the smoke Of burn
ing barns and mills. After that, be
ing i'll. the surgeons ordered me to
Richmond. | left the army when