The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-08-13
CLIFTON FORGE VIRGINIA. THURSDAY, AUGUST Is, 1891
THE soUBRIQuET ..sroNEwALL."
Contradiction of Recent Statement as to
How It Was Acquired

Contradiction of a Recent Statement as t
How II Was Acquired
/ To the Editor of the Dispatch:
A few more years will forever seal th
| lips of all who can speak from persona
| knowledge of the incidents OF the IVA
| Between the States. Any of then
/ therefore, who can now contribute t
| the perfect accuracy of history may b
! pardoned for doing SO, even at the ris
| of mourning the charge OF egotism. Thi
| is my only motive for troubling you wit
| this brief article am one of those VIII
heard General Barnard 4. Bee utter tn
words which gave Jackson the name 0
rStonewall.o
! The speech of General Early las hav
| seen it reported) at Lexington on the els
| of July is slightly inaccurate in its ac
! count of this matter in two particulars
| As this inaccuracy does injustice to 9th
er Confederate soldiers no less gallan
than the 'sStonewall" brigade | am sure
the chivaric old General and all other.
like him with hearts in the right place
will be glad to have 1t corrected and the
exact facts stated.
It was to the Fourth Alabama regi
ment that the words were spoken by
General Bee, about 2 or B o'clock in the
afternoon of July 21st 1861. This regi>
ment, with the Sixth North Carolina
and Second and Eleventh Mississippi
constituted Bees brigade; and as the
brigade arrived at Manassas from the
Valley in detachments, so it went into
and fought through the battle, not as a
whole, but by separate regiments. The
Fourth Alabama having arrived at
Manassas on Saturday the goth was in
movement very early on Sunday morn
ing, the 21st, from near the junction
towards the upper fords OF Bull Run.
The dust raised by the march of the
Federal army to Sudleys ford having
attracted attention, the Fourth Alabama
was hurried BY General Bee in that di
rection, and we reached before II a. m.
the plateau of the Henry House, where's
on the main conflict occurred afterwards.
Bee seeing that this was a good posts
ton for defence but that the I'ederals
would capture it unless delayed before
the Confederate forces could reach there
in sufficient numbers, ordered the
Fourth Alabama to hasten a half mile
further north beyond Young's branch
and the wood over there to aid Evans,
Wheat, and others in OBTAINING the Fed
eral army
This duty we performed alta great sac
rifice, standing fast for an hour or more
against overwhelming numbers, losing
our Colonel, Egbert Jones, mortally
wounded: Lieutenant-C Colonel Law, and
Major Scott, disabled, and a great num-
Der Of other officers killed and wounded.
Then in obedience to orders we with
drew from our advanced position and
took position on the Confederate battle
line and in rear of the Robinson House.
Here, without field officers and under
command of a captain, the Fourth Ala
bama maintained its ground and did its
part in resisting the enemy General
Johnston at one time came to US there
and led us forward on q charge asrsinst
the enemy, bearing our flag in n own
hand. That glorious old warrior Ever
appeared more magnificent than ~ did
at that moment Oh his prancln.f morse
and Haunting our eolors in tFs- lace OF
the foe who fell back before IL.
Soon after this, the leading design OF
the Federals all day being to the Con
federate left, the heaviest fighting veered
in that direction, and III consequence
the enemy disappeared from the inme-
date front OF our regiment. leaving us
but the fearful crash after
crash Of the Federal musketry as fresh
troops poured in against the Confeder-
ate centre and left can never be forgot
ten by those who heard it. Farther and
farther round it's awful thunders rolled
as if nothing could stay it. Our brigade
comrades of the Sixth North Carolina
separated from us in the man@uvres OF
the day had rushed in s.ingie-handed
and been smiften as with IRE ana sneir
gallant Coionei Fishef ana many " MS
men were no more. s'achsoh ssiIa IN! lls
glorious prlgaae were sliussil,is ne
grams 70 Witiis'anu lno lei.o -.
1t was Just at TINS moment our bflga-
der Generai BEE came ga1opIng 20 ene
Fourth Alanaila ahd saw: NY uIleaue
is scattered over We lieiu, anu you a'e
all or It at haha- men Gan you ihahe
charge OF bayonetss iaose poor, oae-
tered, ana niooay -noseo Alanalnians IN. "a
splrea py tle iioil.hhe oesiins ~ Va va
heroic oihcef' Responses piohipels, ies,
General, we VIII go wherever you I ieau
and 90 wfiatever yoa say. D Ta, tnen
SAID, pointing toWafas wle,e Jaohson
and ms men were 80 va'ian.ly oa.lling
about quarter o. d iiiiie " .lie "es. s'liu
left OF us, lof0ef st0stees ,ochsom e.he "
stoneaoaW. Let rs 90 70 ny assts 'a -:
saying shis ne uisinou,.sa, pie AZ 49, al,,,
sell at the lelt OF the rouIUn Aiaoa1nas
and led the regiment what renamed OF
theIn) to Jacksons posltloh ana joined
them on ms right.