Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1891-08-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
Jackson's Parting With His Old
Brigade.

BrIgade.
When Gen. jackson was assigned
to the command of the army of the
Valley his old brigade was not at first
transferred with him but afterwards,
at his own request, it was assigned
to his command. Before leaving the
army of the Potomac, he took an af-
fectionate farewell of the troops with
whom he had been so long and so in
timatey connected. On the morning
of the 18th of October, 1861, the gall
liant g Stonewall Brigade" was drawn
up near its encampment at Centre
vile. All the regiments, except the
fifth, which was on picket, were pres
ent. Drawn up in close columns, the
officers and soldiers who had, on the
immortal 21st of July, won such glory
under the guidance of their gallant
general. stood with sad hearts and
sorrowful countenances to bid him
farewell, while thousands of troops
from other portions of the army stood
by in respectful silence. 5n a short
time Gen. Jackson, accompanied by
his staff, left his headquarters and
rode slowly toward the brigade. He
was received by them in silence
Until this moment his appearance had
never failed to draw from his men
the most enthusiastic cheers. But
now not sound was heard A deep
and painful silence reigned over
everything; every heart was full
And this silence was more eloquent
than cheers could have been.
As they reached the centre of the
line the staff halted, and the general
rode forward slowly to within few
PAGES of his men. Then, pausing, he
gazed for moment wistfully up and
down the line. Beneath the calm,
quiet exterior of the hero, there
throbbed a warm and generous heart,
and this parting filed it with mex
pressible pain. After a silence of n
few moments, Gen. Jackson turned
to his men and addressed them as
follows:
"Q6icers and Soldiers of the FIRST
Bytgade!-I am not here to make a
speech, but simply to say, Farewell.
/ first met you at Harper's Ferry, in
the commencement of this war, and
/ cannot take leave of you without
giving expression to my admiration
of your conduct from that day to this,
whether on the march, the biVouac,
the tented field, or on the bloody
plains of Manassas, where you gained
the well deserved reputation of hav-
ing decided the fate of the battle
Throughout the broad extent of coun-
try over which you have marched, by
your respect for the rights and tt&
property of citizens, you have sho4 S.
that you were soldiers, not only to de-
fend, but able and willing both to de-
fend and protect. You have already
gained a brilliant and deservedIy high
reputation throughout the army of the
whole Confederacy, and | trust in the
future, by your deeds on the field,
and by the assistance of the same
kind Providence who has heretofore
favored our cause, you will gain more
victories, and add additional lustre to
the reputation you now enjoy. You
have already gained proud position
in the future history of this, our sec
ond war of independence. j shall
look with great anxiety TO your future
movements; and trust. whenever
shall hear of the First Brigade on the
field of battle, it will be of still nobler
deeds achieved and higher. reputation
won."
Having uttered these words, Jack
son paused for an instant, and his
eye passed slowly along the line, as
though he wished thus to bid farewell
individually to every old familiar
face, so often seen in the heat Of bat
tie and so dear to him. The thoughts
which crowded upon him seemed
more than he could bear-he could
not leave them with such formal
words oDly-and that iron lip which
had never trembled in the hour of
deadliest pert, now quivered. Mas
tered by an uncomfortable impulse,
the great soldier rose in his stirrups,
threw the reins on the neck of his
horse with an emphasis which sent a
thrill through every heart, and ex-
tending his arm, added in tones of the
deepest feeling:
In the army of the Shenandoah
you were the First Brigade! In the
army of the Potomac you were the
First Brigade! In the second corps
of the army you are the First Brigade
You are the First Brigade in the af-
fections of your general and hope
by your future deeds and bearing you
will be handed down to posterity as
the First Brigade in this, our second
war of independence. FarewelIl'
For a moment there was a pause
and then There arose cheer after cheer,
SO wild and thrilling that the very
heavens rang with them. Unable tc
bear calmly such affecting evidence
of attachment, Gen. jackson hastily
waved farewell to his men, and gath
ering his reins rode rapidly away.