Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-07-29
JacksOn's Parting with His Old 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 leav-
ing the army of the Potomac, he took an
affsctionate farewell Of the troops with
whom he had been so long and SO intimate.
ly connected. Ga the morning of the 4th
of October, 1861, the gallant sStonewall
Brigade" was drawn up near its encaup-
ment st Centrevile. All the regiments.
except the fifth, which was on picket, were
present. Drawn up in close columns. the
officers and soldiers who had, on the i'm
mortal 21st of July, won such glory under
the guidance of their gallant general, stood
with sad hearts and sorrowful countepances
to bid him farewell, while thousands of
troops from other portions of the army
stood by in respectful silence. In 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 ap.
pearauce 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 vas
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 a moment
| wistfully UP and down the line. Beneath
the calm, quiet exterior of the hero, there
throbbed warm and generous heart, and
this parting filled it with inexpressible
pain. After silsnce of few moments,
Gen. Jackson turned to his men and ad-
dressed them as follows:-
"OHscers and Soldiers of the First Bri.
gadei-I am not here to make speech, but
simply to say. Farewell. I first met you
at Harper's Ferry, in the commencement
of this war, aud cannot take leave of you
without giving expression to my admira.
tion of your conduct from that day to this,
whether on the march, the bivouac, the
tented field,or ON the bloody plains of Man.
assas, whsre you gained the we'll deserved
reputation of having docidad TIE fate Of
the battle. Throughout the broa extent
of country over which you have marched,
by your respect for the rights and the prop
erty of citizens, you have shown that you
were soldiers, not only to defend, but able
and willing both to defend and protect
You have already gained a brilliant and de-
servedly 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 lus5re to the reputation you
now enjoy. You have already gained a
proud position in the future history of this,
our second war of independence. I shall
look with great anxiety to your future
movements; and l trust, whenever I shall
hear of the First Brigade on the field of |
battle, 1t will be of still nobler deeds aehiev-
ed and higher reputation won."
Having uttered these words, jackson |
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 battle 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 only-and
that iron lip which had meyer trembled in
The hour Of deadliest peril, now quivered, =