Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-06-10
JACKSON And BEN.
TIE LlTTER'S SERVICES AT BULL BUN
WERE GREDITABLH.
BE Psrcsivsd That ihs Henry House Plateau
Was the Proper Place to Fight the
BATHS.

It is hard to keep history exactly
straight. One reason for 80 IS that no
one man knows it all, and no two men
see things alike. This is pre-emtnentiy
true of a great battle. / have been
struck anew with this upon reading the
recent interesting article OF Colonel
Preston on how Jackson acquired his
soubriquet OF "Stonewall." He cor
roborates my statement, several times
published, as to the main fact, but does
so with variations and additions which
may confuse future historical students,
unless noticed now and harmonized.
From what he says, it would appear
that General Bee must have made his
remark about "Stonewall" more than
once that day, and to different
auditors and perhaps In somewhat
phraseology.
Colonel Preston Is substantially cor
rect in what he says about General Joe
Johnston personally leading the Fourth
Alabama in o charge In which they
followed him with spirit, all their regi-
mental leaders and one third OF their
men being then hors de combat, and
also about his grasping their flag and
carrying IL some distance and then
relinQuishing it TO the gallant color
bearer. / mentioned this incident in a
description of that battle published
dozen years ago. "0ld Joe" was truly
magnificent on that occasion. As to
General Bee, soon after that having
rallied some South Carolinians by point
ing to the example OF jackson and his
Virginians," that is matter OF which
| know nothing. Let South Carolinians
see to that. But l venture to suggest
that il would be we'll for southern
writer's TO be rather more careful than
they sometimes are TO avoid laudations
of the troops Of their own State at the
expense of those of sister States. The
soldiers of each aud every State won
plenty renown without committing
larceny of glory from others.
AS MATTER OF JUSTICE.
The statement that General Bee said,
with tears, to General Johnston about
this time: "My command is defeated
and scattered, and | am alone" call Tor
notice, not for the purpose OF denial,
for no one will question what Colonel
Preston says about 1t, but for the pur-
pose Of explaining how Bee came TO say
it. And when he came to the fourth
Alabama very soon afterwards, he also
said to them, when informed what
regiment It was-for IL was so cut TO
pieces then that he failed first TO recog-
nize IL: This is all OF my brigade that |
can find on the field" ] can give an
easy explanation Of all this, and one
that is highly honorable, as well as just,
both to Bee and his brigade,a and | think
il we'll TO make q careful record Of 10
here and now, as matter OF historic
justice.
Bees brigade was composed OF the
Fourth Alabama, Second and Eleventh
Mississippi, and the Sixth North Caro-
lima Fishers regiment.) When Bee
arrived on the plateau OF the Henry
House, where the main battle was
afterwards fought, and where he ar
rived some time before any other gen.
| eral officer, ne had with him only the
Fourth Alabama and Second Mississippi,
and two companies OF the Eleventh
Mississippi. The Sixth North Carolina
and eight companies OF the Eleventh
Mississippi, who came from the Valley
on q latter train than the rest OF the
brigade, were not yet up. With the
coup d'oeil Of a great captain, Bee per-
ceived that this plateau was the prop
err place to fight the battle, but he saw
also that the FederalS, unless their
progress was delayed, would arrive and
seize II before the Confederate army
could reach there IN sufficient force.
Therefore he sent forward his Alaoam-
ians and Mississlppians az double quick
to a point half mile further to the
front to delay the enemy-to be sacrif-
ced In fact, to gain time.
SACRIFICE.
It was a sacrifice; but the victims,
knowing nothing about war, and only
eager for the fray, went with boundless
enthusiasm to the altar, wheron nearly
one third Of their numbers were soon
offered. But the object was accom-
plished: for with some OF Bartow's
Georg CLANS, who followed soon to aid
them, they checked the enemy's ad-
vance for over an hour, thus securing
time for our army to occupy the Henry
plateau. Bee, | think, had remained
on this plateau 10 superintend the held
and watch the enemy, and did not go In
person TO that advanced position.
When his two regiments, overwhelmed
and shattered in their desperate strug-
gle with the whole Federal army, which
swarmed around their TANKS and rear,
at length fell back; they did so at
different moments, and became sepa-
rated Their lines OF retreat were de-
termined also by chance and luck, bav-
ing TO thread their way between hostile
battalions in their rear. The Fourth
Alabama was saved by the accident
that our flag just then was furled
around the staff, and our stars and Bars
in that situation so resembled the Union
flag that q Federal force that would
have interce pied Us was deceived as 20
our identity till we got past them.
They found out who we were In time TO
pour into us deadly volley, which
again decimated the regiment; but orr
boys had the pluck 70 turn and fire
again and again with destructive effect
into their compact ranks. streWinR the
| ground with dead and wounded. When
| the two regiments returned TO the
Henry plateau, then covered with fresh
troops, they reached IL al different
posltions, and were not again united
| during the day; nor did General Bee
| soon find either Of them. Likewise the
other two regiments-the Eleventh
Mississippi and Sixth North Carolina
arrived on the field, and entered the
battle on the plateau at different times,
and at separate points, under the lead
ersblp OF their respective colonies.
Thus It happened-without the fault
OF Bee, or anybody else-that bic bril-
gads was not embodied at all on the
| field that day, but fought through the