Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-10
The Re,I s,ooewall.

GeneraI ~. II. t1lli sarIcle on ihe
Real Stonewall jackson" in the Feb
ruary number of the Century has called
out comment and correction from
several sources.
Colonel Preston quotes General
Hills assertion that the story of the
bestowal of the nickname by General
Bee. because of the 6rmness with which
Jacksons command withstood the
charges of the enemy, is sheer fab
rication, and answers it as follows;
This assertion of General Hill is a
unfortunate as unfounded. There
NAV be "cloud of witnesses yet
alive who heard General Bernard l..
Bee so speak of General Jackson and
his Virgmlaus OF this number | am
one, and perhaps was nearer to him
than any other person at the time when.
in the excitement Of the moment, he
pronounced sentence which stamped
upon hero and his brigade a cogno-
men which is as the history of their
deeds. and with which that of General
Bee will always be associated. The
pretty story" was not told by "a let
ter written from the field, but was
told at General Joseph (. Johnstons
headquarters by himself, one of his
staff officers, the day after the battle,
and no doubt was also told by the
Carolinians whom Bee rallied, and in
thi. way was caught up by the soldiers,
and its truth established in the minds
and hearts of the entire army.
The incidents connected with and
preceding this designation of General
Jackson and his brigade, as told at
the time, are simply these
When General Jackson and General
Beauregard with their stats and
escorts reached the vicinity and near
the conflict in an open field displrlt-
ed-looking body Of men were seen
standing along an old fence. General
Johnston, accompanied by one of his
staff (the writer), turned his horse
toward the center of the line, and,
approaching, the color-bearer, asked,
what regiment is this, and what are
you doing here ?" He was answered ;
at is the 4th Alabama. Our officers
have been disabled or killed, and
there is no one to command us.
General Johnson put his hand upon
the flagstaff, and said: "Give me your
flag, and will lead you. Follow me.
The standard-bearer retained his hold
upon the staff, aud looking up TO the
General, as he said, General. don't
take my colors from me. Tell me
where to carry them, and ! will plant
them there" The General saw that
the regiment advanced with spirit,
and relinquisbing his hold upon the
flagstaff, soon put Colonel T. s. Gist.
one of General Bee staff, in command.
The regiment had hardly passed be-
yond General johnson and me when
General Bee rode up, and, as he faced
General johnson, dropped the reins
of his bride, and in voice tremulous
with emotion, the tears rolling down
his cheeks, said General, my COM
mand is defeated and scattered, and ]
am alone" General johnson, in the
kindest and gentlest tones. replied
IL know it is not your fault, General
Bee but don't despair, the day is not
lost yet" A few moments Of conyer-
sation followed, and then General
johnson, pointing TO some men lying
along a fence, asked What men are
these ?" General Bee turned TO look,
and replied "They are South Caro-
linians." General johnson said
"Rally them anil lead them back into
the fight ! was assigned 10 the
same duty, and was near General Bee
when he appealed to them as South
Caroliuians TO sustain the reputation
Of their State, and, pointing 70 Gen.
eral Jackson's brigade Ia part Of which
could be distinctly seen), exclaimed {;
Look, there is Jackson with his Vir-
ginians standing like a stone wall
against the enemy" The men were
aroused by these appeals, and, falling
into line, were led TO the front, where
General Bee, gathering other portions
Of his command, led the charge in
which he fell mortally wounded.
must, in conclusion, be pardoned
for saying that General d. n. Hall
does not present the "Real stonevall
Jackson in all the fullnes Of his
striking characteristics az he is known
to his friends and appears TO those
who have studied his private life and
military career What / have writ-
ten is only TO yindicate and establish