Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-28
THEREALSTONEWALL
COLONEL TOM PREsToN's ANSWER
TO GENERAL D. n. HILLS ARTICLE.
Statement Of Ex- Congressman
Robins.


Real Stoncwall Jackson" in the February
No. OF the Century has called out com
ment and correction from several sources
In the May No. is printed letter from
Colonel Thomas l.. Preston. OF the Uni
vcrsty OF Virginia. as to the origin OF
the name "stone~ali" given to Jackson
Colonel Preston quotes General Hiirs
assertion that the story OF the besto"al
OF the nickname by General Bee. because
OF the frmness with which Jackson
command wIthstood the charges OF he
enemy. IS sheer fabrication, and an
swers II as follows:
This assertion OF General Hill II as I'M
fortunate as unfounded. There may be
''cloud of witnesses" yet alive who heard
General Bernard r. Bee so speak OF Cen
eral Jackson and his Virginans vi 'his
number am one, and perhaps was nearer
10 him than any other person at the time
when. in the excitement of the moment.
he pronounced a sentence when stamped
upon hero and his brigade q cognomen
which is as enduring as the history OF
their deeds. and with which that of Cen
eral Bee will always be associated. The
pretty story was not told by "a letter
Gritten from the field but was told AZ
General Joseph u. JOhnston's headQuar-
ters by himself. one OF his staff officers, the
day after the battle. and no doubt was
also told by the Carolnians whom Bee
rallied. and in this way was caught up
by the soldiers. and its truth established
I'm the minds and hearts Of the entire
army.
JOE JOHNSTON'S VIEWS.
At the request OF General Johnston l
80. l.Atf l.. n
Manassas a few days after II occurred
] mentioned this incident, which he HIM
self witnessed. In 1879 the same facts
were stated I'm sketch OF General Jack
son. written at the request of the trus-
tees of the Stonewall Jackson Institute,
OF Abingdon, Va. Lest any material error
might be made / sent "A copy Of that por-
ton Of the address which embraced an
account of the battle to General John-
ston for his criticism and correction. HIS
reply is dated White sulphur Springs
Va. September g. 1879. and contains these
extracts:
Your letter OF August Goth came in due
time. will not undertake to criti-
else your account Of the battle Of Ma
rassas. for your impressions are perhaps
az correct AS mine Now. Cousin rom
I'VE were kinsmen. and friends from
ChildhOodJ remember that you saw az
much Of this battle as any one. and
therefore there Is no earthly reason why
you should not prefer and adhere 10
your own opinions in the two points IN
which we di1fer-(viz., as to the pOsltoh
Of some Of the troops).
The incidents connected with and pre-
ceding this designation Of General Jack
son and his brigade, as told at the time,
are simply these:
When General Johnston and General
Ecaurogard with their STATS and escorts
reached the vicinity and rear of the con-
nict in an open field a dispirted-looking
body OF mel were seen standing along
an old fence. General Johnston, accom-
panied by one of his staff (the writer,
turned his horse toward the center or
the line. and, approaching the color
bearer. asked, what regiment is this.
and what are you doing here?" He was
answered: ut is the 4th Alabama. our
officers have been disabled or killed, and
there is no one TO command us" General
Johnston put his hand upon the flagstan.
and said: Give me your flag. and L VIII
lead vou Follow me" The standard
bearer retained his hold upon the stan.
and. looking up to the general. as ne
walked quickly by the side of his horse,
said General, don't take my coiors from
me Tell me where to carry them, ana l
will plant them there" The Genefal saw
that the regiment advanced with spirit
and. rellnquishng his hold upon the nag
staff. soon nut Colonel II. s. Gist, one OF
General Bees staff. in command. In con-
1rmation Of this fact. see General john
ston's Narrative" page IS. His modesty
and sclf-abnegation did not permit any
allusion TO the conspicuous part he had
just performed.
THE MEETING BETWEEN JoHNSIoN
AND BEE.
The regiment had hardly passed beyond
General Johnston and me when General
Pee rode up. and. as he faced GeneraI
Johnston. dropped the reins OF MS brldie'
and in a voice tremuous with emotlon'
the tears rolling down his cheeks, said
General, my command is deiea'eu anu
scattered and | am alone. dehcidi
Johnston in the kindest ana sehties'
tones, replied: Il know IL Is hoI !oul
fauIt. General Bee: but don't despair, the
dav is not lost yet" a few moments OF
conversation followed. and then General
Johnston, pointing to some men SinS
along a fence. asked: what men are
these?" General Bee turned to LOOM anu
replied: "They are South Carohiiahs'
General Johnston said: Rally them ana
lead them back into the hght WAS
assigned to the same duty. ana was near
General Bee when he appealed TO them
as South Carolnians TO sustain the repu-
tation of their State, and, pointing 10
General Jackson's brigade "a part OF
which could be distinctly seem. exclaimed:
81 ook. there is jackson with his Virgin
fans standing like stone wall against
The enemy."s The men wer<Aroused by
these appeals. and, falling into line, were
led toward the front. where Generai Bee'
gathering other portions of his commanu'
led the charge in which he fell mortaliy
wounded.
GENERAL HILL.
I must. in conclusion, be pardoned TOT
saving that General ID. IL. Hill does not
present the Real Stonewall Jackson III
ali the fullness of his striking character
ietics as he is known TO his friends, ana
annears TO those who have studied MS
private life and military career. what
have written Is only to vindicate ana es-
,ab,ish the truth of history. i leave IL
with Won 10 decide whether or not the
correction shall follow the same channel
"a the mistakes of a brave soioier
scholar, and gentleman, who was oi'eh
n careless writer and collator of facts.
THE YANKEE GUNNER.
In the same No. of the magazine MT.
y S. Fortson, Of San Marcos, Tex, con-
firms the story of the Yankee gunner ana |
ctoney,al jackson at Port Republic, |
witch General Hill pronounced romantic. |
but false Mr.. Fortson was present ana |
saw the whole incident, which he re-
counts graphically.