Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-03-29
NEW VOL. 35.---NO. 21.
The stonewaIl Brigade.

1ue February uUmoeT OF lut LOST
Cause, published at Louisville, Ky,
contains something of interest to many
Jefferson county ex-Confedsrates. 1t
says:
lone of the notable events of she big
Confederate reunion to be held in
Louisville in May will be the reunion
of the famous Stonewall Brigade. No
organization Of all the Confederate
army is more historic than this brigade,
and no one has a finer record to its
credit.
The brigade WAS composed of the
following regiments: Second, Fourth,
Fifth, Twenty-seyenth and Thirty
third Virginia Infantry and the Rock
bridge Artillery. In all there were
over 5000 men, and their first bri-
gade commanderwas General Jackson,
one of the best beloved of all the Lead
els Of the Southern cause.
1T was this brigade that caused
General jackson to be given his famous
name Of 'Stonewall. 1t was at the
first battle of Bull Run, when the inst
great blow for the Coufederacy was
struck. The Jackson brigade mad been
ordered to Manassas as reserve. 1t
was stationed Immediately behind
General Bees brigade of South Caro-
lima troops, the latter receiving gall
ling fire and repeated assaults. Still
they held their ground firmly until
finally the battering became almost too
severe and General Bee saw his men
dropping fast and the gray line becom
ing thinner and thinner. Leaping TO
the front Of his men he pointed his
sword to the Jackson Brigade and
shouted the lines which are familiar to
all readers Of American history: There
stand, Jackson like a stone wall. A
moment later the gallant Bee had paid
the penalty for his bravery with his
life. But his line held.
The brigade was always known as
the Stonewall Brigade, although its
first famous commander was succeeded
by others. Its record is the story Of
gallant conduct in many bloody en-
gagements. II left it's dead on famous
fields and it contributed its full quota
to the deeds of herosm Of the Confed-
crate soldier. From Manassas to peace
il was in active service it saw little
rest. AT WINCHESTER it helped to de-
stroy Banks army. 1t fought at Fred
ericksburg, at Charlottesville, war in
the bloody tide at Gettysburg, at Cold
Harbor, Newmarket and Port Repub-
lie. The Jackson Brigade flag 6utter'd
in the smoke at Seven Pines, in the
dark days Of the Wilderness and all
through the great campaign against
Grant. Each succeeding year Of the
war saw its number grow smaller and
smaller, and when the end Of the wsr
came there was scarcely thousand
men left to answer to roll call Four
ffths of the brigade had been killed,
wounded or missing.
"Gen. Stonewall Jackson was sue
ceeded by Gen. Paxton, who was killed
in action. lie was succeeded in turn
by Gen. Winder, who was succeeded
by Gen. Stewart. The last two were
also killed in battle The last brigade
commander was Gen. James A. Walk
er, who is still living at Wytheville,
Va, and who will be in Louisville for
the reunion.
"The stonewsll Brigade included
the Rockbridge Artillery, which went
through the whole war without losing
a gun. Thi. is a record achieved by
few such organizations. At the Louis
vile reunion the survivors will march
in the parade headed by the Stonewall
Brigade Band, Of Staunton, Va. In
the band are seven members Of the
original band, which went through the
war with the fighting men