The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-06-14

will be handed down to posterity as the
first brigade in this, our second war Of
independence. Farewcll.'
The separation was Of brief duration.
for in u few weeks the First brigade
was ordered to report to him At Win
chester, and Con. IL d. Garnett WAS
assigned to it's command as brigadicr.
He remained in command until after
the battle At kcrnstuwn, in March,
1862, when he was relieved, and Gen.
Charles S. Windcr was assigned TO the
command. Windcr was killed AZ Cedar
Mountain on August 9, 1862, and after
the lapse Of three months Mai. t.. T..
Paxton, u member OF General Jack son :
stan, was promoted to the rank Of
brigadier general, and assumed com.
mand. General Paxton was killed at
charlottesville on May I'd, 1869. the
day after General jackson was mon tal-
ly wounded.
On the 10Th day Of May, 1863, Col. i.
~. Walker, Of the Tnirtcunth Virginia
infantry, was promoted and assigned
to the command. He remained in com.
mand until at Spottsylvunia &. II. The
brigade was annihilatcd aud its name
never again appeared ON the rolls Of
the Confederate armies. The small
remnant left Was consolidated with the
small brigade, and the famous Old bri-
gade, which for three yoats had
breasted the storms OF war on twenty
battletields, and In cOmbats and skir.
mishcs innumerablc, which had
marched thousands OF miles over val
ley, mountain and plain: which had cX.
ultantly borne al0ft it's hattlclag in
summers heat and winters storm:
which had struggled for freedom on
the lOftiest peaks + the Alleghanies,
at the Mcdowell. on the rocky slopes
OF Culp's hill, st Getty burg. in the
swamps Of the Cnlckahominy, and had
never faitorcd in The darkest no r.
passed into history. Hut in passing il
left IL fame as bright as the stars, as
enduring Is the ages. The beautiful
valley is hIIcd with the
memories OF its triumphant marches
and brilliant victories. The truvc.cr
who today gazes on the placid bosom
81 the daughter OF the stars" or On
the bold peaks OF the Massanuttou,
thinks not OF the dusky warriors whose
language Is pcrpctnatcd in mountain
and stream, or Of the knights OF the
Golden Horseshoe, led by the royul
governor, VINO first scaled the towering
heights OF the Blue Ridge and set the
DOT OF white men in the great Valley
OF Virginia, Or on the t..irfi.xes, once
proprlctors OF this lofty field; or on
Washington, the youthful surveyor,
with chains and compass; but OF S.Ony.
wall jackson aud his mon. The waters
OF the Shenand0ah. As they glide peace.
fully tnrough fcrtiln fields TO the yor-
geous pass at Harpcr's Ferry, where
Its tide mingics with the Potomac,
murmur OF jackson and Ewcli, OF
Early and Ashby. The rugged Massa.
mutton springing midway from the vale
and the ma jaStiC blue mountains which
guard these boundaries OF the valley,
stand as silent eternal sentinels over
the impcrisbable fame Of the brave
soldiers who wore the gray and fought
for the cause and for the land they
loved.
The old brigade was known ut dif-
lerent times by several names. At
Manassas in July, 1861, it was officially
designated the First Virginia bri-
gaIc." Altcrward the brigadcs were
called by the name Of Their command
ers. and 1t was GarncCt's, Wlndcrs,
PaXton's and Walkers brigade. After
General Walker was assigned to the
command, it WAS officially designated
as the 'Stoncwa!l brigade" which
namo II bore on the rolls OF the Arny
oi Northern Virginia for one year, and
until it ceased 10 exist.
All the brieadicr generals cXcept
Walker wore killed in battle, and he
was severely wounded at SpOttsylvania,
&. ii. Windcr was killed at Cedar
Mountain on August 8, 1862. Jackson
died OF wounds received at Chancel-
lorsville on May 81, 1863. Garnett was
KILLED vt Gettysburg on July 81, 1863
Bc5ldcs the regular commanders, the
.ls t,,
mandcd for brief periods by regimcntul
officers, and several Of these were
killed In battle.
Colonel Allen, Of The Second rcgi-
ment, WAS killed a. Cold lI."bor
Colonel Baylor, OF the Faith, WAS killed
while commanding the brigade aL
Second Manassas.
ColoncIs Men, Fnnk, Bolts, Ranloph
and Colston were all killed or died
from wounds received in battle.
That there were other troops in the
Confederate army as brave and dcscrv-
ing rs the Stoncwall brigade is not to
be gainsaid; but IL is praise enough TO
say that there were none Drawer or
better in the Confederate or Federal
armies. That this famous brigade was
not on every field up to its highest
mark Is undoubtedly true, rs it is OF all
W ooPo' iSi ~ 90 tillOl JlilhLc III IOSlUP
30 many commanders and in the Dum.
Der OF regimcnLal olliccrs temporarily
IN command by seniority. Al! were not
skillful and efficient or possessed OF the
confidence OF the men. The finest, the
bravest soldiers in the world will be
come unsteady and inefficient when lod
by timid and incompetent commanders.
The Old adage, "Show me his COMPANY
and Will show you the man." may be
truthfully paraphrased, "Show me
the officer and will show you the
sOldicr.'
On two occasions one OF the bravcst
and staunchost brigadcs in the Army
OF Northern Virginia behaved badly
under fire, because they believed the
colonel temporarily in command was
wanting in the courage and aklll TO
lead them properly.
THE LAST SCOUT or JOIINSON'S ARMY
Among the visitors to the reunion in
Louisville were Mes3rs. James and II.
Rogers, formerly OF Bourbon County,
Ky, the sons OF the late Col. w. S.
SOpcrs. and bOth bf than u,oro In