Watson's weekly Jeffersonian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1907, October 17, 1907, Page PAGE THREE, Image 3

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SOME PAGES FROM MF SCRAP BOOK JACKSON AND HIS BRIGADE AT MANASSAS. The battle of Manassas possesses a peculiar interest for him who still re calls without regret the dream of the Confederacy. Here first met in pitched field the men of two sections, and the sons of the South, against greatly superior numbers, bore oft the palm. Here was assembled the flower of Southern chivalry, in the ranks of which were so many of those whose names afterward “filled the speaking trumpet of fame,” and here, last of all, Jackson began his great career, and in a baptism of fire received from General Bee the name of “Sone wall.” So far as a plain statement of a few of the incidents of that day, as seen by an eye-witness, may serve the cause of truth, this narrative will go, borrowing only enough from Johnston’s Narrative, and Dabney’s Life of Jackson to make the general action intelligible. Jackson’s Brigade was composed of the following Virginia regiments: The Second, commanded by Colonel Al len; the Fourth, by Colonel Pies ton; the Fifth, by Colonel Harper; the Twenty-seventh, by Lieutenant- Colonel John Echols, and the Twenty third, by Colonel Cummins. The writer was then a private in Company G, of the Second. On the morning of the memorable 21st of July, 1862, just after the first streaks cf dawn were lighting up the eastern sky, wo were roused from sleep by the roll of the drum and fell into line. Soon we were marched to a point where in front of us was a dense woods. Beyond this was Mitchell’s Ford, where picket-firing was heard for a while. In a few minutes it died away, and only the occasional boom of a big gun in the direction of Cen terville showed that the enemy was near at hand. About six o’clock we moved to the left nearly a mile and again halted, with an open woods before us. Sharp firing in front excited momentary expectation of seeing the brigade moved off briskly, increasing its speed as the sound of battle became more audible, and at times moving at a double-quick. The beams of a burning July sun almost melted u« as, enveloped in woolen garments and weighted down with musket and ac coutrements, we hurried for at least thiee miles toward the scene of con - flic L McDowell had deceived Johnston and Beauregard. Having made a spe cious feint on their center and right, he had stealthily thrown three divis ions on their extreme left and rear, and there was nothing to oppose them but a detachment of eleven hundred men, under Colonel Evans. For awhile he faced the multitude wi*h his little band, then fell back, closely pressed. General Bee, with two regiments and Imboden’s battery, came to his assistance, and for a time held the enemy in check. After a stubborn fight of more than an hour, Bee retired before five times his num ber, and was enabled to make his re treat to another position somewhat WATSON’S WEEKLY JEFFERSONIAN. in order by tho timely arrival of Hampton with his battalion. It was at this stage of the action that Jackson arrived on the field As we ascended the slope beyond which was heard the roar of bailie, Jack son rode near the head of the column. Couriers were constantly riding up to him and then galloping off at breakneck speed. As we approached the crest, an officer on a black horse flecked with foam and bloody with spurring, rode up to Jackson. Every one said it was General Bee. The writer was in a part of the column quite near, but not near enough to hear what was said. Those who were immediately reported the following as having occurred: “How goes the day!” said Jackson. “Hard, Gen eral; they are beating us back.” “Then,” said Jackson, “we’ll try the bayonet. ’ 1 ■ The last remark was repeated from soldier to soldier. It indicated th-t without hard lighting the day was lost. It was the first revelation, too, of the character of the man who led them; for up to *hat time he had seemed, from his sloucuv appearance and quiet ways, to be more a man cf peace than of war. Soon bombs were heard flying over our heads, and a stream of wounded met us. Their bloody faces and groans brought us face to face with the stern realities of the business in which we were engaged, and were far from encour aging. As each one passed, some of the troops asked how the day was going. Nearly all replied that we were being badly whipped. An ar tilleryman was borne by on a stretch er, torn and bleeding. “How’s the fight going!” asked one of those carrying him. The wounded man re plied: “Pretty hard, boys; but pitch in, and we’ll give ’em fits yet.” This was the first word of encouragement we had received, and we cheered the brave fellow lustily. As he passed the column, all along the line his brave words were received with shouts. Near the crest of the slope we were formed in order of battle thus: Near the center, and in the rear of Imbo den’s, Sianard’s and Pendleton’s bat teries were posted the Fourth and Twenty-seventh ; on the right of the batteries, Fifth Virginia, and on the left, the Second and Thirty-third regiments. We were ordered to lie down until we saw the enemy, then to fire and charge. The line ran through a dense pine thicket, which entirely concealed us from the enemy, as well as the enemy from us, for we could not see ten yards beyond the line. Soon after we had taken position, when already a good man shells were beating the bushes in search of us Beauregard rode along the front, oc casionally halting and speaking to the troops. He stopped near the writer and made quite a speech, telling us we were defending all that was most dear to ns. When he had finished, Lieutenant English said: “How long, General, must wc stay here!” mean ing how long before we charged Beauregard misunderstood him, and replied, with arm uplifted, “Till death!” All were struck with his martial air and animated face, and gazed admiringly till he disappeared in the bushes along the front of the Twenty-third. Pretty soon the firing was animat ed, and the shells flew screaming over our heads. In the midst of it there appealed, picking his way through the pines, a horseman who seemed in imminent danger of being torn to pieces. He walked his horse, pushing the branches aside with great deliberation. Presently we all saw it was Jackson. The countenance and manner of the man were indelibly impressed. So composed was his mien and so natural his tones, that we almost forgot a battle was raging. He attempted no fervent address, but spoke a few words to the troops as he passed. He asked what were our or ders. Some one answered to stay till we saw the enemy, then to fire and charge. His reply is not distinctly remembered, but it was something to this effect, “That’s right; do your duty, men!” In a short time after this the can nonading was terrific. To the novice, peering through the brush in fearful expectancy, fancy was busy and bold. So close were the contending batteries that sometimes we could not tell the reports of our own from those of the enemy. Discharge followed discharge so quickly that it seemed as if it were two mailed giants hammering each other wiih huge battle axes. In front and on our right we could hear vol leys of musketry and loud shouting; but bullets tore the bushes above our heads and were hitting some. Many cried out, “Let us charge; anything is better than this!” But the officers yelled at us to keep our places and obey orders. It was at tins point that Bee, amid the flame of battle, gave Jackson his immortal name of “Stonewall.” His own men who had been longer in the fight than Jack son’s and who were more exposed to the aim of the enemy’s guns, were disheartened and breaking, over whelmed by the advancing multitude. “Look,” said Bee, “at Jackson, standing like a stone wall!’ 7 From where they were on the right they could see Jackson’s men lying silent amid the storm. The Thirty-third, as before said, was on our left, and a considerable portion of this line was visible. Pres ently they arose, fired their pieces, and with fierce shouts rushed toward the fee. In a moment they were lost to view. The shot ceased coming to ward us, but the earth shook with the burst of thunder from cannon and musket that received them. Never in lhe annals of war was a braver charge made by raw troops. In less than five minutes nearly half the regi ment was killed and wounded. Ono company composed of youths in their teens —the “Hardy Blues”—lost out of sixty-six, twenty-nine killed and twenty wounded. Thev captured the battery ißickett’s) that was doing ns such damage, but were soon driven off by a deadly fire from infantry near by protected by an excavated road way. The remnant of the Thirtv third returned and formed our left and rear. About this time, or per haps before, a body of Confederates passed along our rear line toward our left. This was encouraging, for all the bullets came from that direction. “What regiment is that!” cried one. “Forty-ninth Virginia.” was the re ply. “Who is the Colcnel!” “Smith.” “What Smith!” “Ex tra Billy.” answered in angry tones, the gallant ex-Governor of Virginia. “Extra Billy” was the name the Whigs had given him as a title of honor. Notwithstanding this re-enforce ment, in a short time the left seemed entirely gone, and the enemy was on our flank in heavy force. The bullets came thicker and faster down the line and we could not reply without shoot ing our own. Many were struck, and there was great impatience to charge. This was increased by a Methodist preacher who had led a company in the Thirty-third, and with violent gesticulations was imploring us to charge “the battery,” saying that the horses were all killed and the Yankees in confusion. Some of the men, crazed with excitement, rose up and called for others to join them in a charge. The officers yelled at them: “Down! down!” till order was restored. But the enemy was enveloping our left. Still did we wait for the enemy to appear, but none were to be seen, while shells from the front and biillets from the left were playing a havoc of death. In the midst of the uproar, the order was given to “fall back.” “What for?” cried one (Tom Bris tow, of Jefferson); “we are doing very well.” Immediately he fell, mortally wounded. The left of the Second now hurriedly retired from a position where no resistance could possibly be made, and formed in the rest of the brigade. To repel the on set Jackson now advanced his remain ing force and pushed baelc the enemy at the point of the bayonet. But ti e crisis was passed. The reserves now came up, and Smith and Early having assailed the left flank successively, victory soon crowned oui aims. At tho Chantaiqua held here in Chillicothe recently, General Weaver, Congressman Hobsen and Sam Small were among the speakers. All tnese are former Populists. A Populist is all right with the public as long as be doesn’t vote the Populist ticket. In hunting for speakers that will draw’ crowds, the Chautauqua managein seem to find it necessary to get men who were once Populists, or at least have gained their reputations by talk ing more or less populism. Such men as Tillman. B*yan, La Follette, U. 8. Senator Bob Taylor, of Tennessee Taylor was also one of the speakers at our Chautauqua. His remarks on “When Greece Fell,” When Rome Fell/’ etc., sounded very much like Populist talk, lint they didn’t seem to want Tom Watson, the greatest ora tor of them all. Watson would make the crowd lift the roof off the ter.t with applause But Watson believes in voting as he talks, and therefore he is not wanted. But it won’t al ways be this way.—Missouri World, PAGE THREE