Gen. Thomas J. Jackson And The Stonewall
Brigade
STONEWALL JACKSON'S WAY
(Words to the song being played
in the background. If you can't hear the music, click here.)
by John Williamson Palmer
(1825-1906)
Come, stack arms, men. Pile on the rails,
Stir up the campfire bright;
No matter if the canteen fails,
We'll make a roaring night.
Here Shenandoah brawls along,
There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong
To swell the brigade's rousing song
Of "Stonewall Jackson's way."
We see him now--the old slouched hat
Cocked o'er his eye askew--
The shrewd, dry smile--the speech so pat--
So calm, so blunt, so true.
That "Blue-Light Elder" knows 'em well--
Says he, "That's Banks; he's fond of shell--
Lord save his soul! We'll give him"...well,
That's "Stonewall Jackson's way."
Silence! ground arms! kneel all! caps off!
Old Blue Light's going to pray;
Strangle the fool that dares to scoff;
Attention; it's his way!
Appealing from his native sod,
In forma pauperis to God--
"Lay bare thine arm; stretch forth thy rod;
Amen." That's "Stonewall's way."
He's in the saddle now! Fall in!
Steady, the whole brigade!
Hill's at the ford, cut off! He'll win
His way out, ball and blade.
What matter if our shoes are worn?
What matter if our feet are torn?
"Quick step--we're with him ere the dawn!"
That's "Stonewall Jackson's way."
The sun's bright glances rout the mists
Of morning, and, by George!
There's Longstreet struggling in the lists,
Hemmed in an ugly gorge--
Pope and his Yankees whipped before--
"Bayonet and grape!" hear Stonewall roar,
"Charge, Stuart! Pay off Ashby's score
In Stonewall Jackson's way."
Ah, maiden! wait and watch and yearn
For news of Stonewall's band!
Ah, widow! read with eyes that burn
That ring upon thy hand!
Ah, wife! sew on, pray on, hope on,
Thy life shall not be all forlorn--
The foe had better ne'er been born,
That gets in Stonewall's way.
My thanks to Carlene Wojan for this material.
"The men of that command will be proud one
day to say to their children; 'I was one of the Stonewall Brigade.'
I have no right to the name Stonewall. It belongs to the brigade
and not at all to me." - Gen. T.J. Jackson, May 1863
33rd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Historical
Background 33rd Regiment Virginia Volunteer Infantry; 1861-1865
The 33rd Regiment of Virginia Volunteers was one
of the five regiments in the immortal Stonewall Brigade of the
Confederate Army. This brigade evolved into one of the most famous
military units in military history. It was held in the highest
regard and proved itself time and again throughout the entire
war. It had it's low points to be sure but no other unit in the
Confederacy held more respect and admiration than did the Stonewall
Brigade; from General Lee on down and from the Union ranks as
well. The following is a brief historical look at the 33rd Virginia
and the Stonewall Brigade.
In April of 1861, the federal government called
on Virginia to supply militia units to help suppress the recent
"insurrections" and to occupy necessary parts of the
South. Virginia governor John Letcher replied; "..militia
of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington
for any such use or purpose.." Virginia then sealed it's
response with secession. Gov. Letcher did call on state militia
and volunteers, but to protect Virginia, not help the federals.
He quickly called on units from the Shenandoah Valley region to
hold and gather at Harper's Ferry. Even though this was an assemblage
of independent groups with no real organization, the men worked
the best they could at becoming an army. In late April, Col. Thomas
J. Jackson was ordered from his position at Virginia Military
Institute to take charge of the troops gathering at Harper's Ferry.
Some 4,500 Virginian civilians and militia would soon be organized
and become a part of the Army of the Shenandoah. Jackson effected
a military reformation of the men under his command and in very
little time.
On 23 May 1861, General Joseph E. Johnston was ordered
to take command of the Army of the Shenandoah. He organized this
army into two infantry battalions with nine regiments and had
four companies of artillery. Jackson was promoted to Brigadier
General and given command of four regiments; the 2nd, 4th, 5th,
and 27th Virginia Volunteers, and also the Rockbridge Artillery.
These units were mustered into service in June of '61. Jackson's
command was officially designated as the 1st Virginia Infantry
Brigade.
Even before the overall organization of the Virginians
was clear, many companies of infantry volunteers that were formed
through June and July had already begun seeing some action as
individual units or in attachments with various commands. Three
such companies from the Valley region were the Potomac Guard,
Independent Grays, and Hampshire Riflemen. These three companies
were eventually attached to Col. Arthur Cummings and they became
the first companies of the regiment he was then gathering together.
It was Col. Cummings' regiment that would later become the 33rd
Virginia and the Potomac Guard became Company A. This newly forming
regiment of Col. Cummings joined Jackson's 1st Brigade on 15 July
1861.
As a whole, the men of the 1st Brigade were mostly
of Scotch-Irish, German, Swedish, or English descent and typically
from farming backgrounds due to the fertile Valley region they
were from. Generally, they thought the idea of the "Union"
was a good one but Virginia was their home. Virginia, as the mother
of this new nation, was their "country", not the United
States. Consequently, the Valley men set out to defend their homes
and homeland and cast their lots with the new Confederacy.
At the beginning of the war, the 1st Brigade numbered
2,611 men and consisted of the following: The 33rd Virginia Volunteers
which were men generally from the New Market to Martinsburg areas
of Virginia. 2nd Virginia; men from the Winchester to Charlestown
area. 4th Virginia; men from the southern Shenandoah Valley region.
5th Virginia; men from the Staunton area. 27th Virginia; men from
around the Lexington area. Rockbridge Artillery; a Lexington battery
under the command of Capt. William N. Pendleton who would later
become R.E. Lee's Chief of Artillery.
The 33rd Virginia eventually consisted of ten companies;
the normal compliment of an infantry regiment.* These companies
are described below:
Co. A; mustered into service in June 1861 under
Capt. P.T. Grace. They were men from around Springfield in Hampshire
County. This area eventually fell into Union control and became
a part of West Virginia. Known as the Potomac Guard, they were
one of the three original companies to start the regiment. Co.
B; the Tom Brook Guard from Shenandoah county, joined early July.
Co. C; the Tenth Legion Minute Men or Shenandoah Riflemen from
Shenandoah county, joined early July. Co. D; the Mountain Rangers
from around Winchester, they joined the regiment after the battle
of First Manassas in late July. Co. E; the Emerald Guard, an almost
exclusively Irish group from around New Market. Co. F; the Independent
Grays or Hardy Grays from around Moorefield, they were one of
the three original companies from early June. Co. G; the Mount
Jackson Rifles from Mt. Jackson and Shenandoah counties, joined
early July. Co. H; the Page Grays from Page county, joined early
July. Co. I; the Rockingham Confederates from Rockingham county,
one of the two companies to join the regiment after First Manassas.
Co. K; the Shenandoah Sharpshooters from Shenandoah county, joined
in mid July.
*While the normal compliment of a regiment is ten
companies, Col. Cummings' regiment only had eight when it went
into the battle of First Manassas. The Hampshire Riflemen, mentioned
earlier as one of the three original companies in Cummings' 33rd
Virginia, was transferred to the cavalry before First Manassas.
They became Co. F of the 7th Virginia Cavalry and later still,
transferred to Co. D of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.
First Manassas
For the Battle of First Manassas, General Johnston's army was
sent to help Gen. Beauregard's Army of the Potomac (CSA) and General
Thomas Jackson's 1st Brigade was poised to take it's place in
history. It was after this major battle that the 1st Brigade would
forever more be known as the "Stonewall Brigade". There
were many important battles and engagements throughout the war
for these men but First Manassas was their defining moment and
it is highlighted here in a little more detail than some of the
other battles noted later.
On Sunday morning, 21 July 1861, the 1st Virginia Infantry Brigade
under Gen. Jackson was ordered to move to the Confederate left
at Henry House Hill. Not long after the brigade had deployed,
Union forces were able to break the three Confederate brigades
holding Matthew's Hill. The Confederates from Matthew's Hill began
falling back and General Bee tried to rally these men near Jackson's
1st Brigade. As the Union troops steadily pushed forward to Henry
House Hill, eleven federal guns were able to move into a position
up the Hill and fire obliquely into Jackson's left flank. The
left flank was anchored by the 33rd Virginia. The devastating
fire of the federal guns began to have an effect on Jackson's
line of infantry. Most of the men were new to battle and certainly
none had experienced the magnitude of a major engagement. Nerves
were stretched to breaking as the men lay in wait while the incessant
shelling rained down upon them.
Col. Cummings could see the Union troops getting
close and felt that he could no longer hold his men at bay. Having
endured enough of the bombardment, the 33rd Virginia broke from
their position and dashed over the crest of Henry House Hill to
attack the federal batteries. They succeeded in reaching the guns
that were doing so much damage to Jackson's line and rendered
them ineffective. Without immediate support (they had attacked
on their own and without orders), however, the 33rd Virginia was
forced back to the crest of the hill by Union infantry arriving
to support the guns. But by then the tide had already begun to
turn. As the federals continued to push toward the crest of Henry
House Hill, Jackson's whole 1st Brigade made a furious charge
into the blue ranks and as additional Confederates came up on
Jackson's left no longer hold his men at bay.
It is the silencing of the federal guns by the 33rd
Virginia and the charge of Jackson's 1st Brigade that is said
to have turned the tide of battle. They were instrumental in giving
the Confederacy it's victory at First Manassas and started the
historic rout of the Union army. Jackson and his men earned their
nickname as General Bee tried to rally his broken troops. "There
stands Jackson like a stonewall" he shouted; "rally
'round the Virginians !". General Thomas "Stonewall"
Jackson and his "Stonewall Brigade" had etched their
names in history.
The Stonewall Brigade would be referred to by other
nicknames as well; "Stonewall's Band", "Jackson's
Foot Cavalry", "Men of Manassas", and the "Valley
Men". They served with distinction throughout the entire
war and despite some low points along the way, they continually
lived up to their nickname as the Stonewall Brigade and commanded
the respect of friend and foe alike. Jackson never hesitated to
call on the brigade and always took comfort when his old brigade
was leading the way.
The regiments of the Stonewall Brigade were among
the most frequently engaged units in the entire Confederate army.
The 33rd Virginia was involved in more than seventy engagements.
Consequently, this brief background can not be a complete resource.
Outlined below, however, are some other actions and information
on the 33rd Virginia and the Stonewall Brigade that may interest
the reader.
Three companies; the Potomac Guard, Independent
Grays, and Hampshire Riflemen, are organized in early June 1861.
They are the nucleus of Col. Cummings' regiment that would later
be known as the 33rd Virginia.
-Through June they saw action around Romney and
Winchester and were part of a battalion commanded by Major William
Lee.
-They were later attached to Gen. Elzey's Brigade
and involved in the action below Martinsburg.
-In early July, they reported back to Col. Cummings
who had recruited five more companies. These eight companies of
Cummings were then attached to Jackson's 1st Brigade on 15 July
1861.
After First Manassas, Jackson was promoted and given
command of his own division, and later still, his own corps. The
Stonewall Brigade would be commanded by six other Brigadier Generals
over the course of the war; Richard Garnett, Charles Winder, William
Baylor, E.Franklin Paxton, James Walker, and William Terry.
In early to mid 1862, the brigade served in the
Valley District of General Johnston's command where it became
known as the Valley Army.
-It took 25% casualties at Kernstown.
-The 33rd went into the Battle of Kernstown with
275 men and lost 59. By Gordonsville and Slaughter's Mountain,
the 33rd was down to 160 men.
The brigade had a high of 3,681 men in April of
'62 and ended the war with 210 men at Appomattox. It typically
consisted of 900 to 1,400 men.
In June of 1862, Jackson's First Valley campaign
came to an end. After this extraordinary campaign for Jackson
and his men, a story in itself, they were sent to reinforce Lee
around Richmond. They soon became a part of the Army of Northern
Virginia.
Going into the battles at Groveton and Second Manassas
in August of '62, the brigade had 635 effectives.
-Second Manassas pit the Stonewall Brigade against
the Iron Brigade. They fought to a bloody stalemate but the federals
finally backed off as night fell.
-Company A; 33rd Virginia went in with 17 men and
suffered 10 casualties.
For the fierce battle at Sharpsburg in September
of 1862, the brigade had 250 in ranks and incurred 50 casualties.
-Their initial position was 700 yards north of the
Dunkard Church, perpendicular to and west of the Hagerstown Pike
in advance of the West Woods.
-The brigade was embroiled in the fight in the West
Woods and then around the Dunkard Church were the lines finally
stabilized before the Union forces concentrated on other parts
of Lee's line.
During November of 1862, the brigade was able to
grow from 200 to 1,200 men through recruiting and returning men.
-The Rockbridge Artillery was transferred to Jackson's
Corps Artillery Reserve thus dissolving the connection it had
with the Stonewall Brigade since before the war.
Chancellorsville, May 1863; the brigade's crucial
involvement in this important Confederate victory cost 493 casualties
including 60 in the 33rd Virginia.
-The most devastating loss, however, was Jackson
who was mortally wounded.
-It has been said that the Stonewall Brigade was
never able to fully recover what it lost at Chancellorsville in
terms of casualties and of course General Stonewall Jackson.
-On May 30, 1863, the CSA War Department officially
granted the designation "Stonewall Brigade" to the 1st
Virginia Infantry Brigade. It was the only unit in the army to
have an officially sanctioned nickname.
Gettysburg, July 1863; the Stonewall Brigade is
stationed on the Confederate far left to guard Lee's left flank
during the opening battles of this epic three day struggle.
-The brigade was part of Johnson's Division/Ewell's
Corps (who replaced Jackson).
-After repelling some federal cavalry on the left,
the Stonewall Brigade joined the rest of Johnson's Division in
the battles for Culp's Hill. This hard, exhaustive struggle produced
no results for Johnson's Division and heavy losses for the brigade.
Spotsylvania, May 1864; Johnson's Division held
the Confederate right. The Stonewall Brigade was on the left of
Division in the deadly salient or "mule's shoe". Through
the evening of the 10th, the brigade repels three waves of Union
attacks and on the 11th saw only minor battling and skirmishing.
Then Grant directs Hancock to concentrate the entire Union 2nd
Corps on the Confederate right and, with help from part of the
6th Corps, break Lee's line there.
-Hancock is able to break through the salient by
shear force of numbers.
-As various units along the line collapse and fall
back, the 33rd, 4th, 5th, and 27th Virginia become trapped. The
Stonewall Brigade is struck in front, flank, and rear.
-Those who could escape, rallied on a second line
of battle held by the 2nd Virginia and were soon supported by
troops from A.P. Hill's Corps. This second line held and ultimately
preserved Lee but it was too late for the Stonewall Brigade.
-Johnson's Division and the Stonewall Brigade were
devastated with most men captured (including Johnson), wounded,
or dead.
-The Stonewall Brigade had less than 200 men after
the battle, no commander, and only two of the five regimental
commanders were left.
On May 14th, 1864, what was left of the Stonewall
Brigade and the remnants of Jone's and Steuart's brigades were
consolidated into a single unit.
-The 33rd recorded only one captain and three privates
at the time.
-This consolidated brigade was still small with
only about 600 men. The units in the consolidation were the 2nd,
4th, 5th, 27th, 33rd (the five Stonewall Brigade regiments), 10th,
21st, 23rd, 25th, 37th, 42nd, 44th, 38th, and 50th Virginia.
This consolidation officially ended the Stonewall
Brigade as an independent unit. However, the five Valley regiments
eventually recovered up to almost half of the consolidation's
total. Also, the command of the consolidation went to a Stonewall
Brigade veteran, William Terry of the 4th Virginia. Consequently,
the old Stonewall Brigade was still able to retain some of it's
identity and it would impart it's prestige and honor to the entire
brigade for the remainder of the war.
The consolidated brigade was able to prevail and
rout the Federals under Gen. Lew Wallace at the Battle of Monocacy
and were part of Early's advance to the outskirts of Washington
D.C. late in the war.
-After these and some other engagements, the five
Valley regiments of the old Stonewall Brigade were down to 194
men.
Several other battles and engagements were to follow
which included a return to the Valley. There were few men left
from the old Stonewall Brigade then and Terry was wounded and
no longer in command.
-In August of 1864, there was one man in Co. A,
33rd Virginia and he was on sick leave.
-The five Valley regiments had 45 men total.
Amazingly, the old Stonewall Brigade was able to
rise again. With the return of Terry to command and returning
effectives and recruits, the consolidated brigade increased to
1,293 men and the ranks of the Valley men were generously swelled.
In late 1864, the brigade left the Valley and once
again joined Lee in the defenses of Richmond and Petersburg.
-The brigade was able to fight effectively in the
action around the Crater and Fort Stedman in early '65 and ably
lived up to their name till the end.
The road finally led to Appomattox. General Lee,
in a show of respect, graciously asked the 210 men remaining in
the old Stonewall Brigade to lead the final march of his Army
of Northern Virginia. The 33rd Virginia had less than 20 men.
It is this last simple act by Lee that gives the true testimonial
of the legacy left by the men of the Stonewall Brigade. The Valley
men gladly accepted this last duty probably not for themselves
but for their comrades left on the bloody battlefields of the
war. Surely they also did it for their former leader who had made
them what they were and who always considered them his own; General
Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. It must have been an
amazing sight to see these troops, worn and battered from the
war. They undoubtedly marched proudly down the road, their heads
held high, their tattered battle flags flying over them;...the
men of the Stonewall Brigade. Behind them, the long gray lines
of the former Army of Northern Virginia.
"..and men will tell their children
tho all other memories fade,
how they fought with Stonewall Jackson
in the old Stonewall Brigade.."
from The Song of the Rebel by
John E. Cooke; 1863
References: Four Years in the Stonewall Brigade-John
O. Casler, The Stonewall Brigade-James I. Robertson, Gettysburg;
Culp's Hill & Cemetery Hill-Harry Pfanz, One of Jackson's
Foot Cavalry-John Worsham, Letters From the Stonewall Brigade-Ted
Barclay, Stonewall Jackson-Lenoir Chambers, War of Rebellion;
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
Words to Remember
"Always mystify, mislead, and suprise the enemy, if possible.
And when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit
so long as your men have strength to follow... Such tactics will
win every time, and a small army will thus destroy a large one
in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible."
- Stonewall Jackson