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Recently Discovered Memoir about Gen. T. J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson

By Mary Roy Dawson Edwards | Civil War Times  | 7 comments  | Print This Post  | Email This Post

As to how these attendants were paired my memory is some what uncertain and so is the memory of others who were present. The first couple consisted of the bride’s brother Wm. Morrison, and his cousin Miss Sophia Alexander; the second lady was, I think, Miss Sue Morrison the third, Miss Julia Alexander, the fourth, Miss Laura Morrison [later married to Colonel J. E. Brown of Charlotte, N.C.] and the fifth Miss Orr who appeared with Mr. John Graham.

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Dr. Joseph Graham & I were with Miss Sue Morrison & Miss Julia Alexander but I do not recall how these four were paired.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. Drury Lacy, D.D. then President of Davidson College. The party dispersed the next day, the bride & groom going through Charlotte N.C., which was about 20 miles from Davidson, and through Columbia, S. C. on a northern tour of which Mrs. Jackson gives an account in her memoirs of her husband. [A more complete description of the wedding can be found in Life and Letters, pages 103-4.]

The next time I met Major Jackson was during the latter part of that summer, when he & his wife were spending some days at the Rockbridge Alum springs and there I had a pleasant sojourn and they seemed to be enjoying themselves and their surroundings.

Whilst I do not doubt that I met them after wards from time to time before our “civil war” began I do not distinctly recall any other interview with him till in May 1861 when I went to Harper’s Ferry to make inquiry about my younger brother, who a private in the Col. J.E.B. Stuarts’ 1st Regt of Va. Cavalry, had been accidentally shot by one of his comrades. This Regt. was part of Major. (then Colonel) Jackson’s Command. Here I found the Colonel busily engaged with his work, organizing his command. He was cordial and hospitable, but after ascertaining that my brother had been sent to a hospital at Winchester, I hurried on to that town and from there returned in a few days to the University of Va., where I had begun the study of Law in the preceding fall. I soon discovered that it would be difficult for me to find profit in trying to study there, where all the students and Professors were thoroughly interested in the preparations then making in the State of Virginia for the inevitable conflict, and I accordingly decided to join the army and to cast my lot with the Rockbridge Artillery. This Battery had been organized at Lexington Va. and had in it a large number of young men who had been educated at Washington College. It was commanded by Rev. W. N. Pendleton, the Rector of the Episcopal Church at Lexington, who had graduated some years before at West Point and had been a fellow cadet with Genl. Ro. E. Lee, Gen. Joseph E. Johnson & other distinguished graduates, some of whom had already been called to prominent positions in the two armies which were then preparing for the great conflict.

Maj. Jackson had been commissioned a Col. when he was called to the command of the forces at Harper’s Ferry. Soon after my trip to that place He moved his troops up the river, the Potomac, so as to command the crossing places. His cavalry under Col. Stuart picketed the river and the infantry was stationed at convenient places from Williamsport down to Harpers Ferry. I went down the Valley by stage coach to Winchester and from that town went with a wagon train toward Martinsburg. Some three or four miles south of this town I found the Rockbridge Artillery, on the 21st June, resumming its march and there I joined it. We passed through the town and went into camp in an oak grove about four miles north of the town. Here we found several regiments of infantry belonging to a Brigade under Command of Col. Jackson, the nucleus of the Brigade which was afterwards known as Jackson’s Brigade and after the battle of Manassas known as the “Stonewall brigade”. My recollection is that this Brigade at first was composed of Col. JEB Stuart’s regiment of Cavalry, the 2nd, the 4th, the 5th, the 27th, & the 33rd regiments of Virginia Infantry and the Rockbridge Artillery.

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  1. 7 Comments to “Recently Discovered Memoir about Gen. T. J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson”

  2. In truth, General Jackson and General Lee were victors. They were brillinat military leaders, but even better “men of faith.” Their reward will come personally from King Jesus one day..and it will be eternal. Where then, will be those who ridiculed the faith of these two men…men of honor and conviction? Both of these men looked forward to seeing Christ, being with Him. Contrast taht to Sherman..famed for hate and an inner miserable life. Contrast these Confederate leaders too, even with Lincoln..who never openly proclaimed a similiar Christian faith. True “Victory” is not for the moment..but for all eternity. To General Jackson and General Lee…true victory has arrived..and with King Jesus the Christ…it will only get better :)

    By CH (LTC) Jeff Burnsed on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:53 pm

  3. The text entitled “Robert E. Lee on Leadership” is also a “must read.”

    By CH (LTC) Jeff Burnsed on Sep 13, 2008 at 11:54 pm

  4. yo, what the heck are you talking about that BS for, they killed people, even if christ did exist, they would be going straight to hell

    By Ryan Shirey on May 6, 2009 at 4:41 pm

  5. This was war for crying out loud which means people get killed. Jesus is about forgiving also.

    By stan parker on May 14, 2009 at 9:22 pm

  6. Stan, the taking of life is not a one way ticket to hell. Even people who have taken the lives of others can find forgiveness in Christ. The Bible teaches that Samson was a great man of God, despite his shortcomings and the fact that he killed many men. There are several such examples. King David is another. He killed a man because he wanted to be with the guy’s wife! Yet he too found forgiveness in God’s eyes.

    By Dean K on Jun 4, 2009 at 6:30 pm

  7. excellent article, another must read is “Lost Victories: The Military Genius of Stonewall Jackson”.

    By Troy on Sep 20, 2009 at 5:16 pm

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  2. Sep 5, 2008: Artilleryman Clement D. Fishburne’s Account of the Campaign « Bull Runnings

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