Little wonder that these enthusiastic youths, new to the soldier’s trade, should have been captivated by a nature so strong and fearless.  The Stonewall Brigade had made Jackson a hero, and he had won more from them than their admiration.  His incessant watchfulness for their comfort and well-being; the patient care with which he instructed them; his courtesy to the youngest private; the tact and thoughtfulness he showed in all his relations with them, had won their affection.  His very peculiarities endeared him to them.  Old Jack or Stonewall were his nicknames in the lines of his own command, and stories went round the camp fire of how he had been seen walking in the woods round Centreville absorbed in prayer, or lifting his left hand with that peculiar gesture which the men believed was an appeal to Heaven, but which, in reality, was made to relieve the pain of his wounded finger.  But while they discussed his oddities, not a man in the brigade but acknowledged his ability, and when the time came not a man but regretted his departure.

His farewell to his troops was a striking scene.  The forest, already donning its gorgeous autumnal robes, shut in the grassy clearing where the troops were drawn up.  There stood the grey columns of the five regiments, with the colours, already tattered, waving in the mild November air.  The general rode up, their own general, and not a sound was heard.  Motionless and silent they stood, a veritable stone wall, whilst his eye ran along the ranks and scanned the familiar faces.  “I am not here to make a speech,” he said, “but simply to say farewell.  I first met you at Harper’s Ferry, at the commencement of the war, and I cannot take leave of you without giving expression to my admiration of your conduct from that day to this, whether on the march, in the bivouac, or on the bloody plains of Manassas, where you gained the well-deserved reputation of having decided the fate of battle.

“Throughout the broad extent of country through which you have marched, by your respect for the rights and property of citizens, you have shown that you are soldiers not only to defend, but able and willing both to defend and protect.  You have already won a brilliant reputation throughout the army of the whole Confederacy; and I trust, in the future, by your deeds in the field, and by the assistance of the same kind Providence who has hitherto favoured our cause, you will win more victories and add lustre to the reputation you now enjoy.  You have already gained a proud position in the future history of this our second War of Independence.  I shall look with great anxiety to your future movements, and I trust whenever I shall hear of the First Brigade on the field of battle, it will be of still nobler deeds achieved, and higher reputation won!” Then there was a pause; general and soldiers looked upon each other, and the heart of the leader went out to those who had followed him with such devotion.  He had spoken his words of formal praise, but both he and they knew the bonds between them were too strong to be thus coldly severed.  For once he gave way to impulse; his eye kindled, and rising in his stirrups and throwing the reins upon his horse’s neck, he spoke in tones which betrayed the proud memories that thronged upon him: