STONEWALL JACKSON’S WAY

Come, stack arms, men, pile on the rails;
Stir up the camp-fires bright;
No matter if the canteen fails,
We’ll make a roaring night. 
Here Shenandoah brawls along,
There lofty Blue Ridge echoes strong,
To swell the Brigade’s roaring song
Of Stonewall Jackson’s way.

We see him now—­the old slouched has,
Cocked o’er his eye askew;
The shrewd dry smile—­the speech so pat,
So calm, so blunt, so true. 
The “Blue-Light Elder” knows them 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!—­we’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 before morn! 
That’s Stonewall Jackson’s way.

The sun’s bright lances rout the mists
Of morning—­and, by George! 
There’s Longstreet struggling in the lists,
Hemmed in an ugly gorge. 
Pope and his columns whipped before—­
“Bayonets and grape!” hear Stonewall roar,
“Charge, Stuart! pay off Ashby’s score!”
That’s Stonewall Jackson’s way.

Ah! maiden, wait and watch and yearn
For news of Stonewall’s band;
Ah! widow, read with eyes that burn
The 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.

NOTE

Jackson’s Strength and Losses, August-September 1882. 
Strength at Cedar Run, August 9: 
   Winder’s (Jackson’s own) Division (estimate) 3,000
   Ewell’s Division.* 5,350
(* Report of July 31, O.R. volume 12 part 3 page 965.)
   Lawton’s Brigade*2 2,200
(2 Report of August 20, O.R. volume 12 part 3 page 966. 
 Not engaged at Cedar Run.)
   A.P.  Hill’s (the Light) Division3 12,000
(3 Report of July 20, O.R. volume 11 part 3 page 645. (3 1/2
regiments had been added.)
   Robertson’s Cavalry Brigade4 (estimate) 1,200
(4 Four regiments.)
          
                                                 ------
          
                                                 23,750
Losses at Cedar Run: 
   Winder’s Division 718