Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/184

 176 Southern Historical Society Papers.

take Washington." Jackson could see the way; the two com- manding Generals and the President who deferred to them, as he said could not. Johnston said: (repeating it to me and others, after the war) "We cannot cross a river a mile wide and 18 feet deep." Jackson and Stuart would have found Seneca ford, on the Potomac, 12 miles above Washington, easily fordable. The day after the battle, we had, with reinforcements, 3,000 cavalry on the field. Jackson would have interposed between Washington and the Federal forces in the lower Valley under Maj. Genl. Patterson. The dread of "rebel cavalry" and "masked batteries" would have intensified Jackson's advance and the Wash- ington Government would have fled the city, or capitulated.

The First Maryland did their work in this (their first) battle in Stonewall Jackson's way, fourteen months before the famous war lyric, "Stonewall Jackson's Way," was penned under the inspira- tion of the guns at Sharpsburg, by Dr. John Williamson Palmer, of Baltimore. To find the enemy, go at him, quickly, rush upon him and keep it up ; 'trust in God and keep your powder dry ;' was Stonewall Jackson's way.

CONONEL JOHNSON THE STAR SOLIDER.

The star actor in the First Maryland was Bradley Tyler John- son. Its last colonel, he led it through the Valley and Richmond campaigns, and until, in August, 1862, reduced to one half its original strength, the regiment was mustered out of service, by some occult method in the Richmond War Office. Colonel John son was justly indignant and refused to make a request to have the order rescinded, whereupon, General Jackson assigned him to the command of the Second Brigade in the Stonewall Division, which fought heroically at the Second Battle of Manassas.

HEROIC CAPTAIN MURRAY AND HIS MEN.

Captain Murray's company was mustered out of service, June i8th, 1862 the one year term of enlistment having expired but they, with few exceptions, served faithfully to the end, whether re-enlisting or commissioned. The aggregate muster roll was about 120. With the First Maryland, they participated in General J. E. Johnston's Valley campaign, 1861; the Manassas campaign, 1861-1862; and in Stonewall Jackson's Valley cam-