Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 43.djvu/15

 Southern Historical Society Papers.

New Series. Richmond, Va, Aug., 1920. Volume V.

WITH STONEWALL JACKSON

CHAPTER I.

Coming Events and Their Shadows.

A country wedding is a peaceful beginning for memories of a great war and its heroic men. Nothing could have been more peaceful and free from the alarms of war than the old brick mansion called Bellevue, among the green hills of Rockbridge, in the Valley of Virginia. It was in the summer of 1859 that a company of kindred and farm neighbors gathered here on the porches and in groups upon the lawn, to witness a happy wedding at noon and to send the bridal party off with affectionate con- gratulations, and then a rousing cheer.

The old home of the Browns and Morrisons looked west- ward down a valley of cultivated fields and off to the bold outline of Jump Mountain. On the wide porch the men of the company tarried for the summons to the ceremony in the parlors within.

Among them stood a tall, square-shouldered man, not much over thirty years of age, clad in the uniform of a major of artil- lery in the United States Army. The first impression of him was that he was a neighboring farmer who had come to the wedding in the uniform of his militia rank, holding that rank with pride. He was scrupulously neat, with large hands and feet, a broad face, well bearded, and blue eyes that were both serious and gentle.

A pleasant greeting from the unknown soldier held me for a moment, and then we sat together on the porch bench. His motions were stiff and somewhat awkward, though his manner was courteous and amiable. We chatted of the fair prospect and