"Stonewall Jackson’s Way" (1862)

BY JOHN WILLIAMSON PALMER

COME, stack arms, men! Pile on the rails, Stir up the camp-fire bright; No matter if the canteen fails, We’ll make a roaring night. Here Shenandoah brawls along, There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong, To swell the brigade’s rousing song Of "Stonewall Jackson’s Way."

We see him now—the old slouched hat 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 ’em 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 farina 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 dawn!" That’s "Stonewall Jackson’s way."

The sun’s bright lances rout the mists Of morning, and by George! Here’s Longstreet struggling in the lists, Hemmed in an ugly gorge. Pope and his Yankees, whipped before, "Bay’nets and grape!" near [hear?] Stonewall roar; "Charge, Stuart! Pay off Ashby’s score!" Is "Stonewall Jackson’s way."

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

(edited by Frank Moore, New York, 1864), 185–186.