238 Southern Historical' Society Papers.
of Johnson's division, were incorporated into a single brigade, called Terry's brigade.
The official designation of Stonewall brigade was not given to that body of men until after the death of its General, Paxton, at Chancel- lorsville, in May, 1863. Prior to that it had been known either by its number, or the name of its commander.
When Stonewall Jackson was its commander in 1861, it was called the First Virginia brigade. After General Jackson was promoted to major-general in October, 1861, it was commanded by General Gar- nett, and was called Garnett's brigade. General Garnett, having incurred General Jackson's displeasure at Kernstown, was relieved of command, but afterwards fell at Gettysburg, leading his brigade in the charge of Pickett's division.
After Garnett, General Winder commanded the brigade for about four months, until he was killed at Slaughter's mountain. While he commanded it, it was called Winder's brigade. When the gallant Winder fell, General Jackson had Major Paxton, of his staff, promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and assigned to the command of Winder's brigade; and it was called Paxton' s brigade until he was killed at Chancellorsville in May, 1863.
Then I was assigned to its command, and for a few weeks only it was known as Walker's brigade; when, by authority of the Secretary of War, it received the official designation of Stonewall brigade, by which it had been unofficially known in the army before, and which name it had received on the plains of Manassas on the 2ist of July, 1861, when the brave Bee pointed to the First Virginia brigade, under command of General Jackson, and said to his brave men, re- tiring, before overwhelming odds: " There stands Jackson and his Virginians like a stone wall." The compliment was paid to the brigade for its gallant stand as much as to its commander.
On the 1 2th of May, 1864, in the Bloody Angle, the old brigade was annihilated, and its name faded from the rolls of the Army of Northern Virginia, but it will ever live on the rolls of fame, and his- tory will record its deeds of glory.
JAMES A. WALKER.
