Listen to the Alabamians

By John Hennessy · Originally published July 2018 · p. 7

Publisher’s Note: When we decided to devote “Fact or Fiction” to the origin of Stonewall’s nickname, we contacted John Hennessy, former historian at Manassas National Battlefield and author of “Stonewall’s Nickname: Fact or Fable?” in Civil War (March-April 1990). John has kindly offered comment on our column.

Listen to the Alabamians If there is one thing everyone agrees upon so far as the naming of Jackson goes, it’s that whatever Bee said about Jackson, he said to the 4th Alabama Infantry. That disqualifies as witnesses every Virginian who claimed to have heard the words, and it is Virginians who pushed the traditional narrative that includes, “Rally behind the Virginians.” That’s one thing. Another thing, even more important, is the timing of the event. The sources from the 4th Alabama make clear that the momentous encounter between Bee and the 4th Alabama took place much later in the battle than traditional tellings would have you believe. “Rally behind the Virginians” implies, of course, that the Alabamians needed rallying and were in front of Jackson’s men when Bee spoke to them. That fits the narrative implied by the inscription on the Jackson statue today (which Virginians erected, of course). But the descriptions of the encounter with Bee from the 4th Alabama make it clear that the encounter took place well after the 4th Alabama had already fallen back and rallied behind Jackson’s line; that Bee had been separated from the 4th for some time; that the 4th rose and rushed to assist Jackson’s men, who were heavily engaged in combat at the time; that the column of the 4th Alabama was fractured by the retreat of Alburtis’s battery from Jackson’s line (we know exactly when during the battle this happened); and that Bee fell mortally wounded shortly after leading his troops forward. All of these things happened after 3 p.m., at the height of the fighting along Jackson’s line—when Jackson’s men needed the assistance most, and the 4th Alabama had long since rallied. I am pretty well convinced, though, that no one other than Steve Davis has ever actually read the article I did on the naming of Jackson way back when. The traditional narrative is still retold again and again, though the evidence clearly shows that the details of that narrative are implausible on many levels. And, lest the traditionalists unleash themselves on me, the correct narrative does NOT reflect poorly on Jackson in any way. In fact it explodes the myth that Bee might have been cursing Jackson. Instead, at the time of the Big Moment on July 21, 1861, Jackson’s men were in a fierce battle that in large measure would change the course and character of the battle. Bee’s praiseworthy words, “Yonder stands Jackson like a stone wall” (regardless of what words followed) spoke to a moment that deservedly became part of the lore of Jackson and the Confederate army. Listen to the Alabamians. John Hennessy