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| The only known photograph of Texas boys in the army of Northern Virginia This group of the sturdy pioneers from Texas, heroes of many a wild charge over the battlefields of Virginia, has adopted as winter-quarters insignia the words ‘Wigfall Mess,’ evidently in honor of General Wigfall, who came to Virginia in command of the Texas contingent. The general was fond of relating an experience to illustrate the independence and individuality of his ‘boys.’ In company with Major-General Whiting he was walking near the railroad station at Manassas, and, according to wont, had been ‘cracking up’ his ‘Lone Star’ command, when they came upon a homespun-clad soldier comfortably seated with his back against some baled hay, his musket leaned against the same, and contentedly smoking a pipe. The two officers passed with only the recognition of a stare from the sentry, and Whiting satirically asked Wigfall if that was one of his people, adding that he did not seem to have been very well instructed as to his duty. To his surprise the Texan general then addressed the soldier: ‘What are you doing here, my man?’ ‘Nothina much,’ replied the man; ‘jes' kinder takina care of this hyar stuff.’ ‘Do you know who I am, sir?’ asked the general. ‘Wall, now, 'pears like I know your face, but I can't jes' call your name—who is you?’ ‘I'm General Wigfall,’ with some emphasis. Without rising from his seat or removing his pipe, the sentry extended his hand: ‘Gin'ral, I'm pleased to meet you—my name's Jones.’ Less than a year later, this same man was probably among those who stormed the Federal entrenchments at Gaines' Mill, of whom ‘Stonewall’ Jackson said, on the field after the battle: ‘The men who carried this position were soldiers indeed!’ |
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[129]
Review of Reviews. New York. 1912.
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