University of Virginia Library

It was at Winchester in June of 1861 that the Liberty Hall Volunteers were incorporated into the Army of the Shenandoah as Company I of the 4th Virginia Infantry regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas J. Jackson. The army drilled for several weeks at Camp Stephens near Martinsburg until General Patterson's Federal army crossed the Potomac. When Patterson occupied Martinsburg, the Army of the Shenandoah fell back to Winchester on July 7th. They remained in Winchester until the 18th, when they were instructed to move towards Manassas Junction to aid General Beauregard in his engagement with the Federals (Bean, 31-37).

Charles Brooks (1839-1920) enlisted in the 4th Virginia Infantry, Co. I on July 7, 1861. He was perhaps en route to join the company in Winchester (Robertson, Fourth Virginia Infantry, 41).

William Brooks (1838-1861) enlisted in the 4th Virginia Infantry, Co. I with Andrew in June of 1861 (Robertson, Fourth Virginia Infantry, 41). He became quite ill sometime in early July of that same year. In a letter to James Brooks also dated July 16, 1861, Captain White reports that William passed away due to "congestion of the brain." See White's letter to James Brooks, July 16, 1861.

Quinine, an antiperiodic drug, was often dissolved in whiskey and used against malaria. Calomel is a mercury compound. (Freemon, 8-9).

William Wilson (1843-?) enlisted in Co. I on June 2, 1861. He was also a student at Washington College. Captured at Kernstown on March 23, 1862 (as was Andrew Brooks), he was exchanged on Aug 5, 1862. Wilson was reported as a deserter on Nov. 27, 1862 (Robertson, Fourth Virginia Infantry, 41).

The troops stationed at Winchester were impatiently waiting for Patterson to advance (Robertson, Fourth Virginia Infantry, 33); however, on July 18, they received orders to evacuate Winchester and travel eastward through the Blue Ridge Mountains towards Manassas to serve as reinforcements in the defense of the Railroad Junction. On July 21, the First Battle of Manassas was fought. The 4th VA was pivotal in the counterattack which carried the battle, yet sustained the highest losses of any of the regiments in the brigade: 31 dead and 100 wounded. Besides its role as an important victory for the Confederates, the First Manassas gave birth to two Confederate legends: the "Rebel Yell," and Jackson's nickname—credited to South Carolina General Barnard Bee who, upon perceiving Jackson's brigade behind him, shouted to his troops, "Look, men! There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!" (Robertson, Fourth Virginia Infantry, 5-7).