Partly printed document signed by Barnard E. Bee. N.p., 30 April 1851. 1 page, oblong 8vo. Docketed to verso. 

A rare antebellum military document signed by Barnard E. Bee (1824-1861), the Confederate general remembered for inspiring the legendary nickname "Stonewall" Jackson.

Born into a prominent Charleston, South Carolina, family, he moved to Texas with his family in 1836 to pursue the promise of the new Republic. In 1841, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated 33rd in the Class of 1845.

Following graduation, he was commissioned a bvt. Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry and joined the United States military occupation of Texas during the Mexican-American War. He was twice brevetted for gallantry, first to first lieutenant at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, where he was wounded, and again to captain after the Battle of Chapultepec.

This document dates from his western frontier army service with the 3rd Infantry after the war. when he was stationed. After garrison duty at East Pascagoula, Mississippi, he served on frontier duty at San Antonio, Texas (1848-1849), Santa Fe, New Mexico (1850-51); Fort Bliss, Texas (1851); and Fort Fillmore, New Mexico (1851-852). The document here records the forage of a single horse, but does not indicate the location. 

In 1855, he was promoted to captain of Company D of the 10th Infantry and stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. In the spring of 1857, his company participated in the Utah War, in conflict with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he was placed in command of the Utah Volunteer Battalion and brevetted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. 

At the news of secession, Bee was posted at Fort Laramie. He resigned his commission in March 1861 and returned to his home state of South Carolina. He was elected lieutenant colonel of the 1st South Carolina Regulars, and was appointed Brigadier General on June 17th.

At the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), which would prove to be his last, he observed his former West Point classmate Thomas Jackson, and uttered the famous quote: "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Rally behind the Virginians!"  

The exclamation earned Jackson the legendary sobriquet "Stonewall" Jackson and his Stonewall Brigade. 

The same day, Bee was wounded by an artillery shell in the abodman and died the next day. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

Note: the document had previously been recorded as dated 30 April 1857. We, however, believe it to be a misreading of 1851. His regiment is clearly listed as the 3rd Infantry when he served in between 1845 and the spring of 1855. By mid 1855, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 10th Infantry.