Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-06-26
Narrative of a Federal Officer.

Capt. Wilkins, of the staff of General
A. S. Williams, commanding division of
an army comps, who was wounded and TAX
en- prisoner in the battle OF Chancellors-
vile, gives the following account of an in
tervew with S.onewall jackson. We
quote from the Detroit Free Press
"When captured, Capt. Williams was
placed in charge of a guard, who took him
short distance to the rear, where he met
Gen. jackson and staff. jackson was Sit
ting on his horse at the head of the column,
surrounded by his staff He wore new
suit of gray uniform, and was spare man
with weather-beat face and a bright,
grayish- He had a peculiarly sad
and gloomy expression of countenance, as
though he already saw premoniton Of his
fate. 1t was but fifteen minutes later that
he was mortally wounded. AS they came
into his presence the guard announced, "a
captured Yankee officer Capt Wilkins
asked if it was Maj. Gen. Thomas ]. Jack
son. On being answered in the affirmative,
he raised his hat. Gen. jackson said A
regular army officer, suppose--your Off
GERS do not usually salute OURS Captain
Wilkins replied, No, am not salute
you out of respect to you as a gallant off.
cer.' He then asked his name and rank.
On being told, be further inquired what
corps and commanders were opposed in
front. Capt Wilkins replied that as an
officer he could not return truthful an
swer 10 such questions. jackson then
turned to the guard and ordered them to
search him. He then had in the breast
pocket of his coat Hooker's confidential
orders TO corps commanders, giving plan
in part of the campaign; the countersign
of the field for week in advance, and the
field returns, giving the effective strength
of the Twelfth corps on the proceeding
day. These were all exceedingly impor-
tant papers.
Fortunately, before the guard could car
ry the orders into execution. a terrific rals-
ing fire was ordered on Jackson's column
by twenty pieces of artillery, from an emf
nence on the plank road. The first eight
or ten shots few over the heads of the
column. The men and gunners dismounted,
leaving horses and guns. Orr artillery
soon got the range with more precision,
and the shell and round shot ricochetted
and ploughed through the dense mass of
the enemy with terrific effect. Shells were
continually bursting, and the screams and
groans of the wounded and dying could be
heard on every side. As an instance of
OF the terrible effect of this fire, one of the
guard was struck by solid shot just below
the hip, sweeping off both his legs. A bat
terry came dashing up, but when they got
into the vortex of the fire the gunners
fled, deserving their guns, and could not be
made to man them. An officer, splendidly
mounted and equipped, attempted, in a
most gallant manner, to rally them. A
ball struck him on the neck, completely
severing his head and leaving his body
standing. His body rolled TO the ground,
and the horse galloped to the rear. One
of the shells struck caisson full of ar
tillery ammunition, which, exploding, as
cended in crater OF various colored flame
and showered down on the heads of the
men below a mass of fragments of shot
and shell. The loss inflicted by this fire
must have been terrible, placing considera-
bly, over one thousand men hOrs du combat,
and etfectually breaking up the contem-
plated attack of the column.
An officer of Jackson's staff subsequent
ly stated that it was about fifteen minutes
after this that Gen. jackson with staff ad-
Sanced to the front to reconnoilre our po-
sition, having accomplished which, he re-
turned by different path towards his own
men, who, mistaking his approach for that
OF party of our cavalry, fired upon him,
killing and wounding four OF his staff, and
wounding jackson once in the right arm
and twice in the left arm and hand.
While Captain Wilkins was being taken
to the rear, he devoted his attention to
disposing of the important papers which he
had upon his person. lie dare not take
them from his pocket to attemptto tear