Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-06-19
Narrative of a Federal Officer.

Capt. wilkins, of the staff of Genera
A. S. Williams, commanding division
OF an army corps, who was wounded ant
: taken prisoner in the battle of Chancel
+. lorsville, gives the following account o
, an interview with Stonewall Jackson
, We quote from the Detroit Free Press
when captured, Capt. Williams wa,
} placed in charge of guard, who took
| him short distance to the rear, where
he met Gen. Jackson and staff. jackson
was sitting on his horse at the head o
the column, surrounded by his staff. Ht
wore new suit of gray uniform, and
was spare man with weather-beaten
face and bright, grayish-blue eye. He
had a peculiarly sad and gloomy ex-
preston Of countenance, as though be
already saw a premonition 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. Will
kins asked if it was Maj. Gen. Thomas j.
jackson. On being answered in the
affirmative, he raised bis hat. Gen.
jackson saId-'A regular army officer,
suppose-your officers do not usually
salute ours Capt Wilkins replied, No,
| am not; | salute you out of respect to
you as a gallant officer He then ask
ed 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 answer to
such questions. jackson then turned to
tho 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 a 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 pre-
ceding day. These were all exceeding
ly important papers.
Fortunately, before the guard could
carry the orders into execution, ter
rife raking fire was ordered on Jackson's
column by twenty pieces of artillery,
from an eminence on the plank road.
The first eight or ten slots flew over the
heads of the column. The men and
gunners dismounted, leaving horses and
guns. Our artillery soon got the range
with more precision, and the she'll and
round shot ricochetled and ploughed
through the dense mass of the enemy
with terrific effect. Shells were con-
tinually bursting, and the screams and
groans of the wounded and dying could
be heard on every side. As an instance
OF the terrible effect of tEis fire, one of
the guard was struck by a solid shot
just below the hip, sweeping off both
his legs. A battery came dashing up,
but when they got into the vortex Of
the fire the gunners fed, deserting their
guns, and could not be made to man
them. An officer, splendidly mounted
and equipped, attempted, in most gal
LIANT manner, to rally them. A ball
struck him on the neck, completely sew
ering his head and leaving bis body
standing. His body rolled TO the ground,
and the horse galloped to the rear One
IF the shells struck caisson full of ar.
illery ammunition, which, exploding, as
,ended in a crater Of various colored
lame, and showered down on the heads
If the men below a mass of fragments Of
hot and shell. The loss inflicted by
his fire must have been terrible, placing
over one thousand men hors ,
lu combat, and efectually breaking up {
be contemplated attack of the column. L
An officer of Jackson's staff subse-
luently stated tina. it was about fifteen u
minutes after this that Gen. Jackson t
With staff advanced to the front to re- b
onnoitre our position, having accom- v
,lished which, he returned by differ
mt path towards his own men, who, !,
nistaking his approach for that of par 0
y of our cavalry, fred upon him, kill o
1g and wounding four Of bis staff and C
jackson once in the right il
rm and twice in the left arm and hand |
While Capt. Wilkins was being taken P
D the rear, he devoted bis attention to "
isposing Of the important papers waieh g
e had upon his person. He dare not iC
AXE them from his pocket to attempt to II
ear them up, but continuously placed II
is hand in his pocket and worked the
apers into ball, and as they were pas b
ing along, got them into his bosom and II
nally into the arm-pit under bis arm, tt
here he carried them all that night o.
he next morning the guard halted to ts
et their breakfasts, and a soldier was Il
rying to kindle fire to cook some coffee Il
Thieh they had taken from our men, Il
The wood was damp and fire refused to n
urn. The soldier swore at it until bis n
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