The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-09-09
STONEWALL JACEs0N'S DEATH.
The Last Hours Of the First Rebel Ex.
ecutive Omcer-How he Received, his
Wound-Points Hitherto Disputed
Set AT Rest.
Correspondence of the World.l

details of which are known only to few
persons; and yet it is no exaggeratlon TO
say that many thousands would feel an
interest in thel particulars. l mean the
death of Jackson. The minute circufn-
stances attending it have never been
published, and they are here recorded as
matter of historical as well as personal
interest.
A few words will describe the situation
of affairs. The spring of 1862 saw a
large federal army assembled on the
north bank of the Rappahannock, and on
the LIST of Nav, General Hooker, its COM
mander, had crossed, and firmly estab-
lished himself at Charlottesville. Cen
eral Lees forces were opposite Freder-
icksburg, chiefly Ia small body OF infant'
ryonly watching the upper fords. inns
latter was compelled to fall back before
General Hooker's great force, stated by
Maior-General Price, of the q. s. army, IN
the New York Herald, to the number OF
$4,000 men, and Lee fastened by forced
marches from Fredericksburg toward
Charlottesville, to check the further
advance of the enemy. This was on
Nav |, and the confederate advance force
under Jackson, on the same evening at
tackled General Hooker's intrenchments
facing toward Fredericksburg. They
were found impregnable, the dense thick
cts having been converted into abDattls,
and every avenue Of approach defended
with artillery. General Lee therefore
directed the assault to cease, and con-
shifted with his corps commanders as 10
further operations. Jackson suggested
rapid movement around the federal
front. and a determined attack npon the
right flank of General Hooker, west of
Charlottesville. The ground on his left
and his front gave such an enormous adj
yantagps 10 the federal troops that our
assault there was impossible, and the
result of the consultation was the adop-
ton of Jackson's suggestions to attack
the enemy,s right. Every preparation
was made that night. and on the mora
ing of May 2, Jackson set ont with HUI,
Rodes and ColstoD's divisions, III all g.
900 men, to accomplish his undertaking.
Charlottesville was single brick
house of large mansions, situated or
the plank.road from fredericksburg to
Orange, and all around it were the thick
cts of the country known as the Wilder
ness. In this tangled underground the
federal werks had been thrown up, and
such was the denseuess of the woods that
a column moving mile or two to the
south was not apt to be seen. jackson
calculated upon this, but fortune seemed
against him. At the Catherine Furnace,
mile or two from the federal line, his
march was discovered, and hot attack
was made on his rear guard as he moved
past. All seemed now discovered, but,
strange to say, such was not the fact
The federal officers saw him plainly, but
the winding road which he pursued
CHANGED here to bend toward the South,
and it was afterward discovered that
General Hooker supposed him to be IN
fall retreat upon Richmond Such at least
was the statement of federal officers
Jackson repulsed the attack upon his
rear, continued his march, and striking
into what is called the Brock road, turn
> ed the head of his column northward,
and rapidly advanced around General
Hooker's right flank. A cavalry force
under General Stuart had moved in
front and on the TANKS of the column,
driving off scouting parties and other too
inquisitive wayfarers: and on reaching
the junction of the Orange and German
ma roads a heavy federal picket was
forced to retire. General Fitz Lee then
Informed Jackson that from hill near
Mt hand he could obtain view of the
federal works, and proceeding thither,
Jack on reconnaissance showed him that
be was not far enough to the left, and he
said to an aid, Tell my column to cross
that road"-pointing to the plank-road.
His object was to reach the "old turn
pike" which ran straight down into the
federal right flank. 1t was reached at
about five in the evening, and without 4
moments delay Jackson formed his line
of battle for an attack. Rodes's division
moved in front, supported at an interval
of two hundred yards by Colston's and
behind these A. P Hills division march
ed in column like the artillery, Oh ac-
count of the almost impenetrable char
acter of the thickets ON each side of the
road.
Jackson's assault was sudden and ter
rible. 1t struck the Eleventh corps,
commanded on this occasion by General
Howard, and, completely surprised, they
reiterated in confusion upon the heavy
works around Charlottesville. Rodes
and ColstOn followed them, took poses
sion of the breastworks across the road,
and little after eight the confederate
troops were within Less Than a mile of
Charlottesville, preparing for new and
more determined attack. Jackson's
plan was worthy of being the last militia
~ project conceived by that resolute and
enterprising intellect. He designed put
ting his entire force into action, extend
ing his left, and placing that wing be-
tween General Hooker and the Kappa
hammock Then, unless the federal com.
mander could cut his way through. his
army would be captured or destroyed.
Jackson commenced the execution of
this plan with vigor, and an obvious
determination to strain every nerve, and
incur every hazard to accomplish so de-
cisive a success. Rodes and Colston
were directed to retire short distance,
and reform their lines, now greatly man.
gled, and Hill was ordered to move to
the front and take their places. On fire
with his great designs, Jackson then rode
forward in front of the troops toward
Charlottesville and here and then the
bullet struck him, which was tn termin-
ate his career.
The details which follow are given on
the authority of Jackson's staff officers,
and one or two others who witnessed all
that occurred. In relation to the NEST
tragic portions of the scene there re.
manned, as will be seen, but single wit
ness.
L. - IL.