Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-10-07
THE DEATH OF sTONEWAI.L
JACKSON.
HOW AND FROM WHOM He RECRYVED
HIS WOUNDS.
HIS LAST HOURS AND DYING WORDS

From the Correspondence Of the N. y. World. J
VHGIsIA, September, 1865.
There is al event in the late war The de-
tails of whiea sre kucwn only % few per-
sons and yet it is no exaggeration TO- say
that many thousands would feel an interest
in the PARTICULARS mean the death OF jack
son. The minute circumstances attending IL
have never been published, aud they are
here recorded as matter Of historical as well
as personal interest.
4 few words will describe the situation Of
affairs. The spring Of 1862 saw large
Federal army assembled oil the north bank
of the Rappahannock, and on The lst OF May,
General Hooker, its commander, had cross
ed. and firmly established himaelf at Chan
cellorsvlle. General Lees forces were OPP
posite frederick sburg, chiefly 4 small body
Of infantry only, watching The upper iords.
This latter wds compelled To fall back before
General ooker's great force, stated by "a
ior-General Price of the United States army,
in the New York Herald to the number Of
l59, 800 men, and Lee hastened by forced
marches from Fredericksburg towards uhau-
cellorsvilie, to check the further advance ol
the enemy. This was on Aay !, and the
Confederate advance force under Jackson,
on the same evening, attacked General
Rookers utrenchments facing toward Ere
dericksburg. They were found impregnable,
the dense thicRets having been converted
into abattis, and every avenue of approach
defended with artillery. General Lee there
fore directed the assault 10 cease, and con-
suited with his corps commanders as to fur
tier operations. Jackson suggested rapid
movement around the Federal front, and a
determined attack upon the right flank Of
or( n.1l .xytll Ia
The ground on his left and in his front gave
such enormous advantages to the Federal
troops that our assault there was impossible,
aud the result of the consultation was the
adoption of JacksOn's suggestion To attack
the enemy's right. Every preparation was
made that night, and on the morning OF May
2, Jackson set out with Hill, Rodes, AMI
Colston's divisions in all 22, 200 men, to ac-
complish his undertaking.
Charlottesville was a single brick house
of large dimensions, situated on the plank
road from Fredericksburg to Orange, and all
around it we're the thickets Of the country
known as the Wilderness. In this tangled
underground the Federal works had been
thrown up, aud such was the denSeness OF
the woods that 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 Fur
mace, mile or two from the Federal line,
his march was discovered, and hot ATTACK
,sS.s ma,Fs on S;rsssaf a''ard as he 'in1ysd Nnt
s,r.nso TO say, such was not the fact. The
Federal officers saw him plainly, but the
winding road which he pursued Glanced here
to bend toward the south, and 1t was after
ward discovered that General Hooker sup
posed him TO be in .tuR retreat upon Rich
,nond. Such, at least, was the statement OF
Federal officers. Jackson repused The at
tack upon his rear, continued his march, and
striking into what is called the Brock road,
turned the head OF his c0umn northward,
and rspidly advanced around General Hook
er's right flank. A cavalry force under Gen
eral Stuart had moved in front and on the
fanks OF the column, driving of scouting
parties and other too inquisitive wayiarers
and on reaching the junction Of the Orange
and Germanna roads heavy Federal pick
ct was forced to retire, General Fit2 Leo
then informed Jackson that from hill near
ut hand he could obtain view of the Fedc-
raj works, and proceeding thither, Jackson
reconnoitered. The reconnaissance showed
him that he was not far enough TO the LEFT,
and he said briefly to his aid, "Tell my
column to cross that rOad"-pointng TO the
plank-road. His object was TO reach the
'sold turnpike" which ran straight down
reached about five in the evening,
and without a moments delay Jack
son formed his line OF battle for an at
| tack. Rode's division moved in front, SUP
ported at an interval oi Two hundred wards
| by ColStou's, and behind these A. p. Hills
| division marched in column hike the artillc
ry, on account Of the almost impenet rahle
| character of the thickets on each side of the
| road.
| JacksOn's assault was sudden and terrible
1t struck the Eleventh corps, commanded
on this occasion by General Howard, and,
| completely surprised, they rcireaied i'm con-
| fusion upon the heavy works around Chan
| cellorsvile. Rodes and Lostou followed
| them, took possession of the hreastworks
| across the road, and little after eigh. thc
| Confederate troops were within less than Il
mile of Charlottesville, preparing for Il
new and more determined attack. Jack,ou'S
plan was worthy of being the last military
| project conceived by that resolute and enter
prisirg intellect. He designed putting his
| entire force into action, extending his left,
and placing that wing between General
| Hooker and the Rappahannock. Then, un
less the Federal commander could cnt his
way through, his army would be captured or
| DESTROYED. Jackson commenced The eXecll-
| ton of this plan with vigOr, and an obvious
determination 10 strain every nerve, and in
cur every hazard to accomplish 80 decisive i
success. Rodes and ColstOn were directed
to retire short distance, and re e.iorm their
lines, now greatly mingled, and Hill WAS or
dered TO move to the front and take their
places. On fire with his great designs, Jack
| son then rode forward in front of the troops
| toward Chancellorsville aud here and then
the bullet struck him which was to terminate t
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 occur
red. In relation 10 the most tragic portion
Of the scene, there remained, as will be seen,
but single witness.
jackson had ridden forward ON the IN, n.
pike to reconnoiter, and aseert Ain, if posi-
BILE, in spite of the darkness of the night, the
position OF the federal lines. The moon
shone, but it was struggling with bank OF
clouds, aud afforded but u dim light From
the gloomy thickets on each side OF the tnrn.
pike, looking more weird and somber in the
halt light, came the melancholy notes of the
whipporwill. 'l think there must have been
ten Thousand" said General Stuart after.
wards. Such vas the scene amid which the
events now about to be narrated, took place
Jackson had advanced with some member.
of his staff, considerably beyond the building
known as "Melzi Chanceilor's, abont mile
from Charlottesville, and had reached
point nearly opposite an old dismautleC
house in the woods, near the road. who's,
shell-torn roof may still be seen, where b,
reiued in mis- horse, and remaining perfectl!