The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-09-26


turnpike d reoounoter, and ascertain, II
possible, IN spite a the darkness u the
night, the position Of the federal lines
The moon shone bot il wss struggling
with bank Of clouds, and afforded him
bat a dim light. From the gloomy thick.
cts on each side Of the turnpike, looking
more weird and sombre in the halt light,
came the melancholy notes Of the whip
poorwill. =. think there must have been
ten thousand" said Gen Stewart after
wards Such was the scene amid which
the events now about TO to be narrated
took place. Jackson had advanced with
some members OF his staff. considerably
beyond lhe building known as Meizi
Chnnccllor's" about mile from Chsncei-
iorsviIe, aud had reached point nearly
opposite an old dlsmaniled house in the
woods near tbe road. whose she'll ORR
roof may stili b.. s~en when b. reined N
bis horse. aud remaiaing perfectly quiet
and molionie,s. listened inIeuilY for any
indications oi mos ement IN the federal
liHrs. They wrre scarcely Two hundred
yards in front OF aim, and seeing he dan
g,r to which be exposed himself one Of Ii 8
staff officers said, " General. don't you
think this !, the the wrong place for you g.
he replied quickly, almost impatiently
" The danger is all over the enemy Is
routed-go back and tell A. p. Hill to
press right on J. The officer obeyed, but
had hnrdly disappeared, when sudden
volley was fired from the confederate in
fantry in Jackson's rear, and on ther right
oi the road-e, identity directed upon him
and his escort. The origin OF this fire
has never been discovered, and after Jack
sons death there was little disposition to
investigate an occurrence which occas on
ed bitter distress to all who by any possi-
bility could have taken part in il. II is
probable, however, that some movement
OF the federal skirmishers had provoked
the fire ii this is an error. the troops
fired deliberately upon jackson and his
party, under The impression that they were
body OF federal cavalry, reconnoitering.
/ is said that the men had orders TO open
on any object in front especially upon
cavalry !" and the absence of pickets or
advanced force of any kind on the conted.
crate side explains the rest. The enemy
were almost in contact with them; the
federal artillery, fully commanding the po-
sition OF the troops, was expected to open
every moment; and the men were just in
that excited condition which induces troops
to fire at any and every object they see.
Whatever may have been the origin of
this yolley, it came, aHd many of the staff
and escort were shot, and fell from their
horses. Jackson wheeled TO the left and
galIoped into the woods 10 get out of the
range of the bullets; but he had not gone
Is enly steps beyond the edge Of the turn
pike, in the thicket, VIXEN one Of his brig.
AIDES drawn up within thirty yards of him
fired voley in their turn, kneelng on
the right knee, as the flash Of the guns
showed, as though prepared to "guard
against cavalry" BY this fire jackson
was wounded III three places. He receiv-
ed one ball in his left arm, two inches be-
low the shoulder joint, shattering the bone
and severing the chief artery--a second
passed through the same arm between the
elbow and wrist, making its exit through
the calm Of the hand-and a third ball
entered the palm of his right hand, about
the middle and passing through broke two
of The bones. At the moment when he
was struck, be was holding his rein in his
left hand, and his right was raised either
in the singular gesture habitual to him, al
times OF excitement, or TO protect his face
from the boaghs Of the trees His left
hand Immediately dropped at his side.and
his horse no longer controlled by the rein
and frightened by the firing, wheeled sud
denl, and ran from the fie IN the direc-
ton OF thr federal lines Jackson's help
less conditioE now exposed him to a dis
Irtssing accident. His horse ran violent
ly between lwO trees, from one Of which
a horizontal bough extended at about the
height of bis head, TO the other; and as
he passed between the trees, this bough
struck him in The face, tore off his cap,
and threw him violently back on his
| horse. The blow was SO violent as near
| ly 10 unseat him, but il did not do so, and
rising erect again, he caught the bridle
with the broken and bleeding fingers Of
his right hand, and succeeded in turning
hts horse bach into the turnpike. Here,
Capt. Wilbomn, Of his staff. succeeded in
catching the reins and checking the ant
NAL. who was almost frantic from terror,
at the moment when, from loss OF blood,
and exhaustion. jackson was about to fall
from ibe saeaie.
The scene at this time was gloomy and
depressing. Horses mad with fright at
the firing were seen running in every di
rection, some of them ridcrless, others de-
tying control; and IN the wood lay many
wounded and dying men. Jackson's whole
party, except Capt. Wilbourn and MEM
Der OF the sigoal corps, had been killed.
wounded, ar dispersed. The man riding
just behind jackson bad bis horse killed |;
courier near was wounded and his horse
ran into the federal lines L. Morrison.
aide DE- camp, threw himself from the sad
die, and his horse cell dead moment at.
,erwards; Capt Howard was wounded
AID carried by his horse into the federal
camps; Capt. Leigh had bis horse shot
under him; Cap. Forbes was killed -
and Capt. Roswell, Jackson's chief engin-
eer, was shot through The heart, and his
dead body carried by his frightened horse
into the lines Of the enemy very near at