The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-22
sTONEWALL JACKSON.
How he Received his Death
Wound.
Some Interesting Details Of the
Battle of Charlottesville.
An Account of one OF JackSon'S
staff officers.

From lengthy letter in the New York
World of the 9Th, evidently written by
one familiar with the incidents. he de-
scribes, we extract the following account OF
the manner in which the great rebel execu-
tive leader. SroNRwALL JACKSON, received
his death wound:
Charlottesville was single brick house OF
LARGE dimensions, situated on the plank road
from Fredericksburg to Orange, and all around
If were the thickets Of the country known as
the Wilderness. In this tangled underground
the Federal works had been thrown VI, land 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
Furnace, amile or two from the Federal line, his
march was discovered, and q hot attack was
made on the rear guard as it 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 afterwards discovered that
General Hooker supposed him to be in full
retreat upon Richmond. Such at least was
the statement of Federal officers. jackson re.
pulsed the attack upon his rear, continued his
march, and striking into what is called the
Brock road, turned the head OF his column
northward, and rapidly advanced around Gen.
Hookeris right flank. A cavalry force under
Gen. Stuart had moved in front and on the
TANKS of the column, driving off scouting par.
ties and other too inquisitive wayfarers: and
on reaching the junction of the Orange and
Germania roads heavy Federal picket was
forced to retire. Gen. Fitz Lee then informed
jackson that from hill near at hand he could
obtain view of the Federal works, and pro-
pnndn0 fhlthnr .IQnHaOn
reconnaissance showed him that he was not far
enough to the left and he said briefly to an
aid, "Tell my column to cross that road.
pointing to the plank road. His object was to
reach the sold turnpike" which ran straight
through into the Federal right flank. It was
reached about five in the evening. and without
moments delay jackson formed his line of
battle for an attack. Rodes' division moved
in front, supported at an interval of two hun
dred yards by COlstons, and behind these A.
T. Hills division marched in column like the
artillery, on account of the almost impene-
trable character of the thicket on each side of
the road.
Jackson's assault was sudden and terrible
1t struck the 18th corps, commanded on this
occasion by Gen. Howard, and, completely sur
prised, they retreated in confusion upon the
heavy works about Charlottesville. Rodes
and ColstOn followed them, took possession of
the breastworks across the road, and little
after eight, the Confederate troops were with.
in less than mile of Charlottesville, prepar-
ing for new and more determined attack.
Jacksonis plan was worthy of being the last
military project conceived by that resOlute and
enter sing intellect He designed putting
his e. force into action, extending his left
and placing that wing between Gen. Hooker
and the Rappahannock. Then, unless the
teoeral commander could cut his way through,
bis 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 decided success. Rodes and
Colston were directed to retire short distance
and reform their lines, now greatly mingled,
and Hill was ordered to move to the front and
take their places. On fire with his great de.
signs, Jackson then rode forward In front of
the troops toward Charlottesville; and here
and then the bullet struck him, which was to
terminate 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 most tragic portion of the
scene, there remained, as viii be seen. but
single witness.
jackson had ridden forward on the turnpike
to reconnoitre, and ascertain if possible. i'm
spite OF the darkness of the night, the position
OF the federal lines. The moon shone, but it
was struggling with bank of clouds, and at.
Huu0u Ouso uim LSAL FROM the gloomy
thickness on each side of the turnpike. look.
ing more weird and somber in the half light,
came Ithe melancholy notes of the whippor-
VIII " think there must have been 10000"
said lGen. Stewart afterwards. Such was the
scene amid which events now about to be mar
rated took place. Jackson had advanced with
some members ofhis staff considerably beyond
about mile from Charlottesville, and had
reached point nearly opposite an old dis
u.antled house in the woods near the road,
whose shell-torn roof may still be seen, when
he reigned in his horse, and remaining perfect
" quiet and motionless, listened intently for
any indications of movement in the Federal
lines. They were scarcely two hundred yards
in front of him, and seeing the danger to which
ne exposed himself one of his staff officers said
General, don't you think this is the wrong
place for you?" He replied quick, almost i'm.
patiently, =" the danger is all over!" the enc
my is routed-go back and tell A. P. Hill to
press right on" The officer Obeyed, but had
scarcely disappeared, when sudden volley
was fired from the Confederate infantry in
evidently directed upon him and his escort.
The origin of this fire has never been discoy
cred, and after JacksOn's death there was lit
tie disposition to investigate an occurrence
which 0ccasioned bitter distress to all who BY
any possibility could have taken part in it i
ID prOOaDle, however, that some movement o
the FEDERAL skirmishers had provoked the fire
if this is an error the troops fired directl,
upon jackson and his party, under the i'm
preston that they were a body of Federal cav
airy, accommodating. -
It is said that the men had orders +, one,
upon any object in front, especially mo,
cavalry;" and the absence of picket or advanc
force Of any kind on the Confidence side ey
plain the rect The enemy were almost |;
contact with them the Federal artillery fn,i
commanding the position of the TROOPS. Wo
expected to open every moment and the me
| :. were Just in the excited condition which i,
duces troops to fire at any and every obje,
they see.
Whatever may have been the origin of tn
volley, it came, and many of the staff and e
cort were shot, and fell from their horse
jackson wheeled to the left and galloped in
| the woods to get out of range of the bullet
but he had not gone twenty steps beyond Il
edge of the turnpike, in the thicket, when o.
Of his brigades drawn up within thirty yar
of him fired vollley In their turn, kneeling
the right knee, as the flash Of their GU
showed, Is though prepaid to "guard again
II htc To- l>o<,v n