The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-05-09
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
Last Hours of StOnewall jackson
Narrative by his Medical Attend
Fl. N. ROBINSON,
PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR.


ant.
DIR. Hunter Mcclure has furnished the
Richmond Medical Journal with detailed
account of the last hours of Stonewall
jackson. lt is especially interesting, as the
writer was Jackson's medical attendant.
lie says that after the fatal wound was re-
ceived, and jackson was being supported
from the field, he pushed aside the men who
were holding him up, stretched himself to
his full hight and cried feebly, yet dis
tinctly enough to be heard above the din of
battle, "Gen. Pender, you must hold on to
the field you must hold out to the last"
This was his final order upon the field. He
was then placed upon litter and taken TO
the wilderness Tavern, which was used as
q hospital.
Chloroform was then administered, and
as he began to feel its effects and its relief
TO the pain he was suffering, he exclaimed,
"What an infinite blessing and contin-
ued TO repeat the word "blessing'' until he
became insensible. The round ball (sueh
as is used for the smooth-bore Springfield
musket) which had lodged under the skin
upon the back of his right hand, was ex-
tracted first. 1t had entered the PALM about
the middle of the hand and had fractured
two OF the bones. The left arm was then
amputated, about two inches below the
shoulder, very rapidly, and with slight loss
of blood, the ordinary circular operation
having been made. There were two wounds
in this arm, the first and most serious was
about three inches below the shoulder joint,
the ball dividing the main artery aud frac-
turing the bone. The second was several
inches In length, a ball having entered the
outside of the forearm, an inch below the
elbow, came out upon the opposite side,
just above the wrist. Throughout the
whole of the operation, and until all dress
ings were applied, he continued insensible.
Two or three slight wounds of the skin of
his face received from the branches of trees
when his horse dashed through the woods,
were dressed simply with isinglass plaster.
During that day and the two or three next
following he seemed to be doing well, but
on Thursday change occurred. and pleuro-
pneumonia of the right side followed. His
wife and children were sent for, but he be-
gan to sink. On Saturday he was still
worse. We quote the closing description
verbatim:
When his child was brought to him he
played with it for some time, frequently
caressing it and calling 1t his ''little COM
forter." At one time he raised his wound
ed hand above its head, and closing his
eyes, was for some moments silently en-
gagged in prayer. He said to me, Il see,
from the number of physicians, that you
think my condition dangerous; but thank
God, if It is His will, that l am ready TO
GO" About daylight on Sunday morning,
Mrs. Jackson informed him that his condi-
tion was very doubtful, and that 1t was bet
| ter that he should be prepared for the
worst. He was silent for n moment, and
then said: 1T will be infinite gain TO be
translated to Heaven" He advised his
wife, in the event of his death, TO return to
her fathers house. and added. ''You have
kind and good father, but there is no one
| so kind and good as your Heavenly Faith
| er." He still expressed hope of his re-
covery, but requested her, If he should die,
| to have him buried in Lexington. in the
Valley of Virginia. His exhaustion in
creased so rapidly that at eleven o'clock Mrs.
Jackson knelt by his bed and told him that
ere the sunjwent down he would be with
his Saviour. He replied, 'Oh, no; you are
| frightened, my child; death is not so near !;
may yet get well.r She fell over upon
the bed, weeping bitterly, and told him
again that the physicians said there was no
hope. After moments pause he asked
| her to call me. doctor. Anna informs me
that you have told her that am 10 die to-
day; is it so?" When he was answered,
he turned his eyes toward the ceiling. and
gazed for moment or two as If in intense
| thought then replied, VERY good; very
good; it is all right" He then tried TO
comfort his almost heart-broken wife, and
told her he had good deal to say TO her,
but he was too weak. Col. Pendleton came
/
asked him ''who was preaching at head
quarters to-day!" When told that the
whole army was praying for him, he re-
piled. ~ hank God-they are very kind"
He said, ut is the Lords day my wish Is
fulfilled. have always desired to die on
Sunday"
| His mind now began to fail and wander,
and he frequently talked as if in command
upon the field, giving orders In his old way !;
then the scene shifted, and he was at the
mess table in conversation with members
of his staff; now with his wife and child I;
now at prayer with his military family
Occasional intervals of return of his mind
would appear, and during one of them
offered him some brandy and water. but he
declined it, saying, lit win only delay my
departure, and do no good want to pre-
serve my mind, If possible, to the last"
About half past one he was told that he had
about two hours to live, and he answered
again, feebly but firmly, Very good, 1t is
all right" A few moments before he died
he cried out, in his delirium, "0rder A. p.
Hill to prepare for action pass the infant
ry TO the front rapidly! Tell Major Hawks
-" then stopped, leaving the sentence un-
finished. Presently smile of inefiable
Isweetness spread itself over his pale face,
and he said quietly, and with an expression
as If of relief, ''let us cross over the river
and rest under the shade Of the trees" and
then without pain or the least struggle,
his spirit passed from earth to the God who
gave it.