Maryland free press., 1866-06-07
GEN ERAL JACKSON.
The Ampntati0n of the Arm.
Ills LAST MOMENTS AND DEATH
EY nuNfKa M'd IRE. NJ. D.

Captains James Smith and Joseph Norris
on, the Ge eral moved slowly and pain
fully towards the rear. Occasionally rest
ing for moment, to shake off the cH.
haustion which pain aud the loss of blood
produced, he at last reached the line of
attic, were most of the men were lying
down, to escape the shell and canister,
with which the Fcdcrals raked the road
General Pender rode up here to the little
party, and asked who was wounded, and
Captain Smith, who had been instructed
by General Jackson to tell no QUO of his
injury, simply answered, "a Confederate
officer" but Pendcr recognized the Gen
cral, and, springing from his horse, lurri-
edly expressed his regret, and added that
his lines were so much broken, he feared
it would be necessary to fall back. At
this moment the scene was fearful one.
The air seemed to be alive with shricks of
shells and the whstling of bullets: horses.
rldcrlcSs and mad with fright. dashed in
every direction; hu,ulreds left the ranks
and fled to the rear, and the groans of the
wouiried ana dying, mingled with the wild
shouts of others to be led again tc the as
sault. Almost fainting as he was, from
the loss of blood, fcarfuly wounded, and
as he thought, dying, Jackson was undis-
mayed by this terrible scene. The words
of Pendcr seemed to rouse him to lifc.-
Flushing aside the men who supported him,
he stretched himself to his full height, and
answered frebly, but distinctly enough to
he heard above the din of battle, "Gencr-
al Pcndcr, you must hold to the field, you
must hold out to the last" 1t was jack
sons last order upon the field of battle. -
Still more exhausted by this effort, he askel
to be permitted to lie down for few mo-
ments, but the danger from the fire. and
capture by the Federal advance, was too
imminent, and his aids hurried him on. \
litter having been obtained he was placed
upon it, and the bearers passed on as rap
ldly as the thick woods aud rough ground
permitted. Unfortunately, another one of
the bearers was struck down, and the lit
ter having been supported at each of the
four corners by man, fell, and threw the
General to the ground. The fall was
serious one, and as he touched the earth, he
gave, for the first time, expression to his
suffering, and groancd piteously.
Captain Smith sprang to his side, and as
he raised his head, bright beam ofmoon-
light made its way through the thick fo-
liagc, and rested upon the pale face of
the sufferer The Captain was startled by
this great pallor and stiffness, and cried
out, "Oh. General, are you seriously
hurt" "No,' he answered, "don't troub-
lie yourself, my friend, about me-" and
presently added something about winning
the battle first, and attending to the woun-
ded afterwards. He was placed upon tie
litter again, and carried few hundred
yards, when | met him with an ambulance.
| knelt down by him, and said, Il hope
you are not badly hurt, General" Here
piled, very calmly, but feebly, II am bad
ly injured, Doctor, fear am dying y
After pause he continued, Il am glad
you have come. l think the wound in my
shoulder is still bleeding" Ills clothes
were saturated with blood, hemorrage was
still going ON from the wound. Compress
ion of tie artery with the finger arrested
it, until lights being procured from the
ambulance, the handkerchief which had
slipped Little, was read 'liusted. His calm
ness amid the dangers which surround him.
and at the supposed presence of death, and
his uniform poitcness which did not for
sake him, even under these, the most try
ing circumstances, were remarkable. His
complete control, too, over his mind, cn-
fncblcd as it was, by loss of blood pain,
&c, was wonderful. Ills suffering at this
time was intense; his hands were cold. his
skin clammy his face pale, and his lips
compressed and bloodlcss; not groan es-
capped him, not sign of suffering, except
the slight corrugation of his brow the fixed
rigid face, and the thin lips, so tightly
compressed, that the impression of the
teeth could be seen through them. Except
these, he controlled, by his iron will, all
evidence Of emotion, and more difficult
than this even, he Ct rolled Il iii sition
to restlessncss, which many of us have OBJ
served upon the field of battle, attending
great loss of blood. Some whiskey and
morphia were procured from DR.. Straith
and administered to him, and placing him
in the ambulance, it was started for the
Corps Field Infrmary, at the Wilderness
Tavern Colonel Crutchield, his chief of
Artillery was also in the ambulance wap-