Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-01
LAsrHOURs OFsToNEwALL JACKSON.
NARRATIVE Br HIS MEDICAL ATTENDANTS.

NARRATIVE Br HIS MEDICAL ATTENDANTS.
| DR.. Hunter Mcclure has furnished the
Richmond Medical Journal with detailed &C.
count of the last hours Of Stonewall Jack.
son. 1t is especially interesting, as the writer
was Jackson's medical attendant.
He 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 himselfto bis
full height, and cried feebly, yet distinctly
enough to be heard above the din of battle,
General Pender, you must hold on TO the
field, you most hold out to the last" This
was his final order upon the field. He was
then placed upon a litter and taken to the
Wilderness Tavern, which was used as a
hospital.
Chloroform was administered, and as he
began to feel its effects, and its relief to the
pain he was suffering, he exclaimed. awhat
an Infinite blessing" and continued to repeat
the word until he became insensibe. The
roend ball (such as Is used In the smooth-bore
musket) which had lodged under the skin upon
the back Of his right hand, was extracted
first. It had entered the palm, about the
middle Of the hand, and had fractured two
Of the bones. The left arm was then ampu-
tated, about two inches below the shoul-
der, 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 shoulderjoint the ball dividing the
main artery and fracturing the bone. The
second was several inches in length, ball
having entered the outside of the forearm,
an inch below the elbow, came out npon the
opposide side, just above the wrist Through
out the whole Of the operation, and until all
dressings were applied, he continued insensi-
bic. 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 two or three next
following he seemed to be doing well, but on
Thursday change occurred, and pleuropneu-
monia of the right side followed. His wife
and children were then 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 car
essng it and calling it bis "little comforter"
At one time he raised his wounded hand
above its head, and closing his eyes for some
moments silently engaged in prayer.
He said to me, 81 see from the number of
physicians that you think my condition
dangerous; but thank God, 1T Is his will,
that am leado to co. About daylight on
Sunday morning. Mrs. Jackson informed him
that his condition was very doubtful, and
that it was better that he should be prepared
for the worst. He was silent for moment,
and then said: at 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 a
kind and good father, but there is no one 30
kind and good as your Heavenly Father"
He still expressed hope of his recovery,
but requested her, If he should die, to have
him buried in Lexington, in the Valley OF
Virginia. His exhaustion increased so rap.
idly that at l o'clock Mrs. jackson knelt BY
his bed and told him that ere the sun went
down he would be with bis Saviour. He rc.
piled, ''Oh, no; you are frightened, my child;
death is not near; may yet get well'. She
fell over upon the bed, weeping bitterly, and
told him him again that the physicians said
there was no hope. After moments pause
he asked her to call me. "Doctor, Anna in
forms me that You have told her that am
to die to day; is it so?
When he was answered, he turned his eyes
toward the ceiling, and paused for a moment
or two as if in intense thought, then replied,
every good; very good; ii 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 into the room about one o'clock, and he
asked him "who was preaching at headquar-
ters to day." When told the whole army
was praying for him, he replied, "Thank
God-they are very kind" He said, It is
the Lord 8 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 sceen shifted, and he was at the mess
table in conversation with members of his
staff now with bis wife and child; now at
prayer with his military family. Occasion
al intervals of return Of his mind would ap-
pear, and during one of them offered him
some brandy and water, but declined it, say
ing, at will only delay my departure, and
do no good; want to preserve my mind, il
possible, to the last"
About halfpast one he was told that be
had but two hours to live, and he answered
again, feebly but firmly, "yery good, it il
all right" A few moments before he died
he cried out in his deirum, "Ordsr A. p
Hill to prepare for action pass the infantry
to the front rapidly tell Major Hawks
then stopped, leaving the sentence un6nish-
ed. Presently smile of ineffable sweetness
spreat itself over his pale face, and he SAID
quietly, and with an expression as if of re-
lief "Let US cross over the river and res
under the shade Of the trees" and then with
out pain or the least struggle, his spirit
passed from earth to the God who gave it.