The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-19
STONEWAIL JACKSON.
Who Killed Him GA Resiniscsncs Of tho
War.
rac n

VIC acdtn OF tne reDei Gener8I, TnOmS8 JOnatnan
Jackson take the liberty Of asking you TO add my
testimony to thar OF others that there remain
10 reasonable doubt but that he was killed by his
own troops, and viii make my narrative a. short as
possible for your columns.
AT the battle OF Cnancellorsviie commanded the
Second brigade OF the Second division OF the Third
Army Corps, and our division was held in reserve
near the Charlottesville House until about Ave
O'CLOCK on saturday afternoon, the "a OF May, 1885,
winch was the time OF the furious attack made On
the right OF our line by Jackson, witch broke the
Eleventh corps, hurting 1t back In disorder. We
were almost Immediately ordered TO she front to
check the attack OF the enemy and deployed
IN line OF battle TO the right or the
orange Court House plank road not far from our
hrst position, tho enemy stopping any further ad
vance at that time. Az soon my line was formed
and pckets thrown out In front OF it, rode to the
front TO inspect the picket line. as 4. was my inva
riabe habit 10 do to rectify positions II necessary
1t was now twilight, and little later the moons
light aided the vision TO pierce the darkness OF the
dense forest In which was our position. While en-.
gagged In changing the posts OF some OF the sennels
covering the left front OF my line In comparatively
clear place near the plank road, heard the sound
OF an approaching cavalcade from the side OF the
enemy which soon appeared, and the foremost
horseinan detaching himself from 1t came on alone
80 near that the soldier levelled his rine
for shot at MIN; but stopped him from hr1ng not
wishing to reveal our position. and Judging HIM an
officer making q reconnaissance, In which case it
would have been useless thing to kill him--even
II he could have hit him In the uncertain
light After a few moments, spent apparently
in trying TO pierce the gloom, this person
slowly turned his horse, and the whole
party returned towards the Confederates al galiop.
The clatter Of the hoo became fainter in the dis
lance, when suddenly The darkness in that direction
was lighted up by flash, succeeded by the well
KNOWN rattle OF voey OF musketry from at least
u battalion, on the right OF the road, and alter the
interval or about twenty seconds came another VOL
ley from It's left Being apprehensive that some of
our troops might possibly be IN that direction, de-
termined to ride forward alone and satisfy myself,
"a, II called into action there night be danger OF
firing upon our own troops. l did 30. leaving my
orderly within my picket line. Emerging from the
thick underground upon the road q rlderless horse
dashed past me towards our lines and / relned up
near a group OF three persons two OF whom were
supporting, The third, who was stretched on the
ground, apparently grievously hurt. horse, or
distinctly, but whether they were tied to trees
held BY other persons could not make out. ! saw
ably onicers, ana vislons OF the LIBBY be.
gan to hlt through my mind at Inding
myself so near tnem but rejecting that |
prvates gray overcoar and slouched hat, which
were common to both parties sat stun, regarding
at the nrst warning. The silence was broken by one
OF the persons, who seemed to regard me with sur
PRISE, and, speaking as one having authority, be
directed me Ito ride up there ana see what troops
those were" indicating the direction Of his army.
to which gave sign OF assent, and, too happy to
escape, rode in that direction until Out OF sight OF
the group, when making circuit, l returned
within my own INES Just as reached our picket
plank road commenced nring, and could plainly
hear the grape crashing through the limbs OF the
engaged in strengthening their position BY . rade
line OF apitts Ia preparation for the battle. That
night TWO intrepid officers Of my brlgade-Lieu-
SEVENTEEN New YOrk-crawied on all fours
within the enemy's lines and captured several
prisoners, from whom | extracted the nfor
nation that Rhodes division OF Jacks0ns corps
lay In our front; aud one OF them. an officer, gave
me, upon q sor, OF crossexaminaton, interest.
ing details. AT early day light next morning Sun
day, May 81 the enemy commenced q vigorous attack
upon our line, which being unsupported. although
thousands OF fresh troops lay within half musEet
shot, was forced, afler gallant defence and heavy
losses, TO retire and yield the ground to ,hem,
About fortnight afterwards, at the camp ut Fall
mouth, saw the Richmond Enquirer, giving q de-
tailed account or the death OF Stonewall Jackson,
which made it clear to me at least thai the man
saw lying on the ground was himself, and that he
accounts mention "some one was sitting his horse
by the side OF the wood. cooily looking on motion
less and silent" THE unknown individual was clad
In dark dress strongly resembling the Federal uni
form, but IL seemed Impossible that he could have
penetrated 70 taat spot without being dls overed;
to the Confederates." Captain Wlibournc directed
him Ito ride up there and see what troops those
weren upon which the stranger slowly rode in
the direction pointed out, but never returned
with any answer. who this silent parsonage was
Jackson from the time Of the Mexican war could
not have failed TO recognize him had intervewed''
him on this OCCASION winch would, however, re-
suited most dsagreeably TO At least one OF the par
ties-a padte for which avail myself Of the present
occasion to heartily thank Captain wilbOnrn" Tor
he viii excuse me for having .never returned" As
to Jackson having met his death ut the hands Of the
First Massachusetts, that ~ impossible, mat reg
ment occupied position on the left OF our division,
near the plank road, and completely out OF sight and
range Of the spot he advanced to while reconnoiter-
While upon the subject OF the Datrle OF CHANCELLOR
Vile, II | do not intrude too much upon your vaiu
able space permit respectfully 10 protest against
the statements charging my late gallant and abie
friend, General Sedgw1ck, either directly or by i'm
M a lnn oSer a
gaged In It, although the former achieved the really
only great exploit OF the i've days campagn-tne
successful storminK OF the heights OF trederichs-
burg. The military student who finpart!ay ex-
amines the details OF this battle must think new,
tably come 10 these conclusl0ns:-
Taat the plan, strategy and held tactics OF the
campaign were well conceived and lnlnitabiy exc
cgted by tue comnanG,ng senerat up 70 tae period
April 2, anu OF held OF battle some miles nearer
Fredericksburg and his left wing lSedgwcsl in open
ground, where our superiority OIL numbers, equip
Inent and artillery could not nave jailed 10 nave
q, EN- us the victory.
That the voluntary ana incomprehensibc relin-
quIsnment OF tins fine position. IN spite OF the re-
monstrances OF Generals Couch, Warren and others.
was the first mistake OF the federal general which
inevitably begot succession OF plumbers, a. Is usual
In war; leading ultimately to tne DISCONTINUE OF our
arms
That IN thus abandoning all offensive movements
at the outset and standing the defensive tile
mandng general gave uD ali the advantage OF MS
yoe ~ the attacking party and dampec the ard0r OF
the troops, VINO truly imagined themselves In the
prosecution OF an aggressive campaign.
Tnat the complete and inglorlous inact.on OF two
whole days-Sunday, the Sd, ana Monday the 4th--
during which our army, In . position winch could
not have been carried. lay covered by entrench-
ments, with both 1anks resting on the Rappahan.
mock, forming an arc Of wnicn tho river was the
chord, and listened 10 the sound Of the guns
IN action between Ice AND Sedgwick, and
guarded as It was by greatly inferior force, until
that action should DO successfully gained by OPP
ponents, the 1nal Cause or Its 0eleat ana not
Sedwicks failure to form junction, which was i'm
possible. Precisely at the nionent that Hooker had
Annaranty Loaf all sfNmacn ofIanSYa Aneraiiana