New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-21
From keel and Saddle
StOneWaIl Jackson.
Hts Study Of Astrology, and Prediction q,
Hts Death-A Strange story.
BY GENERAL j. w. REVERE.

BY GENERAL ]. w. REVERE.
Arriving in New Orleans, in 1852, wa
soon on my way up the Mississippi and Ohio
Among my fellow passengers on the steame
was Lieutenant Thomas j. Jackson, of thu
United States Army, who seemed, at first,
remarkably quiet, reserved, although yer,
intelligent officer, and with whom l soon be
came acquainted, for there is everywhere
sort of cameraderic among officers of the two
services which attracts them to each other il
a crowd of strangers. For several DAYS the
inland voyage continued. and our nights were
partly spent upon the hurricane deck of the
steamer, engaged in conversation. One Of
these conversations was so peculiar it fixed
itself upon my memory, and subsequent
events proved it worthy of record, although
confess hesitate to put in writing anything
| which seems to border so nearly on the mar
velous.
One clear, starlight night, as we glided
| along the calm river, our conversation turned
| upon the armament and its countless orbs that
looked down upon us. Jackson asked me if !
had ever been induced to take flight from
| the study of nautical astronomy, practiced by
all naval officers, into the realms of astrology.
L replied that I had always been interested,
more or less, in those mathematical studies
required in nautical calculations; and that,
from the exact rules demanded for working
the various problems of the ephemeris, had,
sometimes, to amuse the idle hours of sea-
life, worked out the nativities Of my ship
mates. had even taken Zadkiel's Almanac
and used his rules, but without believing in
the science of judicial astrology. Jackson,
however, was not so lncredulous; although
it was evident that he had not decided fully
within himself as to the truth or falsehood of
this exploded science.
Before we parted at Pittsburg, a day or two
after this conversation, l had given Jackson
the necessary data for calculating a horo-
scope, and in the course of few months 1
received from him letter, which preserved,
inclOslng a scheme of my nativity. AS any
one who may have calculated these schemes
by the rules must know, as horoscope may be
interpreted in various, even contradictory
terms by different persons, and this was no
exception to the rule. The only reason had
for remembering it at all was that our desti-
MES seemed to run in parallel lines, and so
far it was remarkable. twas this popularity
that caused Jackson to communicate with me,
and the reason why 1 laid it carefully aside
for re-eXamination.
The several planets were placed in their
respective houses above and below the hOri-
zon; and Saturn being near the meridian,
and approaching a square with the moon,
great danger was to be apprehended by the
native at the period when the aspect became
complete. Mars also bore threatening as
pect, while Jupiter was below the horizon,
and semi-seXtile, which was not altogether
unfavorable. There was no trine, and the
sextile was weak. Altogether, from the evil
aspect of the square of Saturn, which threat
ened OppOsitiOn-the most dreaded of all the
evil aspects of the heavens-the scheme was
quite dangerous and malign. The precise
time and nature of the threatened danger,
requiring a second calculation, accompanied
the scheme, prOgnosticating the elimination
of the malign aspect within some ten years,
or during the first days of May, 1868, at
which time the native ran great risk of life
and fortune; but in case he survived the
peril the ominOus period would never again
occur.
In his letter Jackson says: 81 have gone
over these calculations several times, as their
result is almost an exact reproduction of my
own. 1t is clear to me that we shall
both be exposed to common danger at the
time Indicated" Having but little faith in
the almost forgotten and altogether repudl-
ated science of astrology, took little heed
of either his scheme of nativity or his letter,
the former as ingenious, but as
merely proof of an ardent and somewhat
enthusiastic temperament; while l little inn
agined, at that time, that the rather unpOl-
ished and rugged exterior of Lieut.. Jackson
concealed character destined to become
famous among his cOuntrymen.
l served in the army in 1S6l-2-3 until after
the battle of Charlottesville, participating
in all its important engagements, and the
greater part of the time commanding bril-
gade. At the battle above named 1 was an
involuntary witness of an event which had
an important bearing on the war, and which
had been the subject of prolonged contro-
versy. l refer to the death of Stonewall
jackson. The circumstances under which l
acquired the right to give testimony in the
matter were somewhat remarkable, and here
give full statement Of them. The left of
my brigade line lay near the plank road at
Charlottesville, and after night had fallen 1
rode forward, according to my invariable
habit, to inspect my picket line. The moon
had risen and partially Illuminated the woods.
began my inspection on the right of the
picket line, progressing gradually to the left,
where stopped to rectify the post of sem
tincl not far from the plank road. While
thus engaged heard the sound of hOofs from
the direction of the enemy's line, and paused
to listen. Soon a cavalcade appeared APP
preaching us. The foremost hOrseman de-
tached himself from the main body, which
ildlCCu uOI lioIll anu llullis9
nearer, seemed to try to pierce into the
gloom. He was so close to us that the SOL
der nearest me leveled his rifle for shot at
him; but forbade him, as did not wish to
have our position revealed, and it would have
been useless to kill the man, whom judged
to be a staff officer making a reconnaissance.
Having completed his observations, the
person rejoined the group in his rear and all
returned at gallop. The clatter of hoofs
soon ceased to be audible, and the silence of
the night was unbroken save by the melan-
choly cries of the whippoorwill, which were
heard in one continued wall, like spirit voices,
when the horizon was lighted up by a sudden
flash in the direction of the enemy, succeeded
by the well-knOwn rattle of a volley of mus
kerry from at least battalion. A second
volley quickly succeeded the first, and heard
cries in the same direction. Fearing that
some of our troops might be in that locality
and there was danger of firing upon friends,
1 left my orderly and rode toward the Con-
federate lines. A riderless horse dashed
past me toward our lines, and 1 reined up in
presence of a group of several persons gath
cred around a man lying on the ground APP
parently badly wounded. 1 saw at once that
these were Confederate officers, and visions
of the Libby began to fit through my mind;
but rejecting that was we'll armed and
r,nunfad on6 thof hod on Tho rrroot ooot Of