The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-11-29

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He will find out his way,
THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACK
son.
A Strange Story of 1852 and 1853.
BY GEN. ]. w. REVERE.
Arriving at New Orleans, in 1852,
was soon on my way up the Mississippi
and Ohio. Among my fellow-pas-
sengers on the steamer was Lieut.
Thomas J. Jackson of the United
States army, who seemed, at first, a
remarkably quiet, reserved, although
very intelligent officer, and with whom
l soon became acquainted for there
is everywhere a sort of cameraderie
among officers of the two services
which attracts them to each other in
a crowd of strangers. For several days
the inland voyage continued; and our
nights were partly spent on the hur-
ricane deck of the steamer, engaged
in conversation. One of these con-
versatiOns was so peculiar, that it fixed
itself in my memory; and subsequent
events proved it worthy of record;
although, 1 confess, / hesitate to put in
writing anything which seems to border
so nearly on the marvellous.
One clear starlight night, as we
glided along the calm river. our con-
versation 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. I replied that 1
had always been interested, more or
less, i'm those mathematical studies re-
quired 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 tea-life, work.
ed out the nativities of my shipmates.
1 had even taken Zadkiel's almanac,
and used his rules, but without be-
lieving in the science of judicial astrol-
ogy. Jackson however was not so in
credulOus; although it was evident
that he had not then decided fully
within himself as to the truth or false
hood of this exploded science.
Before we parted at-Pittsburg, day
or two after this conversation, had
given Jackson the necessary data for
calculating a horoscope; and, in the
course of few months, / received
from a letter, which / preserved, in
closing a scheme of my nativity. As
any one who may have calculated
these schemes by the rules must know,
a horoscope may be interpreted in
variors, even contradictory terms, by
diff lent persons; and this was no ex-
- fln nj
/ had for remembering it at all was,
that our destinies seemed to run in
parallel lines; and, so far, it was re-
markable. 1t was this popularity that
caused Jackson to communicate with
me, and the reason why laid it care
fully aside for a re-examination.
The several planets were placed in
their respective houses above and below
the horizon; and Saturn being near
the meridian, and approaching
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
aspect; while Jupiter was below the
horizon, and semiseXtile, which was
not altogether unfavorable. There was
trine, and the sextile was weak. Alto
gether,, from the evil aspect of the
square of Saturn, which threatened ap
oppositiOn,--tha most dreaded of all
the evil aspects of the heavens.-the
scheme was quite dangerous and
malign. The precise time and threat
ened danger, requiring second calcu-
lation. accompanied the scheme, prog
nosticating 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 fortunes; but, in case
he survived the peril, the Ominous
period would never again occur.
In this letter Jackson says: &C. 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 ex-
posed to a common danger at The time
Indicated" Having but little faith in
the almost forgotten and altogether
repudiated science of astrOlogy, took
little heed of his science of nativity or
his letter, regarding the former as in
genious, but as merely proof of an
permanent; while l little imagined, at
that time, that the rather unpublished
and rugged exterior of Lieut. Jackson
concealed character destined to be.
come famous among his countrymen.
| served in the army in IS61-2-3
until after the battle of Chancellors-
vile, participating in all its important
engagements, aud, the greater part
of the time commanding a brigade.
At the battle above named, I was an
involuntary witness of an event which
had an important bearing on the issue
of the war, and which had been the
subject of prolonged controversy. 1
refer to the death of Stonewall Jackson.
The circumstances under which /
acquired the right to give testimony
in the matter were somewhat re-
markable, and / here give q full state.
ment of them. The left of my brigade
line lay on the plank-road at Chan
cellorsville; and, after night had
fallen, 1 rode forward. according to my
variable habit, to inspect my picket
line. The moon had risen, and partially
Illuminated the woods. 1 began my
inspection on the right of the picket
line, progressing gradually to the left,
where l stopped to rectify the post of a
sentinel 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 approaching
%. The foremost horseman detached
himself from the main body. which
halted not far from us, and riding
cautiously nearer, seemed to pierce the
gloom. He was so close to us, that
the soldier nearest me leveled his rife
for shot at him; but 1 forbade
him, as did not wish to have our
position revealed; and it would have
been useles to have killed the man,
whom L judged to be staffoffier
making a reconnaissance.
Having completed his observations,
this person rejoined the group in his
FEAR, and all returned at gallop. The
clatter of hoofs soon ceased to be audi