Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-20


j known rattle of Volley Of musketry from
At least battalion. A second yolley Quick
| ly followed the first, and I heard cries in
the same direction. Fearing that some of
our troops might be In that locality. and
that there was danger Of our firing uporl
friends, l left my orderly and rode toward
the Confederate lines. A riderless horse
dashed past me toward our lines, aud
relned up ID presence of group Of seye-
RAJ persons gathered around man lying on
the ground, apparently badly wound
&c. l saw at once that these
were Confederate officers, and
visions Of the Libby began to fit through
my mind, but rejecting that was well
srmed and mounted, and that had on the
great coat of a private soldier, such rs was
worn by both parties, sat still regarding
the group in silence, but prepared to use
either my spurs or my saber, as occasion
might demand. The silence was broken
| by one of the Confederates, who appeared
to regard me with establishment; then,
| speaking in 5 tone of authority, he ordered
me to ''ride up there and see what troops
those were," indicating the Rebel position.
instantly made gesture of assent, and
rode slowly in the direction indicated, until
out ofsight of the group; then made q cir.
| cult round it and returned within my own
lines. Just as l had answered the challenge
of our picket, the section of our artillery
posted on the plank road began firing, and
[ could plainly hear the grape crashing
| through the trees near the spot occupied by
the group Of Confederate officers.
About a fortnight afterward, / saw
Richmond newspaper at the camp at Fal-
mouth, IN whAh were detailed the circum-
Stances of the death of Stonewal jackson.
These left no doubt in my own mind that the
person [ had seen lying on the ground was
that officer, and that bis singular prediction
mentioned previously--had been verified.
The following is an extract from the news
paper account: General Jackson, having
gone some distance in front OF his line on
Saturday evening, was returning about s
O'Clock, attended by his staff. The caval-
cade was, in the darkness, mistaken for q
body of the enemy's cavalry, and fred on
by q regiment Of his own corps" Then,
after detailing what took place after the
General fell from his horse, the account
proceeds: "The turnpike was utterly
deserted, with the exception of
Captains Wlbourn and Wynn; but
in the sk.rts Of the thicket on the
left, some person was observed
by the side Of the wood, sitting on his horse
mo,ionless and silent. The unknown indi-
vidual was clad in a dark dress, which
strongly resembled the Federal uniform;
but it seemed impossible that he could have
penetrated to that spot without being dis
covered, and what followed seemed to prove
that he belonged to the Confederates. Capt.
Wiibourn directed him to ride up there and
see what troops those were-the men who
fired on Jackson-snd the stranger rode
slowly in the direction pointed out, but
never returned with any answer. Who
this silent parsonage was is left to posterity,
etc.
J&tkson's death happened in strange
coincidence with his horoscope prediction
made years before; but The coincidence was,
| believe, merely fortuitous; and mention
it here only TO show what mysterious
"givings-out" we sometimes experience in
life.-FTOm excel and Saddle"