Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-05


on my way up the Mississippi and Ohio. Among
nv fellow-passengers on the steamer was Lieut.
Thomas J. jackson Of the United States army,
who seemed, at first, a remarkably quiet, re-
served, although very intelligent officer, and
with whom | soon became acquainted; Tor there
is everywhere sort of cameraderie among
officers of the two services which attracts them
to each other in a crowd Of strangers. For sew
eral 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, that
it fixed itself in 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 marvel
Gus.
One clear starlight night, as we gided along
the calm river, our conversation turned upon
the ornament 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 off
GERS, into the realms of astrOlogy. | replied
that had always been interested, more or less,
in those mathematical studies required in nau-
tical calculations; and that, from the exact rules
demanded for working the various problems Of
the ephemeIis, had sometimes, to amuse the
idle hours Of a sea-life, worked out the nativi-
ties OF my shipmates. | had even taken Zld-
kiePs almanac, and used his rules, but without
believing in the science of judicial aStrolOgy.
though it was evident that he had not then de-
cided fully within himself as TO the truth or
falsehood of this exploded science.
Before we parted at Pittsburg, day or two
after this conversation, ! had given jackson the
necessary data for calculating horoscope; and,
in the course of a few months, | received from
him a letter, which preserved, inclosing a
scheme of my nativity As any one who may
have calculated these schemes by the rules must
know, horoscope may be interpreted in vari-
Gus, even contradictory terms, by different per-
sons; and this was no exception to the rule.
rhe only reason had for remembering it at all
was that our destinies seemed to run in parallel
lines; aud, so far it was remarkable. 1t was
this peculiarity that caused Jackson to commu-
ncate with me, aud the reason why | laid it
carefully aside Tor a rc-eXamnation.
The several planets were placed in their re-
spective houses above and below the horizon;
and Saturn being near the meridian, and ap-
preaching 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 a threatening aspect; while Jupiter
was below the horizon, and Semi-seXtile, which
was not altogether unlavorable There was no
trinC, and the seXtile was weak. Altogether,
from the evil aspect of the square OF Saturn,
which threatened an opposition, that 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
panied the scheme, demonstrating the culmina-
ton 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 for
tunes; but, in case he survived the peril, the
OMNIBUS period would never again recur.
In his letter jackson says, 81 have gone over
these calculations several times, as their result
is almost an exact reproduction OF my own. 4 4
1t is clear TO me that we shall both be exposed
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 either his scheme of nativi.
ty or his letter. regarding the former as ingen-
ious, but as merely a proof of an ardent and
somewhat enthusiastic temperament while !
little imagined, at that time, that the rather I'M
polished and rugged exterior of Lieut.. Jackson
concealed a character destined TO become
famous among his countrymen.
| served in the army of 1S61-2-3 until after the
battle of Charlottesville, participating in all its
important engagements, and, the greater part of
the time, commanding a brigade AT the battle
above named was an involuntary witness of
an event which had an important bearing on the
issue Of the war, and which had been the sub
ject OF prolonged controversy. ] refer to the
death OF Stoncwall Jackson. The circumstances
under which acquired the right to give testi-
mony in the matter were somewhat remarka-
bic; and here give a full statement OF them.
The left of my brigade line lay near the plank
road at Charlottesville; and, after night had
fallen, | rode forward, according to my invaria-
BILE 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 q 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
cavalcade appeared approaching us. The fore
most horseman detached himself from the main
body, which halted not far from us, and riding
cautiously nearer, seemed to try to pierce the
gloom. He was so close to US that the soldier
nearest me leyeled his rife for shot at him; but
forbade him, as did not wish to have our po-
sition revealed; and it would have been useless
TO kill the man, whom judged 10 be staff
officer making reconnaissance.
Having completed his observations, this per-
son reioined the group in his rear, and all re-
turned at gallop. The CHATTER Of hoofs soon
ceased to be audible; and the silence of the
night was unbroken, save by the melancholy
cries of the whippoorwll, which were heard in
one continued wall, like spirit voices; when the
horizon was lighted up by sudden flash in
the direction of the enemy, succeeded by the
well known rattle of a vOlley of musketry from
at least a battalion. A second yoley quickly
followed the first; and 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 upon friends, | left my or
DERBY and rode toward the confederate lines. A
rderess horse dashed past me toward our lines;
and refined up in presence of a group of sew
eral persons gathered around a man lying on
the ground, apparently badly wounded. | saw
at once that these were confederate officers, and
visions of the Libby began 20 fit through my
mind; but rejecting that | was well armed and
mounted, and that | had on the great coat of
private soldier such as was worn by both par
ties, lssat5stil, regarding the group in silence,
but prepared to use either my spurs or my
SABRE, as occasion might demand. The
silence was broken by one Of the confeder-
ates, who appeared to regard me with astonish-
ment; then, speaking in 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 ont of
sight of the group; then made a circuit round
it, and returned within my own lines. Just as
had answered the challenge of our picket, the
section of our artillery post on the plank road
began firing, and could plainly hear the crane
crashing through the trees near the spot oCCu-
pied by the group Of confederate officers.
About a fortnight alterWard | saw Rich
moNd newspaper at the camp at Falmouth, in
which were detailed the circumstances Of the
death of Stonewall Jackson These left no doubt
in my own mind that the person | had seen
lying onithe ground was the officer, and that his
singular Neutrality-suspicious. previously had
Dccu NcIlHeu. Inc IOllOWlUg IS Sn extract from
the newspaper account: Gen. jackson having
gone some distance in front of his line on Satur-
day evening, was returning about O'Clock, at
tended by his staff The cavalcade was, in the
darkness, mistaken for body of the enemy's
cavalry, and fred on by regiment of his own
corps" Then, after detailing what took place
after the general fell from his horse, the account
proceeds; "Hhe turnpike was utterly deserted,
with the exception Of Captains Wilbourn and
Wynn; but, in the sbirting of the thicket on the
left some person was observed by the side of
the wood, sitting his horse motiCnleSs and silent
The unknown individual was clad in a dark
dress, which strongly resembled the federal uni
form; 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 conlederates Capt Will
bourn directed him to ride up there and see what
troops those were-the men who fred on jack
the stranger rode slowly in the diree-
ton pointed out, but never returned with any
answer. Who this silent parsonage was is left
to posterity," etc.
Jackson's death happened in strange coin
cidence with this horoscope prediction made
years before; but the coincidence was, believe,
merely fortuitous; and | mention it here only
to show what mysterious "giyings-out" we
sometimes experience in life
A NEW "DooMsDAY Book" IN ENGLAND
A Il H.a... -