Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-13
THE DEATH OF STONEWALL
JACKSON.
A Strange story OF 1852 and 1858
-8Y General ]. w. Revere

on the steamer was Lieutenant Thomas
j. Jackson, OF the United States Army,
who seemed, at first, remarkably quiet,
reserved, although very intelligent Off
Ger, and with whom / soon became &C,
quainted; for there is everywhere a sort
of comeraderie among the officers of the
two services which attract them to each
other in crowd of strangers. For
several days the inland voyage con-
tinued; and our nights we're partly speat
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 subse-
4, quent events proved itself worthy OF
record; although 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 conversation
turned upon the armament and its count
less orbs that looked down upon us.
Jackson asked me il had ever been in
duced to take flight from the study OF
nautical astronomy, practiced by oil
naval officers, into the realms of astrol-
ogy. | replied that | had always been
interested, more or less, in those mathe-
matical studies required in nautical cal
culations; and that, from the exact rules
demanded for working the various prob
lens of the ephemeric, / had sometimes,
to amuse the idle hours of sea-life,
worked out the natlvities Of my ship
mates. | had even taken Zadkiel's alma
mac, and used his rules, but without be-
leving 10 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
himselfas to the truth or falsehood Of
this exploded science. st
Before we parted at Pittsburg, day
or two after this conversation, | had
given jackson the necessary data for
calculating a Horoscopes; and in the
course of few months | received from
him letter, which preserved inclosing
scheme of my nativity. AS any one
who may have calculated these schemes
by the rules must know, horoscope may
be interpreted in various, even contra.
dctory terms, by different persons; and
this was no exception to the rule. The
only reason had for remembering it at
all was, that our destinies seemed to run
in parallel lines; and, SO far, it was re-
markable. II was this peculiarity that
caused jackson to communicate with
me, and the reason why l laid it care
fully aside for re examination.
The several planets were placed in
their respective houses, above and below |
the horizon, and Saturn being near the |
meridian, and approaching a square with |
the moon, great danger was to be appre- |
hended by the native at the period when
the aspect becams complete. Mars also |
bore threatening aspect; 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 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 danger, requiring a sec
ond calculation, accompanied the
scheme, prognosticating the elimination
of the malign aspect within some ten
years, OF 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 recur.
In his letter Jackson says: 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 q common danger at the time
indicated" Having but little faith in
the almost forgotten and altogether re-
pudiated science of astrology, | took
little heed of either his scheme of ma
tivity or his letter. regarding the former
as Ingenious but as merely a proof Of
an ardent and somewhat enthusiastic
temperament; while | little imagined,
at that time, that the rather unpublished
and rugged exterior of Lieutenant Jack
son concealed character destined to
become famous among his countrymen.
/ served in the army in 1862 3 until
after the battle Of Charlottesville, par.
ticipating in all its important engage
meats, and, the greater part Of the time,
commanding brigade. At the battle
above named was an involuntary wit
ness of an event which had an inpor-
tant bearing on the issue of the war,
and which had been the subject Of pro
longed controversy. l refer to the
death of Stonewall jackson. The cir
cumstances under which | acquired the
right to give testimony in the matter
we're 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, | rode forward, ac.
cording to my invariable habit, to in
spect 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 sentinel not far
from the plank road. While thus en-
gagged heard the sound of hoofs from +,
the direction of the enemys line, and
paused to listen. Soon cavalcade ap-
peared approaching us. The foremost
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
leveled his rife for a shot at him; but l.
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 re-
connoissaoe.
Having completed his observations,
this person reioined the group in his
rear, and all returned at a gallop. The
clatter Of hoofs soon ceased TO be audi
BILE; and the silence Of the night was un-
broken, save BY the melancholy cries OF !
the whip-poor-Will, which were heard in
one continued vail, like spirit-voices,
when the horizon was lighted up by a
sudden fash in the direction Of the