Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-13
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE: WEDNESDAY EVENING NOVEMBER 49, 1872

enemy, succeeded by the well know
rattle of volley Of musketry from a
least battalion. A second volle
quickly followed the first, and ! hear
cries in the same direction. Fearinl
that some of our troops might be in tina
locality, and that there was danger 0
our firing upon friends, / left my orderly
and rode toward the Confederate lines
A riderless horse dashed past me TOWARD
our lines; and reigned up in presenc,
of group of several persons gathered
around a man lying on the ground, ap
parently badly wounded saw OF once
that these were Confederate officer and
visions Of the Libby began to 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 parties, | sat still
regarding the group in silence, but pre-
pared to use either my spurs or my sa-
ber, as occasion might demand. The
silence was broken by one of the Con-
federates, who appeared to regard me
with astonishment; then, speaking in a
tene 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 of sight Of the group; then
made a circuit round it and retarned
within my own lines. Just as had an
swered 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 fortnight afterward ] saw a
Richmond Newspaper at the camp at
Falmouth, ih which we're detailed the
circumstances of the death of Stonewall
jackson. These left no doubt in my
own mind that the person had seen
lying on the ground was that officer, and
that his singular prediction-mentioned
previously-had been verified. The fol-
lowing is an extract from the newspaper
account General Jackson, having
gone some distance in front of his line,
on Saturday evening, was returning
about 8 o'clock, attended by his staff.
The cavalcade was, in the darkness, mis-
taken for body of the enemy's cavalry,
and fired on by regiment of his own
corps" Then, after detailing what took
place after the General fell from his
horse, the account proceeds: The turn
pike was utterly deserted, with the ex-
ception OF Captains Wilbourn and Wynn;
but, in the skrting Of the thieket on the
left, some person was observed by the
side Of the wood, sitting on his horse
motionless and silent The unknown
individual was clad in dark dress,
which strongly resembled the Federal
uniform; bat it SCENE impossible that
he could have penetrst d to that spot
without being discovered, and what fol-
lowed seemed to prove that he belonged
to the Confederates. Captain Wilbourn
directed him to ride up there and see
what troops those were--the men who
fred on Jackson-and the stranger rode
slowly in the direction pointed out, but
never returned with any answer. Who
this silent parsonage was is left to pos
terity," etc.
Jackson's death happened in strange
coincidence with this horoscope predic-
ton made years before; but the coinci-
dence was, believe, merely fortuitous;
and / mention it here only to show what
mysterious "givings-oIt we sometimes
experience in life.-From Keel and
Saddle"