Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-03
How Stonewall j Jackson Met his Death
Irorrocnondence of the Rich. Dispatch.

give to the public some OF the circumstances
connected with the death wound OF General
Jackson, particularly as recent publication
has declared that night attack was not con-
templated at that time
When General Jackson moved SO unexpec-
tedly and so successfully upon the enemy
flank at Charlottesville his front line was conf
nosed of Rodes' division. and his second OF
A. p. Hills, with the exception OF AlcGowan
(South Carolina) brigade and mine (which was
composed wholly of North Carollnlans.) Our
two brgades moved by the flank along the
plank-road Immediately in rear OF our artillery
mine being in front. When, about dark, we
reached the breast works from which the ene-
my had been driven, we we're halted, and re-
NAMED standing in the road Tor some time.
Gen. A. =. Hill then ordered ME to form
across the road--two regiments to the right
two to the left, and one thrown forward as a
strong line of skirmishers-for the purpose, OF
making a night attack; but soon after the order
was given our artillery opened and the enemy. 5
replied. [ at once ordered my men to lie
down, as | was unwilling to attempt to manGu-
vre them 10 the dark and i'll such woods, IN
der such deadly fire. Colonel William Ii:
Palmer, of this city, CALAMITY crossed the road
to know why did not move my command: l
requested him to tell General Hill that II he
wished me to do so successfully he must order
his artillery to cease firing. The order was
given, and as had anticipated, the enemy
also ceased firing. | now formed my brigade
rs had been ordered putting the Seventh
and Thirty. seventh on the right of the road, and
the Eighteenth and Tweuty-eighth on the left,
the right Of the Eighteenth resting on the
road While the Thirty third, under Colonel
Avery. was thrown forward as skirmshers.
The woods in front of our right consisted OF
large oaks with but title undergrowth; in rear
Of our right there was a pine thicket, and to
the left of the road there was dense growth
of ''scrubby oaks" through which it was very
difficult for troops to move Our skirmsh line
occupied the crest of the hill, separated on the
right of the road, from the Charlottesville hill
by a deep valley. cautioned all Of my field Off
GERS to watch closely the front, as we were then
occupying the front line and were expected to
make night attack After forming my line,
| rode back to ask General Hill if We must adj
vance or wait for further orders, and on reach
ing the plank road | met General Jackson
alone, think, and he at once wished to know
for whom I was looking. told him and to
save further delay l asked Tor orders.
In an earnest tone and with pushing gesture
of his right hand in the direction Of the enemy
he replied, Push right ahead, Lame, and
then rode forward On reaching the right OF
NV command to put it in motion | found that
q Lieutenant Colonel Smith, Of the One Hun
dred and Twenty nth Pennsylvania regiment,
had come up between our line OF battle and the
skirmisk line, with white handkerchief tied
to stick, to learn, as he stated, whether W"
were friends or foes. This officer seemed sur
nrised at nv not allowing him to return after
he had gratiied his curiosity. | was still
further delayed by officers Of the Seventh regl-
ment reporting that during my absence troops
of some kind had been heard talking on our
right. Lieutenant Emack, with FIVE men, was
at once sent out to reconnoltre, and he soon re-
turned with the Que Hundred and Twenty,
eighth Pennsylvania regiment which had
thrown down their arms and surrendered on
being told that they we're cut of. Just as
esBssn T o nosg SE Te 1sss by apa about
with his compan1 to take this regiment to the
rear the right Of The skirmish line fired, as |
afterwards learned from Colonel Avery, at a
person who rode up from the direction of the
enemy and called for General Williams -
This unknown person escaped, but the firing
at him caused the whole skirmish line to open.
and the enemy responded Much heavier in,
fantry firing was heard Immediately afterwards
in the direction of the plank road, followed by
q reopening ofthe enemy's artillery. General
Pcnder now rode up, and advised me not to
advance, as General Jackson had been wound
ed and he thought, by my command. l did
not advance, but went to the paDk-road, where
I learned that General Hill had also been
wounded. there, moreover, learned from
Colonel John D. Barry, then major Of the
Eighteenth North Carolina regiment, that he
knew nothing of Generals Jackson and Hill
having gone to the front; that he could not tell
friend from foe in such woods; that when the
skirmish line fired there was heard the clatter.
ing of approaching horsemen and the cry of
cavalry, and that he not only ordered his men
to fire but that he pronounced the subsequent
cry of friends to be lie, and that his men con-
tinued to fire upon the approaching party. 1t
was generally understood that night by my COM
mand and others that the Eighteenth regi-
ment not only wounded Generals Jackson and
Hill but killed some Of their courierS and per-
haps some of their staff officers, as some Of
them were missing Col. Barry, who was one
of my bravest and most accomplished officers,
always thought that Generals jackson and Hill
were both wounded by his command
After the woundng Of these two generals
General Heth assumed command Of II lis di-
vision, countermaDded the order for an advance
and directed me to form the whole OF my brig.
ade on the right of the plank-road. We were
the only troops in line of battle on the right OF
the road until after we had repulsed night
attack made by the enemy, in which We captur.
ed a few prisoners and the colors Of the Third
Maine regiment. McGowan's brigade then
prolonged our right. and we rested on our arms
until the next morning
On the morning ofthe Sd we were ordered
to make a direct attack upon the enemy S
works, which were composed of logs hastily
thrown together the night previous. in our
front and on the slope of the hill facing the
Charlottesville hill We carried the works,
but could not hold them on account of the con.
ccntrated, murderous artillery fire from the
Charlottesville hill, under which the enemy
threw forward fresh infantry. The brigade
that was to have supported US did not COME 70
our assistance, aud before General Ramscur, tn en-
a brigadier, could get up with his North Caro-
linians we were driven back with loss Of over
nine hundred out of about twenty hun
dred carried into action. Of the thirteen field
officers of nv command that norticnated in