The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1873-01-29
How Stnncwall jackson Met lIly Death -
An Interesting ana Authentic Slate.
mcnt from General James II. Lane.
RlcuMoSp, Va, Jan. !, 1873.

hlClIMOSp, A., Oan. J, 1910.
Nessrs. Editors: | hope you will
allow me through the columns Of
your popular paper to give TO the
public some Of the circumstances con-
nectcd with the death. wound of Gen.
Jackson, particularly y as Il recent pub
lication has declared that a night at
tack was not contemplated Mt that
time.
When General Jackson moved so
unexpectedly and so succ es>fu!ly upon
the cuemy's fink at Charlottesville,
his trout line!w composed Of Rhodes
division, and his second Of a. p.
Hills with the exception Of Mellow
ans (Soush Caroiina) brigade and
mine (whioh was composed wholly of
North Carolinians.) Our two bri.
gades moved hy the flank along the
plank road Immediately in rear Of our
artillery - l",no being in front.
When, ahou; dark, VIC reached the
brcastworks trom which the enemy
had been driven, we were halted,
and remained standing in the road
for some time. Gen. a. y. Hill then
ordered me- to form across the road-
two regiments to tho right, two to the
left, and one thrown forward rs
strong line Of skirmishers-for the
purpose Of making a night attack
but soon after the order was given,
our artillery opened and the cncmy's
replied. l at once ordered my men
to lie down, as I was unwilling to at
tempt to manDuvre them in the dark,
and in such woods, under such
deadly fire. Colonel William II. Pal.
mer, OF this city, gallantly crossed
the road to know why did not move
my command. J. requested him to
tell General Hill that if he wished me
to do so successfully he must order
his artillery to cease firing. The or
der was given, and az | had antici
pated, tho enemy also ccasod firing.
now formed my brigade as had
been ordered, putting tho Seventh
and Thirty seventh on tho right of
the road, and the Eighteenth and
Twenty eighth on the left, the right
of the Eighteenth resting on the road,
while the Thirty-third, under Colonel
AYcrr, was thrown forward as skir-
:rjs"ors. The w"ads in front :; on,
I:.HI ao'isis, I'd Q. lag. ya,;a With ''.
lltt!o underg:out" II .ia rear o;' o~r
right WAS IL pine thioNc'. aNd % ;oa
left Of the road there. was 4 ""n.n
growth of "scrubhy oaks,' throuGN
which II was very difficult for troops
to move. Our skirmish line occupied
the crost ef the hill separated, on the
right Of the road, from the Chancel-
lorsvillc hill by deep valley. | cau-I
tion all of my field officers to wat.n
closcl y tho front, as We were nen
occupying the front line an were
expecting to make a n:gt' attack.
Aftor forming NY line, ode back t"
ask General Kill if we must advance
or wait further ordeS,' ana on rcach,
ing the plank toaG met General
Jackson alone think, and nc at
once wishc. to know for whom L was
looking. told him, and to save fur
tber d;lay I asked fox orders. In an
earrest sono and with pushing gcs.
tvrc of his right hand in the direction
Of tho enemy he replied, "Push right
ahead, Lane" and then rode forward
On reaching tho right of my com"
mand to put it in motion found that
n Licutcnant-Coloncl Smith, Of the
Onc hundred and Twcnty.eighth
Pennsylvania regiment, had como up
between our limo of battle and the
skirmish line, with a white han1ker-
chief tied to stick, to learn, as he
stated, whother we were friends or
foes. This officer seemed surprised
at my letting him return after he bad
gratitied his curiosity. I was still
further delayed by officers Of the
Seventh regiment reporting that du-
ring my absence troops Of some kind
had been heard talking on our right
Lieutenant Emack, with five men, was
at once sent ont to recennoitre, and
he soon returned with the Que Hun
dred aud Twenty eighth Pennsylvania
regiment, which had thrown down
their arms and surrendered on being
told that they were cut of. just as
Captain Young (our gallant boy.can-
tain, about eighteen or nineteen years
old) was ordered with his company to
take this regiment to the rear the
right of the skirmish line fired, as l
afterwards learned from Col Avery,
at person who rodo up from the di-
rection 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 infantry firing was heard
Immediately afterwards in tho direc'
tion of tho plank-road, followed by
re.opening of tho enemy's artillery.
Gen. Pender now rode up, and advised
me not to advance, az Gen. Jackson
had been wounded, and, he thought,
by my command. did not advance