Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-10
STONEWAII. JACK SON.

sOOn we three were straying along the
banks of the beautiful AmmOOnOOsuc.
STONEWALL JACKSON.
How StOneHall Jack SON Met His
Death An Interesting and Au-
shentic Statement from General
James EE. Lane.
Correspondence Richmond Dispatch
RICHMOND, Va. Jan. |, 1873
Nfessrs Editors-I hope you will allow
me, through the columns of your pop
sulsr paper, to 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
contemplated at that time.
When General jackson moved 80 M
expectedly and so successfully upon
the enemy's flank at Chancenorsville
his front line was composed of Rodes'
division, and his second of A. P. Hills.
with the exception of McGOwan's
South CarolinaJ brigade and mine.
which was composed wholly of North
Carollnlans. Our two brigades moved
by the flank along the plank-road inn
medlately III rear of our artillery
mine being in front. When, about
dark, we reached the breast-works from
which the enemy had been driven, We
were halted, and remained standing il.
the road for some time. General \.
+. Hill then ordered me to form across
the road-twO regiments to the right
two to the left, and one thrown for
ward a. strong line of Skin
mlshers-for the purpose of MAX
ing night attack : but soon after the
order was given. our artillery opened
and the enemy's replied. I at once
ordered my men to lie down, as I was
unwilling to attempt to mannuyre
them in the dark, and in such woods,
under srch deadly fire. Col. VIM. H.
Palmer, of this city, gallantly crossed
the road to know why did not move
my command. l requested him to tell
Gen. Hill that if he wished ne to do
so successfully he must order his artil-
lers to cease firing. The order was
given. and, AS l had anticipated, the,
enemy also ceased firing. [ now formed
my brigade as 1 had been ordered
putting the Seventh and Thirty-seventh
on the right Of the road, and the
Eighteenth and the Invent y-eighth On
the left, the right Of the Eighteenth
resting on the road, while the Thirty
third, under Col. Avery, was thrown
forward as skirmishers. The woods
Ill front of our right consisted of large
oaks with but little underground in
rear OF o1lr right there was pine
thlcket, and to the left of the road there
was Il dense growth Of - scrubby oaks, ="
through which it was very difficult for
troops to move. Our skirmish line
occupied the crest of the hill, separated
on the right of the road, from the
Charlottesville hill by deep valley. l
cautioned all of my field officers to watch
closely the front, as We were then occ,,-
pylng the front line and were expected to
make night attack After forming nv
line, l rode back to ask General Hill if
we must advance or await for further
orders, and on reaching the plank-road
| met General jackson alone. / think.
and he at once wished to know for
whom [ was looking L told him, and
to save further delay asked for orders.
In al earnest tone and with a pushing
gesture of his right hand in the direc-
ton of the enemy he replied, Push
right ahead, Lane" and then rode for
ward. On reaching the right of nv
command to put it iii motion l found
that Il LieutenaIit-C Colonel Smith of a
Pennsylvania regiment, had come ND
between our line of battle and the Skin
mish line, with white handkerchief
tied to Il stick, to learn, as he stated.
whether We We're friends or foes. This
officer seemed surprised at my not al
lowing him to return after he had graf
flied his curiosity. / was still further
delayed by officers of the Seventh reg
iment reporting that tt,ringmy absence
troops of some kind had been heard
talking on our right. Lieut.. Emack.
with hve men, was at once sent out to
recOnnOltre, and he soon returned Will,
the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth
Pennsylvania regiment, which had
thrown down their arms and surrender
ed on being told that they were cut off.
Just as Captain Young (olir gallant boy
captain, about IL on 10 years ODD was
ordered with his company TO take this
regiment to the rear the right of the
Skilmlsh line fired, [ afterwards learned
from Colonel Avery, at - person who
rode up from the direction of the enc
my and called for General Williams.
Tins unknown person escaped, but the
firing at him caused the whole sl,irm-
ish line to open, and the enemy re-
sponded. Much heavier infantry firing
was heard immediately afterwards in
the direction of the plank fol-
lowed b., reOpenlng of the enemy's
artillery. General Fender now rode
up, and advised me not to advance. as
General Jackson had been wounded.
and, he thought, by my command. 7
did not advance, but went to the plank
road, where / learned that General Hill
had also been wounded. There, more
over, learned from Colonel John D.
Barry, then Major of the Eighteenth
North Carolina regiment, that he knew
nothing Of Generals jackson and Hill
having gene to the front; that he could
not tell friend from foe in such woods:
that when the skirmish line fired there
was heard the Gathering Of approach
ing hOrsemen and the cry of cavalry.
and that he not only ordered his men
TO fire but that he pronounced the sub
sequent cry of friends to be a lie, and
that his men continued to fire upon the
party. It was generally
understood that night by my command
and others that the Eighteenth regi-
lnent not only wounded Generals Jack
son and Hill but killed some of their
courlers and perhaps some of their
staff officers, as some of them were
missing. Colonel 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 wounding of these two
generals Gen. F ,'ti assumed command
OF Hllls dlvls'n4, countermanded the
ordef Tor an advance, and directed me
10 form the whole of my brigade on
the light Of the plank-road. We were
the only troops In line of battle on the
right of the road uutil after we had
repulsed an attack made by thu enemy.