The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-14
AernIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
aHw ORLEANS, suHkAY, OCTOBER a. 1871
HAD HE 4 CHARMED LIFE,S .r
STRANGE INCIDENT IN THE CAREER OF
STONEwALL JACKSON.
Detroit Free Press)

SfANASO%''
Detroit Free Press)
That was an awful day when that Con
federate lion Stonewall ack son, crept upon
poor Hooker hidden in the Wilderness. Lee
on one side-Jackson on the other, and the
woods around Chan cellorsvil!e shook aud
trembled, and were aim st swept from the
face of the earth by the whrring round
shot, the kissing shell and the screaming
Crane shot Men were struck stone dead
as the battle line advanced or retreated
White faced recruits aud bronze. faced vet,
Grams were torns to fragments and hurled
against the living. Wounded men fell in
their tracks to be crushed in the earth by
the great limbs cut from trees by shot and
she'll. The roar OF guns, the crackle of
musketry, the fierce shouts and awful
groans made such a hell upon earth a was
never seen before OF after
Fighting Joe Hooker was in box, but
not a man in his great army dreamed that
it was so until the long gray line Of Stone
wall Jackson came creeping through the
quiet forest at three o'clock on that ever to
be remembered End day of May, 1868 The
light earthworks had been thrown up to
face another way, towards Lee. All lines
faced Lee, all men were looking for Lee,
when three divisions of Confederates, NOV
ing with sOfG step, took Hookers army in
the rear and drove one brigade pell nell
into and over another until veteran soldiers
were without strength or presence of mind.
That awful night when
THE WOUNDED WERE BEING BURIED ALIVE
in the woods, and the dead were thicker
than the leaves just broadening into full
life, a report ran through the recognized
ranks that the great Stonewsll Jackson had
been killed. Thousands believed it, but
three of us, lying side by side in the new
battle line born after night came down,
put no faith in the rumor. Why we did not
is what / started to write about.
Stuart's cavalry had been following up
Hooker's army, but it vas like a at follow
ing in the footsteps Of q horee. Lee was 80
s far away, and coming mp SO slowly that
4 Hooker had time to throw up light earth
works, seize the best ground, fell trees to
protect his TANKS, and make ready to shat
ter and hurl back the expected attack. On
that second day of May his soldiers, hidden
in the woods or lying in the fields, washed
their clothing, wrote letters home, made
comfortable beds for Themselves. and were
not in the least troubled about what another
week would bring forth. As deep river
suddenly bends to avoid q bluff, SO did that
great army of Lees bend to avoid the Will
derness. 1t split in two to attack at given
hour on both eides, and Joe Hooker sat in
his tent and congratulated himself on his
j impregnable position-.consdered impreg-
nable by him when two great highways ran
/ along the rear of half of his army. So uni
versal was the feeling of security that soon
after noon three infantrymen started out to
BEG, BUY OR FORAGE FOOD.
4 Sigel's corps was on Hooker's west flank,
Of this corps faced the old turnpike and
4 plank road, part faced the other way. Most
of the men were hidden in the woods and
behind ridges, and up the broad highways
which should have been first looked to Stu
art was pushing his cavalrymen as Skin
mishers. We three men were beyond Sigel's
corps, and on the point of entering farm
house from which everybody had fed,
when, less than q rife shot away, we caught
Pght of the Confederate advance. The cav
alrymeu were advancing slowly, evidently
eXpecting to find heavy guard at some
point, but at the time we imagined that less
bhan regiment of Stuart's men were feel
Ing along up to pick up stragglers, locate
positions, etc. We, at least, did not fear
them, and the proposition to enter the
mouse and secure better view of the roads
speedily conveyed US to a cham Der window.
We could zee bat little more from that
post, but we did zee, soon after reaching it,
THAT SAME sToNEwALL JACKSON
ride from shelter out upon the turnpike 10
NIL view, attended by only three or four
ulcers. He had come out there to make
observations. Like a cat, before she de-
stroys the mouse, he was wondering at
What point he should strike to disable his
victim soonest.
2 Grim minded and eour-tempered was the
bird man of US, and wars horrors delight
I'd him. When he had taken the second
cok at the little party sitting on their
orses in the open road, wicked smile
rossed his face, and he whispered:
"By the hundred geds of the heather
put that chap on the left there is old Stone
vail Jackson, and Pm going to drop him!"
Old Pete, our sour tempered companion,
lad first-clsss Minnie rife with him. He
ad carried it for several months, in some
Fay escaping the attention of the inspector,
ind in some other way always secured am
punitiou for it. 1 saw him, in at least
half dozen instances, shoot down videttes
pr skirmishers who seemed to be half q
allie away, and he was known throughout
ghe regiment as dead shot.
There was considerable firing around US
rom foragers, stragglers and men cleaning
heir guns, and Rhot from the window
hight not attract particular attention.
Resting the heavy gun across the window
I'LL, and having as steady rest as hunter
YER asked for, "Old Pete" was ready to
feep his word.
SEEMED LIKE COLD FLOODED AssAssI