Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-11-03

could almost count the buttons on
Jackson's coat, and there seemed ne
escape for him. | was watching him
when the rife cracked. He had a field
glass to his eye, and the only movement
we could see was quick motion of the
head, as ii the bullet had cut close to his
ear. The glass was not even lowered.
"Oid Pete" swore terrible long string
OF oaths as he realized his failure, but in
minute was ready again.
hope never to draw another breath
it don't kill him stone dead f" be NUT
tered, as he knelt down. Jackson did
not face us as before, yet was good mark
even for musket. We watched him as
before, and this time the bullet must
have swept past his face, as he dOdged
his face backward. The field glass went
down then, but he raised it in an instant
and went on with his survey.
Have | got to be a fool. or have /
grown blindW howled old Pete, as he
looked down upon his unharmed victim.
"Ill kill him this time or shoot myself
in this chamber"
1t was dangerous to remain there
longer, as the cavalry had crept nearer,
and JacksOn's aids seemed to have got
the idea that sharpshooter was posted
near by. Yet Old Pete" would have
had third shot if the confederates had
been in the house.
THE TARGET WAS AS FAIR AS BEFORE.
He took more careful aim, and vet,
whenhe fired, he saw splinters fly from q
railroad over beyond the general. The
cavalry were then close upon us, and our
two muskets were lost in the hurried
flight from the house. Half an hour
after that Jackson was driving our brig
AIDES and divisions as he willed.
"l'll measure off the same distance,
shoot ff.hand, and bet my life can hit
soldiers cap nine times out of ten 7"
growled cold Pete" as he hurried for.
ward, and suddenly overcome by indig.
nation and chagrin he battered bis cher
ished gun againsta tree and destroyed it.
As if seeking personal revenge, Jack
sons legiOns passed right by us, The
nearest brigade of Sigers corps waspicked
up and dashed to pieces as strong man
would lift and hurl child. Running
along with the amazed and frightened
men, but bearing off toward our own
division, we picked up other muskets to
replace our lost ones Reaching a knoll
from which we had another view of the
turnpike, we halted for last look over
the heads of the frightened, fleeing SOL
diers-over the ground strewn with arms
and accOutrements-over the blue smoke
just beginning TO rise, we saw Jackson
again.
He was far away, but it was Jackson.
Curse him but he has got guard
ian angel" howled old Pete as he shook
his fist toward the turnpike.
No other man ever had a rifle dawn
on him at such fair range and escaped
three cool, carefully aimed bullets. His
escape sent a thrill superstition through
each mind, and from that hour to this
moment, when the news Of Jackson's
death reached us, "Old Pete" never
spoke word. Soon soldier, hurrying
along, shouted; We're all right,
Stonewall Jackson has been killed up the
road there "
"Old Pete "leaped up, whirled around
to face the bearer of the news, and sav-
agely shouted back:
" You lie you lie you lie ! StOnewall
Jackson can't be hurt by shell or killed
by bullet"
BUT II WAS so.
Lying in the arms of those who loved
him, so near lis that the cries of our
wounded must have reached his ears,
was the mortally wounded general whose
skill and strength had no match. While
the white-laced dead looked up to the
torn and shattered forest trees, while the
wounded crawled here and there in their
awful agony, while the living looked in
each others anxious faces and wondered
if another night would find any Of us
there, the legions of jackson we're
strangely silent. Now and then came
the sudden boom of some great gun,
sounding like deep groan of despair,
but there was nothing more to break the
silence. While men rested in line of
battle, having the awful horrors Of war
on every side, there was one who gave up
his life as he whispered, Let us cross
over the river and rest under the shade
of the trees. "-DetroH Free Press.