Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-12
HOW sTONEwALL FELL.
The Facts as Related by the Only
Survivor OF JaeksOn's Party.


Jackson. has ever been printed, and
but one man is now alive who served
by his side when the accident hap
pened, which resulted so disastrously
to the Southern cause. That man is
now in this city, on a business trip,
returning from Kentucky to his cotton
plantation near Island 81, in WASH
lngton county, Mississippi. The gen.
tleman is kinsman of General Fitz
hugh Lee, who is also here to
lecture to morrow night on
the Battle Of Charlottesville, "
an action which cost the
country its grandest and most capable
soldier, whose accidental fall before
bullets fred by his own friends, occa-
stoned the loss of at least 5000 lives.
The person alluded to was Captain
VIM. L. Randolph, whose father was
cousin of General Robert 4. Lee,
and who rode with Thos. j. Jackson.
In company with fifteen or twenty
other troopers, at the time the cele.
bratedsOldiey was so ruthlessly slaugh-
tered. From his lips the story of the
event is here related, and it varies
materially from all versions so far
made public. At the time Of the tragedy
just after dusk on the night of May I'd,
1863, jackson had marched his
corps by what is known as the
Old Mine road directly to the rear of
the Federel army, and it moved in the
woods by the side Of the main road /,
to cover it from few desultory shells
and cannon balls which the enemy
fred at intervals down the highway.
There had been a sanguiuary action
during the afternoon, which resulted
in the route of Howard's corps Of
Federal troops, and jackson was at the
moment in pursuit Of the flying enemy.
The forces under Jackson had made
a detour OF fifteen miles to gain the
position it occupied, and night at
tack would have commenced few
minutes later but for the terrible mis-
hap. Howard's entire corps was emf
laded at themoment and was but few
hundred yards away.
jackson and his mounted followers
or escort, fifteen or twenty in number,
moved at a slow walk up the road in
the same direction with the troops he
commanded, The General asked
Captain Randolph what command they
were passing. The Captain did not
know. "Go and see," said General
jackson. The Captain rode into the
woods few steps, asked a soldier, re-
ceived the proper reply aud returned
to his place, saying: General. it is
Lanes North Carolina brigade :"
Find the commanding officer and
order them to halt" said General
jackson. Captain Randolph did as
told, the troops halted and faced the
road parallel to which they were
moving, while General Jackson and
his escort proceeded slowly toward
the head of the column.
About that moment scattering shots
began to be fired by the North Care
lima troops, and the bullets seemed to
be aimed at Jackson's party in the
road. 1t was evidently one of those
unaccOuntable pauics that occasionally
strike crowd Of even the oldest vet
erans. They imagined the enemy were
at them, and the scattering shots in.
creased to a steady volley. Captain
Randolph pushed among the troops
and begged them to stop, as they were
aiming at friends. Directly a yolley
was turned loose by the forces opposite
aud only few feet from Jackson's
position. Randolph saw the movement
and in an instant dashed his horse
over the line of men, knocking several
fiat in the bound and in time to save
his own life. Though his horse was
shot through and through, and
his whiskers we're burned by
the blaze of the powder aud his
clothes were perforated, yet he cs,
capped uninjured. The remainder of
the force, almost to a man, was shot
down and dozen were killed outright.
AS soon as possible, and it was but
few moments later, Captain Randolph
sought General Jackson as he lay
bleeding in the road, surrounded by
the party escorting him, all lying
about prOmisclously, with their pros.
trate and crippled horses, and he
raised the General up, asking if he
were badly hurt.
Yes, was the reply. "Wild firing;
wild firing, sir" The brigade, or at
least that portion Of it near the
General scattered promiscuously
through the woods as soon as they had
emptied their guns. A few minutes
afterwards it became known what had
been done. General A. P. Hill ar.
rived meantime aud assumed com.
mand, but "a few minutes after was
himself wonnded hv seattor;n.,l,. III