Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1883-06-01
Death of General Stonewall Jackson.

/ The first instant was the twentieth
anniversary of the date on which Gen.
eral Stonewall Jackson, after routing
Hooker's right flank at Chancellors-
vile, and while pressing forward to
sever the line of retreat Of the main
body of the Federal army, received
from his own II en-. by accident, the
wound which eight days later result
ed in his death. To the Confederacy
his loss was irreparable. Having been
engaged in nearly every important ac-
ton of the war in Virginia, and hav-
ing distinguished himself in all, he
had become among the Southern SOL
diery, as among the people, hero
whose presence on the battle field was
regarded as sure omen of success.
The list of the principal actions in
which he participated-Bull Run,
kernstone, Mcdowell, Front Royal,
Winchester, Cross Keys Port Repub-
lie, Cold Harbor, Cedar Mountain,
second Bull Run, the investment of
Harper's Ferry. Sharpsbnrg or Antie-
tam, Frederick aed Charlottesville
is, with one or two exceptions, list
Of successes rejecting the highest
credit upon bis military genius. His
fame has become the common proper
ty of the country, and, indeed, of the
world at large, having long ago cross
ed the CELEBRATED limits Of the gov
ernment for which he fought. The
comparative obscurity in which he
passed all but the last three years of
his life finds parallel in the mystery,
or uncertainty, which in the popular
mind surrounds the circumstance
under which he was shot. The ques-
tion has been raised whether he was
wounded by his own men or by the
enemy, and, it being generally conced-
ID that he was fired at by mistake by
his own men, it has been matter Of
hot discussion as to the regiment that
made the fatal blunder. The facts,
well substantiated by officers present
at the time. are as follows: The front
line of advance had been formed by
Rode's division extending across the
pike, but the division commanded by
Gen. Colston, forming the second line,
had, as the action progre ssed, become
mingled with it. After night-fall. in
lull Of the firing, it was undertaken
to relieve the two divisions by A. P.
Hills divisions of fresh troops. Jack
son was impatient to have the attack
re. commenced, and, supposing that
there was a skirmish line ont in front
between Rode's men and tie enemy,
rode forward along the pike in ad-
vance of Hill to ascertain the enemy's
position, and in doing so passed
through the line sf battle beginning
to be formed by Lanes brigade of
Hills division. Those of Lanes men
Immediately in the road knew that
Gen. Jackson had PASSED, but those
further to the right and left did not.
Hence some of Lanes troops on tie
right Of the road, seeing Gen. Jack
son, accompanied by several signal
men and courieIs, in their front, mis-
took them for the enemy and opened
fire on the party, wounding net a few
of its members. Those of their num-
Der still unhurt, including Gen. Jack
son, to escape this fire, plunged into
the woods on the left, where they
were net with a second volley from
the troops on that side of the road.
Gen. Lane reports it as the opinion
generally acce pied at the time that
it was the 18th regiment of his brig
ade of North Carolinians that did the
firing, mistaking Gen. Jackson and
his escort for a party OF the federal
cavalry. The result of the second
volley was that the General was wound
ed IN three places, two balls penetra.
ting his left arm, shattering it and
cutting the chief artery, and a third
passing through the palm of his right
hand. After some delay Gen. Jack
son was borne to the rear. His arm
was amputated and hopes Of his re-
covery was entertained. But pneu-
monia soon set in, which was the I'M
mediate cause of his death on the 10th
of May, 1s63.-Ba1timore San, 1st inst.