The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-27

ana tnen people crlen out, come on, we are
friends He started to move on, when the
whole line of woods blazed with musketry.
1.bout the same time l saw from
| eight to 10 rebel flags run up along the
whole line. l Immediately gave the order,
Fire!' and the fire actually swept the men
away. 1t seemed to blow those men in
front clear out of the parapet.
Jackson had $4,000 men, and / knew that
| nothing but an immense shock of artillery,
without a corresponding force of infantry,
was the thing to stop him. That was my
| only chance and / had to do it instantly.
And / had to sacrifice regiment of cavalry
to do 1T"
/ have searched all the reports, but / do
not find any evidence confirming Gen. Pleas
onions statement. We have seen that the
charge of the Pennsylvania cavalry was not
premeditated by any one. Maj, Huey, who
commanded the regiment states that he
received no such order; that the engage
ment was accidental. Capt. Huntington
states very modestly the part taken by the
three batteries of Whipple's Division under
his direction, and not under the command
of Gen. Pleasonton.
1t seems probable that Gen. Pleasonton
placed the one battery under his command
in position, and that it did good service, but
that his glowing account Of what he did,
| beyond this, is imagination rather than ac-
tual fact.
STONEwALL JACKSON.
Jackson has advanced nearly through the
woods west of Charlottesville and Fair
view. One thought has taken possession of
him: to push on, get between Hooker and
the river, cut off his retreat, push the Union
army against Lee, and grind it to pieces as
corn is ground between mill-stones. He has
placed A. p Hills Division in front. They
are fresh troops, and he is confident of sue
cess.
1t is evident that Jackson understood
very imperfectly the situation of the Union
army. 1t is evident also that if such move
ment had been attempted it would have
failed of success. The moon was full, and
his advance would have been seen and met
by terrible fire from Berry's Division, from
the Fifth and Twelfth Corps, and the First
Corps moving up from the river, taking a
position to fall upon his flank.
His troops are near the house OF Mr. Van
Vert The lines of the two armies are not
more than so rods apart. Although jackson
evidently believes that the Union troops are
still fleeing, he rides forward with his staff
to reconnoiter, going beyond his pickets.
asks one of his staff
"The danger is over The enemy is routed.
Go and tell A. p. Hill to press right on"
| The Eleventh Corps has been routed, but
| Berrys Division, the Twelfth Corps, and
Best'S guns are not routed. Immediately in
front of Jackson, lying behind breastworks,
not 300 feet distant is the 1st Mass. The
| soldiers hear the tramping of horses feet,
and discover dark forms moving through
the forest. They fire a volley. The Con-
| feGerate troops south of the road reply. A
| ball jams through the palm of Jackson's
right hand; two balls tear through his left
arm. Capt. Boswell, of his staff, is killed,
and several others wounded. His frightened
horse rushes through the woods towards the
Union line, but he turns it back upon the
plank road. Capt Wilbowen, of his staff,
seizes the bride and quiets the horse, and
jackson, weak and faint, falls into his arms,
and is laid upon the ground. The Union
troops are advancing. Two Union skir-
mishers are captured only few yards
away. Two Union cannon are wheel
ing into position within 800 feet to
sweep the road. Capt. Leigh raises him,
carries him few rods. He is placed upon
litter. But now Best's cannon flame; one
of the litter bearers is shot dead. The whole
party fall flat upon their faces. A ter
rible storm of canister is hurled into the
forest, cutting the twigs- and young leaves
as hail storm cuts the ripened grain. Capt.
Crutchfeld, commanding the artillery, and
many others are wounded.
The line of fire changes and the bearers
lift him once more, carrying him to A. P.
Hills line of battle. Gen. Pender recognizes
him in the darkness.
fpar bpId nfYry y,nciftnn Tho
troops have suffered from the artillery fire
and are in disorder" said Pender.
You must hold the ground" is thereby.
Again the storm bursts upon them. One
of the litter-bearers falls, and the shot ex-
torts q groan from the wounded commander,
but they reach an ambulance and he is car
ried to the Tear-to Guiney's Station. His
left arm is shattered, and the Surgeons sever
| it from the body. His wounds begin to heal,
but pneumonia sets in. The disease battles
the skill of the physicians, and he dies peace
fully on Thursday. His mind was wander
ing. He was ON the battlefield issuing the Or
der: Tell A. 2. Hill to prepare for actionw
Beautiful and tender were the last upon his
lips: Let us cross the river and rest be-
meath the shade of the trees"
1t probably never will be known who fired
the volley which wounded him-whether
the 1st Mass. or his own men. 1t has gone
into history that it was his own men, A
correspondent of Richmond paper reported
that Jackson said that it was by his own
men; but Capt. Hotchkiss, Jackson's Chief
Engineer, who has written book about
Charlottesville, makes no mention of it.
He says: " His party, mistaken for Federal
cavalry, were fired into by brigade on the
south of the road at distance of not more
than 80 or 40 yards"
1t is almost certain that the first volley
was fred by the 1st Mass, and that Jackson
st the moment was not 800 feet distant.
From which he received his wounds will
never be known; nor does it matter. We
can see that his wounds came frem his in
tense enthusiasm, which in degree infiu-
enced his judgment, which led him to jump
at conclusions and disregard prudence. Be
cause the Eleventh Corps had been routed
he thought that the whole army was falling
back. He rode recklessly forward to see
disregardiDg the prudent counsel of one Of
his staff. lie was where commander-in-
chief ought not to have been.
In the terrible artillery fire from Best's
guns Gen. A. Z. Hill was wounded, and Gen.
Stuart became commander of JacksOn's
troops.
BESTS ARTILLERY.
What terrific fire it was John Esten
Cooke, who served in the Confederate army,
describes it. THE ridge in front of Chancel-
lorSville resemhled voIcano ynmitinp iron