Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-11
StoneWall Jackson

/ UuTuGO ny buS COluIulSSlOueFS OF The
Pope in 149s, said at the last moment
''The Lord has suffered as much fol
me-" When hanged upon the scat
fold IN Virginia, John Browns las
words were: Il am ready at any
time. Do not keep me needIessly
waiting" Historians always stop Il
describe the dying of Wolfe anC
Montcalm, the two opposing comman
ders in the battle of Quebec. The
death of the famous men of history
seems heroic simply compared with
the Christian death of Thomas Jeffer
son Jackson, one Of the bravest
Generals on the Confederate side in
the late civil war. He died in 1868
About daylight upon the Sunday OF
his death Mrs. Jackson informed him
that his recovery was very doubtful
and that it was better that he should
be prepared for the worst.
He was silent for a moment and
then said: 1T will be infinite gair
to be translated to heaven" He ad
vised his wife Ia the event of his death
to return to her fathers house, AND
added: you have a kind and good
father, but there is no one so kind anC
good as your Heavenly Father"
He still expressed hope that ht
would recover, but requested his wife
in case he should die, to have hin
buried in Lexington, ia the valley O
Virginia. His exhaustion increased
so rapidly that at eleven o'clock Mrs
Jackson knelt by his bed and told hin
that before the sun went down h,
would be with his Savior.
He replied: 80, no! You are fright
ened, my child. Death is not so near
l may yet get we'll"
She fell upon the bed weeping bit
terly, and again told him, amid he
tears and sobs, that the physicians de
clared that there was no longer any
hope of his recovery. After a NOM
ent's pause he asked her to call tht
family physician.
doctor, he said, as the physician
entered the room, "Annie Informed
me that you have told her that I an
to die to-day. Is it trues"
When he was answered in the at
frmative, he turned his sunken eyes
toward the ceiling and gazed for ,
moment or two as if in intens;
thought, then looked at the friends
about him and said softly:
Very good, v2ry good; its al
right"
Then turning to his heart broken
wife he tried to comfort her. He told
her that there was much he desired tt
tell her, but that he was too weak 70
the undertaking.
Colonel Pendleton, one of the off
GERS Of his staff, came into the room
about one o'clock. General jackson
asked him:
"Who is preaching at the head
quarters9"
When told in reply that the Who'll
army was praying for him, he repli
ed:
THANK Godl they are very kind.
Then he added: "It is the Lords day
my wish is fulfilled. I have Away
desired to die on Sunday"
Slowly his mind began to fail an
wander, and he frequently talked i
his delirlum as if In command of hi
army on the field of battle. He woul
give orders to his aids in his old way
and the scene was changed. He wa
at the mess table in conversat1o
with the members OF his staff: nov
with his wife and child now at pray
ers witty his military family. Occas
ional intervals of a return of his min
would appear, and during one {
them the physician offered the d,
ing man some brandy and water, bU
he declined it, saying:
1T will only delay my departure az
do no good; : want to preserve no
mind to the last If possible"
a few moments before The end a.
rived the dying warrior cried out i
: his delirium:
"Order A. P. Hill to prepare fo
action!" Pass the infantry 10 tb
front rapidly p ''Tell Major Hawl
-" then his voice was silent and tn
sentence remained unfinished.
An instant later smile of ineffabl
sweetness and purity spread itse
over his calm pale face, and then lool
ing upward, and slightly raising b
hands, he said quietly and with an e.
preston of relief:
Let US cross over the river an
rest under the shade of the tree"
And then without sign OF trouble 9
OF pain his spirit passed away. We
! death everso sweet and peaceful. W.
ever rest SO anticipated or heaven S
revealed?