Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-26
sToNEWALL JACKsoE's LAST HOUR

About daylight upon tho Sunday Of his
death Mrs. Jackson informed him that his
recovery was very doubtful, and that it was
better that be sLculd be prepared for The
worst
| He was silent for a moment, and then said
"It will be infinite gain to be translated to
/ heaven" He advised his wife, in the event
of his death to return TO her fathers house,
and added: ''Eou have q kind and good
father, but there is no one so kind and good
| as your Heavenly Father"
| He still expressed hope that he would
recover, but requested his wife, in case he
should die to have him buried in Lexing
ton, iu the valley Of Virginia. His exhaus
ton increased SO rapidly that at II o'clock
Mrs Jackson knelt by his bed and told him
that before the sun went down he would be
with his Saviour.
He replied SO, no! You are frightened,
my child Death is not so near. 1may yet
get we'll"
She fell upon the bed weeping bitterly
and again told him, amid her tears and sobs,
that the physicians declared that there was
| no longer any hope of his recovery.
After q moments pause he asked her to
| call the family physician.
Doctor" he said, as the physician enter
| ed the room, "Anns informed me that you
told her am to die to-day. Is it so ?''
| When he was answered in the affirmative,
Returned his sunken eyes towards the cell.
ing and gazed for moment or two as if in
intense thought, then looked at the friends
about him and said softly: VERY good,
very good it is all right"
| Then turning to his heartbroken wife he
tried to comfort her. He told her that
| there was much he desired to tell her, but
that he was too weak for the undertaking.
Colcpel Pendleton, one of the officers of
his staff, came into the room about o'clock.
General Jackson asked him
"Who is preaching at the headquarters
to-day 2"
When told in reply that the whole army
was praying for him he replied: "Thank
God they are very kind" Then he added
ut is the Lords day my wish is fulfilled.
I have always desired to die OF Sunday"
Slowly his mind began to fail and wander,
and he frequently talked in his derium as
if in command of his army on the field Of
battle He would give orders TO his aides
in his old way, and then the sceno "as
changed. He was at the mess table in con-
versation with members OF his staff now
with bis wife and child now at pray
ers with his military family. Occn
sonal intervals Of return Of bis mind
would appear, and during one Of them the
physician offered the dying man some
brandy and water, but he declined it, say
ing:
'It will only delay ny departure and do
no good | want to preserve my mind to
the last, if possible"
\ few moments before tho end arrived
the dying warrior cried out in his delrium :
"Order A. P. Hill to prepare for action ~
''Pass tue infantry to the front rapidly %
''Tell Major Hswks--" Then his voice
was silent and the sentence remained un-
! finished
An instant later a smile of ine6able sweet
ness and purity spread itself over his calm,
pale face, and then, looking upward and
slightly raising his hands, no said, quietly
and with an expression of relief:
LET us cross over the river aud rest un-
der the shade of the trees"
And then, without sign of struggle or OF
pain, his spirit passed away.-Detroit Free
| p,oeS