The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-11-17
SHOT BY HIS OWN TROOPS.
A VIVID ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH
OF sTONEwALB JACKSON.
Fired Upon by Mistake While Re-
turning From the Front at Chan
cellorsville-His Last Moments.


cellorsville-His Last Moments.
Captain James Power Smith describes
Stonewsll Jackson's last battle in the
Century. From his article we quote the
following "When jackson had reached
the point where his line now crossed
the turnpike, scarcely a mile west of
Charlottesville, and not half a mile
from a line of Federal troops, he had
found his front line unfit for the farther
and vigorous advance he desired, by
reason of the irregular character of the
fighting, now right, now left, and be-
cause of the dense thickets, through
which it was impossible to preserve
alignment. Division commanders found
it more and more difficult as the twilight
deepened to hold their broken brigades
in hand. Regretting the necessity of
relieving the troops in front, General
Jackson had ordered A. p. Hills di-
vision, his third and reserve line Hhbe
placed in front While this change as
being effected, impatient and anxious,
the General rode forward on the tArn-
pike, followed by two or three oAthis
staff end q numb& of couriers AID
signal-ssrgeants He passed the sw6npy
depression and began the ascent of the
hill toward Charlottesville, when he
came Npon line of the Federal infantry
lying a their arms Fired atsby one or
two nd bets two musket balls from the
enemy Whistler over my head as came
to. the frNatl, shRkurned and came back
toward his line, Upon the eide of the road
to Ms left. AS he rode hear to the Con-
feaerate troops just placed in position,
au ignorare' thsts he was in the front,
theSleft company began firing 70 the
front, and two of his party fel Tpn
their saddles de<3-Captaih BdsTell,N ,Nof
the Engineers, and Sergeant 6vnliffe, of
the Signal Corp@ SpdfrinAAis horse
across the road to his right,&e was met
by second volley from the eht coQh
pany of Pender's North Carol &a Brigade
Under this volley, when not two rGfs
from the troops, the Gep1Dl received
three balls at the same tant CI1Re
penetrated the palm of hiS right shiAd
and was cut out that night from theDack
of his hand. A second passed around
the wrist of the left arm and out through
the left hand. But third ball passed
through the left arm halfway from
shoulder to elbow. The large
bone of the upper arm was splintered to
the elbow joint, and the wound bled
freely. His horse turned quickly from
the fire, through the thick bushes, which
swept the cap from the generals head,
and scratched his forehead, leaving
drops of blood to stain his face. AS he
lost his hold upon the bride rein, he
reeled from the saddle, and was caught
by the arms of Captain Milbourne of the
Signal Corps. Laid upon the ground,
there came at once to his succor General
A. p. Hill and members of his staff.
The writer Washed his side minute af-
ter, to find e @eral Hill holding the
head and shoulders of the wounded chief.
Cutting open the coat sleeve from wrist
to shoulder, l found the wound in the
upper arm, and with my hankerchief l
bound the arm above the wound to stem
the flow of blood. Couriers were sent
for DR.. Hunter Mcclure, the surgeon of
the corps and the generals trusted friend,
and for an ambulance. Being outside of
our lines, it was urgent that he
should be moved at once. With diff
6culty litter bearers were brought from
the line near by, the general placed upon
the litter and carefully raised to the
shoulder l myself beading one corner.
A moment after, artillery from the Fed
eral side was opened upen us; great
broadsides .thundered Own the woods
Kissing shells searched thel$ark thickets
| through, and shrapnels SWEPT the roa
along which we moved Two or three
steps farther, and the litter bearer at my
side was struck and fell, but, as the lit
ter turned, Major Watkins Leigh, Of
Hills staff, happily caught it, But the
/ oh Of ha
! were obliged to lay the litter and its
burden down upon the road. AS the
| litter bearers ran to the cover of the
the trees, | threw myself by the Generals
side, and held him firmly to the ground
! a. he attempted to rise. O1er us swept
/ the rapid fire of shot and shell-grape-
shot striking fire upon the hinty rock of
the road ali around us, and sweeping
from their feet horses and men of the
artillery Just moved to front Soon
the firing veered to the other side
of the road, and 1 sprang to my
feet, assisted the General to rise
/ passed my arm around him, and with
the wounded mans weight thrown
heavily upon me, we forsook the road.
/ Entering the woods, he sank to the ground
/ from exhaustion; but the litter was soon
Drought, ana again rallylng few men,
we essayed to carry him farther, when
a second bearer fell at my side. This
time, with none to assist, the litter ca
reened, and the General fell to the ground,
with groan of deep pain. Greatly
alarmed, sprang to his head, and, lift
ing his head as a stray beam of moon
light came through clouds and leaves,
he opened his eyes and wearily said
Never mind me, Captain, never mind
me- Raising him again to his feet he
was accosted by Brigadier- eneral Pen
der: 'Oh, General, hope you are not
seriously wounded. I will have to re-
tire my troops to reform them, they are
so much broken by this fire. But Jack
son, rallying his strength, with firm voice
said; you must hold your ground Gen
eral Pender; you must hold your ground,
sir and so uttered his last command on
/ thu 6e4d -