Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-05
Stonewall Jackson.

burned bv the commissioners of the
Pope IN 1A9s said at the last moment:
The Lord has suffered as much for
me" When hanged upon the scat
fold in Vireinia, John Browns las.
words we're: II am ready at any
time. Do not keep me needlessly
waiting" Historians ALWAYS stop to
d.sclbe the dying of Wolfe and
Montcslm, the two opposing comman-
ders IN the battle of . lebec. The
death of the famous men of history
seems heroic simply ceHpared with
the Christian death of Thomas Jsffer-
snn Jackson. ore OF the brayest
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 1t was better that he should
be prepared for the worst.
He was silsht for q moment and
then said: 1T will be in6nite gain
to be translated to heaven" He ad
vissd his wife IN the event of his death
to return to her fathers house, and
added: You have kind aud good
father, but there is no one so kind and
good SIS 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 L"Nlagtop, Ia the valley of
Virginia. HIS exhaustion increased
so rapidly that al eleven o'clock Mrs.
jackson kuelt by his bed and told him
that before the sun went down he
would be with his Savior.
de replied: 20, MOI 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 her
tears and sobs, that the physicians de.
clared that there was no longer any
hope Of his recovery. After NOM
entS pause he asked her to call the
family physician.
Doctor" he said, as the physician
entered the room, Annie informed
me that you have told her that am
to die to-day. Is it true"
When he was answered in the af-
tirmatlve, he turned his sunken eyes
toward the ceiling aud gszsd for
moment or two as if in intense
thought, then looked at the friends
about him and said softly:
Very good. very good; its all
right"
Then turning to his heart broken
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.
Colonel Pepdleton, one of the o fl
GERS of his staff, came into the room
about one o'clock. General jackson
asked him:
"Who is preaching a: the head
quartersS'
When told in reply that the whole
army was praying for him, he repli-
ed:
Thank Godl they are very kind"
Then he added: at is the lords day;
my wish is fulfilled. | have always
desired to die on Sunday"
Slowl y his mind began to fail and
wander, and he frequently talked in
his delirlum as if in command of his
army on the field of battle. He would
give orders to his aids in his old way,
and the scene was changed He was
at the mess table in conversation
with the members of his staff now
with his wife and child; now at pray
ers witty his military family. Occas-
ional intervals of return of his mind
would appear, and during one of
them the physician offered the dy-
ing man some brandy and water, but
he declined it, saying:
1T will only delay my departure aud
do no good; want to preserve my
mind to the last if possible"
A few moments before The end ar
rived the dying warrior cried out in
his delrium:
Order A p Hill to prepare for
actionl' Pass the infantry 10 the
front rapidlyw "Tell Major Hawks
-" then his voice was silent and the
sentence remained VI finished.
An Instant later smile of ineffable
sweetness and purity spread itself
over his calm pale face, and then look
ing upward, and slightly raising his
bands, he said quietly and with an ex-
preston of relief:
Let us cross over the river and
rest under the shade OF the tree"
And then without sign Of trouble or
of pain his spirit passed away. Was
death ever SO sweet and peaceful. Was
ever rest SO anticipated or heayen SO
reveaied2