Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-22
STONEWAll JACKSON.
The Last Command and Death of tho Gal
liant Confederate Leader.

SlONEWAll JACkSCN.
The Last Command and Death of tho GAL
liant Confederate Leader.
When jackson had reached the point
where his line was cross the turnpike,
scarcely mile west of Charlottesville,
and not half mile from line of Fed
eral troops, he had found his front line
unfit for the farther and vigorous ad-
vance he desired, by reason of the irreg-
ular character of the fighting, now
right, now left, and because of the
dense thickets, through which it was
impossible to preserve alignment. Di-
vision commanders found it more and
more difficult as the twilight dccpened
to hold their broken brigades in hand.
Regrctting the necessity of relieving
the troops in front, General jackson
had ordered A. p. Hills division, his
third and reserved line, to be placed in
front. While this change was being eff
fected, impatient and anxious the Cen
eral rode forward on the turnpike, fol-
lowed by two or three of his staff and
number of couriers and signal-ser-
geants. He passed the swampy depres-
sion and began the ascent of the hill to-
ward Charlottesville, when he came
upon line of the Federal infantry
lying on their arms. Fired at by one
or two muskets (two musket balls from
the enemy whistled over my head rs |
came to the 'front.', lie turned and came
back toward his line, upon the side of
the road to his left. As he rode near to
the Confederate troops just placed in po-
sition, and ignorant that he was in the
front, the left company began firing to
the front, and two of his party fell from
their saddles dead-Captain Boswell, of
the Engineers, and Sergeant Cunliffe,
of the Signal Corps. Squirting his horse
across the road to his right, he was met
by second volley from the right COM
pany of Pender's North Carolina Bri-
gade. Under this volley, when not two
rods from the troops, the General re-
ceived three balls at the same instant.
One penetrated the palm of his right
hand, and was cut out that
night from the back of his hand.
A second passed around the
wrist of the left arm and out through
.he left hand. But n third ball passed
| through the left arm halfway from the
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, ard
scratched his forehead, leaving drops
of blood to stain his face. AS he lost
his hold upon the bridle-rein, he reeled
from the saddle, and was caught by the
arms OF Captain Milbourne, of the Sig
nal Corps Laid upon the ground, there
came Mt once to his succor General A.
p. Hill and members of his staff. The
writer reached his side minute after,
to find General Hill holding the head
and shoulders of the wounded chief Cut
ting open the coat sleeve from wrist to
shoulder, found the wound in the up
per arm, and with my handkerchief
bound the arm above the wound to stem
the flow of blood. Couricrs 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
iiculty litter-bearers were brought from
the line near by, the General placed
upon the litter, and carefully raised to
the shoulder, myself bearing one cor
ner A moment after, artillery from
the Federal side was opened upon us;
great broadsidcs thundcrcd over the
woods; Kissing shells searched the dark
thickets through, and shrapncls swept
the road along which We moved. Two
or three steps farther, and the litter
bearer at my side was struck and fell,
but, rs the litter turned, Major Watkins
Leigh, of Hills staff, happily caught it..
But the fright of the men was so great
that we were obliged to lay the litter
and its burden down upon the road. As
the litter-bearers ran to the cover of the
trees, threw myself by the Generals S
side, and held him firmly to the ground
swept the rapid fire of shot and she'll
grape-shot striking fire upon the flinty
rock of the road all around us, and
sweeping from their feet horses and
men of the artillery just moved to the
front. Soon the firing yccred TO the
other side of the road. and / 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 brought, and again rallying g
few men, we essayed to carry him far
ther, when n second bearer fell at my
side. This time, with none to assist
the litter carcened, and the General fel
to the ground, with groan of deer
pain. Greatly alarmed, sprang to his
head, and, lifting his head as stray
beam of moonlight came through
clouds and leaves, he opened his eye!
and wearily said: "Never mind me
! Captain, never mind me-" Raising hin
again to his feet, he was accosted b,
Brigadier- General Pcnder "Oh, Gen
eral, / hope you are not serlousl,
wounded. Twill have to retire my troop
to reform them, they are SO much
/, broken by this fire." But Jackson, raj
|, lying his strength, with firm voice said
= you must hold your ground, Genera
Pender; you must hold your ground
, sir!' and so uttered his last commant
J on the field. - Captain James Potoei
: Smith, in Century.