The National tribune., 1888-09-27
sToNEwALL JACKSON.
A MICHIGAN MANS CLAIM.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: notice quite
a number of articles in THE NATIONAL IRIB.
UNE of late concerning the death OF StoneWall
Jackson. / was present at the time StoneWalI
Jackson was killed. l was member of Co. l,
Sd Mich, of the Third Division (the Red Dia-
mond) Third Corps. Our corps that day had
been thrown out nearly five miles In the ad-
vance of the main army, following, as we then
supposed, Lees retreating army; but, as we
soon learned, it was one of Jackson's ruses to
draw us out while he made his flank attack
upon Gen. Towards (Eleventh) Corps. In the
afternoon we fell back nearly three and a half
miles to within about one and a half miles OF
our main army, where we found ourselves cut
of, with Early's and Jackson's troops between
US and our army. We formed in line for battle
in a large cleared field, where our brigade lay
in two lines about IL feet apart. While we
were in line here some person on horseback
dashed by US, jumping the rear line about 80
feet to my right passed between the two lines
about go feet apart, jumped the front line,
and dashed into the woods to the front and
left of where lay, he coming from the dlrec-
ton of Earlys command and going toward
Jackson's.
From the description [ had of Gen. Jackson
! always believed that it was he.
Shortly afterward, about IL O'Clock, Birneys
whole division moved forward to that famous
night charge, Wards Brigade leading ours fol-
lowing, and Graham's following us with orders
to make as little noise as possible until we
came upon the enemy; then make all the noise
possible, both with our guns and Threats, which
we did to the best of our ability. In this
charge we got separated, part swinging to-
ward the right and part toward the left. L
was near the center, and after the first heavy
firing had abated l found myself between two
fires. While taking my bearings, the firing
having ceased, and studying in which direction
to CO. heard a shot, followed by light vol
fiI1fp
heard the Johnnies saying 1.-THE - Yanks
have killed Jackson" when l lit out IN the
| opposite direction, and finally came out where
we started FROM
Capt TAFT and eight others got together from
my regiment that night. We got an early
| breakfast, while the Captain said he would
| look for the regiment. We swallowed our grub
| in hurry, in anticipation of hot work as soon
as daylight came; and before sunrise the rebs
| were peppering it to us from three sides, when,
| you bet, we did some tall running just about
| that time. 1t has always been a mystery to
me how we ever escaped from there. can look
! back now, and as l imagine / see those long
! strides and flying coat-tails, think we must
! have outrun their internal lead, to which at
| tribute our miraculous escape.
! We came out at the Chancellor House, after
which we found our regiment at the point or
curve of our line, about half mile to the right
Of the Chancellor House. where we made an
other charge, led by Maj. Houghton In his
| shirt-sleeves, a revolver in each hand, and we
! took in about 500 prisoners in short order. We
remained at this point until the close of that
| battle.
This Spring took trip down through Ar
kansas. Six miles south of Clinton l took din
ner with an old Johnny by the name of Samuel
! Shannon, of Co. l, 10Th Ga, and two other ex-
| Confederate soldiers who served in Lees Army
| of Virginia. Mr.. Shannon was present when
L. IL T,afr 10
| horse as Jackson mounted and started to the
front, where he received the shot, as claimed
by Comrade Sweet, shot by Rankin, followed
| by light volley Mr.. Shannon is positive he
was not shot by their men, but by our men
which, with my own knowledge, forever settles
with me the manner of Gen Jackson's death
Mr.. Shannon also says that Jackson passed
from Early's command through our corps that
night to his command, which l fully believe
JAMES NJ. TAYLOR, Co. 1, Sd Mich