Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-15
HOW Observation-Disclosures FELL

HOW STONEW ALL JACKSON FELL
TIE STORY OF A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER
WHO SAW THE FATAL SHOTS FIRED.
Athens Ga, Banner.
We followed our bottoms until we got
to the plank road leading from Freder-
icksburg to Charlottesville, being then
near and in the front of Hooker's army.
We were thrown in line of battle three
deep, and ordered to rest, but our rest
was suddenly disturbed by the firing of
one of our cannOns Immediately in our
rear, and as the echoes died out we heard
the answer from one of Lees guns. The
bows then knew that the next thing would
be to fight, and in few minutes we heard
the order coming down the line. - Fix
bayonets and charge" With loud yell
we pushed on, but had gone but very
short distance before we were on the en-
emv, greatly to their surprise. As they
were not looking for us at that time and
place, they were not prepared to receive
us. so they took to their heels rather than
be taken prisoners, leaving their KNAPP
sacks, laid in squares by companies, guns
stacked and camp kettles boiling with
beef. On we went in high spirits, in
double-quick time, loading and shooting.
passed one poor fellow with ball
through his leg, bathing in hole of
water. He looked up at us and shouted:
$50 ahead, JohnnieS; the YankS are run
fpyf
the more stubborn the enemy became.
but there was no stopping the Stonewall
men. Just at dusk they made bold
stand in the edge of heavy woods, where
they had thrown up some good breast
works, but we made no stop, but forced
them on. As it was dark we soon came
to halt. The best of my recollection
is that we must have been on this charge
one and a half hours. When we stopped
| found had strayed off from my com
panv, but | soon found them standing in
the plank road telling, as soldiers will.
what each one had seen, how many
rounds each one had shot, etc. While
waiting we heard the clatter of horses
hoofs, and well does any old soldier know
how we felt to think of cavalry charge
in the night. Soon we heard the clink-
ing of sabers: then we momentarily eX-
pected the dash of cavalry upon us. Our
officers gave orders to all that had load
ed guns to fire when near enough. and to
all that had empty ones to prepare to re-
ceive cavalry charge. On they came,
closer and closer, until they seemed to be
almost upon us. Being in the woods and
very dark, we could not see them, but we
fired one volley. Only those fired that
were Immediately in the road, but sud-
denly all was still as death.
Soldier-like, we were delighted to find
that they had stopped, and were easing
their way back. But oh! it was not so.
It was Stonewall Jackson. Better would
it have been had every hand that pulled
a trigger to a loaded gun that night fall
en- dead than taken part in that diSas
trous killing. Immediately after the rain
had stopped the charge at dark, Jackson
rode in between the lines to find out
where the enemy was (history gives it as
a suppoSition that he intended making
one of his night charges.l One of his
aides telling him they were among the
Yankees. they turned and put spurs for
our lines, but were met by a shower of
balls and death.