The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-13
sToNEwALL JACKSON.
Another Claim for the 1st Mass.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While visit
ing the different battlefelds and camp-grounds
this last Autumn, l staid Ia Fredericksburg
several days and made visits to all the battle
fields in that vicinity and to the old camp on
the Fitz-Hugh estate, near Falmouth. While
stopping there / acquired all the information /
could from those that knew best regarding the
wounding of Stonewall Jackson. had quite
a long conversation with Mai. Smith tnOw
pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Freder-
icksburg), who was serving upon Gen. Jackson's
staff at that time, and was one of those that
helped carry the wounded General off the field
The day | visited Charlottesville l dined
with Mr. Chancellor, and had long converse
tion with him upon the different points of in
terest pertaining to the strategy of Gen. jack
son in that battle, and especially upon the
wounding of him. ] also conversed with sew
eral other Confederates that were in the vicin-
ity of the plank road at that time.
Their version agrees with the 1st Mass, with
one exception-that is, which fired at the Gen.
eral first, they (the Confederatesl Or the Union
troops.
The Confederates claim that he and his guide
were lost and rode almost onto our lines, but
finding his mistake, retreated, and was first
fired upon by his own men, and some Union
soldiers Immediately in front returned the ire,
and then the firing became general.
We Of the 1st Mass. claim that he rode near
our lines, and was ordered to halt by Serg' u
Dan Kelly, of Co. 4, when he wheeled his
horse and rode into the woods upon the right
of the plank road and q portion of the three
left companies LII, K and F. fred upon him.
The firing was Immediately returned by the
Confederate picketline, and then the firing
became general upon both sides, and our artil-
lery opened with double-shotted canister, which
came too near US for comfort as it went crash
ing through the woods just above our heads.
Ii seemed as if the woods were one sheet OF
fame for few minutes, the musketry rolling
forth from both Union and Confederate lines.
1t was at this time that one OF the General
bearers was severely wounded chad an arm shot
entirely away, the General falling to the
ground. 1t was also at this time that Maj.
Smith covered the General with his own body
to save him from further harm.
The Confederate soldier that had his arm
shot away while helping to bear his wounded
chieftain from the field was the first to arrive
at Jacksons side after he fell from his horse,
he being on picket duty near where Jackson
fell. / cannot remember his name. He re-
sides at Willingham Fluyanna Co, Va. He
was at the unvailing Of the Jackson monument,
and was introduced TO the audience.
As / stood there and took in the situation as
it WAS upon that eventful night-the I'D N. Y.
upon the left of the plank road, and the 1st
Mass. Immediately upon the right advanced
!
Jackson was first seen and was challenged by
Serg't Kelly.
had my guide advance toward me as Jack
son advanced that night and then retreat into
the woods. We also claim about the same hour
that the Confederates doll o'clock. l also
got the distance as well as l could through the
thick brush and briers. 1t was as near as can
be ascertained, about 80 feet to the right of the
plank road where Jackson was wounded and
to where he fell from his horse 260 feet and i'm
medately in front of the LIST Mass. This / now
know from personal inspection of the ground
and my own personal knowledge of the situa-
tion of the two regiments each side of the plank
road, and ! am perfectly satisfied that Stone
wall Jackson fell by bullets fired by the old 1st
Mass
Boys, the old battlefield of Charlottesville
has changed, and especially upon the right of
1 the plank road between the Chancellor House
aud where Berry's Division was engaged.
! Where there was at that time cultivated fields
or grass land now stand a thick growth of oak;
and where the old Excelsior Brigade were in
line OF battle that night, and where the Mary
| land regiment retreated back the next morn
ing they relieving the I'D n. W, is now
grown up to oak trees for nearly a quarter of a
mile east. Nearly all the old battlefelds have
changed. found but two that looked natural
! fredericksburg and Wilderness.
! In your issue of Nov. s. in giving a short ac-
/ count of my trip over old battleGelds you stat
ed that was Travelling Enginear of the Mil
waukee & ST. Paul Railroad which WAS mis-
| take. | held something of a similar position
on the N. q l.. K. +. in Massachusetts,, but not
here. Comrade John B. johnson, of John A.
Rawlins Post, of this city, aud member of the
2Sth Wis, is Travelling Engineer west of the
Mississippi River.-CHAs. w. HATHAWAY, Co
! K, LIST Mass, Minneapolis MINI.