The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-14
HOW sroNEwALL JACKSON FELL
The Story Told by an Athenian Who
Was on the Spot.

w as on Cn6 spot.
Tar Heei'' in Athens (Ga) Banner lVdtchman.
BY request | will tell what know about
the killing Of Stonewall Jackson Yes, |
was there to participate in tde shooting, but
to tell the whole thing | will give the move
ments, etc, as seen by private. On May
20, 1868, early in the morning we ,JackSon's
corps started on one Of his famous and fav-
orite movements TO get in the rear Of the
enemy We knew what he was up to before
we had gone far for on such an occasion he
never followed a road but marched Ia bot
toms and followed winding branches aud
creeks. He would march live miles TO 30
one, TO keep from going over bill
where be thought the enemy could see him,
but on this move there was one hill he could
not flank, so to pass he followed bottom
until he was on the side of the hill next TO
the Yankees, then ordered his men 30 trail
arms and doubie-quick over the hill The
idea was 10 make the enemy believe that he
as retreating, as he was going from them
The enemy saw us. but the impression Jack
son Intended was made, for Yankee told
me- afterward in prison that they gave
three cheers that the rebels were retreatng
double quick, but they found they were
mistaken in a short time.
We followed our bottoms until we got TO
to Charlottesville, being then near and in
the front of Hooker's better known as
Fighting Joe'O 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 I'M
mediately III our rear. and as the echoes
died out we heard the answer from one of
Lees guns. The boys then knew that the
next thing would be 10 fight and in few
minutes we heard the order coming down the
line fix BAY onets and charge With loud
yell We pushed on, but had gone but very
short distance before we were on the enemy
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 knapsacks, 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 a hole of water. He looked up at us and
said, "go ahead, Johnnies, the Yanks
are running like -" The further we
went the more stubborn the enemy became
but their 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, bat 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 half hours
When we stopped found had strayed off
from my company, 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 ciat-
ter of horses hOofs, and well does any old
soldier know how we felt to think of n cav
airy charge in the night Soon we heard
the clinkiug of sabers; then we momentariy
expected the dash of cavalry upon us. Our
officers gave orders 10 all that had loaded
guns to fire when they came near enough,
and all that had empty ones to prepare to
receive a cavalry charge. On they came,
closer and closer, until they seemed to b.
almost upon us. Being in woods and very
dark, we could not see them, but we fired
one volley. Only those fired that were i'm
mediately in the road, and 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. 1t was
Stonewall Jackson. Better would it have
been had every hand that pulled trigger
to loaded gun that night fallen dead than
taken part in that disastrous killing. I'M
mediately after the rain stopped the charge
at dark jackson rode in between the lines
10 find out where the enemy was History
gives it as a supposition that he intended
making one of his night charges). One of
his aids telling him they were among the
Yankees, they turned and put spurs for our
line. but were met by shower of balls and
death