The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-02-23
JACKsoN's DEATH WOUND.
How Old Stonewall Met His Death on tho
Field OF ChancelIorsviIle.
(By John Estcn Cooke.)

| (By John Estcn Cooke)
On fire with his great design, Jackson
then rode forward in front of the troops
toward Chancellorsville, and here and
} then the bullet struck him which was tc
terminate his career.
Jackson had ridden forward on the
turnpike to reconnoitre and ascertain, il
possible, in spite of the darkness of the
night, the position of the Federal lines.
The moon shone, but it was struggling
with bank of clouds, and afforded but
a dim liz :. From the gloomy thickets
on each side of the turnpike, looking
moro weird and sombre in the half light,
came the melancholy notes Of the whip
poorwlll. Il think there must have been
ten thousand, said General Stuart after
wards. Such was the scene and aid
which the events which now are about
to be narrated took place.
jackson had advanced with some men,
bers of his staff, about mile from
charlottesville, and had. reached a
Joint nearly opposite an old dismanted
house in the woods near the road, when
he reined in his horse, and remaining
perfectly quiet and motionless, listened
intently for any Indications of move
ment in the Federal lines. They were
scarcely two hundred yards in front Of
him, and seeing the danger to which he
exposed himself one of his staff officers
said, General, don't you think this is
the wrong. place for you? Ho replied
quickly, almost impaticntlY, 'tho danger
Is all over! the enemy is srouted-go back
and tell a. Z. Hill to press on!' The
officer obeyed, but had scarcely disap-
peared whom sudden volley was fired
from the Confederate Infantry in Jack
sons rear, and on the right Of the road
evidently directed upon him and his
escort. The origin of this fire has never
been discovered, and after Jackson's
death there was little disposition to in
vestlgate an occurrence which occasioncd
bitter distress to all who by any posi-
bility could have taken part in it, 1t is
probable, however, that some movement
OF the Federal skirmishers had provoked
the fire; if this is an error, the troops
fired deliberately upon Jackson and his
party, under the impression that they
were body of Federal cavalry recon
noitering.
Whatever may have been the origin of
this volley, it came, and many of the
statf and escort were shot, and fell from
their horses. Jackson wheeled to the
left and galloped into the woods to get
out Of range of the bullets; but he had
not gone twenty steps beyond the edge
of tho turnpike, in the thicket, when one
of brigades drawn up within thirty yards
Of him fired volley in their turn, kneel-
ing on the right knee, as the flash of the
guns showed, as though prepared to
guard against cavalry By this fire
jackson was wounded in three places.
He received one ball in his left arm, two
inches below the shoulder Joint, shatter
ing the bone and severing the chief arto-
ry; second passed through the same
arm between the elbow aud the wrist,
making its exit through the palm Of the
! hand; and third ball entered the palm
of his right hand, about the middle, and
passing through, broke two of the bones.
Here, Captain Wilbourn, of his staff,
succeeded in catching tho reins and
checking the animal, who was almost
frantic from terror, at the moment when,
from loss of blood and exhaustion, Jack
son was about to fall from the saddle.
He was then borne to the field hos
pital at Wilderness, some five miles dis
tant.
Here he lay throughout the next day,
Sunday, listening to the thunder of the
artillery and the long roll of the mus
kerry from charlottesville, where
Stuart, who had succeeded him in COM
mand, was pressing General Hooker
back toward the appahannock. His
soul must have thrilled at that sound,
long so familiar, but he could take no
part III tho conflict. Lying faint and
pale, in tent in rear of the Wilderness
Tavern, he seemed to be perfectly re.
signed, and submitted to tho painful
probing of his wound with soldierly pa
| flnnpn 20
amputate the arm. and ono of his sur.
geons asked, IF we find the amputation
necessary, General, shall it be done at
once| to which he replied with alacrty,
Yes, certainly, DIR. Mcclure, do for me
whatever you think right. The arm was
then taken off, and he slept soundly
after the operation, and on waking, be
gan to converse about the battle. 1t was
about this time that we received the fol
lowing letter from General Lee: q have
just rec elved your note informing me
that you were wounded. [ cannot eX.
press my regret at the occurrence. CoulG
have directed events / should have
chosen for the good of the country tc
have been disabled in your stead.
congratulate you upon the victory which
is due to your skill and energy
The remaining details of Jackson's i'll
ness and death are known. lie was re
moved to Guiney's Depot, on the Rich
mond and Fredericksburg Railroad
whero he gradually sank, pneumonig
having attacked him. When told thai
his men on Sunday had advanced upon
the enemy shouting Charge, and re
; member Jacdsonn he exclaimed, 1T was
Just like them! it was just like them
They are noble body of men. Tho
men who live through this war; ht
added, will be proud to say Il was one
of the StOnewali Brigade to their chill
dren. Looking soon afterwards at the
stump of his arm, he said, Many people
would regard this as a great misfortune
| regard it as one Of tho great blessing!
; of my life. Ho subsequently said, .
consider these wounds blessing; they
were given me for some good and wis(
= purpose, and [ would not part with then
if could
; His wife was now with him, and wher
she announced to him weeping, his ap
proaching death, he replied with porfcc
calmncss, 'Very good; very good; it il