The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-02
.STONEWALL JACKSON.
His Death and Monument Dedica-
ton.
By THE BOY spy"
Special Correspondence to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

Special Correspondence to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, June 10. 1888.
The Charlottesville woods were alive again
last week. 1t was estimated that at least 5000
people were present to witness the dedication
of the beautiful monument which marks the
spot where Gen. Stonewall Jackson received his
mortal wound May 2 1853.
They came from every direction, in all kinds
of vehicles 1t is said that upwards of 1000
conveyances were parked about the old battle
field, and my observation was that no two Of
them were alike.
The dedication was a great success locally,
but quite disappointing to the management and
those who had expected q large gathering of
ex- Confederates from more distant parts. But
one of Gen. Jackson's surviving Major Gen
erals were present, namely, Z. E. Colston, Of
the SuTgeOn-GeneraPs Office, Washington.
Mai. Hotchkiss, Col SnOwden Andrews and
Rev. DIR. James Power Smith were all that rep
resented the great Virginian'sstaf The absence
of such well-known men as Gen. Jubal A. Early
and Gen. Joe Johnston, as well as that Of the
surviving Confederates of JacSson's Corps, was
made more noticeable by the fact that it had
been publicly announced that the occasion
would be marked as the greatest gathering Of
ex-Confederates since the war.
None of the Confederate Camp organzati Ous
of Richmond attended in fact, but seven peo-
pie came up from the Capital to do honor to the
memory Of the greatest of Yirginia's soldiers
Among those was Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, who at
tended as special guest to act as presiding Of
! fcer. The thousands of ladies made up most
agreeably for the absence of the lords.
Briefly stated, the inception and history Of
the Jackson monument is due to the placing Of
the shaft erected to Gen. Sedgwick q year ago
at the Wilderness. About this time Conyoga-
ton of the Knights of Pythias was held in
Fredericksburg AT a banquet Col. Rufus B.
+ho If 4taC a.
gestiOn that the occasion was an suspicious one
! to organize an association for the purpose Of
erecting a shaft to mark the spot were Jackson
was killed The suggestion was warmly re-
ceived and an organization at once effected,
Mr.. Merchant being made President. A sub
| scription list was opened and handsome sum
realized from the assembled Knights.
Contributions were generally solicited, and
it is commendable fact that q great many
Union soldiers names appear upon the record
as subscribers to the fund to erect this mOnu-
ment to Jackson.
The granite was donated by Col Snowden
Andrews, of Baltimore, from his Virginia
quarries; the design was made and executed
by Col. Cutshaw, of Richmond the railroads
gave free transportation, and with the liberal
response from the soldiers and families of this
immediate neighborhoOd in the way of cash
aud volunteer aid, the occasion has been brought
to q successful completion through the able
management of Col. Merchant and Rev. DIR.
James Power Smith.
DR.. Smith, the popular minister of the Pres-
byterian church in Fredericksburg, is one of
the historic characters Of this historic place.
DIR. SMITH SHIELDS JAcKsON's BODY WITH
HIS OWN.
1t was he who contributed the Century aTti-
Gle, "Jackson's Last Battle" He was Captain
| and Aid on Jackson's staff, and dashed to the
front on learning that his General was wound
ed, and found him on the road near the spot
marked by this monument. While the terrific
Smelling from the Union artillery struck down
the litter-bearers he threw himself over the
PROSTATE body of Gen. Jackson, with noble,
| self-sacrlheing intention Of shielding his GEN
eraI by the interpostion of his own person.
| Our Captain Pastor, as his friends sometimes
call him, is a rather quiet, modest little man,
whose happy manners light steps and smooth
! face reminds one of theological student who
is glad school is over.
The Doctor is Northern man by birth and
| education, his father being one Of the earliest
| pastors of large congregation in Greeusburg,
| Pa. He attended school in Pittsburg and was
| graduated at Jefferson College, in Washington,
| Pa, in the same class with Gov. Beaver and
others of my State He is married to Agnes, a
| daughter of the we'll known Maj. Lacey whose
house was the historic Chatham, or Lacey
House, opposite Fredericksburg.
IL Hdo Ouo VI my privileges 54nCo / VIC BCOA
here to have accompanied DR.. Smith and Mr..
| Vess Chancellor, who were appointed a commit
! tee to select the location for the monument, on
! the day they met at Charlottesville for this
! purpose. drove out in the company of Capt.
| Lal Taliaferro of the 47th Va, merely as an
| interested tourist.
THE MONUMENT NOT ON THE EXACT SPOT.
! About half a mile beyond the Chancellor
| House we found the large piece of quartz Mr,
| Chancellor and others had placed there some
! years since as a rough mark to indicate the
| place at which Jackson was wounded. The
monument recently dedicated stands near by
| this stone, the location of which will be re-
membered by those who were out to the Sedg-
wick monument unvaiing.
AS a matter Of fact, however, neither of these
! stones mark thespot where Jackson was wound
! ed 1t is conceded that he received the three
balls while riding in the woods over a quarter
| of mile from the place indicated by these
stones. The object in placing the monuments
in this location is plainly stated to be because
they would not be seen by tourists and travellers
along the road if placed in the rather dense
woods where Jackson received his wound