Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-16

IL
an accident that might have happened on
either side in the gathering gloom. He fell
| from his horse into the arms of one of his
staff, and was found to be wounded in two
places, in his right hand and in his left arm.
Both were at once tied up to stop the flow
of Blood but such was the confusion that
| it was some time before a Stretcher could
be brought to carry him to the rear, where
ne could receive proper attention. Atlength
1t came, and the bearers raised up their be-
| loved chief, but had gone only few steps
| when one of them was killed by shot of
| canister from a Federal battery, and he
was thrown to the ground with violence
| that caused him intense agony. Again he
was lifted up and started on his way
Meanwhile the Major had gone for the sur
geon, DIR. Mcclure who took him in an am
bulance to the rear, where he found the
arm so shattered that it must be amputated
Immediately, to which the General submit
ted with his usual fortitude
But the wound was considered by no
means fatal. Nothing was needed but care
and rest. That he might be away from the
noise of the camp, and in place of safety
he was carried few miles across the
country to a private house west of Freder-
icksburg, near Guiney's Station, which was
pointed out to me as we came up from
Richmond Here for few DAYS he seemed
to be on the road to recovery. The Major,
who accompanied him thither, found him
the following day cheerful and hopeful.
Indeed, with his strong religious faith, he
felt that he coatd not de- for he was sure
that 'the Lord had more for him to do
and he fully expected to get we'll, and to
take part in the campaign. But even then
he would not let those around him pray
for his recovery, except IN entire submission.
to the Dic5ne qoatl, and that will had de-
creed otherwise. The shock had been very
great from his double wound, with the loss
of blood, the fall from the litter, and the
amputation; and when, after all this, pneu-
monia set in, the end was inevitable.
1t was on a Sabbath day that he saw the
light for the last time He said 81 have
always desired to die on Sunday and his
wish was granted, The sun rose brightly
that morning-the 10th of Nav, 1S63-and
though he had been told that this day would
be his last, he would not keep bis chaplain
at his bedside, but insisted that he should
was a sorrowful service, for all hearts were
bowed with a sense of the great loss that
was impending. When it closed, Gen. Lee
inquired eagerly for the last news, and
when told that Jackson could not live
through the day, he turned away, unable
to control his emotion. Even then he was
passing through the valley of the shadow
was wandering. Perhaps a CLEAN from
the river of life caught his dying eye, as he
murmured family, Let US cross over the
river and rest under the shade OF the trees"
and the strong, brave heart stood still
The death of Jackson caused universal
mourning throughout the Confederacy,
where he was regarded as the great
ception only of Gen. Lee. 1t took away
all the exultation of Chancel lorsville. AS
the Commander-in-chi himself said,
ANY victory would be too dear at such
a price" 1t was but melancholy conso-
lation to pay the highest hOnors to his
memory. The body was borne to Rich
mOnd and laid in state in the Capitol,
fer the last time on the face they had seen
SO often amid the smoke and thunder of
battle; and then they carried him away to
his last resting-place among the hills
which he so much loved. When l visited
Lexington, it was my privilege to preach
in the church were Jackson had worship
ped for ten years. after which two of the
him, took me to the spot where he rests. 1t
is on hilltop, not unlike that chosen for
the tomb of Grant, only with no glimpse
of ''buSy cities far away" but surrounded
by the everlasting hills. Gas the noun
tains are round about jerusalem" so are
they around Lexington, and no saint OF
soldier could desire a better spot in which
to lie down and sleep till the heavens be
no more.
In the opinion of many the death of jack
son was fatal blow to the Confederacy.
No one felt the loss so much as Gen. Lee,
when two months later, he fought the bat
tie of Gettysburg, the result of which
might have been a victory if his right arm
had not been taken from him. But that
was not to be. The Ruler of Nations had
ordained different issue-a fact which we
have to recognize, even if we cannot ex-
plain. 1t is not necessary to go quite SO far
as a good priest of New Orleans, an ardent |
Confederate, chaplain of one of Jack
sons Louisiana regiments, who felt called |
lpOn in prayer at the unwilling of mon
ument to jackson, to offer an excuse for the |
Almighty, which he did in this remarkable |
address to the Throne of grace: "When IN
Thine anscratGbke decree 1t was ordained that |
the Confederacy should not succeed, 1t be-
came necessary for Thee to rena00e StOne,c0LL
J0cks0n!' But we need not enquire into the
purpose of Him with whom are the issues
Of life and death. Without attempting
what does not belong to us, we can recog-
nize the great qualities of the heroic dead,
and on this day of peace, beautiful as the |
Sabbath on Which he died, ! would place
a flower on the of Stonewall Jackson. |
II. M. F.
[*Maj. Jed. Hotchkiss, Stonewall Jackson's
tOpOgra phical engineer, who travelled with |
DR.. Field through the Valley.]