The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-03
ST0NEWALL JACKSON.
Did the Great Chieftain Commit
Suicide?
BY THE BOY SPY"

In reply TO numerous inquiries from kind
friends and comrades, the Boy Spy" desires
70 say through thecolumns Of The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE that he has not been captured.
j have been scouting around the country
somewhat largely. but. like the mother-in-law
In the song, bobbed up serenely at Gettysburg
last July; the Eucampment at Columbus 10
September. The Cincinnati and Plttsburg Cen
teunals was all through the campaign, ana
am again al headquarters in Washington, y. Il.
for the inaugural.
The Editor Of TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE was
overwhelmed with qualification az my sale re-
turn and welcomed me into his sanctum with
omen arms was more surprised by this ez-
bibiti0u than anything that had occurred IN
al the great crowds that bad turned out to re-
ceive me at Gettysburg, Columbus etc; but i
soon learned that the genial Editor Of the
greatest soldier paper on earth is like COM
mon newspaper mamie IS only glad 10 see
anyone come 10 his desk when he has conun-
drum to PROFOUND. In this instance il was,
"wHo KILLED sroNEwALL JAcKsoN?"
This was my own problem, that had set be-
fore the boys in TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE OF
Aug . I56S and I so Informed him.
With 8 lock OF despair, he referred me TO the
flies OF TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, with the OBJ
servation that there had been about 2 column
OF answers ~ every issue Of the paper since,
and as much more not yet printed; coming
from all quarters Of the Union, even from as
remote points rs kuickerbOcker Tex, IN the
issue of Oct is ana the other extreme north
west corner, Baker City, Ore. Sept ID. The
center of the Uaited States. Kansas, has a
claimant In the issue OF Sept. D. while resi-
dents Of Minnesota sre heard from IN behalf OF
the lst Mass. Oct l. and 18th Ne, Oct Is
Michigan comes up strongly Tor Co. 1 OF Sd
Mich. Sept. -. Dallas City, I'LL, has q lst
D. 81 --.- = T.r- a-.1
from Sept. Is. New York state has three
claimants in one paper, Aug. so, and one Aug.
.. Sept 8. Sept. ., Oct 4 and eight Nov. ..
So far as heard from, Ohio has but one claim
ant Aug. SO. Even New Jersey shows up Oct.
Is. wherein Col. ii. J.. Potter, Of the list n.
Y. is Endorsed by an editorial note. Massa-
chusstrs makes a good showing for her lst reSi-
meuU Ia almost every issue; while Pennsylva-
MIA m0destlY puts forward but two claimants,
IN Aug. . and sept. p. The Sd Nd. was thar
or tharab0uts Nov. 8. Washington city fur
nishes one good, long article Sept 20, and even
the Hampton Home in Virginia, does not in
tend 10 be left ont, and comes up brayely
Nov %.
believe I have given the dates Of all the
papers containing articles referring to this
much discGssed subject, that they may be re-
ferred % 10y those who may become further in
terested.
1t would Be impossible to reproduce, even
briefly. extracts from these, or To even attempt
3 separate reply.
After collecting these general remarks, re-
plies and comments into scrapb0o6, which
makes quite a volume, giving each claimant
& careful reading / took the Editors breath
sway by aiteu Tting 10 answer his question by
the Yankee method OF asking another:
DID sToNEWALL JACKSON COMMIT SUICIDE?
This "a new idea. The question is an i'm
portant one. All the historians have already
made the mistake Of sttributing Jackson
Woundiug 10 his own men, and THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE IS correcting history.
This has been coBtroverted by the most emf
ncnt Confederate authorities, through the
Boy SPy's contribution to THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE war papers Further confederation
has been fully drawn forth. as indicated by
these replies, from remote sections Of the North
and West
The Boy Spy has no personal opinions to
ofeT or tais question. but / have some obser-
Fations" to suggest that viii, perhaps sustain
the theory of a deliberate and willful dispose
ton to court death before and after the wound
ing Of the great Confederate leader.
With . view Of securing further evidence
frosn Confederate sources, The AATIOEAE
TEIBCSE started the Boy SPY" OF TO Tir-
EiEia On a scout within the last week. 1t is
therefore Of Confederate, or Southern, authori.
ties OF which ! write.
There is this one great truth bearing on this
question that has been overlooked by the his
torians. and even biographers OF Jackson: the
C0uiederacy received its death-Wound when
jackson was shot at Charlottesville. Who
ever fired this shot, directed in its aim by the
Almighty, inflicted the real desth-WoUnd.
not SINGLE VICTORY
ever perched upon the banners Of Lees army
after this date.
From there he moved at once TO Gettysburg
thence hack 10 the Wilderness, SpottsyIyania
Nine Ran. Cod EarbOr and Petersburg and Il
E surrender at Appoma;tox.
The first question that VIII naturally arise
IL the miuds Of everyone viii be as TO the no
tive 10 commit suicide. All know that Jack
sou was q conscientious Christian; yes, almost
religious fanatic. No one would for a moment
believe that he would with bis own hand have
committed such an act. But facts" as Sairy
Camp says, is stubborn things, which won
be druv much"
There Is q good deal Of the inside history O
the C0ntederacy that has not been permitted
70 come TO light. While they were not q band
O. brothers hghiing for their homes during tht
war, they have certainly become wonderfully
cemented, and are solidly for each other sine
tie war. il is very wei knewu that there va
& great deal Of friction and bitter personal feel
ing between the extreme Southern soldiers ant
the q" Virginia IaGks,' as they termed Virgins
Confederate. has was intensified IN tb
higher grade Of officers. There was a great dea
O. jealousy on the part Of certain Georgia Gen
erals aud he Virginia Generals, and especially
Of Stonuwail Ja-ksou.
j have seen ~ autograph letter from Stone
wall Jackson % Gov. Leteher Of Virginia, ask
lnE-yes, demaaGiug-t0 be relieved OF hi
command and returned 10 the Virginia Mill
tQry Institute. Perhaps TIE NATIOSAL TRIH
UNE may print fac-simile Of this document
This and the subsequent events supply in par
The motive.
Another question that has never been full
answered What was Jackson, q Lieutenant
General, doing il the advance Of his own pick
et-l.ne Oh q dark night within gunsLot Of th
enemy: lie deliberately and knowingly pu
ms own life ID jeopardy at that time. ii
wounds were not necessarily fatal. lie II
ceiTed Two shots IN one arm, and d slight fes
wound IN the hand or the other arm. Tha
was al Is did not die from the effects Of III
wounds, but against the advice Of his Surgeon
and in Tue latter absence, heagain deliberatel
exposed himself auI further aggravated h
Illness by cOmpeiliuga negro servant to wet
BLANKET "a cold water and lay over him. Tn
act-cagaea his death from peurisy and pneg
monia. But ! shall have TO tel just what thos
Condolences who were near him during I'll
time say
il IS not my purpose to offer my persons
opinions either as 10 who killed Stonewa