Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-08
Thirty Years Ago.

On Tuesday night last, May =, occur
red the Both anniversary of the fata
wounding of Stonewall Jackson, th'
matchless corps commander Of Gen. K
E. Lees victorious Army of Northern
Virginia, through volley fired by one
of his best regiments, jackson and hii
staff being mistaken for the enemy
cavalry.
This occurred at the opening Of tht
battle of Charlottesville, which wa!
fought May . and 3 1868. The Fedora
army greatly outnumbered the Confed-
crate forces, which, by the combined
skill and strategy OF Lee and jackson
was divided and separated into three
bodies, and so fought until they could
''touch elbows, and finally win a mag
nificent victory" Col. w. H. Taylor
in his -Four Years with General Lee, y
says:
.'Of all the battles fought by the Army
of Northern Virginia, that of Chancel-
lorsville stands first, as illustrating the
consummate audacity and military skill
Oi lllC siAt viz NpiOA s'hNs
determination of the men. "
Jackson, commanding the left wing
of the army, marched during the day,
on May ., until, after making circuit
of 10 miles, he put siX miles III u direct
line between himself and Gen. Lee,
Jackson's flank nearest the enemy was
covered by Gen, Fitzhugh Lees cavalry
brigade. Gen. Fitz. Lee, the beau
sabreur, having secuted the enemy's
position and flank, all exposed and un-
suspecting. led Jackson to an eminence,
where good view could be had of the
enemy and the conspicuous Confederate
advantage.
As General Fitzhugh Lee in silence
watched Jackson and the changing eX-
preston of his face, indicative of his
feelings, az he contemplated his enemy
within his grasp and the success OF
another flank movement" Jackson
suddenly became calm and motiOnless,
save the moving of his hitherto COM
pressed lips. Lee was impressed with
the reflection:
Beware. General Hooker, Beware
Stonewall Jackson is praying in full
view of your exposed light flank y
Presently Jackson turned and dash
ed down the hill on "old sorrel' and
shortly his force in column Of three
lines, steadily penetrating the entan-
gled forest, rushed upon the enemy
and destroyed the Eleventh (Howard'S)
Corps, hurting them upon the Federal
right and centre, filling the enemy
with dismay; Siegel's flying Dutchman
yelling in mortal terror, "Shstonefcnce
Shackson !" 1t was while pursuing the
enemy and restoring his alignments
that Jackson was fired upon. When
shot he was Immediately attended by
his second in command, the gallant
Gen. a. p. Hill, who staunched the
blood and made sling for the shat
tered arm. As Jackson was carried on
a litter from the field by four bearers,
the cnemy's artillery swept the ground
with grape shot, carrying away 4 foot
of one Of the litter-bearers, who fell,
precipitating the General to the ground,
where all lay down until the firing
ceased, after which the General was
removed to the rear and thence to
Guinea's station on the +. +. n L. Il.
r., where he died on Sunday, May 10,
1863. His death was really caused by
pneumonia, superinduced by cold
contracted on the night of May by
his sleeping on the ground without
covering, having declined to use either
the coat or cape of his faithful Adju-
tant.
General Lee was greatly distressed al
the wounding of General jackson and
suffered anguish over his death. lie
declared that he regretted it was not
Gods will that he could be lost 10 the
army instead of Jackson.
The battle of Charlottesville was
fought between General Lees army,
$4,000 strong, and General Hooker's
army of 135, 900, with the further ad-
vantage to the federalists of being. for
the most part, protected by strong for
tifcations. Longstreet, with three di-
visions, was absent, and in this dilem,
ma General Lee himself fought his
centre column with but two infantry
divisions, while Jackson and Early
hammered the Yankees on the left and
right, respectively.
The loss of Stonewall Jackson to the
Confederate army was irreparable, and
the first evidene of ii was the failure at
Gettysburg two months later, up tc
which time the Federal armies in Vir'
pinia had known nothing but severe
defeats, excepting Sharpsburg, drawn
battle.
Lee. Jackson, A. P. Hill and Stuart
with the valor of their men, were In
vincible.
The contemplation of some events
during and subsequent to the battle o.
Charlottesville, coupled as they seem
to be with the irony of fate, is full o.
sadness.
A strange fatality pursued the gen
eral officers of superior rank who wert
under Jackson in that battle.
Gallant Patton, commanding the
Stonewall brigade, was killed there
Hill, GLORIOUS A. P. Hill,n last on the
diving lips of Jackson, and then of Lee
and wounded Immediately after Jack
son, would have commanded in hi
stead, and all the fruits of Jackson
success would probably have been reap
ed bv him before the next sunrise. Gen
Hill fell at Petersburg, April ., 1865, a
Lieutenant-G General and corps com
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