The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-05-23
CHANCELLORSTILLE.
and Death of stonewall jackson
Sentinel, in the Maryland Journal.

1HlrIy years dSo Ounudy, nay Aol
| 1863, at 3 p. M, occurred the death Of
Stonewall Jackson, the matchless and
invincible corps commander of Gen.
K. E. Lee s victorious Army Of North
ern Virginia whose presence, often
by sudden, eagle-like descent, was
wont to fill the enemy with dread and
dismay. His coming was invariably
the presage of victory.
While he lived the Confederate
armies and people were buoyant with
hope and sanguine of success. When
he died it was as if the heart of the
Confederacy was wrung and funeral
pail settled over the whole land. The
children even were sorrowful AS the
great soldier was nearing his end and
the anxiety grew more intense, little
| girl in Fredericksburg said to her
mother
mamma, if I should die only you
and papa would cry, butif Gen. Jack
son dies all the people will cry.
Gen. Jackson was fatally wounded
at the opening Of the battle Of Chan
| cellorsville, after he had attacked and
annihilated the Federal right flank.
The battle was fought on May 2
and 8, 1863, the Federal forces greatly
outnumbering the Confederates, but
which, by the combined skill and
strategy Of Lee and Jackson, were
divided and separated into three
columns or bodies, and so fought until
they could "touch elbows" and win a
magnificent victory.
Gen. Lees army was but $4,000
strong, while Gen. Hooker had an
army Of 135, 900, with the further ad-
vantage to the Federals Of being, for
the most part, protected by strong for
tifcations. Longstreet, with three
divisions, was absent, and in this
dilemma Gen. Lee himself fought his
centre column, with but two infantry
divisions, while Jackson and Early
hammered the Yankees on the left and
right, respectively. EARLY, some miles
| away, near Fredericksburg, defeated
Sedgewick's corps, which outnumber-
ed him three or four times.
Behind the Federal army was the
Rappahannock River, which tuey had
crossed with renewed hope and conf
dence in another "On to Richmond p
move, but which, alas for the fates
and Yankee conceit, they were so
soon again and joyfully to put between
themselves and those obstinate and
cantankerous "rebels."
Col. W. II. Taylor, in his -Four
Years with Gen. Lee, says: "Of all
the battles fought by the army Of
Northern Virginia that of Chancell-
orsville stands first as illustrating the
consummate audacity and military
skill of the commander and the valor
and determination Of the men. -
Stonewall Jackson's great flank
movement in this battle and its sue
cessful results, despite unforeseen and
dire fatalities, will forever stand re-
corded as one of the great marvels in
war. Under him the possibilities
were immense, but he fell at the very
outset.
Jackson, commanding the left wing
of the army, marched during the day,
May 2, until, after making circuit Of
fifteen miles, he put six miles in q
direct line between himself and Gen.
Lee.
The Federal commander, while en-
gagged in putting his army in position,
sent out a reconnaissance in force,
under the doughty Gen. Sickels, who
got glimpse of Jackson's column,
and thereupon, with sublime conf
dence, reported to his chief that the
"rebels" were retreating toward Rich
mond whereupon the Federal COM
mander expressed his determination
to follow those dismayed "rebels" the
next day. But it SO happened that
during the battle on the morrow q
shot from Jackson's artillery smashed
the porch of Chancellor's house and
severely stunned Gen. Hooker, render
ing Kim hors du combat, which. may
have helped him to the opposite con-
| clusion.
It was now we'll into the afternoon
and Jackson's column was approach
ing the enemy cautiously. His flank
nearest the enemy was covered by
Gen. Fitzhugh Lees cavalry brigade.
Fitz Lee, the beau sabreur, having
secuted the enemy's position and
flank, all exposed and unsuspecting,
led Jackson to eminence, where a
good view could be had Of the enemy
and the conspicuous Confederate ad-
vantage. The Yankees were "off
duty" killing beeves, cooking rations,
playing cards, etc. AS Fitz Lee in
silence watched Jackson, and the
changing expression of his face, indi-
cative Of his feelings as he contem-
plated his enemy within his easy
grasp, and the success of another
'hank movement" Jackson suddenly
became calm and motionless, save the
moving of his. hitherto compressed
lips. Lee was impressed with the
reflection:
"Beware, Gen. Hooker Beware
Stonewall Jackson is praying in full
view of your exposed right flank.
Jacksons burning wish was for
more daylight. Night would come
too soon
Presently Jackson turned and dash.
ed down the hill on "old scrrel, and
shortly his force, in column of three
lines, steadily penetrating the entan-
glcd forest, rushed upon the enemy
and destroyed the 18th Howard s.
Corps, hurting them upon the Federal
right and centre, filling the enemy
with dismay, Sigels flying Dutchmen
yelling in mortal terror, "Shtonefence
Shackson.
The charge was followed up vigor-
ously and into the night, as the brig
ades relieved one another in the front
line, the Stonewall veterans taking in
Jackson's purpose to jump on the
enemy and keep it up.
1t was while pursuing the enemy
and restoring his alignments that Gen.
Jackson was wounded by a volley fred
by one of his best regiments, having
Immediately before escaped injury
from volley fired by another rcgi-
| -,o,4 Tbo Eoporo1 with covoro1 If