Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-05
stonewaII Jackson's Death.

SbOICNhctt SOobtls
The version of the Southerners that
the general was shot by his own soldiers
is fully sustained and verified by Colonel
Jos. W. Revere of the Seventh New Jer-
sey regiment. He says in his book,
Keel and Saddle:" The left of nv bri-
gade line lay near the plank road at
Charlottesville, and after night had
fallen l rode forward, according to my
invariable habit, to inspect my picket
line. l stopped to rectify the post of
sentinel not far from the plank road.
While thus engaged heard the sounds
of hoofs from the direction of the enc
my's line and paused to listen. Soon a
cavalcade appeared approaching. TIE
foremost horseman detached himself
from the main body, which halted not
far from me, and riding cautiously near
er seemed to try to pierce the gloom 4
Having completed his observation he re-
joined the group in the rear and all re-
turned at gallop. The clatter of hoofs
soon ceased to be audible, when horizon
was lighted up by sudden flash in the
direction of the enemy, succeeded by the
well known rattle of a volley of musket-
ry from at least a battalion.
A second volley quickly followed the
first, and heard cries in the same direC.
tion. | rode toward the Confederate
lines. A riderless horse dashed passed
me toward our lines, and | reined up in
presence of group of several persons
gathered around man lying on the
ground, apparently badly wounded. l
saw at once that these were Confederate
officers. | had the greatcoat of private
soldier such as was worn by both parties.
sat still, regarding the group in silence.
The silence was broken by one of the
Confederates, who appeared to regard
me with astonishment; then, speaking
in tone of authority, he ordered me to
ride up there and see what troops those
were," indicating the rebel position.
instantly made a gesture of assent
and rode slowly in the direction indicat.
made a circuit round it and returned
within my own lines. About fortnight
afterward / saw Richmond newspaper
in which were detailed the circumstances
of the death of Stonewall Jackson. These
left no doubt in my own mind that the
person had seen lying on the ground
was that officer. The newspaper was
the Richmond Enquirer of May 18th
1868, and it says:
General Jackson, having gone some
distance in front of his line Saturday
evening, was returning about s o'clock
attended by his staff: The cavalcade was,
in the darkness, mistaken for body OF
the enemy's cavalry and fired on by a
regiment of his own corps. The
turnpike was utterly deserted with the
exception of Captains Wilbourne and
Wynan; but in the skirting of thicket or
the left some person was observed by the
side of the wood, sitting on his horse
motionless and silent, He was clad in g
dark dress, which strongly resembled q
Federal uniform, but it seemed impossi
BILE that he could have penetrated to thai
spot without being discovered, and what
followed seemed to prove that he be
longed to the CODfederates. Captain
Wilbourne directed him to ride up there
and see what troops those were-the
men who fired on Jackson-and the
stranger rode slowly in the direction
pointed out, but never returned with any
answer. Who this silent parsonage was
is left to posterity."