The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-19
night from bullets fired by their com
radcs.


Jackson did not rest with the fruits
Of one piece of strategy Scarcely
had his men lain down by their arms
to wait for daylight when Jackson
began to plan another surprise. He
formed IL column uf half dozen rcgi-
ments Of cavalry and infantry in the
rear Of his lire Of battle and sent them
away with Tallcy as their guide. They
were to 20 back some distance and
make detour to the north, with the
purpose of reaching and reinforcing
Stuart, who was moving to get su.ail
force between Hooker and the fords
of the Rappaharnock. The additional
regiments which Talley was leading
were to give Stuart the strength to
seize and hold the fords and thus cut
off Hookcr's communication with
Washington. This done, Jackson be-
lieved that the destruction of the
Union army was assumed.
But while Tallcy led the rc-enfoyce-
mcnts away in the darkness Jackson
rode forward to the front and to death.
If | had been with him. said
Talley. what followed would not have
happened. 1 do not think he realized
what he was doing. knew every
foot of the way, and could have kept
him out Of danger. Jackson rode for
ward to lay h;s plans for the morning.
believe he was looking for a road
which led off from the plank road to
the northward through the woods in
the direction Of the United States
ford. My idea is that he meant to
throw part of his line further over to
the north of the Oraugc road. so as to
be on Iiooker's rear, as we'll as his
flank, in the morning, and thus to CO.
operate with Stuart in cutting off re-
treat. This road leading through the
woods was just where our advance
line had rested at the close Of the
fighting. Jackson had given strict or
ders to lire on any one seen approach
ing from the Federal side. He rode
forward by the plank road and turned
into the woods, Were this road to the
ford branched off. 1t was very dark.
don't believe Jackson knew that he
had passed his own outposts. He had
gone along this branch road only a
hundred yards or so when some soldier
down the Confederate line fired. Then
there was another shot, and another,
as l heard the story from one of the
couriers who was with jackson. The
firing came along the line until oppo-
site where Jackson and his party were,
and then it became volley directed
toward them. Nearly every horse was
killed. Several of the party were
shot. jackson vas hit in both arms.
His horse plunged away from the Con-
federatc line toward the Federals, but
the general was just able to turn him
back and togo few yards, when he
! fell His n.en orawied out and found
him III front of their position
The Union troops replied to the fire
with which the Confederates had shot
Jackson. An officer lay down beside
the beloved general to shield him with
his body while waiting for tho stretcher,
and was shot. A stretcher bearer was
struck as the general was being carried
to the rear, and the stretoher fell,
giving Jackson severe shock. The
simple but massive monument of gran
lite says, "On this spot fell mortally
wounded Thomas j. Jackson" The
ex-Confederates who were with Jack
son say that the exposure and weak
ness, aggravated by the moving Of che
wounded man from place to place,
brought on pneumonia, which resulted
fatally several days after the wounds
we're received. The words which Lee
uttered standing beside Jackson are
engraved on one face of the monument ::
could have directed events, 1
should have chosen, for the good Of
the country, to have been disabled in
your stead. I congratulate you upon
she victory which is due to your skill
and energy
Another inscription are the last
words Of Jackson:
''Let US pass over the river and rest
under the shade Of the trees.
The granite monument, surrounded
by high iron fence, stands where
Jackson lay awaiting the stretcher
after his soldiers found him. Forty
feet in front of it is massive boulder.
planted to show where Jackson fell
from his horse. The general was
about 100 yards further in the woods
when the vollcy from his own men al
most annihilated his little party. At