The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-05-26
ARTICLE THIRD

There is an interesting and
thrilling event Of tie late war be-
tween the States, the details of
which are known only to a few
persons. and Yet thousands Of
readers all over this Union Of
ours. have read the account Of
the same with ever increasing in.
tercst as some new phase Of the
occurrence has been given to the
public
refer to the tragic death of
General "Stonewall Jackson"
A few sentences will describe
the situation Of affairs when this
tragic scene occurred. The spring
of 1868 saw a large Union force
assembled on the northern bank
of the Rappahanuock, and on the
LIST of May, General Hooker. its
commander, had crossed the river
and firmly established himself at
Charlottesville. General Lees
forces were opposite Fredericks-
burg. a small body of infantry
only watching the upper fordS.
This latter body was compelled
to fall back before Gen. Hooker's
army of about 40. 900 men, and
Lee fastened by forced marches
from Fredericksburg towards
Charlottesville, with a force of
between 30.0 and 10000 men
LongStreet being absent at Suf-
folk-to check the further ad.
vance of the Union forces. This
was on the LIST day of May. and
the Confederate advance force
under Jackson, on the same even
ing, attacked General IIooker'S re.
trenchments facing towards Fred.
erickSburg. They were found to
be well nigh impregnable, the
dense and heavy thicketS having
been converted into abatis. and
every avenue of approach de
Tended with artillery. General
Lee therefore directed the assault
to cease, and consulted with his
corps commanders as to further
operations. jackson suggested
a rapid movement around the
Union front and a detached at
tack upon the right flank of Gen.
eral Hooker, west of ChancellorS
Vile. The ground on his left
and in front gave such an enOr.
nous advantage to the Union
troops that an assault there was
considered impossible, and the re-
suit of the conference was the
adoption of JackSon'S suggestion
To attack the enemy's right.
Every necessary preparation was
made during thar night. and on
the next morning. the 2nd. Jack.
son set out with Rhodes. Hills.
and C0lton'S divisions. amounting
III al To about $4,000 men to ac-
cumpliSh this undertaking.
Charlottesville was single
brick house of very large dimen.
sions, situated on the planlroad
leading from Fredericksburg to
Orange, and all around il were
the thickeJs of the country known
rs the "WilderneSS." In this
tangled underground the Union
works had been thrown mp. and
such was the dense character OF
the woods, that a column moving
mile or two away could not be
seen, jackson had purpoSed on
this fact. but fortune appeared
against him. At the Catharine
Furnace. several miles from the
Mon Hines, hiS march was dis
covered. and a fierce attack made
upon his rear guard as he moved
past. Al appeared now to be
discovered. bur such was not the
fact. The Union officers saw him
plainly, but the winding road
which he pursued, CHANGED at
this point 90 turn toward the
South, and Il was afterward dis
covered that General Hooker be.
lieted him % be- In full retreat
upon Richmond. Such at least
WAS the statement Of the Union
officers.
Jackson quickly repulsed the
attack upon his rear, continued
bis march, and striking into the
Brock road, turned the head of
the column to the north and rap.