Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-05
atistellaneuus Rsading.
STONEWALL JACKSON.
Story of the Generals Death BY an
Eye-Witness.

Story of the Generals Death BY an
Eyewitness.
General Lees army was located on
the south side Of the Rappahannock
river, near Fredericksburg, Va, in the
winter Of 1863. General Hooker's army
was on the opposite side. and in the
early spring crossed the Rappahan-
mock. On the morning Of May 2, 1868,
General Stonewall Jackson received or
ders from General Lee to attack Hook
ers rear, and forthwith Jackson put his
corps in rapid marching order. About
o. m. jackson had reached the desir-
ed location in the rear Of Hooker's
army and at once gave orders to at
tack the enemy. The movement Of the
Confederates was so sudden and ter
rife that the Federal troops were rout-
ed in the utmost confusion. The Con-
federates continued to advance until
about 9 p. m. Jackson had paralyzed
the right wing of Hooker's army and
his men were stampeded in much dis
order upon the centre Of Hooker's re-
serves. But the thick underground
rendered rapid pursuit almost impossi-
BILE at night. At this hour the Con-
federate lines became somewhat en-
tangled, in consequence Of the dark
ness and thick underground and it was
necessary to halt the Confederate force
in order to reform the regiments. To
/ Iok1 ha 1onkQOn WAS
about to swing his left, interpose his
corps between Hookers army and the
Rappahannock river, and then cut OF
the retreat of the enemy.
At this critical moment, accompanied
by Capt. r. E. Wilbourn, Capt. William
Randolph, with a half dozen couriers
and two men of the signal corps, Jack
son rode forward to determine the ex-
act location Of the enemy. Hookers's
army was within 200 yards and no
pickets had been established between
the opposing forces. Such was jack
sons ardor at this crisis Of the battle
that he continued his way without
thought of personal danger. One of
his staff officers, realizing the peril to
which the general was exposed, ven-
tured to remark: =
General, don't you think this Is the
wrong place for you?"
"The danger Is all over" replied Gen.
eral Jackson, "the enemy is routed.
Go back and tell A. P. Hill to press
forward"
Then Jackson continued forward and
had advanced about 100 yards beyond
his line, when suddenly a volley was
fired by his own men and apparently
aimed at him and his staff.
Jackson received three wounds, two
balls entering the left arm, severing an
artery, and one the right arm. All his
escort, excepting Capt. Wilbourn and
Mr.. Wynn Of the signal corps, were
killed or wounded. The firing ceased
as suddenly as it had begun. Captain
Wilbourn, standing near Jackson, said:
General, they must certainly be our
men," to which he assented with nod,
but said nothing.
He looked toward his lines with ap-
parent astonishment, as II unable to
realize that he could have been fired
at by his own troops. He was taken
from his horse, and soon General A.
P. Hill rode up and expressed his re-
gret.
The enemy was not more than 100
yards distant and it was necessary to
remove General Jackson, as the battle
was likely to be renewed at any mo-
ment. He was carried to the rear
with much difficulty through the un-
dergrowth.
General Pander recognized General
Jackson as he was being carried
through the lines and said:
"Oh, general, I am sorry to see you
wounded! My force is so much shat
tered that I fear I will have to fall
back"
Although much exhausted by loss OF
blood, General Jackson raised his
dropping head and exclaimed:
You must hold your ground, sir!
You must hold your ground, sir!"
This was Jacksons last order on the
battlefield. He was then placed in an
ambulance and taken to the field hos
pital at Wilderness Run. He lost a
great quantity of blood and would have
bled to death, but a tourniquet was
forthwith applied.
He was asked if amputation was nec-
essary, should it be done at once. He
replied:
"Yes, certainly, DR.. MCGUIRE; do fol
me whatever you think right"
The operation was performed under
the influence Of choloroform. The
wounded soldier bore it we'll. He slept
Sunday morning and was cheerful
He sent for Mrs. Jackson, and asked
minutely about the battle, saying:
IF 1 had not been wounded or had
one hour more Of daylight, l woulo
have cut off the enemy from the road
to the United States ford and we would
have had them entirely surrounded
Then they would have been obliged tc
surrender or cut their way out; they
had no other alternative. My troops
sometimes fail to drive the enemy from
a position, but the enemy always falls
to drive my men from a position
This was said with q smile.
Monday he was moved to Chancel'
lors House. He was cheerful. He
spoke of the gallant bearing of Gene
raj Rhodes and of the heroic charge Of
the old Stonewall brigade. He made
inquiries concerning many officers and