Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-05-16
STONEMALL JACKSON'S
LAST BATTLE
From the Baltimore Sun,

AIH9u OSb = 49,
From the Baltimore Sun.
latter receiving fatal wound fror
his own men, he gave his last ordel
upon the battle field-"General Pen
der, you must hold your ground, sir,
at Charlottesville, May 2. 1858, s.
years ago.
To THE EDITOR OF THB SUN
Sir: In the winter of 1868 Gen
Lees army was located on the
south side of Rappahannock river
near Fredericksburg, Va, and
General Hooker's army was or
the opposite side, with six corps
numbering bout 12O, 900 soldiers
General Lee had three corps
which aggregated about $4,000
men. During the winter he haf
sent General Longstreet's corps
to the southwest, thusreduc ing
his force to $4,000, Genera
Hooker crossed the Rappahan-
mock with his splendid army the
the latter part of April, and made
preparations to attack Lee. But
General Lee did not wait for his
onslaught, and he forthwith or
dered StonewaIl Jackson, with
Y, 600 men, to attack Hooker's
army in the rear. 1t was May
2, 1868. 50 years ago, when Stone
wall Jackson put his az nv in mo-
ton to reach the desired position
about % miles distant; and it
was S 0. m. when he ordered his
legions forward for battle. The
attack was so sudden and terrific
that the Federal troops were
routed in utmost confusion. The
continued to adj
vance until about 9 p. m. jack
son had paralyzed the right wing
of the Federal army, and the
Federal soldiers were stampeded
in confusion and disorder upon
the centre of Hooker's reserves
But the thick underground
rendered rapid pursuit almost
at night. At the time
the Confederate lines became
entangled, in conse-
1uence of darkness and thick UNI
iergrowth, and it was necessary
TO halt the Confederate forces in
order to reform the regiments.
TO complete the victory Jackson
was about to swing his force be-
tween Hooker's army and Rap
oahannock river, and then cut
off the retreat Of the Federal
army.
At the critical moment, ac-
;ompanied by Capt. h. E. Will
Lourn and Capt. William Ran
lolph, with half dozen couriers
and two men OF the original
corps, Jackson rode forward to
determine the exact location of
the enemy, who were within 200
yards, and no pickets had been
between the opposing
forces. Such was Jackson's ardor
1t this crisis of the battle that he
his way without
thought of personal danger. One
IF his staff officers, realizing the
peril to which the General was
exposed, ventured to remark:
General, don't you think this
is the wrong place for your
THE danger is all over" he
replied. Go back and tell A.
P, Hill to press forward.."
Then Jackson continued for
ward, and had advanced about
100 yards beyond his line, when
a volley was fired by
his own soldiers, apparently ar
him and his escort. Jackson re-
ceived three wounds, two balls
entering the left arm, severing
ing the artery. and one the right
arm, All who were with him,
excepting Captain Wilbourn and
Mr.. Wynn. were killed or WORN
ded. The firing ceased as sud
denly as it had begun, Captain
Wilburn, near Jackson. said:
General, they must be our
men," to which he assented with
a nod, but said nothing.
He looked toward his men with
establishment, as if unable to re-
alize that he could have been fired
at by his own troops. He wa:
taken from his horse, and soon
General Hill rode up, expressing
regrets, and took command.
The enemy we're not above Ion
Yards distant, and Jackson wa
removed to the rear with mucf
difficulty. As he was being car
ried back, General Pender recog
nized Jackson, and exclaimed:
.'Oh, General, l am so sorry t
see you wounded! My force is $
lschattered that / fear l will hav