Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-05-29
Shpherstwn nCounyW THURSDAY, May 9 1913
with pain in the rightside due to incipient


pneumonia.
Thursday Mrs. Jackson arrived, afford
ing JOY and comfort to the General, and
she faithfully nursed him. In the even
ing the pain vanished, but he suffered
from prostration.
Friday morning the pain did not return,
but increased prostration. Saturday there
was no change in his coalition. But on
Sunday morning it was apparent that
Stonewall Jackson was rapidly sinking,
and Mrs. Jackson was thus informed. 1t
was her sad duty TO inform him, and when
she told him that his condition was hope
less, he said:
every good, very good. 1t sail right.
He had previously declared that ne
considered "the wounds blessing"
He sent messages to all his officers and
men, and expressed wish to be buried
at Lexington, Virginia.
When Jackson received his fatal wound,
he had the consolation OF receiving from
his beloved commander, General Lee,
whom he had admired so affectionately,
this touching evidence OF his sympathy:
al have just received your note, in
forming me of your being wounded. |
cannot express my regret, and could
have directed events should have chosen
for the good OF our country TO have been
disabled in your stead. ! congratulate
you on the victory which is due to your
skill and energy"
This recognition of his merit from Zen
eral Lee proved grateful to Jackson, but
he reverently said.
"The victory was due to God"
General Lees grief was poignant, and
his great soul was moved to its depths
when he learned that Jackson's death
was near. He could not control his an
guiSh and emotion OF grief at the ineyita-
BILE fate OF his fright arm," as he termed
Jackson, who asserted that he "would
follow General Lee blindly." There was
implicit confidence between the two
great captains, and the cankers OF ieal-
ousy never entered the sublime mind of
these noble gentlemen and Christians.
To his wife Jackson said:
81 know you would gladly sacrifice
your life for me, but am rerfectly re-
signed. Do not be sad. Pray for me,
and always remember Thy will be
done"
Soon afterward his mind began to wan
der in delirium TO the battle field at in
tervals, and he exclaimed:
"Order A. p. Hill for action. Pass the
infantry to the front. Tell Major Hawks
to send forward provisions for the men,"
Evidently his mind wandered to the
scene OF his last battle at Charlottesville.
However, his features again became
serene, ard, with a sweet smile, he muir
INJURED:
"Let us cross over the river and rest
under the shade OF the trees" And at
3 30 o'clock Sunday, May 10, 1863, the
soul of the great Christian soldier. Stone
wall Jackson, passed into the realms OF
Him whose creation he was.
Words are inadequate TO express the
sore grief OF the Southerners at that per-
iod. Like Albert Sidney Johnson, at the
battle of Shiloh, his worldly fate was
sealed in the arms OF victory. What a
strange coincidence! Two great COM
manders, just as they were concluding
their victorious plans, fatal bullets pierced
their onward march. What slender
threads change the affairs of government
and men
Stonewall Iackson's brilliant military
achievements in the Shenandoah Valley,
in the spring of 1868, have no parallel in
war. Within period of five weeks he
defeated General MiIroy at the battle of
Mcdowell; General Banks, near Win
chester; General Shields, at Port Repub-
lie, and General FremoRt, at Cross Keys.
The combined forces OF the Federal
armies were about $4,000 men, while
Jackson's force numbered about 900
soldiers. In each engagement Jackson
fought against great odds. The design
of the Federal commanders was to con-
centrate their forces and Surround Jack
son; but his mastery strategy, with his
foot cavalry" eluded the enemy, and
when the Federal generals thought surely
they had trapped the mighty Stonewall
he was striking an adversary in the rear
at an unexpected location. His soldiers
were devoted to him, and would have
followed him blindly, although his forced
marches seemed beyond endurance.
Jackson's soldiers were the best citi-
zens of the South. with many Maryland
ers. They were from all professions and
vocations and fought side by side in the
God-given cause of seIf-defense. When
President Lincoln called for 1900 men
to invade the South, General Lee and
other great Southerners said there was
but one honorable course for native
Southerners to take-citizens' duty be-
longed to the States.
The noble women OF the Southland
were inspired with the same spirit: and
in the Shenandoah Valley their aid in
giving food enabled Jackson's foot cav
airy" to endure heroic combat. Their
sweet smiles haunt me still.
General Jackson was strict discipli-
marian, and would not tolerate disobedi-
ence. In social circles he was gentle
and affectionate, and was devoted to chill
dren. Hetaughta colored Sunday school
at Lexington. He was liberal in church
opinion; not sectarian, as has been
misrepresented. But his trust in the
Supreme Ruler was implicit. He prayed