Telling Stonewall Jackson That He Was Going to Die

hey all Ron here from military images Magazine with a new episode of life on the Civil War research Trail you know some of the most poignant passages that I've read during the course of my research is when a soldier or a sailor who has been injured or has a disease um and is dying doesn't realize that he is dying and it runs a familiar course the soldier or sailor is rallying after being grievously wounded or had been sick for a long time they rally they seem to be doing better and then they take a turn for the worse and they quickly drift off until death and so it is here the case of Stonewall Jackson I want to take you to May 10th 1863 about eight days after the battle of Chancellorsville where Jackson you students of the Civil War know that Jackson was wounded several times by bullets from his own troops an accidental wounding amputation eventually pneumonia set in and claimed his life often times when a soldier Valor is on his deathbed it's the surgeon a nurse or a friend who gives him the news in this case Stonewall Jackson's case it was his wife Marana who was called to his bedside to tell him and in her book that she writes after the war the life and letters of General Thomas J Jackson Mary describes the situation and before I read the passage I want to share with you this engraving that appears of Marana daughter Julia and Stonewall it's an interesting engraving if you look on the back wall you will see images of Robert E Lee John C Calhoun the fiery senator from South Carolina and George Washington so that's the family portrait gives you a sense of the connection that they had and a sense of the likeness albeit a lithograph of Mary so she's called into the room on May 10th and there's no chance the doctors have determined that Stonewall is not going to recover and she's going to tell him what's happening so here's the passage quote in order to stimulate his fast failing Powers he was was offered some Brandy and water but he showed great repugnance to it saying excitedly it tastes like fire and cannot do me any good early on Sunday morning the 10th of May I was called out of the sick room by Dr Morrison who told me that the doctors having done everything that human skill could devise to stay The Hand of Death had lost all hope and that my precious Brave Noble husband could not live indeed life was F fast ebbing away and they felt that they must prepare me for the inevitable event which was now a question of only a few short hours as soon as I could arise from this stunning blow I told Dr Morrison that my husband must be informed of his condition I well knew that death to him was but the opening of the gates of pearl into the ineffable glories of heaven but I had heard him say that although he was willing and ready to die at any moment that God might call him still he would prefer to have a few hours preparation before entering into the presence of his maker and Redeemer I therefore felt it to be my duty to gratify his desire he now appeared to be fast sinking into unconsciousness but he heard my voice and understood me better than others and God gave me the strength and composure to hold a last sacred interview with him in which I tried to impress upon him his situation and learn his dying wishes this was all the harder because he had never from the time that he first rallied from his wounds thought he would die and had expressed the belief that God still had work for him to do and would raise him up to do it when I told him the doctors thought he would soon be in heaven he did not seem to comprehend it and showed no surprise or or concern but upon repeating it and asking him if he was willing for God to do with him according to his own will he looked at me calmly and intelligently and said yes I prefer it I prefer it I then told him that before the day was over he would be with the blessed savior in his glory and so he was few hours later after drifting off Fading Into unconsciousness he drifted from this Earth and Mary was there to be with him in those last hours being with him possibly hoping against hope that somehow miraculously he would come out of it of course he wouldn't the grief throughout the southern Confederacy Roberty Lee famous words about losing his right arm losing his best Lieutenant all the comments shared by the various generals and individuals in Virginia and throughout the Confederacy Stonewall Jackson dead at 39 thanks for listening see you on the next episode of life on the Civil War research Trail

Channel: Life on the Civil War Research Trail

Views: 27,055

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Id: elbzHS_eN2E

Length: 6min 24sec (384 seconds)

Published: Fri Dec 15 2023