"At two o'clock Sunday morning, Surgeons Black, Walls and Coleman
being present, I informed him that chloroform would be given him, and his
wounds examined. I told him that amputation would probably be required, and
asked, if it was found necessary, whether it should be done at once. He
replied promptly, `Yes, certainly, Dr. McGuire, do for me whatever you
think best.' . . . . The round ball . . . . which had lodged under the skin,
upon the back of the right hand, was first extracted. It had entered the
palm about the middle of the hand, and fractured two bones. The left arm
was then amputated about two inches below the shoulder. . . . Throughout
the whole of the operation, and until all the dressings were applied, he
continued insensible. . . .
Mary Anna Jackson, The Death Of Stonewall Jackson, America, Vol.8, Pg.178 -
Pg.179
"The next morning he was free from pain, and expressed himself
sanguine of recovery. He sent his aide-de-camp, Morrison, to inform his
wife of his injuries, and to bring her at once to him. The following note
from General Lee was read to him that morning by Lieutenant Smith: `I have
just received your note, informing me that you were wounded. I cannot
express my regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed events, I should
have chosen, for the good of the country, to have been disabled in your stead.
I congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill and energy.'
He replied, `General Lee should give the praise to God.' About ten o'clock
his right side began to pain him so much that he asked me to examine it. He
said he had injured it in falling from the litter the night before, and
believed he had struck it against a stump or a stone or a sapling. No
evidence of injury could be discovered by examination; the skin was not
broken or bruised, and the lung performed, so far as I could tell, its
proper function. Some simple application was recommended in the belief
that the pain would soon disappear.
Mary Anna Jackson, The Death Of Stonewall Jackson, America, Vol.8, Pg.179 -
Pg.180 - Pg.181
"At this time the battle was raging fearfully, and the sound of the
cannon and musketry could be distinctly heard at the hospital. The general's
attention was attracted to it from the first, and when the noise was at its
height, and indicated how fiercely the conflict was being carried on, he
directed all of his attendants, except Lieutenant Smith to return to the
battlefield, and attend to their different duties. By eight o'clock, Sunday
night, the pain in his side had disappeared, and in all respects he seemed
to be doing well. He inquired minutely about the battle and the different
troops engaged, and his face would light up with enthusiasm and interest
when told how this brigade acted, or that officer displayed conspicuous
courage, and his head gave the peculiar shake from side to side, and he
uttered his usual `Good, good!' with unwonted energy when the gallant
behavior of the Stonewall Brigade was alluded to. He said: `The men of
the brigade will be, some day, proud to say to their children, "I was one
of the Stonewall Brigade."' He disclaimed any right of his own to the name
Stonewall. `It belongs to the brigade, and not to me, for it was their
steadfast heroism which earned it at First Manassas. They are a noble
body of men.' This night he slept well, and was free from pain. A message
was received from General Lee the next morning, directing me to remove the
general to Guiney's Station as soon as his condition should justify it,
as there was danger of capture by the Federals, who were threatening to
cross Ely's Ford. In the meantime, to protect the hospital, some troops
were sent to this point. The general objected to being moved, if, in my
opinion, it would do him any injury. He said he had no objection to staying
in the tent, and would prefer it, if his wife, when she came, could find
lodging in a neighboring house. `And if the enemy does come,' he added,
`I am not afraid of them; I have always been kind to their wounded, and
I am sure they will be kind to me.' General Lee sent word again, late that
evening, that he must be moved, if possible, and preparations were made to
leave the next morning. I was directed to accompany and remain with him, and
my duties with the corps, as medical director, were turned over to the
surgeon next in rank. . . . Very early Tuesday morning he was placed in
the ambulance, and started for Guiney's Station, and about eight o'clock
that evening we arrived at the Chandler House, where we remained till he
died." . . . .
Mary Anna Jackson, The Death Of Stonewall Jackson, America, Vol.8, Pg.181
Shortly after the general's fall, and before his situation had grown
so critical, General Lee sent him, by a friend, the following message: "Give
him my affectionate regards, and tell him to make haste and get well, and
come back to me as soon as he can. He has lost his left arm, but I have
lost my right arm." . . . .
Mary Anna Jackson, The Death Of Stonewall Jackson, America, Vol.8, Pg.181 -
Pg.182
In order to stimulate his fast-failing powers, he 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 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. . . . 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 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 that day was over he would be with the blessed
Saviour in His glory. With perfect distinctness and intelligence, he said,
"I will be an infinite gainer to be translated." I then asked him if it was
his wish that I should return, with our infant, to my father's home in North
Carolina. He answered, "Yes, you have a kind, good father; but no one is so
kind and good as your Heavenly Father." He said he had many things to say to
me, but he was then too weak. Preferring to know his own desire as to the
place of his burial, I asked him the question, but his mind was now growing
clouded again, and at first he replied, "Charlotte," and afterwards
"Charlottesville." I then asked him if he did not wish to be buried
in Lexington, and he answered at once, "Yes, Lexington, and in my own
plot." He had bought this plot himself, when our first child died, as
a burial place for his family. . . . Tears were shed over that dying bed
by strong men who were unused to weep, and it was touching to see the
genuine grief of his servant, Jim, who nursed him faithfully to the end.
Mary Anna Jackson, The Death Of Stonewall Jackson, America, Vol.8, Pg.182
He now sank rapidly into unconsciousness, murmuring disconnected
words occasionally, but all at once he spoke out very cheerfully and
distinctly the beautiful sentence which has become immortal as his last:
"Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees."