Captain Edward O. Guerrant was a native Kentuckian who served as an adjutant to Brigadier General Humphrey Marshall, the commander of Confederate forces in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Guerrant had just returned to southeastern Kentucky from a visit to Richmond, Virginia, when he learned of Jackson’s death.
Friday 15h. May 1863.
Today returned to Col. Hawkins’ camps on Rock House. Williams of the battery just returned from Abingdon—Says
General Jackson is Dead!
General Jackson is Dead!
Was a nation’s woe ever condensed in so few words—or a people’s calamity so far beyond language to express!? O Fate “That is the unkindest stroke of all”! All other losses we have ever sustained are light in comparison with this great calamity. So mighty a warrior,—so dauntless a spirit, so pure a patriot & so devoted a Christian!—A nations homage lay at his feet—its honors crown his brow. We have not another Jackson to die! Centuries are slow in the birth of such men. The Christian Napoleon! A greater than Alexander is dead. If a nation’s prayers & tears could have availed anything at a Throne of Mercy then “Stonewall” Jackson had not died! But God called him up higher—& in the ranks of a mightier army, & almost peerless in that innumerable host—stands our great Warrior.
The fire of his genius will no longer lead his invincible legions to certain victory,—& the scream of his exultant Eagles will no more echo along the bloody banks of the Rappahannock, or by the bosom of the Potomac or in the beautiful Valley of the Shenandoah—his own sweet “Valley of Virginia”. But the memory of his deeds—his immortal deeds still lives—& will live while genius has an admirer—liberty a devotee—Christ a follower—or Nobility a friend & patron. If human sacrifices could have shielded his life from death’s fatal stroke—a thousand—yea ten thousand lives would have been offered up on War’s bloody altar that “Stonewall” Jackson might live.
But God’s Eternal & wise decree has gone forth & called from the head of his veteran warriors the great commander—& He will provide another whose arm he will strengthen to drive the invaders from our soil. In Jackson’s beautiful, christian resignation let us bow to the Divine decree & say “Thy will be done”. From the ashes of the immortal Jackson the Genius of Liberty will rise triumphant over death and place a nation & its Great Benefactor beyond the malice or power of enemies—on the tablet of an enduring fame.
We weep over our loss—& rejoice we had such a man to die. Jackson dead is worth 10000 Hookers living. We cannot estimate our loss—It is great beyond degree. The Richmond Enquirer says we had better lost a Corps of our Army. Northern journals pay him the highest honors—acknowledging the terror of his very name—his great genius—his invincibility—& the meekness & purity of his christian character. He is styled the Modern Bonaparte. McClellan grieved over his loss—& acknowledged him to have been our greatest Executive General. He possessed more than any of our Generals, the love & confidence of our people. They idolized “Stonewall” Jackson. God’s purposes are wise to have removed him. “He gave & hath taken away”.
While reconnoitering—with Gen. A. P. Hill & both their staffs &c. in the night of Saturday 2 May Genl. Jackson was wounded by one of his own Regiments (a N.C. Regt) on Picket—& not 50 yards from the Enemy. He received two wounds in his left arm & one in his right hand. He came near bleeding to death on the field. While being borne off by four men one of them was killed & he fell from the other’s shoulders & was severely hurt. His arm was amputated—but Pneumonia setting in terminated his life at Guinnea’s Station on the Rappahannock R.R. on at 3¼ P.M.
Before his death he was cheerful—. Expressed the opinion that if he had been permitted another hour of light or life on that great battle day he would have cut off Hooker’s retreat by U.S. Ford. He died delirious—his last words referring to his army. “Tell Gen Hill”, said he “to prepare his division for action, & tell Major Hawkes to send forward provisions for the men.”—
His remains were brought to Richmond on where they received every honor an admiring & sorrowful people could bestow on all that was mortal of the illustrious dead. It is estimated that at least twenty thousand people crowded the avenues of the National Capitol—where he was laid in state—to behold the pallid, serene, & thoughtful countenance of the mighty, dead chieftain. He expressed a desire to be buried at “Lexington—in the Valley of Virginia”; his place of residence.
Gen Ewell, who commanded a Division under him & lost his leg at the battle of was Genl. Jacksons choice as his successor.
It is proposed to have a bronze statue of Jackson placed in the Capitol at Richmond—that all may see the likeness of the man whose “fame is more enduring than brass”—upon whose living form they never looked. It will be a Mecca for generations to come.
As usual after some terrible defeat Mr. Lincoln has taken to his usual resort—more men. This time he caps the climax by calling all the armbearing population of the North into the field to “suppress the rebellion”.
A grand rise from 75,000 to 4,000,000 of men!
If Thirteen Hundred & Eighty Five Thousand armed warriors are incompetent for our subjugation—what virtue is there in numbers such as his! Xerxes stands in awe at Lincoln’s Abolition host 4,000,000 He never boasted half of that.
Poor Mr. Lincoln.—When will the scales of his judicial blindness fall from his eye as he beats his obstinate, Balaams numerical horse, & reveal the angel warrior with his retributive sword standing to stay him!? Poor man!