Eyewitness Account of Stonewall Jackson's Wounding

[@wmschooley1234]

Ron: Thank you for finding and reading Captain Richard Wilburn's detailed letter. I don't think I've ever seen such a detailed report in either the Offical Record or in the Southern Historical Society Papers. You do have the knack for finding these. Respectfully, W.s.

[@THE-HammerMan]

Ron: I had heard this account before, but not nearly so complete. Thank you. Your work and narrating is par excellán, Sir!

[@normanlathrop6533]

I had no idea this much detail existed but I know that if detail can be found you will find it Ron. Thank you! I’ve been to Lexington, Virginia and I’ve seen VMI and the church and museum which has on display the jacket he was wearing with the bullet holes visible. The only house he ever owned is in Lexington. I’ve seen that also. He definitely loved the Lord and I have no doubt about where he is spending his eternity!

[@carywest9256]

I went through Lexington in '08, on my way to Gettysburg to shoot at bluebellies in the 145th. Annual reenactment. Lot of history in that County. Saw a historical marker for Sam Houston claimed he was born close by. In that cemetery where Stonewall is, a man that fought at San Jacinto with Houston, then l recall he fought the yankees and wound up being buried there. I just can't recall his date of death. But l think he survived The War Between the States. Nice chatting. DEO VINDICE

[@dennisquelch588]

What a fantastic account of the wounding. Thank you for sharing!

[@johnq3517]

Fascinating account. Thank you, Ron.

[@lynnpeterthorson5277]

Thank you for reading this highly detailed account.

[@DoyleHargraves]

One of my ancestors saw his first battle that day in the 13th Alabama.

[@jimwilson7824]

A very thorough account. I enjoyed hearing details I’ve never heard in 53 years as a civil war buff. Thank you very much.

[@runwillrobinson]

I would be grateful if you could finish the little that is left in the Jackson story. It is so important and as far as I have heard, it is a good reflection of his high character.

[@maskedbandito5548]

Captain Wilbourn had a phenomenal memory. I had read that General Jackson had been shot by his own men, but this account made me feel as though I were an eyewitness to the event.

[@JeffreyLang-j5i]

APPRECIATE YOU!!! THANKS!!

[@MrHand-ih4sz]

Can only imagine how many fell in that war from friendly fire incidents like this one...

[@davide9658]

Thank you, Ron, for this riveting reading. For a Southerner, like myself, it is very interesting but painful to hear. Jackson's death certainly marked the reversal of fortunes for the Confederate cause. Listening to this account makes one wonder if he might have survived had he not been dropped from the stretcher or had received more immediate and better medical attention.

[@johnzajac9849]

The large stone monument, which indicates where Jackson was wounded, is roughly 160 feet east of the position of Lane's brigade in May, 1863. The monument is on the north side of Route 3 and is about 40 feet south of the Visitor's Center.

[@edglass9912]

Very good episode!! I had never heard that version before. Thanks Ed from Lynchburg

[@mikehillas]

Great account--thanks for posting. I knew the general story of his wounding but not this much detail.

[@dadsongs]

It's thrilling to hear another account of this incident, one that has been so extensively written about already. Furthermore, this account is important for its very personal perspective. Thank you.

[@calebkennedy321]

This was an incredible account. Thank you!

[@GeoffAdams-pj3ec]

I was struck by the fact of them asking at a yankee hospital for spirits. I guess that shows how close or intertwinned the sides were. Did they have some sort of agreements about not holding hospital staff?

[@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail]

@@GeoffAdams-pj3ec As you might imagine, the status of doctors, chaplains, and other caregivers were similar to other officers.

[@amadeusamwater]

Medical personnel and chaplains often stayed behind to treat their own wounded. I doubt uniform color made any difference in those hospitals, either among the staff or patients.

[@donaldhambright969]

Incredible...Thank you...

[@bjohnson515]

I just noticed your last name........related to author of Gettysburg, Edwin?

[@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail]

@@bjohnson515 We are connected in the family tree to a branch in the 18th century. I know his daughter and granddaughter.

[@michaelstewart4671]

Could you imagine all this takes place in the “dark” between enemies. The men( boys included) there with loaded arms firing at anything that moves in the dark. Ironic that “providence” saw fit to take General Jackson. No disrespect meant in any way. Thank you for this account!!!

[@lewdachris7721]

Providence? Or arrogance causing a lack of awareness. Riding in front of your own troops in the dark is hazardous for your health

[@emmgeevideo]

German soldiers in WW I had a belt buckle inscribed, "Gott Mit Uns". That always made me chuckle. I'm sure the British, the French, and all the belligerent armies were sure that God was with themselves instead. In the beginning of the account, the writer spoke of thanking God for the victory they had just won. I wonder if the Union soldiers were disappointed that they were unable to thank God instead. Was God pulling the levers for the Confederates that day? And then suddenly, did "Providence" deem that some poor unfortunate Confederate soldier's bullet find its way to General J's body? Logic tells me that in the fog of war, soldiers who thought they were defending themselves and their fellows shot into the dark and the General sadly (for their side) happened to be their target. Why should we think there is any other reason? Imagine the soldiers marching headlong into a field of fire in any war, some of whom are cut down and some are not. Is "Providence" pushing the bullets one way and another for some particular reason, deciding who is to live, who is to die, and who is to lie wounded in agony for hours in no-mans-land until death falls or until they are rescued after the battle is over? Napoleon was supposed to have said, "God is on the side of the strongest artillery." I think that's pretty much the story. I say that Providence has no hand in that most human of endeavors; either that or Providence's methods and reasons are so inscrutable that no human can figure out the formula. Either way, I think it's pointless to "thank God" for anything that happens on the battlefield.

[@lewdachris7721]

@ the nazis used the same belt buckle. It’s well documented that southern masters and preachers taught from the Bible to their slaves of the virtues of slavery and how to treat your slaves etc

[@libeloussmith7656]

reconnaissance

[@leezettel596]

It was my understanding that Gen. Jackson had gone out at dusk with his men to scout a nearby Union camp for a possibility of planning a night attack. Night attacks being unheard of during this time because of being unable to see well. As Jackson and his men returned the troops (NC) on guard duty were unaware that Jackson had gone out into the night and upon him returning thought that he was the enemy's troops approaching and shot at them. It is then that Gen Jackson was wounded. This video needs to be sent to the museum at Gettysburg so they can correct their version of these events. Their narrative of a display case outlining this event is insulting. It seems in the wording to be making fun of this event, seeming to say, "Those dumb Southerners shot their own man". I guess they have never heard of "friendly fire" that still happens in today's world.

[@FuzzyWuzzy75]

I remember reading a vivid account of the wounding of Stonewall Jackson many years ago. I can't recall who the writer was or what book it was from. From what I recall reading there, Stonewall Jackson fell twice from his stretcher. The one fall is described here with the one stretcher bearer getting his foot caught in a vine and losing his balance. But the other fall I read about is not accounted for here. The second fall occurred when an incoming artillery round hit close by and killed one of the stretcher bearers and violently threw Jackson from his stretcher. Ever since reading of these two falls, many years ago, I have personally been of the opinion that those falls probably did more to bring on the pneumonia, that ultimately killed Jackson, than the actual wounding. Of course it doesn't matter now. It is mere speculation with a little of the macabre mixed in, but I have speculated that if there was ever a modern-day autopsy with exrays done on the corpse of Stonewall Jackson, we would probably see evidence of broken ribs and quite possibly a punctured lung.

[@michaelschneider8656]

Sounds like he'd have made it if they hadn't dropped him.

[@dennismorgan2303]

i guess they should not have gone there...they got a taste of what it was like to be in front of the confederate lines.

[@CliffordMesser]

Great job General Jackson always did work Great with General Lee.

[@bjohnson515]

Was it the 11th or 18th NC regiment that delivered the shot?

[@wmschooley1234]

History records it as the 18th N.C.

[@michaeldouglas1243]

5 🌟

[@TreeOfWisdom2]

I smell treachery in the grey ranks. The allure of the greenback proved too much for the troops.

[@THE-HammerMan]

@TreeOfWisdom: With such a stupendously idiotic comment, I am confident you have NO wisdom whatsoever. None.

[@wmschooley1234]

If you start with the fundamental proposition that General Jackson had an abusive attitude, behavior and personality, maybe the "accidental shooting" of Gen. Jackson wasn't so accidental. It, at least, has to be considered that Jackson got the civil war equivalent of a Vietnam fragging. A plausible theory is that Hill had Stonewall Jackson Killed. There was bad blood almost a feud between A.P.Hill and Stonewall Jackson. It’s well established that Hill and Jackson didn’t like each other going back to their days together at West Point, When the shooting from the 18th North Carolina started, Hill was a considerable distance behind Jackson. When the shooting from the 18th started, Hill dismounted and sprawled face down on the ground almost like he knew in advance there was going to be a friendly fire incident. Think about it. It's dark, Jackson is forward of the Confederate battle line and he just happens to be shot and ultimately dies from friendly fire from troops under the command of another general officer he's not on friendly terms with. Motive, opportunity and plausible deniability and a mortal barrage just happens to occur. And history records it as a rifle barrage against "the Yankees" out there in the darkness. Major Barry was never sanctioned, or court marshaled. Rather his action was defended by commanded Gen. Lane. Barry was promoted to colonel on 27 May 1863, back dated to rank from 3 May 1863. This is just one day after Gen. Jackson was shot by men from Barry’s 18th North Carolina Coincidence? Unfortunately, we’ll never know for sure. There simply was no court of inquiry or court-martial into the friendly fire incident that killed Stonewall Jackson Source: Southern Historical Society Papers Volume VI, Richmond, Va, November, 1878 pages 231-234

[@TreeOfWisdom2]

@ Exactly, who likes to be "foot cavalry", not to mention the personality deficits. But there's more, we often fail to appreciate the depth/extent of Civil War propaganda. I am certain none of the Confederate soldiers knew Jeff Davis' wife was black, or that Judah P. Benjamin's wife was black. The shooting was immediately sanitized and Gen. Jackson presented as a martyr.

[@THE-HammerMan]

@wmschooley1234 Bah! In the dark during a frenzied engagement? It was purely accidental. Geez, people like you want to find conspiracies in everything.

[@MrHand-ih4sz]

​@wmschooley1234 Oh good Lord. Seriously?