Folks - I dug this
out of the Charlotte Observer (11.06.1910). Since I wrote the book on the 37th
NCT, the regiment that fired on Jackson and his party first, driving them to
the other side of the Orange Plank Road and into the guns of the 18th NCT, I've
been interested in the story of Jackson's mortal wounding at Chancellorsville. Or
course, we know that Jackson was under fire twice. However, Hay's story just confirms
that there was much confusion going on that evening. After reading this story,
what do you think?
Springfield Republican
John Hays, a Northern
soldier, who belonged to the third division of the Second Army corps in the
civil war, visited the battlefield of Chancellorsville recently and after
looking over the lay of the land closely, has since come to the conclusion that
he was directly responsible for the shooting of "Stonewall" Jackson
on May 2, 1863, which resulted in his death a few days later. The cavalry to
which Hays belonged was ordered to report to General Berry during the battle,
but Berry could not be located, and Hays was sent out as a scout to find him.
He found General Couch, and asked him where
the brigade should go, and received the reply, "Damn it, go where the
fighting is!" So Hays started back, but could not find his brigade. It
was dusk, and while riding down a lonely road he noticed a little group of
mounted men. Thinking they were Union soldiers, he had started toward them when
a volley of musketry ripped out from all sides of him. His horse never having
received a baptism of fire, wheeled and bolted down the road.
Hays turned as he went and saw a commotion
among the horsemen, and came to the conclusion that the volley had taken effect
on them instead of killing him. A few days later he heard that General Jackson
had been fatally shot by his own men at this place. Upon his recent visit to
the field he relocated the old landmarks, and a Confederate officer, who was
with Jackson, bore out his theory.
You've identified the soldier as Hay, Hays and Hayes. Do you know which is correct? What was his hometown?
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