iendly force held him to the earth, saying, "Sir, you must lie still;
it will cost you your life if you rise." He speedily acquiesced, and lay
quiet, but none of the four hoped to escape alive. Yet, almost by
miracle, they were unharmed, and after a few moments the Federalists,
having cleared the road of all except this little party, ceased to fire
along it, and directed their aim to another quarter.

They now arose and resumed their retreat, the general walking and
leaning upon two of his friends, proceeded along the gutter at the
margin of the highway in order to avoid the troops, who were again
hurrying to the front. Perceiving that he was recognized by some of
them, they diverged still farther into the edge of the thicket. It was
here that Gen. Pender of North Carolina, who had succeeded to the
command of Hill's division upon the wounding of that officer, recognized
Gen. Jackson, and said, "My men are thrown into such confusion by this
fire that I fear I shall not be able to hold my ground." Almost fainting
with anguish and loss of blood, he still replied, in a voice feeble but
full of his old determination and authority, "Gen. Pender, you must keep
your men together and hold your ground." This was the last military
order ever given by Jackson.

Gen. Jackson now complained of faintness, and was again placed upon the
litter, and after some difficulty, men were obtained to bear him. To
avoid the enemy's fire, which was again sweeping the road, they made
their way through the tangled brushwood, almost tearing his clothing
from him, and lacerating his face in their hurried progress. The foot of
one of the men bearing his head was here tangled in a vine, and he fell
prostrate. The general was thus thrown heavily to the ground upon his
wounded side, inflicting painful bruises on his body and intolerable
agony on his mangled arm, and renewing the flow of blood from it. As
they lifted him up he uttered one piteous groan, the only complaint
which escaped his lips during the whole scene. Lieut. Smith raised his
head upon his bosom, almost fearing to see him expiring in his arms, and
asked, "General, are you much hurt?" He replied, "No, Mr. Smith, don't
trouble yourself about me." He was then replaced a second time upon the
litter, and under a continuous shower of shells and cannon balls, borne
a half mile farther to the rear, when an ambulance was found, containing
his chief of artillery, Col. Crutchfield, who was also wounde