Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson from Chancellorsville
to Lynchburg and Lexington
Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was
mortally wounded, near Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, when he was shot by his own men while returning to his camp at night.
Dr. Hunter H. McGuire attended to Jackson and amputated his arm. General Jackson died on May 10, 1863 of pneumonia. Jackson’s body was then transported by train from Fredericksburg to Richmond.
The train was met in Richmond by a great number
of mourners at The Broad Street Station as well as at Capitol Square. His body would lie in state at the Capitol on the 12th
of May and then moved to the Governor’s Mansion the following morning where the funeral service took place.
Following the funeral the casket was moved
to the Virginia Central Railroad Depot for the trip to Gordonsville and then transferred to the Orange and Alexandria line
for the last part of the trip to Lynchburg. The train carried the body of Jackson, close friends and family as well as Virginia
Governor John Letcher and his wife.
The train arrived in Lynchburg at about 6:30
pm on the 13th of May at which time the remains were removed and placed
in a hearse and the procession began to the Packet Boat Marshall Landing at Ninth Street and the canal. Church bells rang
and guns fired one-minute salvos throughout the procession. The funeral route was lined with mourners and about 1500 recovering
soldiers – all there to honor one of the Confederacy’s greatest Generals. Many of these maimed and suffering soldiers
were General Jackson’s war worn veterans. That evening a special funeral
service was held at the First Presbyterian Church with James B. Ramsey officiating. Miss Ida W. Jones of Appomattox, who reported
on the Confederate Honor Guard and the attendance of Mrs. Jackson and her daughter Julia, gave an eyewitness account of this
service.
The packet boat, Marshall, left Lynchburg
at about 10:00 pm for the final portion of the journey to Lexington. Residents of the area crossed to the canal side of the
river to witness the boats passing with lanterns and torches.
Citizens of all walks of life wanted to witness
General Jackson’s last trip to Lexington, his home and final resting place.
“The Marshall is an extremely unique
piece of history. Although it enjoyed a long career as a packet boat on the James River, it is remembered most for an 1863
trip in which it carried the remains of Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson from Lynchburg to burial
at Lexington. Nothing else in Civil War history quite matches this incident. Since Jackson’s death was the severest
personal loss of the Southern states in the Civil War, the Marshall has far more historical value than has been shown to it
up to this time. It deserves a better fate through restoration and publicity.”
Dr. James I. (Bud) Robertson, Jr.
Dr. Robertson highly endorses this program,
but due to prior engagements, could not be present.
On
May 12, 2007 the Lynchburg Historical Foundation sponsored a reenactment of the procession of General Stonewall Jackson’s
remains from the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to the Packet Boat Marshall.
For contributions to the Packet Boat Preservation Fund, please contact Sally A.
Schneider, Exec. Director, Lynchburg Historical Foundation at 434-528-5353 or fax 434-528-9413 or email lhfi@centralva.net or www.lynchburghistoricalfoundation.org
A living history exhibit/encampment was held
at Riverfront Park on Jefferson Street. There were sutlers, children's activities, bus
tours to historic sites, music and much more.
The Appomattox Chapter of the United Daughters
of the Confederacy was a sponor of the program and played a major role in this presentation. Mrs. Laurie Lenz was on
the planning committee. Mrs. Carol Williams (Chapter President) and her daughter
Laural Williams portrayed Mary Anna Jackson and her daughter Julia. Many
other chapter members participated in the procession.
