After the amputation of his left arm on the early morning of Mary 3rd, he was moved to the Chancellor’s House on May4th. Mary Ann Jackson was alerted of her husband’s amputation and made arrangements to come to see her husband and nurse him. Reverend Lacy arrived on May 5th and read bible versus to Stonewall Jackson. Mrs. Jackson arrived on May 7th to help around the small house and talk to her husband as he rested after his surgery.
On Friday, May 8th, Stonewall Jackson’s health took a turn for the worse as he fell into pneumonia. Reverend Lacy continued to spend time in vigil while the staff that served Jackson for the last two years helps Mrs. Jackson. On Sunday, May 10th, Dr. McGuire informs everyone that Stonewall will pass away sometime today. Mrs. Jackson spends time with Thomas Jackson as he opens his eyes and slowly takes and whispers with his wife. Stonewall mentions that he’d like to be buried in his family plot in Lexington, Virginia.
Around 1 p.m., Stonewall slowly whispers the following statement: ” It is the Lord’s day, my wish is fulfilled and have always desired to die on his day.” A few hours later around 3:15 p.m., he opens his eyes wide and starts talking in phrases: “Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees”. Thomas Stonewall Jackson peacefully closes his eyes and dies on the bed with his wife and staff surrounding the bed.
This picture above is from Arlington National Cemetery in 2013 when I visited it. It shows a small river in the “shade of the trees” within the cemetery. It shows thousands of graves of soldiers that crossed over the river to heaven. It is a fitting tribute to a great general that served his soldiers, his family, and his faith.