General Pender.
Though almost fainting, Jackson raised his head, and said: “You must hold your ground, General Pender! You must hold your ground!” This was the last order of Jackson on the field.
The General, being very faint, was again placed on the litter, and the whole party moved through the forest towards the hospital at Wilderness Run.
As they were going slowly through the undergrowth, one of the men caught his foot in a grapevine and fell, letting the litter fall to the ground.
General Jackson’s last order on the field: “You must hold your ground, General Pender! You must hold your ground!”
Jackson fell upon his wounded shoulder, and for the first time groaned most piteously. With great difficulty they made their way until they came to a place in the road where an ambulance was waiting. The General was placed in it, and was soon met by his surgeon, Dr. McGuire, who, having sprung into the ambulance, found the General almost pulseless.
Some spirits was given him, which revived him, and ere long he was laid tenderly in a camp bed at the hospital. Here he fell into a deep sleep. About midnight he was awakened, and told by Dr. McGuire that it was thought best to amputate his arm.
“Do what you think best, Doctor,” was the calm reply.