Dr. Hunter McGuire, Stonewall Jackson’s 27-year-old medical director, chronicled the general’s last days.

By Joe D. Haines, Jr.

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The circumstances surrounding the death of Lieutenant General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson are well known. Following perhaps his greatest performance, leading a brilliant flanking maneuver against Union Major General Joseph Hooker at Chancellorsville, he was mistakenly shot by his own troops while scouting ahead of their lines after dark. Jackson sustained severe wounds to the left arm and minor wounds to the right hand. The most reliable medical information concerning Jackson’s final days can be found in the detailed accounts of Dr. Hunter McGuire, Jackson’s medical director.

McGuire was 27 years old at Chancellorsville. He had graduated from Winchester Medical Academy at the age of 20. When McGuire first presented himself to Jackson in 1861, Jackson merely stared back at him and dismissed him from his quarters. Several days passed before McGuire received orders appointing him a surgeon in the Confederate Army. Later, when McGuire and Jackson were better acquainted, the physician asked the general why his appointment had been delayed. Jackson answered, “You looked so young, I sent to Richmond to see if there was some mistake.”

After Jackson was wounded at Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, he was supported by two aides for a short distance before being placed on a litter and carried away. One of the litter-bearers was shot and went down, causing the general to be thrown to the ground. Jackson was placed back on the litter and carried a few hundred yards farther, to an ambulance McGuire had located. The doctor knelt down to examine Jackson and said, “I hope you are not badly hurt, General.”

“I am badly injured,” Jackson told McGuire. “I fear I am dying. I am glad you have come. I think the wound in my shoulder is still bleeding.”

McGuire observed that Jackson’s clothes were saturated with blood and saw that the wound in his left arm was indeed still bleeding. The doctor applied compression on an artery and readjusted the bandage, which had slipped off the wound. McGuire noted that Jackson’s hands were cold, his skin clammy and his face and lips pale–all classic signs of hemorrhagic shock. Jackson for his part refused to admit any discomfort; nevertheless, he was given morphine and whiskey before being transported to a nearby field hospital.

Once at the hospital, McGuire determined that amputation of the left arm was necessary. When he informed Jackson, the general replied, “Yes, certainly, Dr. McGuire, do for me whatever you think best.” McGuire then administered chloroform, and Jackson murmured, “What an infinite blessing,” as he slipped into unconsciousness.

McGuire first extracted a round ball that had lodged under the skin at the back of Jackson’s right hand after entering through the palm and fracturing two bones. “The left arm was then amputated, about two inches below the shoulder, very rapidly, and with slight loss of blood, the ordinary circular operation having been made,” McGuire reported.

“There were two wounds in his arm,” the surgeon continued. “The first and most serious was about three inches below the shoulder-joint, the ball dividing the main artery and fracturing the bone. The second was several inches in length; a ball having entered the outside of the forearm, an inch below the elbow, came out upon the opposite side just about the wrist. Throughout the whole of the operation, and until all the dressings were applied, he continued insensible.”

Jackson tolerated the surgery well despite the hemorrhagic shock, and at about 3:30 a.m., Major Sandy Pendleton arrived to obtain orders for Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, who had succeeded Jackson in command. Jackson greeted Major Pendle-ton warmly, saying: “Well, major, I am glad to see you. I thought you were killed.” Pendleton briefly explained the situation and asked for instructions, but Jackson could only respond, “I don’t know, I can’t tell; say to General Stuart he must do what he thinks best.” Then he slept for several hours.

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