Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/330

 324 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the Richmond Times, July 23, 1891.]

OIL-CLOTH COAT IN WHICH JACKSON RECEIVED HIS MORTAL WOUND.

THE STORY OF ITS LOSS AND RECOVERY.

It Fell into the Hands of Mr. Joseph Bryan and was Sent to General Lee The Correspondence which Followed.

One of the most interesting relics of Stonewall Jackson was brought to light in the manner as narrated yesterday by Mr. Joseph Bryan, as follows :

I was sent to my home in Fluvanna county in November, 1864 (upon a wounded furlough), and took the opportunity to visit my sister, who was then refugeeing in Goochland county.

Just across James river, in Powhatan county, near " Belmead," my father had rented a farm in conjunction with Major J. Horace Lacy, who owned a large part of the battle-field of Chancellorsville.

To this place, as one of the greater security, they had both sent a number of their servants from their places in Spotsylvania and Glou- cester counties, which had been overrun by the enemy. I went to this place to see my old colored friends, and there met a Mr. Jones, the overseer, who had come with Major Lacy's servants from the Wilderness, and who was in charge of this place.

It was a rainy day, and some complaint being made of the disa- greeable weather, Jones remarked that he had an oil-cloth overcoat which had kept him dry in pouring rain, all day.

I instantly protested against such a treasure being left in the pos- session of a man who was at home, and insisted that he should sell it to me for use in the field. This he agreed to do, and the price was fixed at $125, for which I gave him an order on my father.

THE COAT.

The coat being produced was found to be a large oil-cloth coat, the left sleeve of which had been split up on the inside, and also across the breast, and afterward sewed up, while just below the shoul- der two bullet-holes had been patched up, and at the end of the sleeve the course of another bullet had been repaired by turning down an additional hem.