How often do you see the same publisher offer two very different interpretations of an event at practically the same time? That’s what Savas Beatie has presented with Calamity at Chancellorsville: The Wounding and Death of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, by Mathew Lively. The main variance from the tale as told by Chris Mackowski and Kris White in The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson (I wrote about it here) is Jackson’s location at the time of his wounding. You can read Mr. Mackowski’s summary of the difference here. The long and the short of it is that Last Days presents the official Park Service narrative established by R. K. Krick that when shot Jackson was on the Mountain Road north of the Orange Plank Rd (Route 3), near the location of the modern Chancellorsville battlefield visitor’s center. Calamity presents a different version – no spoiler here, though. Between these two releases you’ll learn pretty much all you’ll ever want to know about Stonewall Jackson’s wounding and death.
Bull Runnings
A Journal of the Digitization of a Civil War Battle
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
Do they disagree about Jackson saying, “Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees?” as last words?
Chris
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Both books document Jackson’s last words as being “Let us cross over the river….” Calamity at Chancellorsville also has an appendix that discusses the research supporting the quote.
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Mathew, I wasn’t going to give anything away!
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I was wondering. I really had no idea that there was any dispute.
I mean Dabney has it in his book on Jackson from 1866.
Look forward to reading this.
Chris
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Thanks for previewing the book. I agree that between Calamity and Last Days, the events surrounding Jackson’s death are very well-covered.
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