May 11th, 1863.
We are all saddened to the heart to-night by hearing the
death of our hero Jackson! In addition to our own irreparable loss, it will put
new life and courage into our cruel foe. It will cause mourning all over our
land and each person seems to feel as if he had lost a relative. I feel more
disheartened about the war now than I have ever felt before. It seems to me, it
is to be interminable, and what a wretched life of anxiety it is to look
forward to! I suppose the death of Jackson has affected us all and I can't help
thinking it will put new life into the enemy and give him courage to make
another attempt very soon. You see by the papers they claim having taken almost
as many prisoners as we have and I am sure the loss of Jackson has turned the
last fight into a calamity, if not a curse. I expect you will think I am really
blue — but you know Jackson has been my hero and favorite for a long time. We
must, though, hope on, hope ever!
SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in
’61, p. 126
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Francis H. Wigfall was then with Fitz Lee’s
Cavalry Division.
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