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[716]
become still more ominous.
Wednesday brought a cold, drenching rain, with a chilling atmosphere, unhealthy for his enfeebled system.
Wednesday evening, Dr. McGuire, who had scarcely permitted himself to sleep for three or four nights, overpowered by fatigue, retired to rest.
But during the night, the General began to complain of an intense pain in his side, and urged his servant Jim, who was watching with him, to apply wet towels.
He complied; but the remedy failed to bring relief; and as morning approached, he summoned the Doctor again.
The General was found with a quickened pulse, laboring respiration, and severe pain.
Pneumonia was clearly developed, but not with alarming intensity; the pain and difficult breathing being more accounted for by a neuralgic Pleurodinia, constricting the muscles of the chest, than by actual inflammation of the lungs.
The physician therefore resorted to the more vigorous remedies of sinapisms and cupping; but with only partial effect.
The chaplain was now despatched to the army, which had returned to its old quarters near Fredericksburg, to bring the General's family physician, Dr. Morrison, now chief surgeon of Early's Division.
Mr. Lacy, while seeking him, called on General Lee, and told him that the General's condition was more threatening.
He replied that he was confident God would not take-Jackson away from him at such a time, when his country needed him so much.
“Give him,” he added, “my affectionate regards, and tell him to make haste and get well, and come back to me as soon as he can. He has lost his left arm; but I have lost my right arm.”
Meantime, Mrs. Jackson had arrived with her infant.
The duties of the sick room delayed her introduction for an hour, and they sought to prepare her feelings for the change which she must see in her husband.
He had asked for a glass of lemonade, and some one proposed, as a kindly relief to her anxiety, that she should busy herself in preparing it. When Mr. Smith
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