[catfish1957]

I seem to remember reading that somewhere. If he did, I am sure that the command did it's best to keep it under wraps. News spreads fast, and they saw what happened to morale after Jackson's death.

I know it is fun to play "what if", but I always wondered if Jackson had he lived been able to persuade Lee to fight on a more level area, or even better find terrain that better suited the fight. I always sensed he trusted Jackson more than Longstreet anyway.

I also wonder how the PR and morale would have played if this fight would have been within the outskirts of DC.

[no-to-illegals]

I believe you are correct about the trust Lee had for Jackson verses Longstreet. Yes, what ifs, are the best part of history. I think Lee was convinced his army could defeat any foe on any field. Longstreet was rebuffed. Lee also may have been thinking of the Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain. Ferguson held the high ground and was routed. Lee had the same confidence in his army till Gettysburg.

[0.E.O]

If he did, I am sure that the command did it's best to keep it under wraps.

If he did then I doubt they recognized it. Symptoms of a heart attack or high blood pressure were unknown. Generally it wasn't until they keeled over did they realize anything was wrong.