Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson
January 21, 1824 (1824-01-21) – May 10, 1863 (aged 39)

General Thomas J. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Jackson
Nickname Stonewall, Old Jack, Old Blue Light, Tom Fool
Place of birth Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Place of death Guinea Station, Virginia
Allegiance United States Army
Confederate States Army
Years of service 1846–51 (USA)
1861–63 (CSA)
Rank Major USA
Lieutenant General CSA
Commands held Stonewall Brigade
Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Battles/wars Mexican-American War
American Civil War
For other uses of "Stonewall Jackson", see Stonewall Jackson (disambiguation). West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Please see " Major " for other countries that use this rank In the United States, Major is a Military rank denotes This article is about United States military ranks For other countries that use similar ranks see Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was one of the most famous combat units in United States history The Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was a military organization within the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during much of the American Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Background Brig Gen Irvin McDowell was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to command the Army of Northeastern Virginia. Background In the spring of 1862 "Southern morale. was at its nadir" and "prospects for the Confederacy's survival seemed bleak Start of the Peninsula Campaign Opposing forces See also [[Seven Days Confederate order of battle]] [[Seven Days Union order of battle]] Almost Background and opposing forces See also Northern Virginia Campaign See also [[Second Bull Run Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] Background and Burnside's plan The battle was the result of an effort by the Union Army to regain the initiative in its struggle against Lee's smaller but more aggressive army Forces and plans The Chancellorsville campaign began with the potential of leading to one of the most lopsided clashes in the war

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (January 21, 1824[1] – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and probably the most revered Confederate commander after General Robert E. Lee. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1824 ( MDCCCXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated [2] His military career includes such famous exploits as the audacious Valley Campaign of 1862 and as a corps commander in the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Stonewall Jackson’s military career consists of a combination of various brevet, temporary and permanent appointments in no less than five different military organizations Background In the spring of 1862 "Southern morale. was at its nadir" and "prospects for the Confederacy's survival seemed bleak The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Lee. Confederate pickets accidentally shot him at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863, which the general survived, albeit with the loss of an arm to amputation. In military terminology a picket (archaically picquet, not to be confused with the punishment Picquet) refers to soldiers or troops placed on a line forward of a Forces and plans The Chancellorsville campaign began with the potential of leading to one of the most lopsided clashes in the war Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common However, he died of complications of pneumonia eight days later. Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the Lung. Frequently it is described as lung Parenchyma / alveolar inflammation and abnormal

Military historians consider Jackson to be one of the most gifted tactical commanders in United States history. His Valley Campaign and his envelopment of the Union Army right wing at Chancellorsville are studied worldwide even today as examples of innovative and bold leadership. The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. He excelled as well at the First Battle of Bull Run (where he received his famous nickname "Stonewall"), Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. Background Brig Gen Irvin McDowell was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to command the Army of Northeastern Virginia. Background and opposing forces See also Northern Virginia Campaign See also [[Second Bull Run Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] Background and Burnside's plan The battle was the result of an effort by the Union Army to regain the initiative in its struggle against Lee's smaller but more aggressive army Jackson was not universally successful as a commander, however, as displayed by his weak and confused efforts during the Seven Days Battles around Richmond in 1862. Start of the Peninsula Campaign Opposing forces See also [[Seven Days Confederate order of battle]] [[Seven Days Union order of battle]] Almost This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. His death was a severe setback for the Confederacy, affecting not only its military prospects, but the morale of its army and the general public; as Jackson lay dying, General Robert E. Lee sent a message to Jackson through Chaplain Lacy, saying "Give General Jackson my affectionate regards, and say to him: he has lost his left arm but I my right. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated "[3]

Contents

Early years

Paternal ancestry

Thomas Jonathan Jackson was the great-grandson of John Jackson (1715 or 1719 – 1801) and Elizabeth Cummins (also known as Elizabeth Comings and Elizabeth Needles) (1723 – 1828). Clan Cumming, also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th century Scotland and John Jackson was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, in Ireland. Coleraine ( is a large Town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland near to the mouth of the River Bann. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world While living in London, he was convicted of the capital crime of larceny for stealing £170; the judge at the Old Bailey sentenced him to a seven-year indenture in America. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Central Criminal Court in England, commonly known as the Old Bailey, is a court An Indenture is a legal Contract between two parties particularly for indentured labour or a term of Apprenticeship but also for certain land Elizabeth, a strong, blonde woman over 6 feet (1. 8 m) tall, born in London, was also convicted of larceny in an unrelated case for stealing 19 pieces of silver, jewelry, and fine lace, and received a similar sentence. They both were transported on the prison ship Litchfield, which departed London in May 1749 with 150 convicts. John and Elizabeth met on board and were in love by the time the ship arrived at Annapolis, Maryland. Annapolis is the capital of the US state of Maryland, as well as the County seat of Anne Arundel County. Although they were sent to different locations in Maryland for their indenture, the couple married in July 1755. [4]

The family migrated west across the Blue Ridge Mountains to settle near Moorefield, Virginia, (now West Virginia) in 1758. The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains, is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division Hardy County Courthouse-Moorefield WVjpg|thumb|right| Hardy County Courthouse in Moorefield West Virginia]] Moorefield is a town in Hardy County, West Virginia West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by In 1770, they moved further west to the Tygart Valley. They began to acquire large parcels of virgin farmland near the present-day town of Buckhannon, including 3,000 acres (12 km²) in Elizabeth's name. Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in and the County seat of Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the John and his two teenage sons were early recruits for the American Revolutionary War, fighting in the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780; John finished the war as captain and served as a lieutenant of the Virginia Militia after 1787. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780, was an important Patriot victory in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1780 ( MDCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services The Virginia militia is composed of the body of the people in the Commonwealth of Virginia which is an armed force of all citizens capable of bearing arms While the men were in the Army, Elizabeth converted their home to a haven, "Jackson's Fort," for refugees from Indian attacks. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States [5]

John and Elizabeth had eight children. Their second son was Edward Jackson (March 1, 1759 – December 25, 1828), and Edward's third son was Jonathan Jackson, Thomas's father. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian The year 1828 ( MDCCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap [6]

Early childhood

Thomas Jackson was the third child of Julia Beckwith (née Neale) Jackson (1798 – 1831) and Jonathan Jackson (1790 – 1826), an attorney. Julia Beckwith (née Neale Jackson (1798-1831 was the mother of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. An attorney at law (or attorney-at-law) in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute Both of Jackson's parents were natives of Virginia. The family already had two young children and were living in Clarksburg, in what is now West Virginia. This is where their third child, Thomas, was born. He was named for his maternal grandfather.

Thomas's sister Elizabeth (age six) died of typhoid fever on March 6, 1826, while two-year-old Thomas sat by her bedside. Typhoid fever, also known as enteric fever, bilious fever, Yellow Jack or commonly just typhoid, is an illness caused by the Bacterium Events 1079 - Omar Khayyám completes the Iranian calendar. 1454 - Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of For the game see 1826 (board game. Year 1826 ( MDCCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display His father died of the same disease March 26. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Jackson's mother gave birth to Thomas's sister Laura Ann the day after Jackson's father died. [7] Julia Jackson thus was widowed at 28 and was left with much debt and three young children (including the newborn). She sold the family's possessions to pay the debts. She declined family charity and moved into a small rented one-room house. Julia took in sewing and taught school to support herself and her three young children for about four years.

In 1830, Julia Neale Jackson remarried. Her new husband, Blake Woodson[8], an attorney, did not like his stepchildren. There were continuing financial problems. The following year, after giving birth to Thomas's half-brother, Julia died of complications, leaving her three older children orphaned. [9] Julia was buried in an unmarked grave in a homemade coffin in Westlake Cemetery along the James River and Kanawha Turnpike in Fayette County within the corporate limits of present-day Ansted, West Virginia. The James River and Kanawha Turnpike was built to facilitate portage of shipments of passengers and freight by water between the western reaches of the James River via the Fayette County is a County located in the US state of West Virginia. Ansted is a town in Fayette County in the US state of West Virginia.

Jackson's Mill, owned by Cummins Jackson.
Jackson's Mill, owned by Cummins Jackson.

Working and teaching at Jackson's Mill

Jackson was seven years old when his mother died. He and his sister Laura Ann were sent to live with their paternal uncle, Cummins Jackson, who owned a grist mill in Jackson's Mill (near present-day Weston in Lewis County in central West Virginia). Cummins Edward Jackson ( July 25, 1802 &ndash December 4, 1849) was a paternal uncle of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan Jackson's Mill was a Grist mill in West Virginia (near the present-day city of Weston in Lewis County, West Virginia) Weston is a city in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. Lewis County is a County located in the US state of West Virginia. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Cummins Jackson was strict with Thomas, who looked up to Cummins as a schoolteacher. In Education, a teacher is one who helps Students or pupils often in a School, as well as in a Family, religious or His older brother, Warren, went to live with other relatives on his mother's side of the family, but he later died of tuberculosis in 1841 at the age of 20. Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common

Jackson helped around his uncle's farm, tending sheep with the assistance of a sheepdog, driving teams of oxen and helping harvest wheat and corn. A sheepdog is a type of domestic Dog whose original purpose was to herd or guard Sheep. Oxen (singular ox) are Cattle trained as draft animals. Often they are adult castrated males Formal education was not easily obtained, but he attended school when and where he could. Much of Jackson's education was self-taught. He once made a deal with one of his uncle's slaves to provide him with pine knots in exchange for reading lessons; Thomas would stay up at night reading borrowed books by the light of those burning pine knots. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Virginia law forbade teaching a slave, free black or mulatto to read or write, as enacted following Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion in Southampton County in 1831. Nat Turner's Rebellion (also known as the Southampton Insurrection) was a Slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia during Southampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Nevertheless, Jackson secretly taught the slave to read, as he had promised. Once literate, the young slave fled to Canada via the underground railroad. The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and Safe houses used by 19th century Black slaves in the United States [10] In his later years at Jackson's Mill, Thomas was a schoolteacher.

West Point

In 1842, Jackson was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, West Point is a federal military reservation (and a Census-designated place) located North of the Village of Highland Falls in Orange County New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Because of his inadequate schooling, he had difficulty with the entrance examinations and began his studies at the bottom of his class. As a student, he had to work harder than most cadets to absorb lessons. However, displaying a dogged determination that was to characterize his life, he became one of the hardest working cadets in the academy, and moved steadily up the academic rankings. Jackson graduated 17th out of 59 students in the Class of 1846. It was said by his peers that if they had stayed there another year, he would have graduated first.

U. S. Army and the Mexican War

Stain glass of Jackson's life in the National Cathedral in part depicting his service in the Mexican-American War
Stain glass of Jackson's life in the National Cathedral in part depicting his service in the Mexican-American War

Jackson began his U.S. Army career as a brevet second lieutenant in the 1st U. Washington National Cathedral, whose official name is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is a Cathedral of The Episcopal Church. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. In the UK and US military brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a Commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily but usually without receiving Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. S. Artillery Regiment and was sent to fight in the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848. He served at the Siege of Veracruz and the battles of Contreras, Chapultepec, and Mexico City, eventually earning two brevet promotions, and the regular army rank of first lieutenant. The Battle of Veracruz was a 20-day Siege of the key Mexican seaport of Veracruz, during the Mexican-American War. The Battle of Contreras, also known as the Battle of Padierna, took place during the August 19&ndash20 1847 in the final encounters of the Mexican-American War The Battle of Chapultepec (September 1847 was a US victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American The Battle for Mexico City refers to the series of engagements from September 8 to September 15, 1847, in the general vicinity of Mexico City Please see Regular Army (disambiguation for countries other than the United States that use this term The United States Regular Army First Lieutenant is a Military rank. The rank of Lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations (see Comparative military ranks It was in Mexico that Jackson first met Robert E. Lee. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated

During the assault on Chapultepec Castle, he refused what he felt was a "bad order" to withdraw his troops. Confronted by his superior, he explained his rationale, claiming withdrawal was more hazardous than continuing his overmatched artillery duel. His judgment proved correct, and a relieving brigade was able to exploit the advantage Jackson had broached. In contrast to this display of strength of character, he obeyed what he also felt was a "bad order" when he raked a civilian throng with artillery fire after the Mexican authorities failed to surrender Mexico City at the hour demanded by the U. S. forces. [11] The former episode, and later aggressive action against the retreating Mexican army, earned him field promotion to the brevet rank of major.

Lexington and the Virginia Military Institute

In the spring of 1851,[12] Jackson accepted a newly created teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), in Lexington, Virginia. The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior Lexington is an Independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery. Jackson's teachings are still used at VMI today because they are military essentials that are timeless, to wit: discipline, mobility, assessing the enemy's strength and intentions while attempting to conceal your own, and the efficiency of artillery combined with an infantry assault. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists

However, despite the high quality of his work, he was not popular as a teacher. He memorized his lectures and then recited them to the class; any students who came to ask for help were only given the same explanation as before. And if students came to ask again, Jackson viewed this as insubordination and likewise punished them. The students mocked his apparently stern, religious nature and his eccentric traits. In 1856, a group of alumni attempted to have Jackson removed from his position. [13]

Little as he was known to the white inhabitants of Lexington, Jackson was revered by many of the African-Americans in town, both slaves and free blacks. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa He was instrumental in the organization in 1855 of Sunday school classes for blacks at the Presbyterian Church. His second wife, Mary Anna Jackson, taught with Jackson, as "he preferred that my labors should be given to the colored children, believing that it was more important and useful to put the strong hand of the Gospel under the ignorant African race, to lift them up. " [14] The pastor, Dr. William Spottswood White, described the relationship between Jackson and his Sunday afternoon students: "In their religious instruction he succeeded wonderfully. His discipline was systematic and firm, but very kind. . . . His servants reverenced and loved him, as they would have done a brother or father. . . . He was emphatically the black man's friend. " He addressed his students by name and they in turn referred to him affectionately as "Marse Major. "[15]

Jackson's family owned six slaves in the late 1850s. Three (Hetty, Cyrus, and George, a mother and two teenage sons) were received as a wedding present. Another, Albert, requested that Jackson purchase him and allow him to work for his freedom; he was employed as a waiter in one of the Lexington hotels and Jackson rented him to VMI. Amy also requested that Jackson purchase her from a public auction and she served the family as a cook and housekeeper. The sixth, Emma, was a four-year-old orphan with a learning disability, accepted by Jackson from an aged widow and presented to his second wife, Mary Anna, as a welcome-home gift. In the United States and Canada, the term learning disability (LD refers to a group of disorders that affect a broad range of academic and functional skills including [16] After the American Civil War began, he appears to have hired out or sold his slaves. Mary Anna Jackson, in her 1895 memoir, said, "our servants . . . without the firm guidance and restraint of their master, the excitement of the times proved so demoralizing to them that he deemed it best for me to provide them with good homes among the permanent residents. " [17] James Robertson wrote about Jackson's view on slavery:[18]

Jackson neither apologized for nor spoke in favor of the practice of slavery. He probably opposed the institution. Yet in his mind the Creator had sanctioned slavery, and man had no moral right to challenge its existence. The good Christian slaveholder was one who treated his servants fairly and humanely at all times.

While an instructor at VMI, in 1853, Thomas Jackson married Elinor "Ellie" Junkin, whose father was president of Washington College (later named Washington and Lee University) in Lexington. Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington Virginia, USA An addition was built onto the president's residence for the Jacksons, and when Robert E. Lee became president of Washington College he lived in the same home, now known as the Lee-Jackson House. [19] Ellie gave birth to a stillborn son on October 22, 1854, experiencing a hemorrhage an hour later that proved fatal. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year [20]

After a tour of Europe, Jackson married again, in 1857. Mary Anna Morrison was from North Carolina, where her father was the first president of Davidson College. Davidson College is a private liberal arts college for 1700 students in Davidson, North Carolina, in the United States. They had a daughter named Mary Graham on April 30, 1858, but the baby died less than a month later. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Another daughter was born in 1862, shortly before her father's death. The Jacksons named her Julia Laura, after his mother and sister.

Jackson purchased the only house he ever owned while in Lexington. Built in 1801, the brick town house at 8 East Washington Street was purchased by Jackson in 1859. He lived in it for two years before being called to serve in the Confederacy. Jackson never returned to his home.

In November 1859, at the request of the governor of Virginia, Major William Gilham led a contingent of the VMI Cadet Corps to Charles Town to provide an additional military presence at the execution by hanging on December 2, 1859 of militant abolitionist John Brown following his raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. William Henry Gilham ( January 13 1818 - November 16 1872) was an American Soldier, Teacher, Chemist, and Not to be confused with the state capital Charleston West Virginia. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1859 ( MDCCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common John Brown (May 9 1800 December 2 1859 was an American Abolitionist who advocated and practiced armed Insurrection as a means to end all Slavery Harpers Ferry redirects here For other uses see Harpers Ferry (disambiguation. Major Jackson was placed in command of the artillery, consisting of two howitzers manned by 21 cadets. A howitzer is a type of Artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles

Civil War

In 1861, as the American Civil War broke out, Jackson became a drill master for some of the many new recruits in the Confederate Army. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. On April 27, 1861, Virginia Governor John Letcher ordered Colonel Jackson to take command at Harpers Ferry, where he would assemble and command the famous "Stonewall Brigade", consisting of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33rd Virginia Infantry regiments. Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common John Letcher ( March 29, 1813 January 26, 1884) was an American Lawyer, Journalist, and Politician. Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was one of the most famous combat units in United States history All of these units were from the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia and West Virginia is bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Jackson became known for his relentless drilling of his troops; he believed discipline was vital to success on the battlefield. He was promoted to brigadier general on June 17. In the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, brigadier general is a one-star General Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat [21]

First Bull Run

Jackson rose to prominence and earned his most famous nickname at the First Battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas) in July 1861. Background Brig Gen Irvin McDowell was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to command the Army of Northeastern Virginia. As the Confederate lines began to crumble under heavy Union assault, Jackson's brigade provided crucial reinforcements on Henry House Hill, demonstrating the discipline he instilled in his men. Brig. Gen. Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr., exhorted his own troops to re-form by shouting, "There is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Barnard Elliott Bee Jr (February 8 1824 &ndash July 22 1861 was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate Army general during the American Civil Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer. Follow me. "[22] There is some controversy over Bee's statement and intent, which could not be clarified because he was killed almost immediately after speaking and none of his subordinate officers wrote reports of the battle. Major Burnett Rhett, chief of staff to General Joseph E. Johnston, claimed that Bee was angry at Jackson's failure to come immediately to the relief of Bee's and Bartow's brigades while they were under heavy pressure. Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3 1807 &ndash March 21 1891 was a career U Francis Stebbins Bartow ( September 6, 1816 &ndash July 21, 1861) was an Attorney, Confederate States of America Political Those who subscribe to this opinion believe that Bee's statement was meant to be pejorative: "Look at Jackson standing there like a damned stone wall!"[23] Regardless of the controversy and the delay in relieving Bee, Jackson's brigade, which would henceforth be known as the Stonewall Brigade, stopped the Union assault and suffered more casualties than any other Southern brigade that day. The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was one of the most famous combat units in United States history [24] After the battle, Jackson was promoted to major general (October 7, 1861)[21] and given command of the Valley District, with headquarters in Winchester

Valley Campaign

For more details on this topic, see Valley Campaign. Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Winchester is an independent city located in the state of Virginia. Background In the spring of 1862 "Southern morale. was at its nadir" and "prospects for the Confederacy's survival seemed bleak

In the spring of 1862, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's massive Army of the Potomac approached Richmond from the southeast in the Peninsula Campaign, Maj. George Brinton McClellan ( December 3 1826 October 29 1885) was a major general during the American Civil War. The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The Peninsula Campaign (also known as the Peninsular Campaign) of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Gen. Irvin McDowell's large corps was poised to hit Richmond from the north, and Maj. Irvin McDowell ( October 15, 1818 &ndash May 4, 1885) was a career American army officer, famous for his defeat during Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's army threatened the Shenandoah Valley. Nathaniel Prentice (or Prentiss Banks ( January 30, 1816 September 1, 1894) was an American Politician and Soldier Jackson was ordered by Richmond to operate in the Valley to defeat Banks's threat and prevent McDowell's troops from reinforcing McClellan.

Jackson possessed the attributes to succeed against his poorly coordinated and sometimes timid opponents: a combination of great audacity, excellent knowledge and shrewd use of the terrain, and the ability to inspire his troops to great feats of marching and fighting.

The campaign started with a tactical defeat at Kernstown on March 23, 1862, when faulty intelligence led him to believe he was attacking a much smaller force than was actually present, but it was a strategic victory for the Confederacy, forcing President Abraham Lincoln to keep Banks's forces in the Valley and McDowell's 30,000-man corps near Fredericksburg, subtracting about 50,000 soldiers from McClellan's invasion force. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal This article is about a military unit For alternative meanings see Corps (disambiguation. Fredericksburg is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is located 50 miles south of Washington D In addition, it was Jackson's only defeat in the Valley.

By adding Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's large division and Maj. Richard Stoddert Ewell ( February 8, 1817 &ndash January 25, 1872) was a career U A division is a large Military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to thirty thousand soldiers Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's small division, Jackson increased his army to 17,000 men. Edward Johnson (April 16 1816 &ndash March 2 1873 also known as Allegheny Johnson (sometimes spelled Alleghany) was a United States Army officer and He was still significantly outnumbered, but attacked portions of his divided enemy individually at McDowell, defeating both Brig. Gens. Robert H. Milroy and Robert C. Schenck. The Battle of McDowell, also known as Sitlington's Hill, was fought May 8 &ndash 9, 1862, in Highland County Virginia, as part Brigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General. Robert Huston Milroy ( June 11 1816 &ndash March 29 1890) was a lawyer judge and a Union Army general in the American Civil Robert Cumming Schenck ( October 4 1809 &ndash March 23 1890) was a Union Army general in the American Civil War He defeated Banks at Front Royal and Winchester, ejecting him from the Valley. Background On May 21, 1862, the Union army under Maj Gen Nathaniel P The First Battle of Winchester, fought on May 25, 1862, in and around Frederick County Virginia, and Winchester Virginia, was a major Lincoln decided that the defeat of Jackson was an immediate priority (though Jackson's orders were solely to keep Union forces occupied away from Richmond). They ordered Irvin McDowell to send 20,000 men to Front Royal and Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont to move to Harrisonburg. John Charles Frémont ( January 21, 1813 July 13, 1890) was an American military officer, explorer, the Harrisonburg is an Independent city in Rockingham County Virginia. If both forces could converge at Strasburg, Jackson's only escape route up the Valley would be cut.

After a series of maneuvers, Jackson defeated Frémont at Cross Keys and Brig. The Battle of Cross Keys was fought on June 8, 1862, in Rockingham County Virginia, as part of Confederate Army Maj Gen. James Shields at Port Republic on June 8 and June 9. This article is about the US Senator. For the Pitcher, see James Shields (pitcher. The Battle of Port Republic was fought on June 9, 1862, in Rockingham County Virginia, as part of Confederate States Army Major General Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Union forces were withdrawn from the Valley.

It was a classic military campaign of surprise and maneuver. Jackson pressed his army to travel 646 miles (1,040 km) in 48 days of marching and won five significant victories with a force of about 17,000 against a combined force of 60,000. Stonewall Jackson's reputation for moving his troops so rapidly earned them the oxymoronic nickname "foot cavalry". Foot cavalry was an Oxymoron coined to describe the rapid movements of Infantry troops serving under Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" He became the most celebrated soldier in the Confederacy (until he was eventually eclipsed by Lee) and lifted the morale of the Southern public.

Peninsula

McClellan's Peninsula Campaign toward Richmond stalled at the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31 and June 1. Background Johnston withdrew his 60000-man army from the Virginia Peninsula as McClellan's army pursued him and approached the Confederate capital of Richmond Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected After the Valley Campaign ended in mid-June, Jackson and his troops were called to join Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in defense of the capital. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. By utilizing a railroad tunnel under the Blue Ridge Mountains and then transporting troops to Hanover County on the Virginia Central Railroad, Jackson and his forces made a surprise appearance in front of McClellan at Mechanicsville. The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains, is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division Hanover County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia Central Railroad was chartered as the Louisa Railroad in 1836 by the Virginia Board of Public Works and had its name changed to Virginia Central The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, also known as the Battle of Mechanicsville or Ellerson's Mill, took place on June 26, 1862, in Hanover Reports had last placed Jackson's forces in the Shenandoah Valley; their presence near Richmond added greatly to the Union commander's overestimation of the strength and numbers of the forces before him. This proved a crucial factor in McClellan's decision to re-establish his base at a point many miles downstream from Richmond on the James River at Harrison's Landing, essentially a retreat that ended the Peninsula Campaign and prolonged the war almost three more years. The James River in the US state of Virginia is a long River, including its Jackson River source

Jackson's troops served well under Lee in the series of battles known as the Seven Days Battles, but Jackson's own performance in those battles is generally considered to be poor. Start of the Peninsula Campaign Opposing forces See also [[Seven Days Confederate order of battle]] [[Seven Days Union order of battle]] Almost [25] He arrived late at Mechanicsville and inexplicably ordered his men to bivouac for the night within clear earshot of the battle. He was late and disoriented at Gaines' Mill. The Battle of Gaines' Mill, also known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862 He was late again at Savage's Station, and at White Oak Swamp, he failed to employ fording places to cross White Oak Swamp Creek, attempting for hours to rebuild a bridge, which limited his involvement to an ineffectual artillery duel and a missed opportunity. The Battle of Savage's Station took place on June 29, 1862, in Henrico County Virginia, as fourth of the Seven Days Battles ( Peninsula Background The Seven Days Battles began with a Union attack in the minor Battle of Oak Grove on June 25, 1862, but McClellan quickly lost the initiative At Malvern Hill, Jackson participated in the futile, piecemeal frontal assaults against entrenched Union infantry and massed artillery and suffered heavy casualties, but this was a problem for all of Lee's army in that ill-considered battle. The Battle of Malvern Hill, also known as the Battle of Poindexter's Farm, took place on July 1, 1862, in Henrico County Virginia, was The reasons for Jackson's sluggish and poorly coordinated actions during the Seven Days are disputed, although a severe lack of sleep after the grueling march and railroad trip from the Shenandoah Valley was probably a significant factor. Both Jackson and his troops were completely exhausted.

Second Bull Run to Fredericksburg

Jackson and Sorrel, painting by David Bendann.
Jackson and Sorrel, painting by David Bendann.

The military reputations of Lee's corps commanders are often characterized as Stonewall Jackson representing the audacious, offensive component of Lee's army, whereas his counterpart, James Longstreet, more typically advocated and executed defensive strategies and tactics. James Longstreet (January 8 1821 &ndash January 2 1904 was one of the foremost Confederate Generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate Jackson has been described as the army's hammer, Longstreet its anvil. [26] In the Northern Virginia Campaign of August 1862, this stereotype did not hold true. Background and opposing forces After the collapse of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in the Seven Days Battles of June 1862 President Abraham Lincoln appointed Longstreet commanded the Right Wing (later to become known as the First Corps) and Jackson commanded the Left Wing. Jackson started the campaign under Lee's orders with a sweeping flanking maneuver that placed his corps into the rear of Union Maj. Gen. John Pope's Army of Virginia, but he then took up a defensive position and effectively invited Pope to assault him. John Pope ( March 16, 1822 &ndash September 23, 1892) was a career United States Army officer and Union general in The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. On August 28 and August 29, the start of the Second Battle of Bull Run (or the Second Battle of Manassas), Pope pounded Jackson as Longstreet and the remainder of the Army marched north to reach the battlefield. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Background and opposing forces See also Northern Virginia Campaign See also [[Second Bull Run Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]]

On August 30, Pope came to believe that Jackson was starting to retreat, and Longstreet took advantage of this by launching a massive assault on the Union army's left with over 25,000 men. Events 1363 - Beginning date of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the forces of two Chinese rebel leaders— Chen Youliang and Although the Union troops put up a furious defense, Pope's army was forced to retreat in a manner similar to the embarrassing Union defeat at First Bull Run, fought on roughly the same battleground.

When Lee decided to invade the North in the Maryland Campaign, Jackson took Harpers Ferry, then hastened to join the rest of the army at Sharpsburg, Maryland, where they fought McClellan in the Battle of Antietam. The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign, of September 1862 is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. The Battle of Harpers Ferry was fought from September 12 to September 15, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil Sharpsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland, approximately 13 miles (20 km south of Hagerstown. Antietam was primarily a defensive battle fought against superior odds, although McClellan failed to exploit his advantage. Jackson's men bore the brunt of the initial attacks on the northern end of the battlefield and, at the end of the day, successfully resisted a breakthrough on the southern end when Jackson's subordinate, Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill, arrived at the last minute from Harpers Ferry. Ambrose Powell Hill (November 9 1825 &ndash April 2 1865 was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. The Confederate forces held their position, but the battle was extremely bloody for both sides, and Lee withdrew the Army of Northern Virginia back across the Potomac River, ending the invasion. The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid- Atlantic coast of the United States. Jackson was promoted to lieutenant general on October 10 and his command was redesignated the Second Corps. This article is about a United States military rank For other countries that use a similar rank see Lieutenant General. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated

Before the armies camped for winter, Jackson's Second Corps held off a strong Union assault against the right flank of the Confederate line at the Battle of Fredericksburg, in what became a decisive Confederate victory. Background and Burnside's plan The battle was the result of an effort by the Union Army to regain the initiative in its struggle against Lee's smaller but more aggressive army Just before the battle, Jackson was delighted to receive a letter about the birth of his daughter, Julia Laura Jackson, on November 23. Events 800 - Charlemagne arrives at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of [27] Also before the battle, Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, Lee's dashing and well-dressed cavalry commander, presented to Jackson a fine general's frock that he had ordered from one of the best tailors in Richmond. James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart ( February 6, 1833 &ndash May 12, 1864) was an American soldier from Virginia and a Jackson's previous coat was threadbare and colorless from exposure to the elements, its buttons removed by admiring ladies. Jackson asked his staff to thank Stuart, saying that although the coat was too handsome for him, he would cherish it as a souvenir. His staff insisted that he wear it to dinner, which caused scores of soldiers to rush to see him in uncharacteristic garb. So embarrassed was Jackson with the attention that he did not wear the new uniform for months. [28]

Chancellorsville

At the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Army of Northern Virginia was faced with a serious threat by the Army of the Potomac and its new commanding general, Major General Joseph Hooker. Forces and plans The Chancellorsville campaign began with the potential of leading to one of the most lopsided clashes in the war Joseph Hooker ( November 13, 1814 &ndash October 31, 1879) was a career United States Army officer fought in the Mexican-American General Lee decided to employ a risky tactic to take the initiative and offensive away from Hooker's new southern thrust—he decided to divide his forces. Jackson and his entire corps were sent on an aggressive flanking maneuver to the right of the Union lines. This flanking movement would be one of the most successful and dramatic of the war. While riding with his infantry in a wide berth well south and west of the Federal line of battle, Jackson employed Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry to provide for better reconnaissance in regards to the exact location of the Union right and rear. The results were far better than even Jackson could have hoped. Lee found the entire right side of the Federal lines in the middle of open field, guarded merely by two guns that faced westward, as well as the supplies and rear encampments. The men were eating and playing games in carefree fashion, completely unaware that an entire Confederate corps was less than a mile away. What happened next is given in Lee's own words:

So impressed was I with my discovery, that I rode rapidly back to the point on the Plank road where I had left my cavalry, and back down the road Jackson was moving, until I met "Stonewall" himself. "General," said I, "if you will ride with me, halting your column here, out of sight, I will show you the enemy's right, and you will perceive the great advantage of attacking down the Old turnpike instead of the Plank road, the enemy's lines being taken in reverse. Bring only one courier, as you will be in view from the top of the hill. " Jackson assented, and I rapidly conducted him to the point of observation. There had been no change in the picture. I only knew Jackson slightly. I watched him closely as he gazed upon Howard's troops. It was then about 2 P. M. His eyes burned with a brilliant glow, lighting up a sad face. His expression was one of intense interest, his face was colored slightly with the paint of approaching battle, and radiant at the success of his flank movement. To the remarks made to him while the unconscious line of blue was pointed out, he did not reply once during the five minutes he was on the hill, and yet his lips were moving. From what I have read and heard of Jackson since that day, I know now what he was doing then. Oh! "beware of rashness," General Hooker. Stonewall Jackson is praying in full view and in rear of your right flank! While talking to the Great God of Battles, how could he hear what a poor cavalryman was saying. "Tell General Rodes," said he, suddenly whirling his horse towards the courier, "to move across the Old plank road; halt when he gets to the Old turnpike, and I will join him there. " One more look upon the Federal lines, and then he rode rapidly down the hill, his arms flapping to the motion of his horse, over whose head it seemed, good rider as he was, he would certainly go. I expected to be told I had made a valuable personal reconnaissance—saving the lives of many soldiers, and that Jackson was indebted to me to that amount at least. Perhaps I might have been a little chagrined at Jackson's silence, and hence commented inwardly and adversely upon his horsemanship. Alas! I had looked upon him for the last time.

– Fitzhugh Lee, address to the Association of the Army of Northern Virginia, 1879

Jackson immediately returned to his corps and arranged his divisions into a line of battle to charge directly into the oblivious Federal right. The Confederates marched silently until they were merely several hundred feet from the Union position, then released a bloodthirsty cry and full charge. Many of the Federals were captured without a shot fired, the rest were driven into a full rout. Jackson pursued relentlessly back toward the center of the Federal line until dusk.

The plantation office building where Stonewall Jackson died in Guinea Station, Virginia
The plantation office building where Stonewall Jackson died in Guinea Station, Virginia

Darkness ended the assault. As Jackson and his staff were returning to camp on May 2, they were mistaken for a Union cavalry force by a Confederate North Carolina regiment who shouted, "Halt, who goes there?," but fired before evaluating the reply. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Jackson was hit by three bullets, two in the left arm and one in the right hand. Several other men in his staff were killed in addition to many horses. Darkness and confusion prevented Jackson from getting immediate care. He was dropped from his stretcher while being evacuated because of incoming artillery rounds. Because of his injuries, Jackson's left arm had to be amputated by Dr. Hunter McGuire. Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or Surgery. Hunter Holmes McGuire MD ( October 11, 1835 – September 19, 1900) was a Physician, Teacher, and Orator. Jackson was moved to Thomas C. Chandler's 740 acres (3. 0 km²) plantation named "Fairfield. " He was offered Chandler's home for recovery, but Jackson refused and suggested using Chandler's plantation office building instead. He was thought to be out of harm's way, but unknown to the doctors, he already had classic symptoms of pneumonia, complaining of a sore chest. This soreness was mistakenly thought to be the result of his rough handling in the battlefield evacuation.

Death

Lee wrote to Jackson after learning of his injuries, stating "Could I have directed events, I would have chosen for the good of the country to be disabled in your stead. "[29] Jackson died when one of his men mistook him for the enemy and shot him on May 10, 1863. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common His arm was amputated in the attempt to save his life, but soon after, pneumonia set in. On his death bed, though he became weaker, he remained spiritually strong. Jackson's words were "It is the Lord's Day; my wish is fulfilled. I have always desired to die on Sunday. " Dr. McGuire wrote an account of his final hours and his last words:

A few moments before he died he cried out in his delirium, "Order A. P. Hill to prepare for action! Pass the infantry to the front rapidly! Tell Major Hawks"—then stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Presently a smile of ineffable sweetness spread itself over his pale face, and he said quietly, and with an expression, as if of relief, "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees. "[30]

His body was moved to the Governor's Mansion in Richmond for the public to mourn, and he was then moved to be buried in the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia. However, the arm that was amputated on May 2 was buried separately by Jackson's chaplain, at the J. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Horace Lacy house, "Ellwood", in the Wilderness of Spotsylvania County, near the field hospital. Spotsylvania County is a county in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia.

Upon hearing of Jackson's death, Robert E. Lee mourned the loss of both a friend and a trusted commander. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The night Lee learned of Jackson's death, he told his cook, "William, I have lost my right arm" (deliberately in contrast to Jackson's left arm) and "I'm bleeding at the heart. "

Legacy

"Stonewall" Jackson statue, Manassas Battlefield Park
"Stonewall" Jackson statue, Manassas Battlefield Park

Jackson is considered one of the great characters of the Civil War. He was profoundly religious, a deacon in the Presbyterian Church. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity He disliked fighting on Sunday, though that did not stop him from doing so. He loved his wife very much and sent her tender letters. In direct contrast to Lee, Jackson was not a striking figure, who often wore old, worn-out clothes rather than a fancy uniform, and sometimes looked more like a moth-eaten private than a corps commander.

Statue of Jackson near the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia.
Statue of Jackson near the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia.

A recurring story concerns his love of lemons, which he allegedly gnawed whole to alleviate symptoms of dyspepsia. Dyspepsia (from the Greek "δυς-" (Dys- and "πέψη" (Pepse known in plain English as indigestion, meaning hard However, recent research[31] has found that none of his contemporaries recorded any unusual lemon habits and Jackson thought of a lemon as a "rare treat . . . enjoyed greatly whenever it could obtained from the enemy's camp". He was fond of all fruits, particularly peaches. He held a lifelong belief that one of his arms was longer than the other, and thus usually held the "longer" arm up to equalize his circulation. He was described as a "champion sleeper", even falling asleep with food in his mouth occasionally. He also became noted throughout the Confederate Army for leading his troops in complete circles. It has even been hypothesized that Jackson had Asperger syndrome. Asperger syndrome (also called Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Asperger's or AS) is the Autism spectrum disorder (ASD [32] Jackson also suffered a significant hearing loss in both of his ears as a result of his prior service in the U. S. Army as an artillery officer.

In command, Jackson was extremely secretive about his plans and extremely punctilious about military discipline. This secretive nature did not stand him in good stead with his subordinates, who were often not aware of his overall operational intentions and complained of being left out of key decisions. [33]

Jackson had a poor reputation as a horseman. One of his soldiers, Georgia volunteer William Andrews, wrote that Jackson was "a very ordinary looking man of medium size, his uniform badly soiled as though it had seen hard service. He wore a cap pulled down nearly to his nose and was riding a rawboned horse that did not look much like a charger, unless it would be on hay or clover. He certainly made a poor figure on a horseback, with his stirrup leather six inches too short, putting his knees nearly level with his horse's back, and his heels turned out with his toes sticking behind his horse's foreshoulder. A sorry description of our most famous general, but a correct one. "[34] His horse was named "Little Sorrel" (also known as "Old Sorrel"), a small sorrel gelding. [35] He rode Little Sorrel throughout the war, and was riding him when he was shot at Chancellorsville. Little Sorrel died at age 36 and is buried near a statue of Jackson on the parade grounds of VMI. (His mounted hide is on display in the VMI Museum. )[36]

The South mourned his death; he was greatly admired there. A poem penned by one of his soldiers soon became a very popular song, "Stonewall Jackson's Way. " Stonewall Jackson's Way " is a poem penned during the American Civil War that later became a well-known patriotic song of the Confederate States of America " Many theorists through the years have postulated that if Jackson had lived, Lee might have prevailed at Gettysburg. Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] [37] Certainly Jackson's iron discipline and brilliant tactical sense were sorely missed, and might well have carried an extremely close-fought battle. He is buried at Lexington, Virginia, near VMI, in the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior He is memorialized on Georgia's Stone Mountain, in Richmond on historic Monument Avenue, on the grounds of the state capitol in his native West Virginia, and in many other places. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule This article is about Stone Mountain in Georgia USA For other uses see Stone Mountain (disambiguation. This article is about the city of Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Monument Avenue, in Richmond Virginia, memorializes Virginian native Confederate participants of the Civil War and one 20th century Richmond native

General Lee's last visit to Stonewall Jackson's grave, painting by Louis Eckhardt, 1872.
General Lee's last visit to Stonewall Jackson's grave, painting by Louis Eckhardt, 1872.

Lee could trust Jackson with deliberately non-detailed orders that conveyed Lee's overall objectives, what modern doctrine calls the "end state. " This was because Jackson had a talent for understanding Lee's sometimes unstated goals and Lee trusted Jackson with the ability to take whatever actions were necessary to implement his end state requirements. Many of Lee's subsequent corps commanders did not have this disposition. At Gettysburg, this resulted in lost opportunities. Thus, after the Federals retreated to the heights south of town, Lee sent one of his new corps commanders, Richard S. Ewell, discretionary orders that the heights (Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill) be taken "if practicable. Richard Stoddert Ewell ( February 8, 1817 &ndash January 25, 1872) was a career U Cemetery Hill is a key terrain feature in Gettysburg Pennsylvania, the northernmost extent of Cemetery Ridge. See also Battle of Gettysburg See also [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]] and [[Gettysburg Union order " Without Jackson's intuitive grasp of Lee's orders and the intuition to take advantage of sudden tactical opportunities, Ewell chose not to attempt the assault, and this failure is considered by historians to be the greatest missed opportunity of the battle. [38]

After the war, Jackson's wife and young daughter Julia moved from Lexington to North Carolina. Mary Anna Jackson wrote two books about her husband's life, including some of his letters. She never remarried, and was known as the "Widow of the Confederacy", living until 1915. His daughter Julia married, and bore children, but she died of typhoid fever at the age of 26 years.

A former Confederate soldier who admired Jackson, Captain Thomas R. Ranson of Staunton, Virginia, also remembered the tragic life of Jackson's mother. Thomas R Ranson of Staunton in Augusta County Virginia, was a member of the Confederate Army and served in the Stonewall Brigade under General Staunton ( is an Independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. Years after the War, he went to the tiny mountain hamlet of Ansted in Fayette County, West Virginia, and had a marble marker placed over the unmarked grave of Julia Neale Jackson in Westlake Cemetery, to make sure that the site was not lost forever. Ansted is a town in Fayette County in the US state of West Virginia. Fayette County is a County located in the US state of West Virginia. Julia Beckwith (née Neale Jackson (1798-1831 was the mother of Confederate General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson.

West Virginia's Stonewall Jackson State Park is named in his honor. West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Nearby, at Stonewall Jackson's historical childhood home, his Uncle's grist mill is the centerpiece of a historical site at the Jackson's Mill Center for Lifelong Learning and State 4-H Camp. The facility, located near Weston, serves as a special campus for West Virginia University and the WVU Extension Service. Weston is a city in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. West Virginia University is a Coeducational public Research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.

The United States Navy submarine U.S.S. Stonewall Jackson (SSBN 634), commissioned in 1964, was named for him. See also See USS ''Stonewall'' for other ships named for General Jackson The words "Strength—Mobility" are emblazoned on the ship's banner, words taken from letters written by General Jackson. It was the third U. S. Navy ship named for him. The submarine was decommissioned in 1995. During World War II, the Navy named a Liberty ship the SS T. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including History and service In 1936 the American Merchant Marine Act was passed to subsidize the annual construction of 50 commercial merchant vessels to be used in wartime by J. Jackson in his honor.

The Commonwealth of Virginia honors Jackson's birthday on Lee-Jackson Day, a state holiday observed as such since 1904. Lee-Jackson Day is a Holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA, for the birthdays of Robert E It is currently observed on the Friday preceding the third Monday in January.

Davis, Lee, and Jackson on Stone Mountain.
Davis, Lee, and Jackson on Stone Mountain. This article is about Stone Mountain in Georgia USA For other uses see Stone Mountain (disambiguation.

Jackson also appears prominently in the enormous bas-relief carving on the face of Stone Mountain riding with Jefferson Davis and Robert E. A bas-relief (baʁəljɛf in French; French for "low relief" derived from the Italian basso rilievo) or low relief is a Sculpture This article is about Stone Mountain in Georgia USA For other uses see Stone Mountain (disambiguation. Lee. The carving depicts the three on horseback, appearing to ride in a group from right to left across the mountainside. The lower parts of the horses' bodies merge into the mountainside at the foot of the carving. The three riders are shown bare-headed and holding their hats to their chests. It is the largest such carving in the world.

Stonewall Jackson appeared on the CSA $500 bill (7th Issue, February 17, 1864). Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year

In popular media

Jackson is featured prominently in the novel and film Gods and Generals. Gods and Generals is a Novel which serves as a Prequel to Michael Shaara 's 1974 Pulitzer Prize -winning work about the In the film, he is portrayed by Stephen Lang. Stephen Lang (born July 11 1952 is an American Film Actor who started in Theatre on Broadway.

Jackson survives the Civil War, and commands Confederate Forces in the Second Mexican War, in Harry Turtledove's Timeline-191 series of alternate history novels. Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14 1949) is an American historian and novelist who has written Historical fiction, Fantasy, and Timeline-191 is a fan name given to a series of Harry Turtledove alternate history Novels including How Few Remain as well as Alternate history or alternative history is a subgenre of Speculative fiction (or Science fiction) and Historical fiction

In the DC comic, Jonah Hex (Jonah Hex #37), years after the Civil War, an old man tells the story of how Hex meets General Jackson and undertakes a special mission for him. Jonah Hex is a Fictional character, a Western Comic book Anti-hero created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga At the end, the old man reveals that, although every boy North and South has learned in school that General "Stonewall" Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men, few know that the bullet that hit him was fired by Jonah Hex.

Quotations

Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, becomes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible maneuvering you can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible. [39]

—Jackson to General Imboden

To move swiftly, strike vigorously, and secure all the fruits of victory, is the secret of successful war. [40]

—Jackson, 1863

The only true rule for cavalry is to follow the enemy as long as he retreats. [41]

—Jackson to Colonel Munford on June 13, 1862

War means fighting. Events 1525 - Martin Luther marries Katharina von Bora, against the Celibacy rule decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday The business of the soldier is to fight. Armies are not called out to dig trenches, to throw up breastworks, to live in camps, but to find the enemy and strike him; to invade his country, and do him all possible damage in the shortest possible time. This will involve great destruction of life and property while it lasts; but such a war will of necessity be of brief continuance, and so would be an economy of life and property in the end. [42]

—Jackson

"Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees. " -Jackson

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Eicher, p. The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior 316; Robertson, p. 7. The physician, Dr. James McCally, recalls delivering baby Thomas just before midnight on January 20, but the family has insisted since then that he was born in the first minutes of January 21. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. The later date is the one generally acknowledged in biographies.
  2. ^ Jackson biography at Civil War Home.
  3. ^ Roberston, p. 746.
  4. ^ Robertson, pp. 1-2.
  5. ^ Robertson, pp. 2-3.
  6. ^ VMI Jackson genealogy site; Robertson, p. 4.
  7. ^ Robertson, p. 7.
  8. ^ Robertson, p. 8.
  9. ^ Robertson, p. 10.
  10. ^ Robertson, p. 17.
  11. ^ Robertson, p. 69.
  12. ^ Robertson, pp. 108-10. He left the Army on March 21, 1851, but stayed on the rolls, officially on furlough, for nine months. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year His resignation took effect formally on February 29, 1852, and he joined the VMI faculty in August 1851. Leap years Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
  13. ^ Virginia Military Institute Archives: Stonewall Jackson FAQ
  14. ^ Jackson, Mary Anna, Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson, by His Widow (Louisville, Ky, 1895), 78.
  15. ^ Robertson, p. 169.
  16. ^ Robertson, pp. 191-92.
  17. ^ Jackson, 152.
  18. ^ Robertson, p. 191.
  19. ^ Archibald Alexander travelogue of Lexington.
  20. ^ Robertson, p. 157.
  21. ^ a b Eicher, p. 316.
  22. ^ Freeman, Lee's Lieutenants, vol. 1, p. 82; Robertson, p. 264. McPherson, p. 342, reports the quotation after "stone wall" as being "Rally around the Virginians!"
  23. ^ See, for instance, Goldfield, David, et al. , The American Journey: A History of the United States, Prentice Hall, 1999, ISBN 0-13-088243-7. There are additional controversies about what Bee said and whether he said anything at all. See Freeman, Lee's Lieutenants, vol. 1, pp. 733–34.
  24. ^ McPherson, p. 342.
  25. ^ See, for instance, Freeman, R. E. Lee, vol. 2, p. 247: ". . . by every test, Jackson had failed throughout the Seven Days. " Confederate politician Robert Toombs wrote that "Stonewall Jackson and his troops did little or nothing in these battles of the Chickahominy" (Robertson, p. Robert Augustus Toombs ( July 2, 1810 &ndash December 15, 1885) was an American political leader Secretary of State of the Confederacy 504).
  26. ^ Wert, p. 206.
  27. ^ Robertson, p. 645.
  28. ^ Robertson, p. 630.
  29. ^ Robertson, p. 739
  30. ^ Cooke, et al, p. 485.
  31. ^ Robertson, p. xi.
  32. ^ Fitzgerald, Michael, Society of Clinical Psychologists paper.
  33. ^ Robertson, p. xiv.
  34. ^ Robertson, p. 499.
  35. ^ Robertson, p. 230.
  36. ^ [http://users.erols.com/va-udc/sorrell.html "Little Sorrel Buried at VMI July 20, 1997"; Robertson, p. 922, n. 16.
  37. ^ See, for instance, Sears, Gettysburg, pp. 233-34. Alternative theories about Gettysburg are prominent ideas in the literature about the Lost Cause. The Lost Cause is the name commonly given to a literary and intellectual movement that sought to reconcile the traditional white society of the Southern United States to
  38. ^ Battle of Gettysburg. Background and movement to battle See also [[Gettysburg Campaign]] [[Gettysburg Battlefield]] [[Gettysburg Confederate order of battle]] [[Confederate order of battle]]
  39. ^ Underwood and Buel, Vol. 2, p. 297.
  40. ^ Henderson, Vol. 2, chapter XXV, p. 481.
  41. ^ Henderson, Vol. 1, chapter XI, S. 392.
  42. ^ Henderson, Vol. 2, chapter XXV, p. 481.

Further reading

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
(none)		 Commander of the Stonewall Brigade
April 27, 1861 – October 28, 1861		 Succeeded by
Richard B. Garnett

The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was one of the most famous combat units in United States history Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Richard Brooke Garnett ( November 21, 1817 &ndash July 3, 1863) was a career United States Army officer and a Confederate
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic