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Jackson |
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Jackson |
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Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was born in Clarksburg Virginia on
January 21, 1824. Stonewall as a boy was a leader in his class in
things such as Athletics, and in overall appearance. He was diligent,
a plodding scholar and strong minded but his mind was very slow in development.
Stonewall's mother died when he was just a boy and he was sent to live
with his uncle who reared and educated him.
June 30,1842 at age eighteen Jackson became a cadet at West point Military Academy in Pennsylvania. He was not well prepared and struggled at first but through his four years he rose to the estimations of the staff. He graduated in June 30,1846 at the age of twenty-two. He received the brevet rank of the second lieutenant at the beginning of the Mexican war. He was sent to report for duty for the First Regular Artillery, where he fought in many glorious battles with General Scott. It was during the war where he soon noted for having the qualities of an excellent soldier. After the raid of Chapultepec he was promoted major which his rank at the end of the war. His religious character which is connected greatly to his military life was introduced to him during the Mexican War by Colonel Francis Taylor. It soon became an obsession of Stonewall's to read and study the Bible all the time, he joined the Presbyterian Church in 1851. His remarkable confidence in his faith led to the development of his singular character and as many said his marvelous success. In 1848 Jackson's command was stationed at Fort Hamilton for two years, then on to Fort Meade in Florida. He was then elected to a chair in the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington in 1851 which he accepted. He resigned his commission, and left for Lexington which became his home for ten years. Here he married Miss Eleanor Junkin in 1853 who lived for one year and died during child birth along with the baby. Three years later his second marriage occurred in 1857, when he wed Miss Mary Anna after these marriages Jackson had one child, a daughter. During the presidential campaign of 1860, Jackson visited New England and there heard rumors that caused him to believe that war was far from unavoidable. On April 21,1861 Stonewall was ordered into the field by the governor of Virginia. Thus began his career for the Confederate army. Jackson's service at first was in occupation of Harper's Ferry and other small affairs but his fame and nickname came with the battle of the First Manassas. During the battle Jackson was notified of the Federal advance and started to yell, "We shall give them the bayonet." In the heart of the advance Jackson and his troops stopped the Federal rush in their tracks. Another Confederate General, General Bee exclaimed, "There stands Jackson like a stonewall." He was commissioned brigadier general June 17,1861, and was promoted to major general October 7,1861. With the assignment to be in charge of the valley district, which he did in November of that year. Jackson said, "If the valley is lost Virginia is lost." He began through the winter months on several campaigns throughout the Virginia Valley. Some of these consisted of Kernstown, McDowell, and Fremont. He dashed from battle to battle running over three distinct armies covering four hundred miles, and leaving all this in his wake. The valley campaign of 1862 was said by many to never be excelled. Some English soldiers said, "In the past two hundred years the English speaking race has created but five soldiers of the high rank- Marlborough, Washington, Wellington, Lee, and Stonewall Jackson and that the campaign in the valley was superior to either of those made by Napoleon in Italy." Many military professors taught the tactics and strategies used by Stonewall during the valley campaign in their classrooms. After the valley campaign Jackson joined Lee at Richmond in time to strike a crushing blow to McClellan's right flank in the battle of Cold Harbor, and also contributed to the Federal defeat in the battle of the Seven Days around Richmond. After McClellan was defeated Jackson was sent to capture the Manassas Junction in finally force Pope into the Second battle of Manassas. The Maryland campaign immediately followed in which Jackson captured Harper's Ferry September 15. From here he fought at Sharpsburg and was then promoted to Lieutenant General. After reorganization Hooker met Lee at Chancellorsville, who sent Jackson to destroy his right flank, which was brilliantly executed by Jackson. But when he passed his own men to take a look at the situation, in the dark night, they mistook him for an enemy spy and shot and fatally wounded him. He lived a few days longer and died May 10, 1863 in Guiney's Station, Virginia. |
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| Created By: |
| Cole Arnold and |
| Dane Olejnik |